Page 21 of All That We Keep (Always Yours #3)
Grayson
I don't want to leave the house this morning.
Blake's sleepy kisses and Luca's soft murmurs make it impossible to want anything other than crawling back into their nest and staying there for the rest of the day.
But Luther is already dressed, standing by the door with that patient expression that means he's waiting for me to get my ass in gear.
Blake presses another kiss to my neck, his lips warm against my skin. "Don't go," he whispers, his voice rough with sleep.
"I have to if we’re ever going to meet your ridiculous deadline," I tell him, even though every instinct I have is screaming at me to stay. "The art assets won't finish themselves."
Luca shifts beside us, his belly pressing against my side as he curls closer. "Can't you work from here?"
The temptation is almost overwhelming. The nest smells like all of us and the thought of leaving this cocoon of contentment to face the sterile office environment makes me even more reluctant to move.
Not to mention that every movement has my ass throbbing in protest. I love my mates but fuck, Luther and Maceo’s cocks should be registered as weapons.
Luther clears his throat softly from the doorway, and I know I can't put this off any longer. “Yeah, I’m coming,” I mumble, extracting myself carefully from the tangle of limbs and blankets, pressing kisses to both Blake and Luca's foreheads before padding toward the bathroom.
The shower is already running, steam curling around the edges of the door, Maceo's silhouette obvious through the frosted glass.
A few weeks ago, I might have been more hesitant to step inside but after being bonded to him, it feels almost natural to join him—the same way I would with any of the others.
"Room for one more?" I ask, stepping into the warm spray.
Maceo turns toward me, water droplets clinging to his skin.
“Hey, little Alpha,” he purrs, drawing me into his chest. His lips meet mine, both of us needing each other with our bonds still so fresh.
My hands settle on his waist as his cup my cheeks, neither of us ready to come up for air. “Ready for another day?”
“No. I want to stay here and take care of our mates. I know you’ll do just fine with them but it’s almost like my priorities have shifted.”
He huffs out a laugh and kisses me again before grabbing a bottle of soap and one of the sponges to start washing me down. I hate losing his scent but the office isn’t the place to parade my pack dynamics, especially with everything else around us so fickle.
I lean into his touch, savoring the feeling of his hands on my skin as they linger with every slide of the sponge.
The bond between us makes everything more intense, every touch sending ripples of sensation through our connection.
By the time we're clean and dressed, I'm half-hard and fighting the urge to drag Maceo back to bed.
Luther is waiting in the kitchen with two travel mugs of coffee, his expression amused as he takes in my slightly rumpled appearance despite the ironed suit I slipped into. "Ready to face the world?"
I accept the coffee gratefully, inhaling the rich aroma before taking a sip. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Luther parks in his usual spot, and we make our way through the lobby toward the elevators, following the same routine we do most mornings but somehow today is different.
People clustered in small groups, their voices dropping to whispers as we pass.
The gossip mill at Keller Industries has always been active, but something about the way they're looking at us makes my skin crawl.
"Ignore them," Luther murmurs as we step into the elevator. "You know how people get when there's drama in the air."
I nod, but the whispers follow us up to my floor. Riley is waiting by my office door, his worried expression fully on display. "Grayson, we need to talk," he says the moment I'm within earshot.
I unlock my office door and wave him inside, noting the way he glances around nervously before closing it behind us. "What's going on, Riley?"
He perches on the edge of the chair across from my desk, his hands twisted together in his lap. "Do you know what people are saying?"
"I have no clue," I tell him honestly, settling into my own chair. "But from the looks I've been getting all morning, I'm guessing it's not good. Just tell me straight."
Riley's expression grows more troubled. "I don't know how true any of it is, but there are rumors flying around that you're... that you've been skimming money from the company. That things are strained at home and you've been making yourself a little nest egg."
My brows furrow in confusion as my coffee mug slips a bit before I set it on my desk. "What the fuck?"
"I know," Riley says quickly. "I told everyone who would listen that it's bullshit, but the rumors are spreading fast. Someone's been showing around what look like financial documents with your name on them. And it’s definitely your card and some of the purchases…
well, I recognize some of the company dinners we went on that you said you paid for and I just… "
Before I can process the information fully, my phone rings. The caller ID shows an extension I don't recognize, but something about the formal tone when I answer tells me this isn't good news.
"Grayson Keller? You're needed in the boardroom immediately."
"I didn't think there was an executive meeting scheduled today," I say, my heart sinking into stomach. My gaze darts to Riley and then back to my desk, wondering if this sudden disruption has anything to do with Kai’s meeting and Hudson’s escape. It’s all just a little too… coincidental.
"Emergency session. Please report immediately."
The line goes dead, and I look up to see Riley watching me with obvious concern. "That was a summons to the boardroom."
"I'll walk with you," he offers, standing as I gather my things.
We make our way through the hallways, the whispers and pointing becoming more obvious with every step. I can feel eyes on me from every direction, colleagues I've worked with for years now looking at me like I'm some kind of criminal.
Someone must have fabricated documents or started a rumor but it can’t be all that baseless if it’s made its way to the executives and probably some of the nosier investors at this point.
The boardroom doors are open when we arrive, several executives already seated around the long conference table.
Luther is there too, his expression carefully neutral as he watches me enter.
But it's the unfamiliar man at the head of the table who draws my attention, a thick file folder spread open in front of him.
I recognize him as one of our biggest investors, though I've never dealt with him directly. His presence here, combined with the formal setup of this meeting, tells me this is serious.
"Please, take a seat," the investor says, gesturing to the chair directly across from Luther.
I sit down slowly, my mind racing as I try to understand what's happening. The other executives file into their own seats, their expressions ranging from curious to uncomfortable. No doubt many of them are confused on why they were called in for an emergency meeting so close to a game launch.
"I may be new to you. I’m Gerald Hoffster, the main investor in Keller Industries and so it doesn't come to me lightly to have to bring this to the board," the Alpha begins, his voice carrying the weight of formal authority.
"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about whatever this is?" I interrupt, my confusion and growing anger making it impossible to stay quiet. "Why wouldn't you bring concerns to me first?"
His expression doesn't change as he meets my gaze.
"Because it involves the health of this company, and so close to a game launch, we can't afford mistakes.
" He pauses, flipping through some papers in his folder.
"With our CEO out on sick leave or wherever he is these days, as we've said multiple times an Omega shouldn't be able to run a company, we need to make sure Luther Keller makes the right decisions and that it's not just his heart. "
Rage flashes through me at his casual dismissal of Blake, but before I can respond, Luther's voice cuts across the room.
"I don't even know why this meeting was called."
Gerald looks directly at Luther as he speaks, obviously challenging his authority.
"I called an emergency meeting to vote Grayson out immediately.
We have several financial documents that support the fact that he's been skimming money from the company.
" His gaze shifts back to me. "I don't know what kind of relationship you two have or don't have, but those funds being misappropriated is a problem.
Now, the board has full power to fire any of the employees here, just as Luther has full power to veto our decision regardless of whether our decision is unanimous. But the documents here don't lie."
I push back from the table and move closer to Luther, needing to see whatever evidence they think they have against me.
The folder is thick with what appears to be bank statements and transaction records, and as I scan the pages, I can see my name and credit card information attached to several purchases.
But I don't recognize many of the transactions. Dinners at expensive restaurants I've never been to, art supplies from vendors I've never used, conference fees for events I never attended.
"Where did you get these?" I ask, my voice coming out strained.
Gerald’s expression remains neutral. "Did you forget that all this is public? Blake made sure that all transactions on the company accounts were made public to the board. It was done for the sake of transparency."