by Esme Beal
“This way.”
I kept following the guards until we finally reached a curtain.
“She’ll be out in a moment.”
I tried to look by the curtain but it was too dark. A few moments later, she finally emerged. I’d seen her once before but even if I hadn’t, it wasn’t hard to recognize Queen.
Skin pale. Lips red. Hair dark and sleek. A black dress that was probably just as expensive as it looked. Even under the veil of darkness in the lounge, her intensity still seemed to come through.
She looked up and gave me a sideways glance.
“Ashton Webb,” she spoke slowly. “I thought it was a joke. I was ready to have my guards kill you for being an impostor as soon as you arrived.”
“I can assure you I am no impostor. I am Ashton Webb.”
“Lucky for you. Have you finally decided to enjoy some of that enormous wealth of yours?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking. We have business to discuss. A matter to be settled.”
“And what matter do we have to settle?”
“His matter.”
I turned to Charlie. The young man shifted his gaze away like he was too afraid to look at anybody. Queen gave him a glance, her eyes full of disdain.
“Charlie owes you a debt,” I said. “I’m here to pay that debt.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“People always pay their debts to me,” she replied. “But I don’t recall anybody getting the richest man in the city to do it for them.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“Apparently so… Very well. Let’s discuss business in my room…”
She turned around and started walking away.
“…In private. Only you. Not with the others.”
“This is Charlie’s business. He’s just as pertinent—”
“My business is with Charlie, yes. But I have another proposal for you. Only you, Webb.”
I sighed as I turned to Charlie and Noah.
“Don’t worry,” I said to them. “I’ll settle this.”
“It’s all right, Charlie,” Noah added.
I gave Noah a nod before being escorted by a couple security guards through the curtain.
I walked down a pathway and found myself in a lounge not unlike the one I was just in. The only difference was that it was mostly empty outside of Queen and her security.
“Bruno,” she said the biggest man in the room. “Leave us. I have some business to discuss.”
The hulking security guard glared at me before finally following his boss’s orders.
“Come,” she said. “Let’s settle this business.”
Queen lounged on a couch on one side of the small room like it was her throne. In one hand, she held a glass of champagne. In the other, she picked at a small basket of fruit.
I held my hands out to her, slightly confused as to what she was getting at.
“There’s no need for any formalities,” I said. “The Omega owes you a debt of 50,000. I’m here to pay it. You know my money is good.”
“Yes, yes, I know. That amount of money is something you wouldn’t even notice missing if it disappeared one day. We have other business to discuss.”
What is she up to?
I arched an eyebrow in curiosity. I didn’t want to speak to Queen a second longer than I had to but she didn’t feel the same way about me.
“We have no other business,” I said.
“But we do. It’s Charlie who owes the debt, not you.”
“What difference does it make? The money would be the same no matter who it’s coming from.”
“But it does. I could just as easily refuse your money. Perhaps I want something more.”
“More?”
Queen rolled a grape onto her tongue. She chewed it slowly then washed it down with a sip of champagne.
I clenched my jaw, counting the seconds until she would finally make her point.
“I’ve done well for myself over the years,” she said. “People from all over the Northside work hard to come here. Do you know why? Because when they’re able to enjoy themselves at the Queen’s Pit, they know they’ve truly made it.”
She put her champagne down and stood up. She paced back and forth before me, tapping her fingertips together.
“But there was always one man who eluded me,” she said. “One man who made it but never bothered to visit. Ashton Webb… It’s an honor to have you here.”
“I assure you, the honor is mine. You’ve done remarkably well for yourself—”
“Oh, don’t give me that. I didn’t invite you into my room for you to flatter me.”
“Then why did you invite me here?”
“I have a proposal for you. You’re a businessman. I’m a businesswoman. My business would increase ten-fold if everybody learned that Ashton Webb finally decided to gamble at the Queen’s Pit.”
“I’m not here to gamble.”
“But I didn’t finish. You’ll be welcome to your share of the profits that can be made. Think about it…”
She took a step toward me.
“…My casino will always be profitable. There are winners. There are losers. But the house always takes its cut. You’ll be entitled to your fair share of the profits. You’ve never been a part of a sure thing. Even WET itself.”
I scoffed and looked away from her. The idea was enough to force me to hold back a laugh.
“You can’t be serious,” I said.
“Oh, but I am.”
“My answer is no. I’m not interested in spending any more time here than I have to.”
“I figured you’d say as much,” she sighed. “I have one more proposal for you.”
“I can’t imagine it’ll be any more intriguing.”
“Perhaps…”
She stood before me and suddenly grabbed at the straps of her black dress. I watched as she suddenly started to peel it down. The straps moved onto her arms until suddenly her dress fell down to her ankles. She was wearing nothing underneath. Queen stood before me, completely exposed, nothing on except her heels.
“I’ll forgive the Omega’s debt,” she said. “Give me one moment.”
What?
I narrowed my eyes at her, unsure if she was serious. But the intensity in her eyes only grew with every passing second.
“I’ve always been curious,” she said. “I never could find someone who could satisfy me.”
“Perhaps you’re not looking hard enough.”
She inched closer to me. I stood my ground.
“Give me one moment,” she whispered. “Share the moment with me. Let me take you like I know you haven’t been taken before.”
“I know you have no interest in another Alpha.”
“Not for my sexual desires, no. But it would be nice to be able to take you.”
“To satisfy your own ego. To put me on the shelf like some trophy you slept with.”
The grin formed on her lips. She moved closer and leaned against me. She was close enough that I could feel her breath on my cheek.
“I’ll forgive his debt,” she whispered. “You won’t have to pay a dime—”
“No.”
She finally relented, sighing as she backed away. She put herself back together. The mood in the room changed quickly.
“One hundred,” she said.
“What?”
“The Omega’s debt. If you wish to pay it, it’ll be 100,000.”
“You just doubled it? For no reason?”
“I have my reasons. If you’re not interested in paying it, there is another way for you to deal with it—”
Unable to hold back any longer, I started to chuckle.
“You’re a very shrewd woman,” I said with a nod. “One-hundred thousand. You’ll get your money. Leave the Omega out of it.”
I held my hands out.
“Are we done here?”
“See yourself out,” she sighed.
She lounged back into h
er chair and nonchalantly began picking at her fruit. I spun around and left as quickly as I could. Noah and Charlie were waiting for me, concern on both of their faces.
“What was going on in there?” Noah asked. “Did you—”
“It’s done,” I said. “The debt is paid. There’s nothing more for us to do here.”
They both breathed sighs of relief. Charlie looked like a man whose life had just been saved.
“If there’s anything you ever need me to do,” the young man said. “Just let me know.”
I put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.
“Let’s leave,” I said.
We walked out of the lounge with the security escorting us. For some reason, I turned around. There I saw Queen standing at the curtain. She gave me a curious stare.
“What’s wrong?” Noah asked me.
“It’s nothing,” I responded. “There’s nothing to worry about any longer.”
Chapter 15
NOAH
Charlie worked with an enthusiasm I’d never seen in him before. The smile on his face had never been bigger. He whistled to himself even though he always complained about having to wash dishes. When you were on death’s doorstep like he was just a few days ago, you had every reason to be in as good of a mood as he was now.
“Don’t work too hard now.”
I patted him on the shoulder and he laughed in response.
“Why wouldn’t I work hard?” he said. “I’m making good money here. I’ve got food in my stomach. I’ve got clothes on my back. It’s a beautiful day in Snow Falls, Noah. Gotta use all of this energy somehow.”
“Is that right? You sure you’re not cooking up another scheme to make a boatload of cash?”
“A boatload of cash would be nice but you know what’s nicer?”
“What’s that?”
“Breathing. So I might not be able to drive in a fancy car. I’ll never live in a big mansion. What do any of those things matter? They’re just material. I can sleep at my place now just fine.”
The change in Charlie’s attitude was a pleasant sight. I didn’t bother trying to convince him otherwise. I wondered if it would ever wear off but for now, his good mood was infectious enough for me to work just the same as him.
“It’s time for our break,” I said. “You’ve been working hard all day.”
“I think I’m gonna bus a few tables,” he said. “It wouldn’t hurt to make a few bucks in tips.”
“All right… Just don’t hurt yourself.”
“Say, Noah… Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Ashton Webb… What’s going on with you two? You dating?”
Oh, God.
I wasn’t ready for it. I immediately felt the heat in my cheeks from embarrassment. Charlie smirked at me but I knew he didn’t have any bad intentions.
“I’m just curious,” he said with a shrug.
“Dating,” I said. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“I can’t imagine a rich guy doing something like that if you two weren’t close.”
“We’re close. Ashton… He’s special.”
“Can I ask you something else?”
“What is it?”
“If you’re dating, why are you still eating those ham and cheese sandwiches you’re always making?”
I raised an eyebrow at Charlie, a smile on my lips.
“Because they’re good.”
“They’re good, yeah. But Ashton is the richest guy in the city. He can afford the fancy stuff. Imagine a gourmet ham and cheese sandwich. He could probably have something imported. Better than anything else in Snow Falls, I figure.”
“Maybe,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ve tried it before. But the sandwiches I make are just fine.”
“You should invite him over for lunch one day. Make sure you tell him. It’ll be on me. I’ll cook it for him myself.”
“I’ll let him know. I’m sure he’s anxious to try whatever you’ve got planned for him.”
“The best Chinese food in the Southern Block.”
“Is that a promise?”
“I guarantee it.”
Charlie kept washing the dishes, whistling without a care in the world. I would’ve happily spent my break just watching him because of how much of a good mood he was in but I didn’t have the energy to keep up.
I headed out through the back of the restaurant at my usual spot to enjoy my lunch break. It was a warm day in Snow Falls but the breeze kept me cool. I sighed as I took a seat.
The first bite of my sandwich was more than satisfying. I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the alleyway. The traffic in the streets was distant.
I had every reason to be as good of a mood as Charlie was. With his debt paid, Charlie was as safe as he ever was. Knowing that Ashton would be there to solve any problems gave me the kind of reassurance that I couldn’t get from anybody else.
I chomped away at my sandwich and felt a soft rumble in my stomach.
“Strange…”
I quelled it by taking a sip of water and rubbing it away. The slight distraction wasn’t enough to take my mind off of the obvious.
My relationship with Ashton couldn’t have been better. It was sort of embarrassing that he was constantly on my mind. I’d never been in a relationship like this before, and certainly not with a man like him. It was impossible to distract myself from all of the things wandering around in my head when I thought about him.
I thought about calling him right now but he was undoubtedly busy in his office. Even just a text would be too much of a distraction for him. The Webb building stood in the distance with Ashton sitting high above the top floor. I smiled softly knowing that I would see him again tonight.
My lunch was as peaceful as it usually was. I’d just finished my sandwich when something caught the corner of my eye. I turned and saw a familiar-looking sedan pull up to the curb.
No… It can’t be…
I watched as the driver stepped out and opened the door. First the massive security guard exited. Then Queen followed. She wore a dark-gray business suit today. Her dark hair tied back on her head, she looked just as imposing as she usually did. The kind of woman who constantly had to make it known what kind of an Alpha she was.
Even from a distance, I could see the smirk on her face as soon as she spotted me. I got up from my seat, trying to figure out a way to make her leave.
“Noah,” she said. “It’s so good to see you again—”
“What do you want?”
“I just wanted to have a conversation.”
“Charlie is busy. He’s working. He has no business with you. His debt is paid and he’s not interested in heading back to the Pit.”
“Oh, you misunderstood me. I have no interest in talking to him. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Me?”
What is she up to?
I glared at her. I didn’t bother trying to hide my disdain. I wasn’t afraid of her even though I knew what she was capable of.
“What do you want?” I said.
“You and Ashton Webb… You two are close.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Perhaps it isn’t. I still find it curious. Why would a man like Ashton Webb have any interest in an Omega from the Southern Block? A scraper… A man like him could find plenty of worthy Omegas who are willing to please him.”
Calm down, Noah. She’s just trying to get to you.
I clenched my jaw. Despite how big her bodyguard, Queen was doing everything she could to get me to try something. There was a part of me that wanted to do something rash but I held back.
“If you’re so interested in what Ashton’s thinking, go ask him yourself,” I said. “His assistant would be more than willing to make an appointment for you.”
“Business meetings. Appointments. I never cared much for such formalities. I thought I would get my answer straight from the source.”
She took a step closer and narrow
ed her eyes. I stared back at her, counting the seconds until she finally left.
“What does he see in you?” she said.
“If you had any idea of what kind of man Ashton is, you’d already know the answer. Just because he’s rich and spends his time in the Northside doesn’t mean he’s like you.”
“And you think you know me?”
“I do. I know exactly what kind of person you are. You’re a person who manipulates people for your own pleasure. You’re a person who constantly has to satisfy their own ego. You’re a person who doesn’t care about anybody else. You and Ashton are nothing alike.”
Her lips slowly curled into a smirk as she backed away.
“Such a fiery Omega,” she said. “I guess there’s no teaching any class in the Southern Block.”
“What do you want? To tell me that I’m not good enough for Ashton. You had your chance to talk to him the other day. You’re welcome to convince him again.”
“I thought perhaps that maybe you would see reason. But an Omega like you… I can’t blame you for showing interesting in Ashton. He must look like a giant dollar sign to you—”
“That’s enough. I won’t hear this. Leave. Now.”
“You’re not worthy of someone like Ashton. You know you don’t deserve to be with a man like him. The sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll be.”
She sighed a breath through her nose and snapped her fingers.
“Come along, Bruno,” she said. “I think Noah here has gotten my message. I hope he has, anyway. For his sake…”
Queen sauntered down the alleyway with the confidence she always had. Her car sped off and I suddenly felt more relaxed. My jaw loosened. My heart stopped beating so hard.
“What’s going on, Noah?”
I turned around and saw Charlie standing at the exit.
“You all right?” he said. “You look like you just ate some spoiled ham and cheese.”
“It’s nothing,” I said with a laugh. “The weather must be getting to me.”
“It is kinda hot today. Why don’t you finish the rest of your break inside with me? I made myself something.”
