Karter

KARTER

I UPGRADED MY ticket from business class to first class at the airport. It wasn't something I made a habit out of, even though it was within my budget to do so. I would normally consider it a waste of money, especially on such a short flight. We'd only be in the air for a couple of hours. But I knew Lucas couldn't afford it, and I was afraid that if I had to interact with him before I'd calmed down I would potentially land myself in prison. The pitiful sadness in Cameron's eyes and voice when he'd thought I'd been dating someone else hadn't come close to fading from my mind.

I wasn't famous enough to be chased or stalked by paparazzi for gossip rags. People with special interests in business or beauty, like Cameron's friend at the restaurant, would most likely know me, or at least know my mother. But I wasn't exactly a well-known celebrity. I went out in public without being recognized on a near daily basis.

I knew exactly what Lucas had done. What his motivation for doing that was, I didn't know and I didn't care. Whatever remaining scrap of respect or tolerance I'd had for him was no longer with us.

I couldn't even begin thinking about what I wanted to do in terms of working together. I was the VP of Marketing, so the directors and managers who worked under me were in charge of advertising and branding. I made the plans and helped to come up with themes, but I didn't directly choose the models or photographers we hired. If I did that, I would be micromanaging. But I wasn't sure I could stand to have another conversation with him, work-related or not. I'd put it on the back burner while the brand event was going on and address it in the following week.

All of us from the company who'd been dispatched to work the event had rooms booked in the same hotel. I didn't bother waiting around to carpool with anyone or get dragged into having drinks or any other nonsense. I wanted to go to sleep. Dealing with Cameron's reaction and the emotional backlash of Lucas' idiocy had drained my energy. No matter what the reasoning or motivation, I couldn't forgive someone for putting that look on my sweet little omega's face, or that wounded tone in his voice.

When my taxi arrived at the hotel, I checked in with the front desk. The concierge, a middle-aged beta, knew who I was and immediately showered me with suggestions for special treatment, which I declined. He gave me the key card for my suite and told me to reach out to him directly for absolutely anything, which I promised to do. I wasn't in the mood for anything, but it made sense for the hotel to want to please me, since our company always stayed here when we came to the city for whatever reason.

Once I'd made it into my suite, I took a quick shower and practically collapsed into bed. It was late. I knew Cameron would be asleep already, but I sent him a quick text letting him know that I missed him already and that I hope he slept well.

The first day of the event went off without a hitch. My team had worked hard incorporating our logo into merchandise to give away, as well as all the signage and map and agenda elements. We'd even provided the catering company with branded cutlery and cups.

A high-up executive on our product team made a big announcement regarding some of our new and upcoming products, and speakers from different parts of the company talked about the brand vision and plans we had for the future.

When all of the scheduled events were over, I made my way back to the hotel. I'd been invited out to dinner with some other executives, but I'd declined. The only reason I ever saw employees after work was when it was my own team, and I was trying to encourage familiarity between myself and them. There wasn't a point to that here. Plus, I'd somehow been able to avoid Lucas all day and didn't want to break that streak.

Relaxing, I ordered room service and turned the TV on to a sitcom. Only a few minutes of surface level jokes and laugh tracks passed before there was a knock at the door. The service here was incredibly quick, apparently.

I rose from the love seat to let them in, but froze when I heard a familiar whine from outside my door.

"Kaaarteer! I didn't know you had a suite ! Totally unfair!" Lucas' sing-song voice didn't have a note of guilt or repentance. I hadn't responded to the message he'd sent with the link to the article, so he didn't have any idea how I felt or that I knew exactly what he had done. He knocked again, a bit louder this time. "I know you're in there, I heard you tell Chambers that you were staying in tonight!" Chambers was the executive who had invited me out. It wasn't his fault the verbal invitation to me had been eavesdropped on.

Strolling over to the phone on the bedside table, I dialed the number the concierge had provided me with upon my arrival.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Morrison. What can I help you with?" I could tell from the accent that I'd directly reached the guy I'd spoken with when I'd checked in.

"There's someone at my front door being very disruptive and refusing to leave. I'm not sure if they're a fan that followed me from the event, or maybe paparazzi hoping to get an interview? I've had a problem with that lately."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Mr. Morrison!" He sounded genuinely distressed, like something so incredibly uncouth happening under his watch was absolutely out of the question. "I'm sending security up right away! And I do see the request you put in for room service is being worked on right now, so we'll have your dinner up just as soon as we possibly can. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this."

"It's alright," I assured him. "I appreciate your prompt response."

"Oh, of course. And please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything else, no matter how small."

"I won't."

Pulling a chair up to the door, I took a seat, crossing my ankle over my knee as I waited. Lucas was still yapping there. As I listened to security confront him, and his insistence that he was checked into the hotel too, I couldn't help but smile. As they took him away, his outraged comments bounced and echoed off the hallway walls. Music to my ears.

My phone vibrated with a text. When I opened it, it was a picture from Cameron. He'd taken a selfie with Ty in front of a pond at a park I recognized as being right near his apartment complex. The background was filled with ducks pecking at shreds of lettuce on the ground, a half-filled bag of it clutched in Ty's little hand. They were both smiling, with Cam kneeling down so they were shoulder to shoulder.

Do you have any idea how adorable the two of you are?

I sent the message after saving the photo to my phone gallery. It was nearly criminal that anyone could take such a cute picture. The fact that Ty looked like a lowercase version to Cameron's capital letter only enhanced it.

Maybe… I can't wait to talk to you tonight.

His message was light and flirty, which relieved me. It meant he wasn't harboring stress or unhappiness from the night before. Which meant I'd succeeded in convincing him that he had nothing to worry about. I may have been a marketing executive in my career, but since I'd met Cameron I couldn't shake the feeling that my real job was keeping him safe and happy.

As soon as you're able, I'm ready for you.