"Let’s get going," I say after a moment. "If we’re heading to Malden’s main headquarters, we should start getting ready."
Blue nods calmly and we both head out.
There’s silence between us, but I wouldn’t call it uncomfortable. It’s some strange kind of tension, maybe even excitement, or perhaps it’s just me reading too much into it.
Simon is already waiting, and the three of us head down to the parking lot and into the limousine. As we sit in traffic, Simon briefs Blue on what happened yesterday afternoon and earlier this morning, while Blue, bent slightly over his tablet, quickly responds to the most important emails.
Malden’s main headquarters in the city is about twenty minutes from Blue’s penthouse. It’s not my first time here, but it still hits me how massive the place is. Once we pass through the gates, it takes several minutes just to navigate between the different buildings, the production facilities and labs stretching out across a huge area. Security is tight here too. I remember back when Marcel was analyzing potential targets, he dismissed the main headquarters immediately.
We pull into a designated VIP side parking area, and Blue uses a side entrance as well, avoiding the main door, which is always crowded and busy. We head toward his office where he sees patients, and I immediately notice the line of people already waiting. I stay by the door while Blue and Simon go inside.
For the next hour, Blue sees patients. I stand outside, lost in thought, my mind drifting toward the weekend.
The line keeps moving, and at some point an omega joins, accompanied by his teenage son. The boy is so pale he almost looks translucent. He can barely walk, and when he sits down, he leans heavily against his dad. His face seems drained of color, dark circles under his eyes, and he looks genuinely terrible.
I notice the dad wiping away tears from time to time, holding his son close, while the boy looks like he’s barely hanging on. They exchange a few quiet words now and then. Ihear the dad say things like "don’t give up," "maybe he’ll agree," "we have to believe," "just hold on a little longer."
I can’t help wondering what the boy is sick with, but more than that, I find myself hoping Blue can do something. He’s just a kid. He deserves a chance.
Eventually, it’s their turn. The omega helps his son to his feet, and they go inside. I catch myself clenching my fists, silently rooting for them, hoping the news they get will be good.
Half an hour passes. More patients show up, and only then do the two of them come out. They’re both crying. The omega wraps his arms around his son, and my heart sinks. Are the results that bad?
Before I even think it through, I step forward and ask,
"Is everything okay?"
The omega turns to me, his face wet with tears.
"Oh, yes," he says. "That man is an angel. Even though the research program we were hoping to get my son into was already full, Blue created an extra spot just for him and covered the cost himself. Tino is getting a shot. There’s a real chance they can save him."
Young Tino wipes his face, still crying, and I feel my own throat tighten.
"I wish you the best," I say with a warm smile, even if they probably can’t see it clearly under my mask. The omega walks away with his son, and despite the other patients waiting, I open the door and slip into the office.
Blue is sitting behind his large semicircular desk, the kind that makes it difficult to approach him directly. When he sees me, he raises his brows slightly, clearly surprised that I’m here between patients.
But I walk around the desk anyway.
He follows me with his eyes, his brows still raised.
I drop to one knee in front of him and reach for his hand. After a brief hesitation, he lets me take it.
I lean down and press a kiss to it, then bring it to my cheek.
"People don’t appreciate you," I whisper, my voice unsteady. "They don’t know anything about you. That omega told me what you did. You’re incredible, you know that?"
When I lift my eyes, I meet Blue’s gaze. He looks slightly flustered.
"I’m sorry," I whisper, looking straight at him, my throat tight. "I’m sorry I became one of those idiots. That I took part in the attack on your company. Forgive me, Blue. I was in the wrong."
There’s a moment of silence. His eyes drift away briefly, something melancholic passing through them, before he speaks.
"The fact that it’s you saying this means a great deal to me, Gabriel." His tone is serious. "If I can convince even my enemy, then maybe one day others will change their minds too."
"I’m not your enemy. I don’t think I ever was. I was just uninformed. And I hope people will see who you really are, but even if they don’t, what matters is the truth. You know how hard it is for people to change their views. It’s easier to start hating someone than to stop hating them. Still, at least you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that one extra person switched to your side."
I smile faintly, a little sad, and Blue nods slowly.
