“I promise the child will have a fantastic life. We will find Zeller a husband who accepts your offspring as his own. And if you agree to terms, we will give you enough money to set yourself up somewhere and have a dignified life, not dominated by manual labor… You could attend college or start a business.”
The man was such a snobby prick. “For the record, there is dignity in manual labor. Or any type of work. But more importantly, I can’t—”
“I had my people research you. I know how you grew up, how much your family struggled. We are handing you the opportunity to not have to worry about money again.”
Valentin shook his head vehemently. “You’re not hearing me, Mr. Parkenson. There is no amount you could offer me that would make me leave Zeller. There is no life I want that doesn’t include him. No business or school. Nothing. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? How much I love him? Don’t you want that for your son?”
“Love is cheap. He can get that from any alpha. But the other things I want for him, status, connections, respect, a partner worthy of the Parkenson name—those things don’t come easily.”
Valentin felt nauseous. He thought of how Deveron always faded into the background, useful in his way, but largely unnoticed. How did Valentin explain to a man like Keyes that Zeller was the other half of him? That his omega would be an equal partner in his life?
“I won’t take your money,” Valentin asserted. “If you refuse to consent to Zeller marrying me, I’ll wait until he’s of age. You can’t stop us once he turns twenty-five.”
“We will find him someone else before then.”
“He won’t do it. He’ll wait for me. Have my baby and wait for me.”
“We’ll see about that.” Keyes folded his arms again. “This offer stands for twenty-four hours. Five million to leave and never come back. Get in touch with Antoni to accept. Either way, consider yourself fired and no longer welcome on this property.”
Valentin’s blood boiled. “What will you tell Zeller?”
“That’s not your concern.”
Keyes turned and walked away.
Valentin was unsure what to do next.Fuck!What if they really kept him from Zeller for the next seven years? Perhaps this was a test, and once the Parkensons saw he was serious about not accepting the money, they’d reconsider.
He exhaled and leaned against the car.
At the sound of a throat clearing, Valentin realized Antoni was still standing there. The beta regarded him with a mixture of sympathy and awe.
“He’s not used to people standing up to him,” Antoni said. “Not anyone who works for him, anyway. I don’t think he expected that.”
“He really thought I would take the money?”
Antoni lifted his shoulders. “It’s how he sees things. Not only you and Zeller. Everything.”
Valentin understood that now. He just didn’t know how to fight it.
“You see it, don’t you?” he asked Antoni. “The truth?”
“That you love Zeller? That it’s been real between you two for months? Of course.”
Valentin sighed. “I hope the Parkensons will see it too. With time. I meant what I said. I’ll wait seven years, but man, that sounds horrible.”
Antoni’s expression was grave. “Valentin, you need to listen to me. I like you. And you’ve been good for Zeller, who is as close as I’ll ever come to having a child of my own. But you should understand that Keyes isn’t kidding. He doesn’t care how much you love his son.”
“What else can I do but keep trying to make him see?”
Antoni placed a hand on Valentin’s shoulder. “He doesn’t back down. And he doesn’t lose.”
“And him winning is Zeller having a baby on his own?”
“Him winning is him controlling the game. I think you know that.” Antoni dropped his arm.
“If he refuses to come around, I’ll wait.”
“You need to be sensible. The Parkensons own this part of the province. I doubt it will be safe for you anywhere near here. They have always had big plans for Zeller’s husband—to make an alliance. If you stay, they’ll fix it so you can’t work. Can’t go to school.”
