The question took me off guard. Being a male Omega comes with heavy societal bias, and for a moment, I couldn't tell whether Mr. Jonas was just curious or if he disapproved of Tanya being around someone like me.
But then he smiled and said something that made my heart ease.
"Relax. I'm not judging you. I was just intrigued. Tanya won't stop talking about you."
I exhaled a quiet breath of relief. So that was it.
I chuckled, shaking my head lightly. "Tanya and I have been friends for four years. I guess it's natural."
Mr. Jonas looked at me with an unreadable expression, his voice carrying a complex undercurrent of gratitude and pain.
"That's not all," he said. "You're the first real friend who stayed, even after learning what she is."
That stopped me. I hadn't known that. Tanya and I had been close, but I only found out about her sub-gender recently. We never really delved into each other's pasts, probably because I didn't want mine questioned either.
"She's always so open with people," I said hesitantly. "At work, she talks to everyone. I assumed she had a lot of friends."
Mr. Jonas gave a dry, gentle laugh and shook his head.
"Tanya was bullied mercilessly after her designation test. She was harassed and isolated. Not even the teachers stepped in. I transferred her to five different schools, but it made no difference. After that, she shut herself off. She stopped trusting people."
I understood that kind of loneliness. My own experience hadn't involved harassment; it was more like erasure. People recoiled. I was ignored, exiled, like a sickness that might spread. And then, one curious Alpha decided I was worth chasing.
My thoughts drifted for a second before Mr. Jonas continued.
"She hid her sub-gender in college records and took high-dose suppressants. Once or twice, she overdosed. She smiled through it all. Gave people the version of herself that was palatable. But she never let anyone in… until you."
I looked down at the plate in my hands, heat rising to my face.
"I didn't realize it meant that much," I said quietly. "She's always been a great friend to me. I guess I just wanted to return the favor."
Mr. Jonas patted my back, firm but kind. "For years, I tried to help her see the good in people, but she couldn't trust anyone. Then you came along. You're the influence she needed."
I blushed deeper as he added with a teasing grin, "For a while, I even thought she had a crush on you. She talks about you constantly."
The plate nearly slipped from my hands.
"No, that's not—"
He laughed, shaking his head. "Relax. I asked her directly. She told me she didn't know how to act around a real friend, so it came off as strange. She just doesn't have the social script for it yet."
A soft smile tugged at my lips. Tanya, awkward in friendship, blunt in honesty, and yet so deeply earnest.
"She's a lovely person," I said as we turned toward the dining table with more dishes. "Someday, someone's going to love her exactly the way she deserves."
We returned to the kitchen to fetch dessert. Mr. Jonas was quiet for a moment, then said,
"She also mentioned Mr. D'Souza. Told me she met an Alpha who didn't lose control when he caught her scent, and who apologized for scaring her. That meant something to her."
So that was why she invited Fred. They barely interacted, but apparently, that one moment stuck with her.
"I can see that," I said. "Fred's a great guy. He's sincere, and a little goofy, but all heart."
Mr. Jonas smiled. "So is Mr. Walker. He makes a good match with you."
I froze.
That was… unexpected. Most people told me Robbie was out of my league. That he didn't belong with someone like me.
My face heated up again, and I didn't reply. Instead, I busied myself arranging the plates while Mrs. Teena called everyone to the table.
Dinner went by faster than expected. Fred and Mr. Jonas immediately picked up their music conversation where they left off. Tanya, her mother, and Robbie chatted about everything from real estate to weird hotel guests.
Meanwhile, Twen was dozing off against me, his tiny fists rubbing his eyes.
"I think he's out," I said, stroking his hair.
"You can lay him down in my room," Tanya offered quickly. She stood, and I followed her down the hallway.
"You can put him on my bed," she said softly.
I laid Twen down gently and pulled a blanket over him. His lips parted slightly in sleep, completely at peace. Tanya knelt beside him for a moment, her fingers brushing the hair from his forehead.
"He must've been exhausted," she whispered.
"Yeah," I said. "But I'm glad he had fun today."
"Me too."
She smiled at me, but then her expression turned curious.
"Tony… can I ask you something?"
I looked at her. "You don't need permission. Just ask."
She bit her lower lip, hesitating for just a moment.
"Why did you choose our CEO over Mr. D'Souza?"