I took a very deep breath as we got into Aahmes' car.
For the past five days, I've been endlessly racking my brain for ways to keep those two idiots out of trouble. I even had to make sure that it matches up to what the Grinch released to the press to try and cover up the Club A incident.
"Are you okay, professor?" Aahmes asked with concern. "Do we still need to go to the office? Why don't we just go straight home so you can have some rest?"
"We can't..." I replied while rubbing my temples. "I still have to report to the Grinch... He needs to know that the plan's been executed properly."
That's right.
Everything's gone according to plan.
The problem started with the two idiots having a lovers' quarrel, so it's only right that we place the two idiots together. At least I know that Reubert can watch over Nathan, what with his military training and all.
Now, the only question is, is my stupid nephew safe from his horny professor who seems to be obsessed with him?
And if Aahmes' hunch is true that Reubert is the top and Nathan is the bottom...
"He-he-he..."
"Is something funny, professor?" asked Aahmes as he drove us to the laboratory.
"Nothing. Are we there yet?"
"Almost, there's just a little traffic."
We went strait to the Grinch's office when we arrived. His secretary led me straight to his room without question, while Aahmes stayed outside.
"Ah, Eric, so, how's your young nephew?" he asked with a grin as soon as he saw me.
"You know damn well that he already got home hours ago," I replied as I dropped on the couch by the side of his wide mahogany desk. "You have people to tell you that."
"Of course," his grin didn't even waver. "But tell me, how is his condition?"
"He's good. The drugs didn't seem to have any adverse effect on him. He's now with Dome, like we planned."
"Good..."
"So, your promise to watch over the rest of my family?"
"Done," the Grinch replied. "As of now, the company has acquired the property in front of your brother-in-law's house. We have already sent some personnel for surveillance."
"Good. I want you to do the same for Blondie."
"Blondie?" The Grinch's wrinkled forehead crumpled up some more.
"Louie's mate, Joshua Safiro."
"Ah, the young Safiro heir. There's no need to worry, that child has bodyguards of his own. I dare say, they're about as good as the company's own men."
I glare at him.
"But for you, Professor, I'll add him to your list of immediate family members that we need to look after."
"How about Reubert's case? Has he been acquited?"
"The Spider just called. He had already fixed everything on their side, although he can't really move here in the Philippines without the army noticing. The Gender Police would still be continuing their investigation, but you may rest assured that they won't find anything that would lead to Reubert or your nephew."
"What about Nathan's friends? Dan Di's and Matt Rosales' families, aren't they pressuring the cops?"
"What would they pressure them about?" the Grinch chuckled. "Their children are the main suspects in the Club A incident. They are too busy trying to clean their own shit to look into your nephew's case. In fact, the Rosales' family is blaming the Dan family's heir, since he's been the one supplying drugs to their son. They even found several narcotics on him. Even their other friends confessed that Dan has been supplying them drugs since high school."
"So... we're good then?" I asked him. "Just let me reiterate... a fake `Terminus drug' to thwart the investigation and save DOME's ass, in exchange, you'll be looking after my family for as long as they live."
"Yes, yes, even though your nephew is the reason why we needed the fake drug in the first place," the Grinch replied. "I guess he's just unlucky. With all the omegas in the world, why did he have to meet DOME?"
"Well, they seem to be fated pairs," I said with a snort.
"I know. Dome mentioned it when we had a video conference with the Spider."
My jaw dropped as I stared at him.
So, I guess I was the last one to find out?
"Is that the reason why you agreed to my plan so readily?" I asked him.
"Well, it is the best course of action, after all. Your nephew stays safe and our DOME stays happy."
"And a happy DOME is easier to manipulate, right? Not to mention, you just found yourselves a new pawn to use against him!"
"Wasn't that your idea?"
"I had no idea they were fated pairs back then," I muttered. "Nathan's a well known playboy. I was hoping he'd lose interest before he gets in too deep. All I wanted was for him to stay safely beside DOME until the Club A hype goes down."
"And them being mates never crossed your mind?"
"Well, it's too late now... at least I'm assured that DOME will take good care of him as his fated pair."
The Grinch's face crumpled as he laughed.
"For someone who no longer believes in fated pairs, aren't you putting too much trust in your nephew? You said so yourself, that he's a player."
I had nothing to say in reply.
"I only hope, Prof. Antonio, that you would put the same faith in your own mate, Dr. Abdel."
"D-don't be stupid. We're a completely different case."
"Really?"
"It's not like I can take him as a mate. I'm a beta with nothing to do with stupid pairings like alphas and omegas. Besides, it's not like I could stop him once he finds his fated pair."
"But fated pairs aren't real, aren't they, Professor?"
The bastard smiled mockingly at me.
"Y-yeah, that's right!" I insisted.
"Then what are you worried about? What's stopping you from being real mates?"
Again, I am rendered speechless.
"Years ago, Aahmes confronted me, demanding that we let you go," said the Grinch who stood up from his desk and approached me. "He challenged me, Eric," he laughed bitterly. "Can you believe that? A mere omega, challenging me?! He said he was going to take you back with him to the United Arab Countries. And I thought he could do it, too, but four years later, and here you are, still chained to us. Still slaving away for the company."
The Grinch sat on the edge of his desk and folded his arms across his chest as he stared down at me on the couch.
"Tell me, Eric, why can't you leave and go back with Aahmes to his country? Or any country for that reason? You have trained Dr. Simeon and Dr. Peralta well enough to take your place. You can leave any time you want."
"It's Dr. Hilario now, not Peralta," I corrected him, "and I feel like she's planning to move departments so she could work with her alpha husband."
"Be that as it may, you've had a lot of opportunities to leave. So why are you still here?"
"I-I still have a lot of work to do..." I mumbled.
"Is that really the truth?" he frowned. "Or are you scared that he might leave you one day?"
"That's... that's why I decided not to expect anything."
"But fated pairs aren't real anyway, right? So what are you afraid of?"
I glared at the grinning demon looming over me.
This bastard's hobby is to annoy and provoke me. He's been doing this since I first attended his class back in MIT. Only this time, I have nothing to say back to him.
"Haaay... you never could change, can you, Eric?" He walked back to his place behind his wide table. "Way back in your school days, your classmates kept picking on you since you were a loner who kept all his notes to himself. Not to mention, that you were the youngest beta student and the top in a class dominated by alphas. You have always been against everyone else."
"That's their problem not mine!" I said with a pout.
"As if that wasn't enough, you befriended the DOME, taught him tricks, and told him not to trust people, like you do. And now, you still can't give your trust to the person you love? Why can't you believe that he will stay with you forever?" He gave another deep sigh. "Just what will I do with you, Eric?"
"It's enough that you taught me everything I know, professor," I replied begrudgingly.
"Hardly," he chuckled. "Your brilliant mind thought up more than everything I could have taught you in two lifetimes. My only regret is in placing you in the US branch of Universal Laboratories. You weren't this spiteful and cynical when you were in MIT. You were our favorite student, Dr. Webb and I... but that place was simply too much for a young Asian beta kid like you..."
"Actually, I should thank you both for sending me there," I replied with a grimace. "After getting my findings and inventions stolen and being framed as the culprit a couple of times, I learned how hard the world is and how to cope with it. If anything, it taught me how to be as devious as you are."
The Grinch slowly shook his head as he heaved another sigh.
"And you got even more twisted after Dr. Webb included you in his D.O.M.E. project..."
"I actually think of that as a good thing."
"Well, now, I'm setting you free. I have nothing to hold you back with. We even agreed to keep your family safe. Nothing's stopping you from leaving the company and pursuing whatever it is you wish to do. So what exactly is keeping you from leaving with Dr. Abdel?"
"Nothing," I replied. "...just myself."
Now I'm the one sighing.
"The SGT kits..." I confided in him. "I promised to leave as soon as the SGT kits are released to the public. I'll go wherever Aahmes wants us to go then. To hell with whatever happens next."
"Good." The Grinch smiled. "Actually, the latest report just came in. More children have manifested according to their SGT results five years ago. You just passed the 15% requirement."
"That means we can start the production of the SGT kits for commercial use!" I jumped off my seat from excitement!
"Yes, we can talk about it next week, for now, I think it would be best for you to head home and get some rest."
"That's exactly what we plan to do," I replied while stifling a sudden yawn.
"Take the day off tomorrow," he added as I was leaving. "In fact, take the rest of the week off with Dr. Abdel. You both deserve a break."