Beta Complex-Chapter 52: You Should’ve Taken Extra Measures

Chapter 52: You Should’ve Taken Extra Measures
The curtains of the floor to ceiling windows are pulled to the side, allowing natural light to illuminate the modern office room. Classical violin music plays from a hidden speaker inside the walls. The only occupant hums along to it, enjoying the tranquil noise. Only for it to be interrupted.
The double doors that lead inside slams into the wall behind it with a loud thud and Zander storms in, his trench coat fluttering behind him. His dark eyebrows are set deep in a furrow, his lips pressed together in a firm line. His thick aura encompasses the space of the room, but he either doesn’t notice, or he just doesn’t care. Sitting behind his black wooden desk, his father raises an eyebrow at his rude entrance. He shifts, the leather of his seat creaking as the suffocating pheromones fill his senses.
"You seem upset." The older man sighs, holding in the urge to challenge the dominant alpha in his space. His black hair is styled back, his green eyes tired behind his thin framed glasses as he takes in the poor sight of seething offspring. He sets down the packet of stapled papers he was reading through and links his hands together. His dress shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, the silver watch on his wrist gleaming from the overhead light. "Please don’t take it out on my furniture."
Zander huffs out a breath as he paces a few feet away. His hand clench and unclench as he tries to reign in his temper. It’s hard, harder than it is for others because of his dominant gene. "I’m fucking livid," He scoffs, raising a hand to yank a tuff of his hair. He drops his arm and spins on the back of his heels to face his father. When the older man glares at him, he takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. He does this several times until his domineering aura settles down to a wisp and he feels sane enough to speak without snapping.
He drops down in the chair across from his dad and leans back as he rests his chin in his hands, his legs spread wide. Anger still lingers, but he can’t think better now than he did before.
You already have a boyfriend. I didn’t think you were that type of person. Ethan’s voice comes to the front of his mind and he clenches his jaw. If Zander knew Ethan would cut him off like that, he never would have showed up today. Then again, he never would have known Chris was there, either. When a growl slips from his throat, he quickly swallows it down.
"What’s the issue?" His dad asks. He reaches up to pull off his glasses and sets them down beside his work papers. He rubs his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, blinking to clear the blurry tiredness from his vision. "What could possibly send my son into a hissy fit?"
"A hissy fit?" Zander bites out, "I’m not a child."
"No, you’re not." His father replies, "Yet you’re letting your emotions control you like one."
Zander clenches his eyes shut as he takes another breath. If he opens his mouth now, he’ll just blow up on the older man even though he’s not the source of his anger. After gathering his thoughts, he blinks at the man behind the desk.
"Peter Young." As soon as the name leaves Zander’s lips, his father frowns. So he does remember him, then. Zander leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees and his fingers linked together. "He came to me late one night and showed me a new drug that can help betas heal faster than their normal rate."
Zekiel Harlight crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his leather chair. "He doesn’t seem to know when to give up. I didn’t think he’d go to you after I dismissed his idea." He rubs his chin in thought, "I already cut his funding and made him drop -"
"Yeah, well, he didn’t." Zander cuts him off. "Instead he ran off to Florence and they are all for it." Zander ends in a raised voice. "How the hell can a political figure -"
"It’s all about connections, Zander. You know this." His father snaps. "Florence has many others in the palm of his hand. If he thinks it’s something worth investing in, then he’ll have it done in a second flat." He snaps his fingers for emphasis.
"You should’ve taken extra measures." Zander grits out between clenched teeth.
"How do you know he switched over to Florence?" Zekiel asks.
Zanders upper lip curls in distaste as he recalls Chris’ stupid threat. Only he can’t tell his father that. It’ll bring up too many questions, especially about the beta he’s been trying to woo. "Because I saw him there. I went over to the Florence’s to talk to Chris so we can put our grudge behind us." He lies without batting an eye. "We can’t let them go through with this. It’s too dangerous."
"I know, son." Zekiel pinches the bridge of his nose. "I’ll make some calls and get this settled." He nods his head, but the expression on his face doesn’t ease Zander’s worries. "I wouldn’t depend on getting any results, though."
"Let me help." Zander says. If his father doesn’t think he can truly do anything about it, then Zander will make sure they can.
His father arches an eyebrow as he sits up straight and leans on his desk. "You want to help?" There’s a lilt to his voice that grates on his son’s nerves. "You never wanted to partake in situations like this before. What’s changed?" He suddenly smiles, "Is it because of this omega you’ve been seeing? How much longer do you plan on keeping them a secret?"
"If I’m going to take over this place one day," Zander ignores the older man’s probing, "then I need to get more involved. Starting with this." Zander jabs his finger onto the table.
"Very well." Zekiel chuckles, "I approve."