Page 48 of All That We Keep
"No, no, no. This is a good secret, I promise," Maceo assures me. "Just get home to your new family."
28
Blake
I'm nervous as I straighten my suit in the back room at the Starfalls expansion party, my hands trembling slightly as I adjust my tie for the third time in as many minutes. We rented a small venue a few miles away from the company, something intimate but professional that would showcase our game properly while still maintaining the personal touch that made Keller Industries special.
I didn't want to leave Luca's side, especially with the babies so new to the world and the lingering threat of Ward still hanging over us like a dark cloud. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to stay home, to guard my Omega and our newborn sons with my life.
But I knew I had to do this.
I knew Ward would try to show up and snatch Luca, especially after I made that calculated post on social media announcingthat Luca had just given birth to our beautiful boys and would be joining the party to show everyone. Why anyone in their right mind would think Luca would be physically present is beyond me but it doesn’t matter.
The post had generated hundreds of excited comments within minutes, employees and fans alike expressing their joy and congratulations. It was exactly the kind of public attention that would draw Ward out, make him believe he had an opportunity to strike while I was distracted by the celebration.
Luther and Maceo have been trying to calm me down for the past twenty minutes as they remind me that everything is under control. But my heart is racing with more than just anxiety about Ward's potential appearance. Tonight isn't just about celebrating the game launch or dealing with corrupt cops. Tonight is about taking a leap of faith that I've been building up to for weeks.
"Hey, you ready, genius?" Maceo asks, moving closer to adjust my collar.
"I think so," I reply, pushing my glasses up my nose in a nervous gesture that's become more frequent over the past few hours. "I think I've got this."
Luther studies my face with that intense Alpha focus he gets when he's trying to read beneath the surface. "What's going on? Why are you so nervous? You've done lots of release parties before. This is just another one of them, bigger stakes maybe, but still familiar territory."
I take a deep breath, knowing that I can't keep this secret any longer. My pack deserves to know what I'm planning, especially since it affects all of us in ways that go far beyond tonight's celebration.
"I wanted to do this before the babies were born," I start, my voice growing stronger as I commit to the truth. "But I was going to propose to Luca."
"What?" Luther's voice carries shock and something that might be pride.
"I know that maybe you should have done it, or Grayson, or someone with Alpha status," I continue, the words tumbling out now that I've started. "But I wanted to marry Luca. I want to marry my Omega, officially and publicly, in a way that makes it clear to everyone that he chose us and we chose him."
The silence that follows feels eternal, and for a moment I'm terrified that I've overstepped some pack boundary I didn't understand. But then Luther's face breaks into the biggest smile I've ever seen from him. "Congratulations," he says simply, but the warmth in his voice carries volumes of approval and support.
Maceo echoes the sentiment, his own grin threatening to split his face in half. "It’s going to be perfect."
"However, I know he can't be here right now, not until Ward is apprehended," I explain, my nervousness returning as I think about the logistics of what I'm planning. "Which is why I arranged for him to sign in on video with Grayson. The whole thing will be broadcast on the main screen so everyone can see him and the babies."
"He's going to say yes," Maceo says with absolute certainty. "There's no question about that."
"Grayson has the ring and everything," I continue, patting my jacket pocket to make sure the small velvet box is still there. "But I'm going to get down on one knee in front of everyone. I want everyone here to see exactly who I'm in love with, to understand the strength and beauty of our pack and everything we've built together."
We make our way out to the main venue, and I'm struck by how perfect everything looks. The decorations showcase artwork from Starfalls, the lighting creating an atmosphere that's everything I need it to be, the crowd representing the best of what our company has accomplished. Employees, investors,gaming journalists, and industry professionals all mingle together, their excitement palpable as they wait for the official launch announcement.
The countdown begins, and I find myself caught up in the genuine enthusiasm of the crowd. These are people who believe in what we've created, who understand that Starfalls represents something special in the gaming world. When the confetti falls and the cheers erupt, I feel a surge of pride that has nothing to do with money or recognition and everything to do with artistic achievement.
They bring me up onto the stage, and suddenly I'm looking out at faces that represent years of hard work, creativity, and shared vision. The microphone feels solid in my hand as I prepare to address the crowd.
"I have a few announcements to make," I begin, my voice carrying clearly through the sound system. "Starting next week, we'll be reconfiguring some of our office space and opening up opportunities for more creative collaboration. We're going back to the basics, really getting back to the grassroots approach that made this company special in the first place."
The crowd responds enthusiastically, and I can see employees nodding with approval. They remember the early days when everyone's voice mattered, when innovation came from unexpected places rather than corporate mandates.
"I'll be trying to be on site as much as possible," I continue, "as well as offering remote opportunities and flexible arrangements that allow us to become the company I always envisioned. We're going to prioritize creativity over bureaucracy, innovation over safe choices."
More cheers and excitement ripple through the crowd as I pick up a champagne glass, raising it in preparation for what I know will be the most controversial part of my speech. This part Ididn't run past Luther or Grayson, but I know it's necessary for our future.
"This wasn't an easy decision to make, but I think it's essential for bringing back the vision of that small startup I truly did create in my dorm room," I announce, my voice growing stronger with conviction. "I know I keep saying it, but nothing starts without action. Next year, I will be moving away from having an executive board and outside investors, which means our creative decisions will be ours and ours alone!"
The excitement in the room is electric, but I can see Gerald and some of the other board members pushing through the crowd with expressions of shock and anger. Gerald reaches the front of the stage just as I expected he would.
