Carver could hear Ingram tell her to send him right in, but he waited for Julia to relay the message to be polite.
“Go right ahead, Mr. Wilde.”
Carver walked into the ridiculously sized office, hating how the décor and sheer size of the place never failed to impress him.
One day he’d have an office just as nice.
“Carver, this is a rare treat. How are you doing?” Ingram smiled jovially, standing up and walking around his desk to the bar by the window. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I’m doing great, thank you,” Carver said, setting his briefcase down on the floor and walking over to the bar. “And if you’re having one, sure, I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
“Bourbon, then,” Ingram said, pouring two glasses and handing one to Carver. “So, what’s new with you?”
Carver smiled, allowing every ounce of sleaze in his body to seep into the expression. “Tex and I just got a new omega, actually. We’ve been having fun breaking him in.”
Ingram looked surprised.
“Really? I didn’t know the two of you wanted an omega. Why now?”
Carver laughed, trying to channel all the asshole alphas he’d known over the years. “Well, our profiles made it a bit hard to find someone. We’re not exactly vanilla, if you know what I mean.”
Ingram’s eyes widened in understanding, and he held up a wagging finger. “That shouldn’t have been a problem, Carver. If you know the right people, those profiles can say whatever you want them to say.” He spread his hands. “I wish you had told me about this earlier—I could have helped you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It’s not difficult. There are people in the matching agency who understand that omegas aren’t really capable of knowing what they want. It’s unfair, to be frank, forcing them to decide for themselves. It’s against their nature.”
Carver gritted his teeth and forced a nod.
“I wish I’d known—though I have to say I’m happy with the boy we ended up with.”
“Good for you.” Ingram lifted his glass for a toast, and then his expression turned more serious. “Now, what can I do for you? I don’t imagine you came up here to talk about your omega.”
This was the perfect opportunity. “Actually, it kind of is. Now, feel free to tell me to go to Hell, but I heard through the grapevine that you’re a member of The Bank and I was hoping you could score me an invite.”
Ingram looked at him, considering. “The grapevine, eh?”
Carver shrugged. “I’ve been aware of the club for some time, but without an omega… well, you know.”
“Eager to show him off, are you?”
“And other things.” Carver let Ingram imagine what he would. The other alpha studied him, looking at him like he was seeing him in an entirely new light.
“I don’t think your mother would approve,” he said, a condescending note to the tone of his voice.
“It’s not like I’d tell her,” Carver said, letting out a dark little laugh. “If it weren’t for her, I could have just gotten an omega through the delinquency program. Now that I finally have one, I’m not going to let her bullshit politics decide how I treat him.”
It was the right thing to say. Ingram grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. “Good for you. I’ll get you an invite, though you’ll have to put on a show with your new boy to prove that you have what it takes to be a member.”
“A show?” No one had said anything about putting on any kind of show.
“Yes. It keeps the liberal cucks from infiltrating, you know?”
“Makes sense,” Carver said, not showing how rattled he was. “Anything, in particular, I should prepare?”
Ingram lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “It’s up to you. What did your profile say that made it difficult to get an omega to give you a chance?”
Carver rolled his eyes. “That I’m a sexual sadist who enjoys bondage, corporal punishment, and domination.”
