Chapter 24 #2
The number might sound ridiculous to anyone else, just Freddie being outrageous again, but the idea doesn't seem so ridiculous to me. The idea of making an entire building's worth of babies with Mia... of breeding her.
My pants tighten around my groin as my cock tries to prematurely rise to the occasion.
In a tight voice, I announce to everyone, "I think I need to see the office suite up front again."
We only looked over the office suite near the front of the building briefly since everyone was more curious about the numerous bedroom suites lining the halls of the two-story building. The second time, I pay more attention to the details.
The director's office is a great size with lots of natural light and an attached bathroom. Perfect for Mia to work from home if she wants to go into the office less once the babies start coming. This would give her options.
Three smaller offices mean that we would each have a private space to work out of as needed. Freddie is disappointed to realize, though, that the thick walls mean his days of secret eavesdropping on my therapy sessions would be over.
Poor beta.
To get to any of the four offices–the number so perfect it almost feels like fate–you walk through a shared meeting space with a solid wood conference table. I'm busy wondering if Mia would like to keep the table or pick a different furniture setup for the room when Freddie gasps.
He crosses the meeting space with lightning speed and stops dead in front of a built-in glass display case that none of us noticed during our first quick walkthrough.
The case is nearly ceiling height, lit from above, and probably once held brochures, trophies, or aggressively cheerful seasonal decorations.
Freddie drops to his knees and presses his cheek against the glass. "Simon could retire here someday."
I stare at him.
Zak catches my eye, and we share a moment of silent amusement.
My gaze moves to Mia, and she doesn't look like she thinks Freddie's reaction is funny at all. She watches warmly as he carefully strokes the glass with pure reverence. Already imagining his beloved mascot suit in a prime display location.
The craziest thing is... I can picture the Simon suit hanging in the case. Our children someday rolling their eyes as Zak and I tell stories of our football glory days, and Freddie interrupts with his funny mascot anecdotes. The same stories they'll have already heard a thousand times before.
I'm not saying any of this seems sane.
But I think I understand it.
Mia's vision. Freddie's willingness to embrace a home more unique than all the others we've toured combined.
Rufus, who has followed us around for more than an hour with a face cycling through confusion, amusement, concern, and reluctant fascination, finally stops pretending this is a normal showing.
He jingles the heavy key ring that belongs to the defunct senior living facility. "I need to ask," he says carefully. "Are we truly entertaining this?"
Mia turns toward me.
Not Rufus.
Me.
And the whole building seems to hold its breath with her.
That's the thing about being head of the pack.
At the end of the day, the final call is mine.
Not because Zak and Freddie don't matter, and not because I've changed my mind about wanting to give Mia everything she wants, but because somebody has to be the one who considers the logistics when an ask becomes real.
I already know our omega's happiness is the most important thing at stake here.
Could we make this work? Can I say yes to the sprawling, half-forgotten senior living facility with weird smells, endless potential, and enough room for the domestic future she keeps hinting that she wants with us, piece by piece?
I focus on Mia.
At the hope written all over her face.
At the future flickering behind her eyes.
Then I look at Rufus.
"What do we need to do..." I can't believe I'm doing this, "to have this building zoned for residential use? And how soon are the current owners willing to close if we make an all-cash offer?"
Rufus just stares at me for an uncomfortably long time.
A full stare with bewildered eyes and a slack jaw.
Just when I'm about to repeat my questions, Rufus's gaze darts toward Freddie, as if he's checking to see if he's missed the part where this is all a joke.
"You're serious?" He lets out a short laugh that sounds equal parts continued disbelief and hysteria.
"I am."
Mia has been holding her breath, but she throws herself at me with this confirmation. I catch her around the waist and hold her to me as she peppers kisses all along my jawline, mumbling, "Thank you so, so much," in between her kisses.
My whole body floods with the warmth an alpha can only feel when he knows he's truly made his omega the happiest person in the world. She squeezes me so tightly that I don't think she'll ever let go until she finally seems to realize she needs to let me finish talking details with Rufus.
Sheepishly, she slides down the length of my body and goes to Zak, grabbing his arm and clutching him tight. He looks down at her affectionately.
I worried he might be the one to hold out on his acceptance since he seemed the most skeptical about the potential, but that all seems to have faded away. I think Mia's happiness has managed to eclipse any doubts either of us alphas initially shared.
"I just have to ask one more time." Rufus pauses, taking a deep breath to ready himself for my answer. "You're serious about this?"
Any doubt I had is long gone already. "Serious enough to offer them all-cash and over asking if we can speed the whole process along as quickly as possible."
Mia's heat grows closer with every passing day. We don't have time to waste.
"Well... congratulations." Rufus still looks stuck in complete disbelief, but a good realtor knows never to talk a difficult client out of the choice they finally make, no matter how misguided this venture might prove to be.
"Thank you!" Freddie grins and bows, somehow managing to look like he's taking all the credit even though Zak and I will be the ones ultimately footing the bill for this purchase.
He's lucky he's so damn cute.
"I'll make some phone calls and see what I can do." Rufus holds his hand out to me, and we shake on the decision. Once he tells the seller what I'm willing to pay, I have a feeling everyone will be happy to help expedite the process for us.
Money talks, and we have plenty of it at our disposal. Jokes about buying cars and gym memberships aside, our financial advisors have invested well for Zak and me.
It's about damn time we put the money to better use.
I never expected the home of our omega's dreams would turn out to be a retirement home, but now that she's shown us all the vision, I couldn't picture making our home anywhere else.