Page 3 of Omega's Pretend Mate
I smiled. “I’m good. Busy most days. It’s a lot of work being a lawyer.”
Grandmama took my hand and patted it. “I’m sure things will settle down for you once you find a nice alpha dear. Then you can devote your time to children.”
“I plan to keep working once I’m mated, grandmama.”
Grandfather snorted. “An omega your age should be focused on raising a family, not work.”
“There’s plenty of time to do both,” I replied. “I know you’re eager to see more great-grandchildren, but we all know you’re going to pull through and live at least another twenty years or more.”
He huffed a sarcastic laugh, but the smile he fought told me that he appreciated it.
“I am glad to see you stepping back though,” I said. “Handing things off to dad and aunt Evelyn will let you take some nice vacations as you recover.”
Grandmama beamed. “We couldn’t be prouder of them. Instead of fighting like alphas tend to do, they both took to their roles without fuss.”
Grandfather nodded as one of my cousins stepped in to retrieve her sleeping toddler from his lap. “Evelyn really was the right choice. She’s done an outstanding job as CFO, and I know she’ll make sound decisions for you all.”
Grandmama nodded. “Yes. Young alphas can be a bit rash, and she’ll keep them in line.”
“And omegas shouldn’t worry about money,” grandfather added. “That’s an alpha’s job.”
My stomach dropped. They hadn’t said it directly, but they didn’t need to. My exclusion was not an accident. My age didn’t matter. If grandfather thought that omegas should leave finances to their alphas, then that went double for unmated ones.
I wouldn’t be granted oversight of my own money, all because of my gender.
I forced a smile, but grandmama must have sensed my displeasure. She patted my hand again. “Don’t worry dear. I’m sure you’ll find a nice alpha to settle down with soon. Surely there must be one in that law office you work in. You just need to let him know you’re interested. Alphas can be dense like that sometimes. Then you can start focusing on a family.”
Thoughts of one particular alpha came to mind. Christian Jeffries was undoubtedly my work crush, with his dirty-blond hair, blue eyes and broad chest. I had to control my urge to groan in appreciation every time he walked past in a suit. If there was ever a man I’d wanted to fuck a baby into me, it was him.
Too bad he’d only ever been completely professional with me.
I swallowed thickly, “Of course.”
We made small talk for several more minutes, and I quickly steered them away from the topics of money and my love life to the experimental and off-label treatments that would surely help grandfather beat his cancer.
Finally grandfather grew visibly tired, and he was ushered from the room by both grandmama and Bennett, leaving me alone with the knowledge that I was once again seen as lesser due to the fact that I was an omega.
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
I was annoyed, but really, I didn’t have anything to worry about. Grandfather had overseen my trust until then, and I had little concern that aunt Evelyn would have a problem with my requests. I only made two per year in order to pay property taxes on my house. The rest of my expenses were easily covered between my recurring payments and my salary.
It was hardly what anybody would consider an extravagant use of money.
I noticed that the room had cleared considerably while I was talking to my grandparents.
“Gabe,” mama called from where she stood next to my dad. “Get your coat dear, the car will arrive in a few minutes to take us home.”
I nodded, and watched as they turned back to my brother Josh, his wife and their children.
I wove through the remaining relatives and out into the hall. I was almost to the small coat room when I heard a shrill complaint come from the library.
“It’s not fair!”
I froze. That was the voice of my cousin Ivy, Evelyn’s daughter. If her mom was the epitome of a micromanager, then Ivy was that of entitled brat. She was only a year younger than me, but threw tantrums like a child if she didn’t get her way. Even her alpha-husband and her own children knew to give into her rather than deal with her whining.
I blamed Evelyn. She’d treated Ivy like a perfect princess her entire life. She was her one and only child since her mate Donovan had died giving birth. Because of that she’d given Ivy everything she wanted, and the word ‘no’ was enough to send my cousin into a meltdown that would make Chernobyl look like a minor incident.
I was glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of her current tirade, until she said something that made ice flow through my veins.
