Page 17 of Omega's Midlife Love
“Worse.” He paused, and I looked up to see that he’d slumped slightly, the professional mask dropping. “I’ve known Alan for most of my adult life. I started working for him when I was thirty and he was still a young alpha, fresh out of business school and expecting to make waves. Back then he hired me as a house manager with the intent of having a mate and a family. He’d purchased a gorgeous home, and decided he wanted the full staff to take care of things. But as time went on the dates with handsome omegas dwindled, then trickled to nothing. Clarence and his family meant more and more to Alan. The house staff shrank to myself, a maid, a chef and his assistant. He didn’t need more than that. I could double as chauffeur, and the maid could rotate cleaning the unused rooms rather than have the entire house fresh every day.
“Still, Alan was happy. He doted on Robert. He was the son he realized he’d never have, and he knew that eventually Robert would get everything. And Alan was ok with it. Between Clarence and Virginia, and Robert, he seemed to accept the fact that he’d forever be a bachelor.”
Victor sighed. “Something broke in Alan the day Clarence and Virginia died. Absent a mate, they were his world. But he put on a brave face, forced down the pain and decided to support Robert however he could. He knew Clarence would want that, and he knew that he wouldn’t be the only one hurting.”
He shook his head. “I honestly don’t know where this Robert came from. I would never have expected this level of narcissism from the man I’d known for so long. Part of me wonders if the grief was too much, or if somebody’s dripping poison in his ear. Maybe he was really this way all along, and hid it well. But it seems that the more Alan tried to help—to support his nephew—the more Robert pushed back.
“Alan didn’t just lose his brother and his wife, he lost his nephew too in a way, and the business he’d dedicated his life to. The only people who ever really mattered to him were gone, and the ghost of what remained seemed intent on hurting him however possible.”
I frowned, then blew out a breath. “What about you? Do you think Robert is still trying to sabotage him?”
Victor spread his hands, palms up. “Honestly? I don’t know. Do I think he’s capable of it? Absolutely. Alan’s right in that the connections are there. Is he actually doing it, or is this the continued fallout as people talk and rumors spread? That I can’t answer.”
A notification sounded on Victor’s watch. He stood, took a deep breath, and was the picture of professionalism again. “The servers for tonight should be arriving any minute. I’ll show them around, then I’ll bring them to you to go over the menu.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
He turned to leave, then paused. “I don’t think I need to state that what you heard today is privileged information.”
“It came from a place of trust,” I stated. “What kind of man would I be if I violated that?”
Victor nodded. “I’m glad Alan opened up to you. He needs more friends. He’s been alone now for far too long.”
I smiled, but didn’t know what to say.
Victor studied me a moment, then walked out.
If Mr. Beischel needed a friend, then I would be that, no matter how much the omega part of me wanted more.
