Hate
"Sir Zenon, there is a package addressed to you." The voice came from a young woman standing outside Zenon's office door. She was his secretary for three years.
Zenon, who had his attention glued to his monitor, spoke without raising his head. "Come in."
When the woman came in, she was greeted with the sound of a keyboard as they were hit aggressively. Her eyes immediately found Zenon behind his desk, immersed in his work and yet he still looked dashing. The sunlight that penetrated the glass window behind elevates his charm more, that the secretary can't help but blush.
"It was sent from your brother, Sir Zaidan," she informed. With that said, Zenon finally pulled his eyes away from his work and looked at the package his secretary brought. It was a small box, a foot big, coated with a Christmas wrap.
Zenon let out an annoyed sigh. It's been a while since he heard from his brother as he was living abroad with his wife after he got married. He did say last year that he'd be home in this year's Christmas gathering. But instead of his flesh, a package arrived. What is he thinking this time?
Zenon signaled her to put it on his desk which she instantly obliged then left the office. Zenon continued with his work until lunch break. When he was about to leave his desk, the box caught his eyes and so he decided to unwrap it, thinking what could be inside.
Revealing what was inside, Zenon fiercely searched for his brother's contact in his phone, pressed the call, and put it beside his ear, listening to the ringing sound as he impatiently tapped his foot on the marble floor.
"Well if it isn't my baby bro," a vibrant voice was heard from the other line of the call.
"Baby bro, my ass." Zenon felt like the nerves were showing in his temples with his brother's words.
Zaidan just laughed gleefully. "Hot-headed as always. I assume you've seen it."
Zenon picked up the piece of paper that was inside the box, "Sure did. It says 'It's a boy!'," he read apathetically.
"Is this some sort of a gender reveal? Are you having a second child?" Zenon questioned but Zaidan let out a playful laugh which didn't sit right with Zenon. His brother was always plotting behind his back. What is it this time?
"Oh we're planning to."
"Then what's with this?"
"My son, your nephew was in New York. I'll leave him in your care for a few weeks, yeah? We'll make a new one for him to play with. See you on Christmas."
"Zaidan! Zaidan, you crazy一"
The call ended.
His phone rang again, thinking it was his brother, Zenon answered it promptly, only hearing a different voice this time. "Sir, it's–it's Jake," a nervous young man was on the other line.
Zenon let out an aggressive sigh, guessing what trouble might have happened, "He's gone again, isn't he?" he asked flatly, which Jake confirmed right.
That stubborn omega! It's not that he cared but his father was firm on telling him to look out for Kaisen. Considering the threats towards the Acostas and him, Kaisen shouldn't be out and about especially without a guard. Additionally, his tactful brother even sent his own son alone without prior notice. Didn't father inform him of the situation?
As if his problems weren't enough, his phone rang for the third time that afternoon. It's a text message this time from Zaidan.
'The men kinda lost Amir. Scold me later.'
Zenon took deep breaths, holding himself not to slam his phone on his desk.
Unbelievable. He better give reasonable explanations when he gets back or he'll never speak to him again.
Kael was at a loss for words. The child's little arms, even his legs, completely hugged Kael's leg while sitting on his shoe. What in the world! Which irresponsible parents are not teaching their child not to approach strangers? He scanned the crowd to look for anyone who must've been looking for a child, that's when he realized that people were staring while the child didn't stop wailing.
When he looked down, Kael could see the snot cascading from the child's nose so he asked for a tissue from the pretzel store, crouched down to level the child. "Hey. Did you lose your mama?" Kael asked in his softest voice, he was born with a soft voice, a lullaby based on Alec.
The kid immediately stopped wailing but the tears kept on coming, Kael tried to wipe his face clean. While doing so, Kael was biting the side of his cheek to prevent himself from pinching the child's pink plump cheeks, its wet eyelashes from the tears compliments his round blue eyes, pink pouty lips and pointy nose.
Gigil is the only word that could describe Kael is feeling at the moment. If he were to get married, how many children isn't even an issue as long as they are as cute as this one. The father must have an exceptional gene to be passed on to his kiddies.
Kael chuckled with his silly thoughts.
"Mama, ah-am." Kael snapped back at the cuteness of the child's voice. He had stopped crying, and was now pointing at his mouth.
"Oh you're hungry?" Kael paused to think whether it's alright to give the child food. What if the child is sensitive? By the look of his clothes, they aren't common. Ugh! Why is there no one looking for him?
"Young sir! Oh my heavens, I finally found you!"
Kael looked up to gaze at the owner of the voice. He was only a few feet away thus Kael could see how haggard he looked, with beads of sweat permeating his temples, shriveled black suit, and his shoulders were falling and rising harshly.
"I'm so sorry if he caused you trouble, mister." They approached apologetically.
Kael rose from his feet. "No, not at all. He's an apple to the eyes after all."
Kael watched them bow as an acknowledgement. The men peeked to the child behind Kael but the child refused to even glance at them, instead he clung to Kael tightly, his face buried and eyes closed.
"Young sir, look, we bought your favorite lollies." Kael felt awkward by the sudden tenderness of the man's voice while one of them pulled out some lollipops in different colors. "Ms. Sato is waiting for you in the car."
"NO! Want mama!"
Kael doesn't know what to say. Would it be right to interfere though?
"A-ah we also bring tamtam, he一"
"NO!" Another man pulled out a white bunny stuffed toy but stopped midway when the child rejected the man talking even before he finished his sentence.
"How about chocolate?"
"NO!"
"Cupcakes."
"NO!"
"Your favorite toys?"
"NO!"
Kael held himself from laughing as he watched them pull out everything they brought from foods to toys just to coax the child. These men were buffed, Kael could see those muscles under their suits, if they weren't holding lollipops, and stuff toys right now, they would look intimidating. Kael could even read their thoughts behind their simulated smiles. 'We're dead!' 'We're in deepshit if this young'un refuses to come with them.'
"Take them both."
Kael's back straightened at the sound of the voice. It was that familiar cold, emotionless voice he was wishing not to hear today. Just a couple minutes of freedom and now it's gone.
He was placed in a different car from Zenon while the child refused to be separated from Kael. During the ride, Kael learned that the child is Zenon's older brother's son, in easier term Amir 一the boy's name 一 was Zenon's nephew. This cute boy is that moody's nephew.
Kael looked at the child who was currently munching the pretzels he bought.
The ride back was quick. When the door's car opened, Zenon was already standing outside, along with a dozen men in suits, and Kael could smell the aggressive scent he's giving off. It's true that Kael was a dominant omega, hell he could dominate alphas without difficulty. However, there is always an exception and an omega like him is supposed to submit to an alpha by nature.
Kael hates it.
"Amir, come here," Zenon called in a soft tone, it contradicts the angry pheromones he is emitting.
Hearing that, Amir crawled in the backseat towards the door, Zenon picked him up. If the situation is different, Kael would definitely ask someone to take a photo of them together. They looked like father and son because of the resemblance.
"Uncle would play with Amir later. Why don't you play with Ms. Sato inside?"
Amir glanced at Kael with teary eyes. "Mama?"
Zenon shot him a glare which Kael bravely encountered with the same intimacy. "Uncle will talk to him first, hmm."
Zenon signaled one of the men to take Amir, who immediately obliged, took the child and walked inside the mansion. The men also disperse in a flick of his hand which makes the two of them outside the mansion.
"You weren't this stubborn before but you really are what they say, dumb and careless." His voice was deep, sharp, and cold. Zenon's aggressive pheromones were pressing on Kael to his seat.
Kael felt a surge of anger within him. Is this how this alpha thinks of his twin? Yes, Kael never met him. Yes, Kaisen ghosted him after all that trouble of coming all the way from Germany. But there is no way Kael would let anyone badmouth his twin, let alone letting Kaisen put up with this marriage with an alpha who looked down on him.
Kael clenched his palm into a fist. If he is fast enough, he could land a punch in that handsome face of his.
"If it weren't for my father, you would probably be groveling on the streets so use that pretty head of yours properly. Do you think I like the fact that you're in my house? You are just here because my father insisted so cut me some slack and just do what you're told."