AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My mind goes blank as she makes her speech and before I know it, another three women have taken the stage.
“... after working for the New York Bears hockey team as their fundraising manager for a year, Holly branched out, offering her services for free to help smaller organizations to raise money. We had hundreds of people, not only charities but also families, contacting us and putting her name forward. So this award is well deserved, and I’d like to ask Holly Ramsay to come to the stage. Please give her a round of applause.”
A chorus of whistles and whooping comes from the alphas at the table to our right as a beautiful young woman with long, blonde hair stands. I know she’s a little older than me and I not only recognize her as the wife of the owner of the New York Bears hockey team, Aiden Ramsay, because their love story was printed in a magazine I read a few years ago. But she’s also best friends with Grace, Harlow, and Bardot since all the sisters know alphas on the hockey team.
She’s also done so much for others.
I feel inferior.
I design sex toys.
I don’t deserve to be here.
“Don’t!” Walker growls in my ear. “You deserve this. Your ideas. Your products give joy to not only omegas, but betas and alphas, too. You. Deserve. This.”
I press my hand on my heart and breathe. You can do this.
“Our penultimate award tonight goes to our youngest entrepreneur, not only for tonight, but ever. At twenty-two years old, this recipient has changed the world for omegas.” The World? “And our website nearly crashed with the amount of votes this young lady got.”
“We had betas and alphas giving us glowing reports. But it was the other omegas who told us how her products got them through their heats. Others who told us they were studying and wanted a career before finding their packs. The predominant word we heard from all the omegas was ‘time.’ Time to do something for themselves before the inevitable. Congratulations, Eleanor Darling. But first, I’d like to welcome an omega to the stage to hand you your award and say a few words. This omega not only loves your products, she voted for you herself. I’d like to welcome Olivia Lines back to the stage.”
I wipe at my watery eyes as I press my finger over my mouth to hold back a sob.
“Olivia Lines is giving me an award.” The words are breathy as I stare into space.
Jake nudges me with his foot. His eyes are teary too as he smiles at me.
“We did it,” I say.
“You did it,” he whispers.
I shake my head. “I couldn’t have done it without you, and I love you for everything you did for me.” I look at Walker and then Gabe. “For all of us.”
“You’re perfect, my sweet, in everything you do.” Gabe says. His head nods to the stage. “And this is your reward. Your recognition.”
“My pack is my reward,” I reply. An overwhelming amount of love is pushed through my bond, and I push some back for them before I listen to the emcee.
“Welcome back Olivia.”
“Oh, my god.” My cheeks sting as Walker presses a kiss on my temple. “I can’t believe that Olivia Lines is giving me... me an award.”
He smiles. “Because what you developed changed omegas’ lives.”
“But I never expected...”
“Shh. You’re amazing Eleanor Darling. I’m in awe of you.”
“You’re a successful businessman,” I whisper.
“I wasn’t as successful as you when I was twenty-two years old.”
I smile and turn to the stage. “And now I’d like to welcome Eleanor Darling. Owner of Omegas in Heaven. Apparently the name is twofold, not only to represent those omegas she helps with her toys, but to remember her mother, who died when she was young.”
Tears roll down my cheeks as Walker stands behind me and pulls back the chair. “Ava should’ve been here. She owns ten percent,” I murmur.
Walker laughs. “Stop taking the limelight off yourself and go get your award.”
I laugh as I try to hold back more tears.
