Page 29 of Galaxy Between Us

Leaving no room for argument, he leads me behind a bar counter in the back of the massive ballroom. People slowly fill in, mingling with one another under glimmering chandeliers, waiting for the event to begin.

“Here,” the Beta hands me a towel and all I can do is stare at it dumbly until he continues. “Wipe each of these glasses until they’re dry. Then place them on the rack.”

There must be over fifty glasses waiting to be dried, but I do as he says and begin with one. From where I stand behind the counter, I can see a small stage on the opposite end of the room. In the center, is the telescope covered in a tarp. Behind it is a large screen, displaying a greeting too blurry for me to read from back here.

I notice a plethora of Omegas in the same red and black uniform filtering through the crowd with trays of wine and small treats.

I’ve realized by now that this is Knox’s way of getting me into the event. Though, why he wants me here is beyond me. I’m not really in the mood to watch him accept praise for my work. Not this time. Not while I stand here drying dishes, being punished for the very thing he’s about to be rewarded for.

I’m about eleven glasses in when the lights dim and the crowd hushes. A host walks on to the stage and gives a short welcome speech. A couple other speakers are invited up as well. Their smiles are big and their voices fill the room, but I hear none of it. My ears are waiting to hear his voice. My eyes periodically scan the crowd for any sign of him.

Eventually, I regain control of my senses and focus on the speakers on stage. I recognize Mr. Minsley and his team. The crowd claps and cameras shutter as they hold up some sort of certificate they’d just been awarded. They retreat from the stage and finally –finally– the host announces Knox Beckett.

My eyes are glued to him as he takes the stage like he owns it and begins his presentation. His low, soothing voice falls over the crowd like a fresh blanket of snow. He’s calm, casual, and collected. All eyes and ears are on him in that tailored suit worth more than I make in a year.

My mouth would probably be drooling, but before it can, I spot the pretty Omega on the stage with him and tense up immediately. Knox introduces him as Jaimie and the crowd seems to enjoy the sight of him. Alphas around the room ogle him hungrily. Standing beside Knox, Jaimie stands tall and smiles brightly as if he’s the main attraction for the night.

He might as well be.

His stunning glow under the stage lights makes me wonder why the hell he’s snatching all my dreams instead of modeling. So much for Omegas not being allowed at these things. I guess the rest of us just aren’t handsome enough.

I scrub furiously at the glass in my hand as I watch Jaimie unveil the telescope. Does everyone get some sort of role in my work except for me? Why don’t we just say that everyone in the world except for Arius invented the damn thing while we’re at it?

I catch an angry glare from the waiter who dragged me in here. I’m handling the glasses too roughly. Taking a deep breath, I mouth my apology and return my focus to Knox who begins to wrap up his presentation.

“And none of this would be possible without a very special person.”

My chest tightens at his words. If he says himself, I am out of here.

“A lot of people ask me how we always stay on top. How we always win, here at Comet XI. And I see no reason to keep it a secret. If there’s one thing you take away from this event tonight, it should be this,”

I notice that he hands his cue cards off to Jaimie and the slides on the screen have come to a stop. Intense eyes land on mine all the way from across the room, lingering until there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s speaking to me. My hand slows on the dish I’m drying as Knox continues.

“At Comet XI, we win by hearing every voice. Every idea, every Alpha, every Omega. Because innovation like this can’t be achieved with social barriers and societal pressures. Tonight’s telescope model has been officially named after its rightful innovator. For going against those barriers, pushing back those pressures, all for Comet XI to come out on top. Ladies and gentlemen, the Ari three-three-four SE.”

The audience stands and cheers as the host shakes Knox’s hand and takes his place. Live music starts up again and the room comes to life. I, however, am frozen in time.

Chapter XIV

The event seems to last for ages. At a certain point, my mouth is running on autopilot while I engage in meaningless conversations around the room. I excuse myself from one but then get caught right up in the next. Most people have left by now, having gotten a look through the telescope.

As I inch my way toward the door, I bump into the Beta who’s been stealing Ari’s attention. Brock’s tense eyes lock with mine as we regard one another, trying to remain polite.

“Congrats,” Brock sneers. “He’s a pretty Omega. I’d give him all the credit, too,” he winks, patting my shoulder.

“I didn’t give him credit because he’s pretty. I gave him credit because he deserves it,” I mumble low.

“Right,” he begins sarcastically before leaning in. “You don’t think his success has anything to do with eavesdropping on my research, reading my textbooks, sorting through all our tools and parts?”

“No, as a matter of fact, I don’t. Arius is highly intelligent and has been studying astronomy since we– Since he was a kid.”

Brock stares at me for a moment, not buying my explanation.

“Sure, man. That’s why he ran out of here and straight to your office. To study astronomy,” he bites back before engulfing a glass of wine and turning away.

Anger rolls off me in waves. Judging by the looks of people nearby, I’m producing strong pheromones into the air. It takes everything in me to leave instead of marching up to that Beta prick and punching him until every tooth is knocked out of his mouth. The only thing stopping me is Brock’s revelation that Arius is waiting for me in my office. I like that image a lot.

Ari tucked into my personal space, marinating in my scent. My Omega has finally come back to me. The primal thoughts consume my mind as the Alpha in me threatens to take over. I need to get to him. Quickly.