CHAPTER FIVE

Wade did not let go of his wrist until they were in the safety of his office once again. The ghost of his touch leaving a warm sensation on his wrist.

“That was embarrassing,” Wade started before he turned to look at him; eyes void of emotion. The door of his office clicked shut behind them.

“They won’t take you seriously if you continue to act like that. Was that how you built this company? You look weak and afraid all the time.”

That, that hit a nerve.

Klyde straightened his posture and bravely met his eyes, blood boiling.

“You don’t know anything. You don’t know a thing I did to build this company, so don’t talk to me like that,” he spat out; venom in his voice.

“Exactly. I don’t know anything. But with how you acted today, how do you think that looked to me?” he countered.

“Listen to me, Rehan—”

“Don’t call me Rehan—”

“Fucking listen.”

He did not raise his voice nor used his alpha dominance, but it effectively made Klyde go quiet. Wade Ashton is powerful on his own, with or without his status.

“If you want this to work, wake up. This is not how you should act when saving a dying company. I know this isn’t your best and I understand if you’re worried, but you have no time to slack. I’m doing my part, get your act together.”

With a final look, the alpha fixed his tie, tilting his head slightly to the right before he went and walked past him.

The door of his office clicked shut again and he was surrounded of silence. He wants to scream. The meeting was an obvious mess, Wade saw how he was disrespected and called him out on it even though he defended him. He wants to scream his frustrations out, but the alpha was right. As much as he is loath to admit, the alpha is damn right. He can’t save his company if he continues to act like this.

He inhaled shakily, calming himself down, before walking over to sit down on his chair. The door opened, Louis peaked her head in.

“Is everything alright, Sir?” she asked.

Klyde looked at her and gave her a small smile.

“Yes, Louis” he answered.

“Please bring all the documents I have to sign. I’ll scan through them now.”

And that’s how he spent the next five days. He’s determined to work harder that he barely went back to Wade’s apartment to even sleep. He only ever went back when Louis knocked on his office door on the second day, telling him it’s past midnight again and that he needs to go home. Even then he was reluctant to leave, but he saw the tiredness on his secretary’s face, he has been dragging her to his work hours too. He felt too guilty looking at her so he reluctantly gathered his things to go back. He can’t even remember the last time he ate too. His body is running on caffein now. It’s a wonder how he still hasn’t passed out until now.

He checked the time on his wrist watch as he tiredly dragged his body to the parking lot. Yep, it’s past midnight once again. Almost close to one. He told his secretary to go home early this time, still guilty from the last time. He got in his car and opened the engine. He wonders if Wade is back in his apartment. Speaking of him, they haven’t seen each other since that day. He figures the alpha is also busy with his own company.

Once the engine is fully heated, he drove away, his body protesting with every move.

He quietly entered the dark apartment. He took off his shoes at the entrance before padding his socked feet further inside the house. It’s half past one now, so he’s surprised to see the kitchen lights open, Wade’s back turned to him as he rummaged in the refrigerator.

“It’s late,” the alpha said. Kyle did not even notice him walking, he’s by the kitchen counter now. He must have underestimated his fatigue.

“I know,” he replied. He doesn’t know why he’s still standing in the middle of the living room. He should already be in his room, sleeping.

Wade sighed.

“I told you to work harder, not overwork yourself.”

“I know. I’m not overworking myself.”

Wade’s left brow shot up at that. The alpha trailed his eyes on his form, gaze disbelieving.

“Sure. You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” Kylyde replied with a roll of his eyes.

“I have no time for this.”

He moved to finally walk to the stairs. He gripped hard on the staircase railing, hands slightly shaking.

“You’ll get sick at this rate.”

“I know my limits, Mr. Curtis. I’m telling you; I won’t get sick.”

“Did you even eat?”

“I’ll eat later.”

He immediately threw his body on the bed after changing out of his work clothes. The plush bed and overly soft pillows doing wonders on his tired body. It didn’t take him long to eventually pass out, mouth ajar on his pillow, chest heaving rhythmically.

The next time he woke up, it’s to his blearing alarm he set before he passed out. He reached out to his nightstand to turn it off. It’s 6 am, he essentially had less than five hours of sleep. Still more than the total of all the fifteen-minute power naps he took for the last five days.

He slowly sat up, still groggy from the lack of sleep but he needs to work. If he’s being honest, his body feels much heavier than last night. He is loath to leave his bed but he should really work.

He got up and did his morning rituals, all this while also checking his email. He got dressed in record time. He quickly got down; the apartment is quiet. Did Wade leave already? He brushed the thought off of his head. It’s not his business.

His stomach grumbled and he sends a longing look at the kitchen. He sighed. He doesn’t have time to prepare his own food so he figures he’ll just drop by a café.

He double checks his things before going to crouch on the entryway to wear his shoes, with a final look around the apartment, he finally leaves.

Turns out he doesn’t have time to even stop by at a café. His secretary sent him a message saying that an investor tried to call the company. He can’t let this pass so he just went directly to the company, forgoing the breakfast he planned to buy.

The meeting went good, great even. It was one of his previous investors wanting to come back and of course, who is he to deny? He just can’t help the pang of disappointment that tugged at his gut when the investor mentioned Wade and their marriage. He even congratulated him and he hopes the smile he gave him was convincing enough, he doesn’t know about his scent though. But who is he kidding? Of course, they’ll come back because of Wade. This is the reason why he made the deal in the first place. Maybe, just maybe, for the first time in a long while, he wishes that people will look at him beyond his sub-gender. That he’s more than just an omega.

He returns to his office feeling both lighter and heavier. His mood is lighter because of the meeting, he’s doing good! His company will be back in the game in no time. However, he’s feeling heavier because he suddenly feels dizzy. His surrounding is quite literally spinning on him. He shook his head to clear his mind before taking a seat. Perhaps he really needs to eat now.

He was about to page his secretary when the door suddenly opened, Louis is already walking inside, holding a paper bag.

“Good morning, Sir. Mr. Curtis had this delivered,” he watched her place the bag on his table. She gave him a small bow before leaving the room.

He doesn’t know how long he has been staring at the bag in front of him. He only moved when his stomach made a loud grumble, he hopes the bag contains food. Much to his delight, the paper bag indeed contained food. Too much food actually. There is a salad, a pasta, even steak and desert. His mouth watered at the site of many foods. He worked to get them out of the bag and almost moaned loudly at the first bite. He devoured everything, realizing just how hungry he is. He grabbed the pineapple quencher and sipped from it, sighing at the delicious taste that settled on his tongue. He finished eating all the foods in record time, his stomach full and content.

He suddenly feels sleepy. But he eyes the pile of documents at the corner of his table and figures he’ll just take a nap later once he’s back in the apartment. He’s already doing good; he just needs to work some more so more investors will come back and invest more.

He reached for the documents and got his fountain pen, preparing for another hours of reading and signing papers. He sighed and put on his battle look before diving deep in his work.