“I only work with alphas or betas,” my dad said in his voice that brooked no argument. “Get rid of the omega and reassign an alpha from your team to assist Mr. Monk.”
“I—”
“Do it!” Dad barked, causing Miss Yates to jump.
“Dad, can I have a word with you,” I said, raising my voice and turning my body slightly to block Miss Yates. It wasn’t a block so much as putting myself between her and my dad as a shield.
“I’ll just have a word with Mr. Barber,” Miss Yates said, clearly and deeply offended.
I nodded apologetically to her as she turned to cross the room to where Quincy was showing Chester something having to do with the podium. I really wanted to go intervene over there, but I had to deal with my dad first.
“How could you be so rude?” I demanded. I wished I sounded stronger and not so much like I was half afraid he’d slice my head off.
Dad stared at me with wide eyes, unused to me standing up to him, even in a small way.
“This doesn’t concern you,” he said. “You need to stick to defending the legal interests of the family.”
“You’re the one who asked me to meet you here,” I reminded him, shifting a little more so that he would stop trying to keep one eye on Quincy, Miss Yates, and Chester and focus on me completely.
I got the attention I was after, but it took every inch of the backbone Quincy had helped me to start growing not to fall back into docility where my dad was concerned.
“He did something to you,” my dad said. “I don’t know what it was or how he accomplished it in such a short period of time, but that omega poisoned you somehow.”
“Quincy didn’t do anything,” I lied. “You’ve been telling me for years that I need to alpha-up and be the sort of man that will make the Salisbury name proud. Well? Here I am. I’m standing up for what I believe in, and what I believe in is treating all people fairly and letting those who know what they’re doing do their jobs.”
I felt strong for saying that.
For about three seconds.
“You have no idea what’s at stake here, Junior,” Dad hissed. “Chester Monk isn’t just a brilliant scientist and businessman. His new computational tools are the key to accessing information from every business and voter in Barrington, in the state, in the entire country, even.”
My brow flew up as the deeper implication of what my dad was saying started to sink in.
“His backing for my campaign will assure victory,” Dad went on. “And my victory will enable me to funnel contracts his way, which will lead to more security for my position as governor and fuel future ambitions.”
“The two of you have formed an alliance,” I said, shocked but not surprised. My dad had a way of finding the brightest, most unscrupulous minds to tap into so he could advance himself.
“Of course we have,” Dad murmured tightly. “Don’t be a naïve fool. Power in this world rests on the three pillars of money, society, and politics. Nothing else matters, and that includes disgusting, aberrant omegas who are only good for release.”
Bile rose up in my throat, and I had to clench my hands into fists to stop myself from attacking my own father. Especially when I glanced to the side and saw a crestfallen Quincy stepping away from Miss Yates and Chester.
“We’ll talk after lunch,” Miss Yates said quietly to him.
Quincy looked at me for the briefest of moments before heading for the door at the far end of the conference room, looking bewildered and upset.
“Power is hollow if you don’t have a heart,” I told my dad, then turned to follow Quincy.
“Where are you going, Junior?” he asked, calling me that on purpose.
I almost ignored him and kept walking.
Almost.
“I’m going to make sure a good, competent omega who knows his job isn’t too upset,” I said, darting a glance to Miss Yates, who had taken over explaining whatever Quincy had been showing Chester. She wasn’t listening, but I still wanted to protect Quincy by not letting on that he was connected to me and my family. I didn’t know if his job would be at risk if he was perceived as having a conflict of interest. “I’m going to be human instead of some cold machine that eats people in order to generate the illusion of power.”
I turned to leave again, but my dad called after me, “You do that and you’ll pay the price.”
I huffed out a breath and turned back to him for a second time. “What price?” I demanded. “For years, you’ve done nothing but tell me that I am a reflection of you, I am your only heir and successor. You might not love me, but you value me as an asset, I know that. What are you going to do to make me pay?” I said it like it was a joke.
