Chapter 19
Beck
I felt my pack before I saw them. Their footsteps were stomping down the hallway and I sat back, bracing for another fight.
We had never argued or screamed more than we had in the last three weeks since walking away from Grace.
They were done waiting. So was I.
My fingers drummed against the pile of letters she’d sent, little sweet reminders of what we meant to her. They were the only thing keeping my head held high now. That she understood how hard we worked and that we were coming home soon.
Though, I hadn’t missed how our conversations were shorter than last week. She was tired early and looking down. I couldn’t let this drag on any longer. It had taken long enough.
Which is why I stooped low enough to make sure that could happen. I just hoped it wasn’t too late, that my pack wasn’t done with me before then.
The door slammed against the wall with a thud and Cade walked in, eyes narrowed and angry.
“I’m done, I’m leaving,” he threatened. “Fuck this company, fuck the board. I’m going for my omega. I fucking quit.”
He threw down another letter on the desk, the same pink envelopes as I’d received. His eyes cast to mine pointedly. I hated the disappointment in his gaze.
“She’s falling apart without us,” he spit out. “I can’t hurt her. No, I won’t .”
Spencer was behind him, just as angry, but also flustered. His hands frantically danced together as he hovered just behind him, ready to rally or throw up, it wasn’t sure which would win out yet.
“Me, too,” he said, looking up at me but keeping his head downcast. “You’re our alpha but you’re failing us and her. This isn’t right. It’s gone on too long and those old alphas don’t give a fuck if we’re all suffering.”
“You’re right. They don’t,” I agreed, sliding folders across the thick desk. I’d spent the last week calling in every favor we had and digging into the lives of our board.
Spencer and Cade shared a look. It was clear they didn’t expect me to cave in any capacity.
If they thought I wasn’t just as anxious to get home to my omega they were insane. I just couldn’t let the hellscape our lives had become, affect hers. She deserved better.
“This is...” Spencer gasped, eyes wide.
“Blackmail,” I said simply. “Those are full of lies, deceit, shady deals and offshore accounts. Every one of them are vulnerable now.”
“So, we’re going home?”
Home. At one point I thought it was this godforsaken city. Now I knew the truth. It was wherever my omega was.
“Spencer, push forward the plans for our new office and allocate funds. Cade, call our girl and prepare her. I’ve got one thing to try first.”
They stood frozen as I pulled my phone off my desk and made the last call I’d ever expected to make.
“Mr. Beaumont,” Darlene Carter purred through the line. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Miss Carter,” I said evenly. “I’d like to give you the first chance at a story, if you can run it far and wide for me.”
“Hmm, no agreeing until I hear the juicy gossip,” she challenged. The older beta was a viper in the best way and I knew she was already ready to strike.
“Not a chance,” I laughed. “Agree and I’ll spill. You know I’m not calling for nothing.”
“Done.”
“Are you serious?!” Cade hissed. They both thought I was going for the board. It was not something I even considered really. It was plan B at this point.
“Pack Beaumont has an omega. We’re leaving the city to follow her, though the company will still be thriving. No pictures yet. I’ll release them when we get her permission. For now, I’m thinking the mystery will do the trick.”
“Juicy,” she said gleefully, her manicured nails already clacking over her keyboard. “Gotta go!”
She promptly hung up and I dropped the phone on my desk. They were both staring back at me like I was insane, and maybe I was.
“They get one chance to fix this, to let us go and have a good image for PackSense. If they refuse? Well, then it’s on to plan B.”
“So, we’re going home?” Cade hedged, needing me to confirm it.
“I’d say we can be out of the city by tonight,” I promised. “I’m done waiting.”
“About fucking time,” Spencer beamed as he rushed off to handle his side of the business.
“Send in Lincoln. It’s his time to shine,” I said as Cade rocked on his heels, unsure what to do at this point.
The male omega rushed in, his usual smile on his face but he looked worried. I’ve been a bear this week.
“Have a moment for me? I have an idea,” I said, giving him a grin that startled him and made him stumble before nodding and falling into the seat. Cade closed the door behind us, leaving me to tie up all the loose ends.
“Lincoln, you’ve been at this company a long time. You’ve got a great resume, amazing accolades, and you know just about everything I do in and out, do you not?”
“I do, sir,” he said, nervous but confident. That’s what I enjoyed about this omega. He wasn’t just easygoing and kind, he knew he was good at what he did and took pride in his job.
“It just so happens that I will be opening a remote office from a new location,” I admitted.
“We found our omega and I need to be closer. Which means, I need someone to take over what I do here to some extent. You will have my support and I can come in when you need. But you will have the title, the raise, and the influence to make this company even better.”
His shocked laughter echoed out and for a second I worried he thought this was a joke.
“You’re serious? Oh, absolutely I can handle that. This is like a dream, boss,” he said, his smile beaming.
I leveled him with a stare. “It does come with risks.”
He deflated a little, his big, brown, doe eyes fluttering closed. “The pompous alphas.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “They will act like you aren’t fit for this role, or that they’re more qualified. They are absolutely wrong on both accounts.”
“I can handle them,” he promised, a look of pure venom in his eyes. Lincoln might look sweet, but his claws could come out. I’ve only seen it twice and it was exactly why I knew he could handle it.
“Security is on your side,” I said easily. “The moment one steps out of line, fire them and call security.”
“I actually have someone in mind for my position, if you’re interested in hearing it,” he said as he regained his confidence.
“Go on.”
“There’s an alpha who started about six months ago. He’s quiet, huge, and great at his job. But he’s currently stuck organizing the IT department, where his talent is wasted.”
“Move him up as your first act,” I said with a grin. “It’s nice knowing things will run smoothly. The board will be no issue, I’m heading into a meeting with them now. Don’t send in lunch this time.”
“Noted,” he said, a wicked grin. This omega was ready to throw this entire company on its head like I was.
Ten minutes later I was walking in, folders ready in my briefcase and the front page news that was going viral on my screen.
“What do we possibly have to discuss now? We aren’t budging,” Zavier said in his signature aloof attitude.
“I thought you’d say that, so I made a move,” I said easily as I connected my phone to the projector so they could see what I did.
“What is the meaning of this?” Abrams stuttered angrily as he stood, face beet read and reading over the hundreds of different articles that had sparked in the last hour. I knew damn well that Darlene Carter would move fast.
“The world knows we have our mate. We are leaving and you will not stop us. I’ve already hired someone for my position, as is within my job duties.
I would also like to remind this board of its place.
You may have power within this business, but at the end of the day the largest share belongs to us and will continue to own it.
You do not get a choice in personal matters. ”
I let those words sink in, fingers resting on the clasps as I waited for their final words. If they escalated this, I would absolutely burn their world down.
“Good for you, son,” Lyle snorted. “I thought that was a wild move by this board and I support the change. Am I to assume that Lincoln has taken your place?”
“Oh, absolutely not,” Abrams tried but I cut him off with a glare.
“I can and I did,” I said evenly. “Spencer has sent his contract, it has been signed by both parties. I am well within my rights to hire a stand in, though I still retain my title as well. We aren’t leaving the company, we are extending it and working on a new market.
Mark my words, this time next year it will be more than a small office. ”
My eyes drifted around the room, noting the mix of annoyance, rage, and smug approval. The board was mixed and that was enough for me.
“I have just as much influence, if not more, as you. Keep that in mind next time you overstep.”
I snatched my case and stepped out of the room, disconnecting my phone. I’d never felt more like a powerful alpha than in that moment.
And I didn’t have to stoop to using the information I’d found. Though, I was going to burn Lyle’s. He’d earned my loyalty today.
Spencer and Lincoln were working over the contract when I walked back in. He had his round glasses on and was all business as they fussed over terms. Spencer wasn’t holding back, giving him as much room as he needed to thrive.
Just as I walked in, they started to wrap it up but I had one last thing to cover.
“Tell me, Lincoln. Has any alpha made you uncomfortable in this building? The kind of situation that makes you avoid a certain area, for example.”
He swallowed hard and nodded. “Only one. There’s an alpha, Daniel Evers. He’s on the fifth floor, an office right outside the cafeteria. I’ve avoided it for most of my time here.”
“Spencer, bring him in,” I said. “Have him wait, I have a few calls to make. Lincoln, take the afternoon away from here so you don’t have to see him.”
“Done,” he promised, scurrying out like his ass was on fire.
“Looking up more blackmail?”
“No, actually. Just the business kind. Sit down with me and comb this man’s work. Give me a reason to fire him.”
“Done,” Spencer said, sitting down before going in search of the man.
It took less than twenty minutes to find where this alpha had been slacking. With a stack of complaints in his file already, it was over.
“Actually, let’s let HR handle this one for me,” I said with a laugh, sending all the files to our favorite HR girl and letting out a breath.
“Any other issues?” Spencer asked, bouncing in his seat.
“Minor ones. Go wrap up then get home. Pack up anything we have left. I’m ready to go to our girl.”
“Done,” Spencer said, his grin blinding before he was rushing out.
Now it was a race to the end and I was nothing, if not efficient.