Chapter 4 CHAPTER 004
Soren doesn’t care that he’s intruding on the man’s privacy as he bursts into the boss’s office. He finds the man behind his desk, counting a wad of cash. He jerks, startled at the sight of Soren standing there, staring at him like a caged, starved tiger who is already set on his prey.
The Boss clears his throat loudly and stores the piles of cash into his drawer before he looks at Soren with a smile. “What brings you here, Fox? I thought I wouldn't see you again till next week for your match.”
Soren’s chest heaves from all the running he did to get here, uncaring that his shirt is damp from sweat. He steps forward, his hands trembling as he grips the edge of the boss’s table.
“I need an advance payment and the money you promised me,” he says without wasting a second. “For my next match or the next two. I’ll fight whoever you want. Just give me the money right now.”
The Boss leans back in his chair, eyebrows raised. “I can give you the money I promised; after all, we made a deal but an advance?” He chuckles, shaking his head. “You know better than anyone that’s not how we do things around here, Fox.”
“It’s urgent,” Soren insists, forcing every word out. Soren has never been the type to beg but at the moment, he’s ready to lick the ground the man walks on. “My sister’s in the hospital. She needs surgery. You have to help me, please; I'm willing to do anything you want.”
The boss’s eyes immediately darken at Soren’s words. “You can’t make promises you can’t keep, Fox,” he says, licking his lips, scanning Soren over before smirking as he meets his eyes. Soren has never been so disgusted. “How much do you need, Fox?”
Soren swallows hard. “Hundred thousand.”
“That’s not a small amount,” the man says quickly.
“I’ll pay it back,” Soren says quickly. “Take it from my next matches, or all of them if you want. I don’t care. Just please—”
The boss raises his hand to cut Soren off. “I don’t have that amount right now, but if you come back in a week, I might have it.”
Soren slams his palm on the table. “My sister could be dead by then!” he yells.
The boss leans forward again. “Don’t jinx it. Listen, Fox, the last thing I want is for your little sister to die, but the only way I can help you right now is if you’re willing,” he leans even closer, his lips curling into a nasty smirk. “I know a few alphas who will be more than willing to help and give you millions as long as you’re willing for one night; just one night.”
Soren’s jaw clenches in rage and before he can help it, he’s grabbing at the boss by the collar of his shirt and yanking him forward. “I told you I'm not a fucking prostitute!” he growls, blue eyes drilling a hole through his face.
“You’re just a Beta, Fox. You should be on your knees thanking the alphas who even bother to look your way.”
Soren stares at him with pure disdain. His hands itch to throw a punch across his face but he holds back and lets go of him with a rough push. “You filthy pig. You know what? you can shove your filthy money into your ass; I don't need you.” He turns to leave but the boss’s laugh causes him to pause.
“You’re going to come back, Fox. You don’t have a choice; you need to save your sister after all. I’ll also love to have a taste of the prideful beta myself.”
Sharply, Soren turns to look at him and this time, he has no intention of holding back as he strides over, grabs the bastard by the collar of his shirt and throws a punch at his face, causing him to stumble again against the wall.
“If I ever come back here, I’m coming for your head.”
And that’s all Soren says before he storms out of the office without looking back.
Filthy, disgusting alphas!
~~~
Soren stares at the black card in his hand and takes another sip of the bitter and cheap alcohol in his hand, hoping it would burn the ache in his chest. Still, the longer he sits alone at the bar’s counter, drinking and fixating on that piece of black paper, the more terrible ideas begin to creep into his mind.
He reads the initials over and over again, just as Reign Montgomery’s offers echo in his head, sounding more and more tempting as the seconds go by.
All he needs to do is play pretend for a year and he’ll save his sister. Isn't that better than giving his body to some disgusting alphas and blowing his own secret, and ruining his life forever?
“You’re not thinking about taking his offer, are you?”
Soren straightens as Theo takes his place behind the counter as the bartender. Soren brings wine to his lips but Theo snatches it. “Hey,”
“Alcohol isn’t good for omegas,”
Soren pouts. Theo’s the only one aside from his mother and sister that knows his little secret. “I’m a Beta and yes, I’m thinking of accepting his offer. Think of it, I’ll not only save Iris, but I will be rich too and stop living so shitty.”
The alpha rests his palms on the table, staring at Soren seriously. “And what’s going to happen when he finds out you’re only pretending to be a Beta? Reign Montgomery isn’t just an alpha, Ren; he is an Enigma and the last thing you want is to make an enemy of an enigma, and a very powerful one.”
Soren swallows hard. Enigmas are rare, so rare that most people never meet one in their lifetime. They’re usually born into powerful bloodlines and are said to have a presence that can break even the strongest Alpha, making them bend without a fight. Omegas don’t stand a chance, and even Betas struggle to stay composed around them.
Soren never knew Reign Montgomery was an Enigma but then, Soren has always had a knack for making the worst possible choices.
“I get to save my sister, so what he does after he finds out doesn’t matter.”
“Nothing I say is going to change your mind, is it?” Theo sighs with his shoulders dropping, admitting defeat.
Soren shakes his head.
~~~
Soren should take Theo’s advice and back out now that he still has a chance but it’s almost too late to go back now as he stands in front of AX Capital, the tallest and most luxurious building he has ever seen in his entire life, as it stretches into the sky.
What if the man has changed his mind or picked a more willing candidate? But Soren won’t know if he doesn’t find out. He only hopes he’s not making the biggest mistake of his life but for Iris, he’s willing to risk it all.
He brushes his fingers through his red hair, trying to look more presentable in his baggy pants and oversized shirt before heading towards the entrance of the building. He has to look like a Beta, walk like a Beta, talk like a Beta and be a Beta or his life is ruined but it's nothing much, just something he's been doing since he found out he is an omega.
The lady at the reception desk barely looks up when Soren walks in. Her eyes drag over his clothes, unimpressed as she rolls her eyes. “Do you have an appointment?”
Soren dismisses the attitude in her tone as he places the black card on the counter and pushes it towards her. “I’d like to see Mr. Montegomery, please.”
She takes the card off the counter and then rips it before throwing it into the trashcan beside her. Soren looks at her in shock, his mouth wide open.
“Hey, why do you do that?!” he clamors loudly, attracting attention as people reel their heads towards them.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Someone like you? You think you can just come in here with some fake card and ask to see the CEO.”
“Some like me?” Soren frowns at the audacity. “You’re a Beta too!” he points out.
“You can either leave or I'll call security. You think you’re the first person to do something like this?”
Soren’s mouth opens and closes like a fish. “I’m telling the truth—”
“Security,” she calls out before he can finish and immediately, two guards start walking toward him.
Soren’s pulse spikes. Why does his fate have to be so rotten? “Wait, I’ll leave; you don’t have to throw me out,” he says, giving a flat smile. Maybe this is the universe’s way of telling him this is a terrible idea and he should find other ways to save his sister.
Why did he think this was going to work anyway? He's an Omega, pretending to be a Beta for fuck sake. How did he ever think he could pull playing the pretend mate of Reign Montgomery? Is this like suicide? Soren will get killed if his secret is found out by the one who hates omegas the most.
This is stupid. How did Soren come up with this idea? Is he that desperate that he's dying to throw his freedom away and die?
For his sister, maybe yes.
Soren exhales a sigh, then he looks back at the bratty lady and curses under his breath.
Fucking bitch.
Swiftly turns to leave, but as soon as he reaches the door, it opens abruptly, and he comes colliding with a broad chest.
A gasp rips through his lips as his eyes snap up and face-to-face with the familiar brown eyes of none other than Reign Montgomery himself.
Soren breaks into a smile. Maybe the universe is on his side after all.
