Page 85 of For the First Time
“For the last few years, I’ve been working on bringing up a case against the OC.”She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other as she waited for us to absorb her words.“Not merely the local, city one, but all government funded compounds across the country.”
Okay, her presence was starting to make more sense.
“I would like you to take my information public.”
She paused, raising a single eyebrow, apparently waiting for some sort of response.
“I think I’m going to need more information,” I admitted.
Lilith nodded, like she’d been expecting the request.“Bartholomew has filled me in on your case, on your actions to protect your omega friend.While you’re being punished for such actions, there are plenty of omegas and alphas who didn’t have someone like you to protect them.Plenty that were abused and rejected by the system put in place to protect them.I’ve spent the last few years collecting cases and names and instances of such abuse.”
“Why not come forward, then?”Everett asked.“Yourself or one of the other cases?”
“Mostly because of the OC.For the alphas, it’s a fear of what the OC controls.Needless to say, getting on the bad side means you’ll effectively never pack up with an omega—that’s if the OC’s lawyers don’t scare them into not talking.And the omegas aren’t given the right platform.The ones that are willing to speak out aren’t the right spokesperson for a cause this big.It’s not as easy as just taking a disgruntled customer and putting them behind a camera.I’m talking about being the face of a movement.”
“You want Eve to be that face?”Oaks asked.
I stared at him, shocked he would suggest the idea.No way was she meaning—
“I do,” she agreed.“A beta who devoted her whole life to the OC?Who is bonded in a pack?Is an only beta in a family of other designations?Who broke the OC’s rules to protect an omega and then is fired for the act?”
“Let go.”
“Pardon?”
I licked my bottom lip, trying to infuse some sort of moisture back into it.“I wasn’t fired.I was let go due to low budget and over staffing.”I used air quotes on that last bit although it was technically, and legally, the truth.
“Right.”Lilith waved a hand in the air, like she was swatting my words.“The reasoning doesn’t matter.Or it would’ve mattered except for Adam.It’s because of him, and this case that he’s bringing against you on the OC’s behalf, that truly puts you in the best position.”
“How come?”
“Wouldn’t the spotlight on Eve be worse for her?”Everett asked.“For her case, I mean.”
Lilith shook her head.“I’m not referring to her case with Bartholomew.I’m referring to the position she’s in to take a stance against the OC.One of the reasons that it’s impossible to find the right person to face off against the compound is because the OC silences them.Upon firing—not being let go—confidentiality, or some sort of NDA clause, is enforced.They didn’t do that with Eve.”
“Why not?”Oaks was leaning forward, nearly laying on top of the table, like he was sucked into the story that Lilith was weaving.
“I assume Adam’s ego is to blame.He wanted to have a case, something loud and boisterous to ensure he remains in office.NDAs work both ways.In order for Eve to not comment on anything, the topic needs to remain undisclosed.You can’t have either of those if you want a public spectacle of a case.”
“Why would Adam set his sights on Eve?”Everett asked.His hand came to my other thigh, just resting like Atlas.With both males touching me, sitting so close, I was nearly starting to sweat.
“Happenstance.She was a beta, unbonded in a pack at the time, who had been let go by the OC for reasons I’m sure he considers valid.”
For the first time, Bartholomew spoke up, adding, “We also can’t reject the notion that he did remember Eve from Hannah Zeal’s case.If he recognized you, or remembered you, it is quite possible he had a vendetta against you.Unfortunately, that would be nearly impossible to prosecute unless he wrote down how much he hated you and the exact steps he took to hurt you in a diary.”
Considering the macho-alpha vibes that Adam wanted to stereotype, I doubted he was expressing his emotions.Even his negative ones.
I didn’t understand the alpha-strong persona that Adam and the other designation elitists like to tout.Then again, it wasn’tforme.That persona was supposed to be a comfort to omegas.Proof that the alpha and pack they bonded to could protect them.Except, the alphas weren’t protecting omegas, they were just beating against other alphas.
Sure, omegas wanted safety, but safety in terms of their whole body, including their heart and soul and passions.That was what the alphas like Adam didn’t understand.They merely wanted to “protect” omegas from bodily harm.Which was ironic considering most bodily dangers to omegas came from alphas.
“Whatever the reason,” Lilith continued, her gaze still locked on me, “this means that you are in a perfect position to fight back.”
My fingers twitched, wishing I had grabbed a notebook and pen to bring with me.I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t.I knew I was coming to a meeting with Bartholomew, albeit Lilith’s presence was a surprise.
I reached out to the hands on my thighs, squeezing them like they were anchors to keep me from panicking.
“What does that mean exactly?”Everett asked.“To fight back?”
