"What? A FEW mONTHS?" Natalie exclaimed, her voice attracted some attention from the other employees who were passing by the hallway where she and Elian were standing. Elian signaled her to lower her voice using his hand. "Look, I know I'm asking for too much this time, but I will do anything you ask of me in exchange", he pleaded. She sighed in response.
"Mr. Falk it's not that I don't want to but it is practically impossible for me to hide your absence from your brother for months. You know he does those random surprise inspections.", she said in a frustrated tone. "What if anyone from our department ends up mentioning anything to him?", she asked rhetorically. Elian understood her worries. She was an ideal employee in Erik Falk's eyes, her boss. It was justified since she had a reputation to maintain.
"Look, I know this will be hard. But I really need this favor. I really need you Natalie", Elian pleaded, placing his palm on her arm, instinctively. Natalie froze as she felt his touch. Her eyes were sparkling and cheeks blushing as she heard those sweet words. "I really need your help. This is something very important to me. So if you take this risk for me, I promise you I'll do whatever in my power to make sure you don't lose this job or your reputation in case we fail", he added.
Although Natalie was completely flustered with the gestures coming from the alpha, she couldn't help but wonder what was so important that made him ask for such a favor. "Ok, I will help you. But you'll have to tell me why you need so much time off?", she asked. Elian's gaze moved away from her as soon as she asked the question. "I wish I could tell you right now, but I cannot", he said, withdrawing his hand from her. Almost apologizing. "But if this plan is a success, you'll be the first person to know about it. I can promise you that", he said, trying to convince his colleague.
Natalie felt disappointed and somewhat upset that she was rejected. But she was hopeful that the proximity between her and Elian will continue increasing. If doing favors for the alpha would bring him closer to her, she was happy to do them. "Okay, I hope you can tell me soon", she smiled looking at him. Elian took a deep sigh of relief, "Oh god. I wish I can just hug you right now", he said, returning her smile. Natalie could feel the goosebumps on her body as soon as she heard him say that.
Elian, on the other hand, was relieved. Since his last visit to the omega, he had realized that the coming few months will not be easy on him. The reality had finally started to sink into his head, making him aware of what he had signed up for. He understood that couldn't take care of Kian while working at the same time. So he sorted his priorities straight.
He knew he'll have to appear in the office once in a while and that he couldn't leave everything to Natalie. But he also knew that given his situation she was being of great help, and for that he was truly grateful towards her.
It was going to be his first day living with the omega today, he thought. He had planned everything for the next few weeks after his long and tiring research on pregnancies of omegas. Knowing that Kian would always be at odds with him, he was preparing himself for the worst. But something kept him going despite all the difficulties, something that was giving him the strength to face this head on.
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The glass doors of the bus parted and Kian stepped onto the ground. As he started to walk on the pavement he watched the doors close and the bus was driven away. The sun was going down and the cold winds had started to blow by the seaside.
Kian walked with his hands inside the large pockets of his black coat, thinking how he would tell Uncle Lee about everything. If he will honestly tell him that he was only doing it for money, it sure would make him angry. And if he'll lie, what possible excuse can he even give. Either way, Uncle would know instantly. But this kind of thing cannot be hidden for long, he thought.
As he entered the orphanage, opening the metal gate in the front, he was met with a handful of teenage omegas, sitting by the porch, who recognized him immediately and smiled at him. He smiled back and asked, "Uncle Lee is home or in there?". "He's inside, in the kitchen", one of the boys answered. Kian walked towards the entrance and ruffled the boy's hair, "Don't stay out too late you guys, it's getting cold", he said entering inside the building.
Kian headed for the kitchen straight away after entering inside. He could already smell the aroma of coffee even from a few steps away. He stepped inside the kitchen and found Uncle Lee pouring coffee in his usual yellow mug which was probably a hundred years old, he thought. "I wonder how that cup never even got a crack since all these years", the omega said.
Uncle Lee turned around, surprised and saw Kian leaning by the kitchen door. "Why do always snoop on me like that?", he exclaimed. He tried calming himself down from the surprise. "I could've dropped my cup you see", he complained.
"Sorry, I wasn't doing it on purpose", Kian explained, almost whining. "I want to talk to you, Uncle Lee", he said as he walked inside and gave the alpha a hug, who patted his back in return with his free hand.
The two sat by the center table inside the kitchen. Kian talked about Will, Allis and the apartment with him as usual, but Uncle Lee already could tell that he was only taking time until he decided to say what he really came to say and his guts were telling him that it was something to do with that rich alpha. Uncle Lee looked for the moment when he can cut to the chase so that Kian could just spill everything.
For a few seconds between their chat there was moment of silence. "So what did the billionaire do this time?", he asked taking a sip of the hot beverage in his cup. Kian looked at him shocked, wondering how his guess be so spot on. He looked away and sighed. "He didn't do anything. I just…..I wanted to tell you something", he stuttered as he replied.
Uncle Lee could visibly feel his hesitation, "You don't have to worry about me Kian, just tell me", he tried to comfort.
"If I told you I did something insane, how would you react", the omega inquired. Uncle Lee smiled,"I would be a little surprised since you're not much into insane things".
Kian smiled back. He waited for a few more seconds, thinking that it was of no use to hide anything from him given that one way or other he'll find out. "I'm keeping the baby", he revealed, quietly. Uncle Lee didn't say anything and silently stared at him, as if waiting for an explanation.
Kian felt somewhat guilty that he's not able to reveal all the truth about his situation to him. "I know you're thinking why I would do this, so just to clarify-", "No, it's fine. Just tell me when you can really tell me", Uncle Lee interrupted.
The omega looked at him surprised. "Let's just say we both know you were about to lie just now, so tell me when you're ready", Uncle Lee said with a blank face.
The alpha finished his coffee and got up from the chair. "It's getting late, I'll drop you back home", he said and their conversation ended. But Kian knew that he had hurt Uncle Lee's feelings already.