Heath is especially harsh to Kaiden today.
It's not the usual harshness from the Beta, not like he's trying to tire Kaiden to death, but like he's trying to vent his anger on the helpless Omega.
Kaiden has been running around since morning, cleaning corners that are spotless and redoing fresh laundry. His scalded hand has healed fine, thankfully, because Heath wants him to hand wash every designer piece he owns. There's still a pile waiting for him upstairs.
It would have been easier for him if he had a little help, but he hasn't seen Cherry in about a month now. He suspects that she was fired, not because of her performance or her work ethic, but because having her around means less workload for Kaiden.
He bets that Heath didn't think about what the Beta woman is losing when Heath made her collateral damage in his quest to torment the Omega. Heath probably didn't think about Cherry's young kids or how she never missed a single day on her schedule.
All Kaiden can do now is hope that Cherry received enough severance pay to keep their family of three afloat until she finds a new job. He knows how anxiety-filling it can be to not know where the next meal will come from.
Kaiden shakes his head to get rid of his thoughts. He's tired and breathless from all the climbing up and down that he does. Knowing that he won't last long this way, he takes advantage of being out of Heath's sight to rest against the stairwell.
He crouches low, elbows on his knees and hands on his head, as he tries to regain his breathing. Lunch is already an hour late, yet he hasn't even finished the report Heath asked him to type. The Beta says it's important company matters and that he's giving Kaiden a chance by letting the younger man work on it. Kaiden isn't sure about Heath giving him a chance but he is certain that the document is 'important company matters.' He knows because he hasn't been sleeping the past few nights prioritizing it. Thankfully, double-checking for typos and printing the document is the only task left before he can wash it off his hands.
Kaiden is careful to stand, fighting off the wave of dizziness that has been sporadically hitting him recently. He digs his feet deep on the floor to keep himself from falling, ignoring the dark spots dancing around his vision.
After a few minutes, he's back to normal, or at least, his recent 'normal': weak yet capable of moving around.
He feels cold while walking but he makes it to the kitchen in one piece. Leaning on the stove for support, Kaiden tries to come up with an easy dish to make in the shortest time possible. As he's going through the ingredients in the refrigerator, he hears hushed yelling outside.
Normally, he would've missed it by how faint the sound is, but that voice is even more familiar to him than his own. Solely because it's the voice that has been shouting and ordering him around, Kaiden's knee-jerk reaction is to flinch.
He holds his breath in to await the cruel words but it doesn't come. It takes Kaiden a minute to realize that Heath is talking on the phone, not to him. His body visibly deflates from relief, his tense body relaxes, knowing that even if it's only for a moment, the Beta's attention is not on him.
Kaiden keeps himself busy as to not unintentionally eavesdrop, except the open window carries Heath's voice inside all the same.
"What do you want now?" Heath's tone is annoyed but there's no fire in it. "Yeah, I still have a lot. Don't worry."
Don't listen, Kaiden tells himself. It's impolite.
"I know what I'm doing," Heath hisses to the phone, and then, in a quieter voice he says, "Didn't I tell you not to call me?"
Huh? What was that?
"Of course, we'll get married. Who else will he marry if not me?"
Ignore it, Kaiden tells himself. He grabs a carrot and a knife instead.
"You know how much Damon loves me."
Ignore it. Focus on the chopping board.
"We'll be together forever."
Ignore it. The cut needs to be even.
"No one can come between us."
Ignore it.
"I'll make sure of it."
Igno—.
Blood.
There's blood.
He sees the open slice before he feels the pain.
It stings.
It stings but it's nothing.
It's nothing.
His chest doesn't ache.
This is nothing.
--
Kaiden resigns himself to eating instant cup noodles alone in the kitchen. He's careful not to let his bandaged finger touch the heat, grateful that at least the cut isn't on his dominant hand. The lunch he prepared is now reduced to dirty plates on the sink, and for once Kaiden doesn't mind. He doesn't have an appetite anyway. He's eating merely to keep himself from falling over during the day.
He hunches over the kitchen island and keeps his presence as small as possible, hoping that the couple having tea and snacks in the dining room forgets he's there.
They sound happy, their conversation is easy. Damon is praising Heath for something Kaiden doesn't understand, not that he tries to, but the Alpha's low rumbling laughter tickles his ears.
"You didn't have to help me out," Damon says to Heath.
Heath croons, his voice sickly-sweet, "How can I leave you alone like that when I know how important it is for your company?"
Damon laughs, clearly pleased. "I feel awful for ruining your surprise though."
"Come on, Damon," Heath replies, equally pleased. "It's not really a surprise. I'm just glad you approve of it, you know business is not my area of specialty."
"I know, Heath. My lover is so smart."
There's a pause that Kaiden doesn't want to think about. He doesn't want to imagine what they're doing to have a lull in their conversation.
"You make me so proud," Damon adds, sounding out of breath.
Kaiden continues eating, pretending to be oblivious to the world.
He doesn't know what they're talking about and it's better for him not to know. If he does, it'll only break his heart.
In Damon's hands is a thick document that he would've recognized at first glance. It's the report he's been working on.
Except, it doesn't have his name on it. It has Heath's.