Maxim looked every bit of the eager twenty-five year old that he was. Despite our age difference, I saw a lot of myself in him. Aside from my being gay and Maxim being straight, we had a lot of the same interests and outlooks on life. We’d even managed to go out on double dates in the past, surprised when his girlfriend Stacy and Matty had gotten along so well. They were the extroverts to our introverts, and it took the pressure off that we all melded so well together.
He leaned in closer to me. “Is the divorce final?”
“It is.” I beamed, the first genuine smile to grace my face since I’d left the lawyer’s office. Scratching at my beard, I gestured toward the meeting room. “Is everyone accounted for?”
“Just missing…” Maxim paused to sit back down at his desk and scatter his fingers over the keys of his computer in an attempt to retrieve the information he sought. “Our virces rep said she’s running a little late.”
“Alright, that’s fine.” I nodded. “Is Exo here?”
Maxim smiled. “He’s waiting for you in your office.”
I held up the coffee cup again in thanks as I strode past Maxim’s desk and into my cozy office. It was housed behind Maxim, and both of our desks had to be strode past before getting to the boardroom at the end of the room. I was thankful that the House had given me this space, still feeling the newness of both my new position and my new office space.
Exo was sitting in one of the two chairs that sat in front of my desk, smiling as he picked up the picture of me within a silver frame that had once held a picture of Matty and I. Unlike Maxim, Exo didn’t know and probably wouldn’t want to know the intricacies of my romantic life.
“Good morning,” I said, stepping past him so I could sit at the overpriced but totally worth it chair that sat behind my desk. He went to stand at my sudden presence, but I waved him back down. “Excited for our first ORBIT meeting?”
He gave me a nod as I looked him over. Exo looked like he always did, which was intimidating. It wasn’t very often that people saw a shirtless, bald, and pale being just over six foot tall that looked like he was the bodybuilder to end all bodybuilders. His black slacks were pressed and presentable but it always clashed with the informal nature of his decision to go shirtless. His purple nipples were perked at attention, and I had to assume he just enjoyed being looked at.
His scarlet eyes told me that he’d consumed blood recently, since it was the only thing that kept him alive and gave him the perk of vision. Out of all the creatures that existed in our world since they’re existence had been exposed to us, only sangamar had to feast upon blood in order to continue living.
With a twinge, I got the sense that I understood it a little too well, given my new lease on life.
“This all happened so quickly,” He laughed briskly. “Feels like just yesterday we were doing the interview process.”
“I know. I’m just ready to have the first meeting under our belt.”
Exo stood up. “You’re going to be great, Wallace. The initiative you’ve taken for all creatures does not go unnoticed. You’re going to change countless lives. And eventually, the world.”
I smiled, but my stomach did somersaults. Changing the world was a lot of fucking pressure. And while I felt like I was up for it and had been slowly training myself for years to enact change, it didn’t take away the burden of having the fate of the world on your shoulders.
The entire purpose of ORBIT was to make sure Orbs felt safer than they currently did and to address specific community issues. That was a lot to shoulder. I’d chosen it, so I had to succeed or else I’d look like the biggest idiot.
When Exo and I had finally flown down to Piper, Virginia and had seen the horrible prejudice that protestors were portraying outside of the city’s blood centers, I knew something needed to happen. The fact that Piper hadn’t been the only eastern city hit, blood centers being the planned vandalism of what seemed to be a very organized hate group with a mission of attacking one of the largest Orb populations directly at their source of continued life was why I’d decided to announce the creation of ORBIT in Piper. I wanted the people there, directly affected by the protestors, to know that there was hope. That the hate would never win against united love. I just needed to make sure that we stayed true to that value.
Standing up, I put my hands on my hips and puffed out my chest. Exo gave me a look that instantly told me I already looked like the biggest idiot.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m superhero posing.” I laughed. “Have you not heard of it? It’s supposed to make you feel like you can accomplish anything when you’re nervous.”
Laughing, Exo mimicked it but shook his head. “You humans are something else.”
“Something my grandmother used to do,” I nodded, my heartlurching at the loving memory. I relaxed out of my pose and gave Exo a nod. “Alright, ready?”
Exo did the same, letting his arms fall back to his bare sides. “Lead the way, Director.”
Chapter 3
Openingthe door to the boardroom, I took a deep breath. I wasn’t expecting for this meeting to be productive, considering that it was our first. I wanted everyone to feel comfortable with each other before we got down to business.
I felt the eyes on me as I made my way to the empty seat in the back of the room. Exo and Maxim followed me inside, the former taking the seat next to me with gusto while my assistant sat in the chair in the corner, away from the table. There was a table for him to place his laptop on, which he did immediately. He’d be recording the meeting, which made me feel a little at ease. This was just like any normal meeting I’d been a part of.
Except I was in a room full of creatures that could kill me in an instant if they really wanted to.
My seat squeaked as I sat down, turning all heads in my direction if they hadn’t been already. Just as I was about to open my mouth, the door swung open and a woman covered in blue and green scales from head to toe, with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, came bounding into the room. Her pink dress was glued to the curves of her body and I could tell she was used to holding attention.
“Sorry I’m late!” She gave me a gentle smile, recognizing me from the auditions. I grinned in response as she took the only remaining empty seat on the other side of the long oval table.
