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The coffee shop is named Spark, and it has managed to keep its spot downtown on a busy corner for a while now. Stiles is proud, a few years ago this was a dream he and Erica had while they baked late into the night before their pastries and cookies became popular enough that a store didn’t seem like an insane idea, and now they even had regular customers.
Erica still did most of the baking, since a large part of their business involved sending cookies all over the country, and Stiles kept the store running smoothly with the help of their two beta employees: Isaac and Allison.
Pretty good for a couple of omegas, if they said so themselves.
They weren’t the only ones to say it. Most people that learned that two omegas ran the successful shop with no help from any Alpha were impressed. Very impressed. Annoyingly impressed.
“Really, you don’t have an Alpha?” the customer who was unsuccessfully trying to flirt with Stiles asked again. Stiles rolled his eyes, and the Alpha apparently didn’t realize how annoyed he was. “So you got the loans and contracts for all of this by yourselves?”
The man waved dismissively at the place when he said “this”. Stiles wished he could throw hot coffee at him.
“We’re omegas, not toddlers,” Stiles says. The coffee shop is mostly empty and Stiles is by himself while Isaac helps Erica in the kitchen and Allison’s on break.
The Alpha shrugs. “Just saying, most omegas would prefer baking at home.”
Stiles is about to answer that whatever filthy bachelor pad this Alpha calls home is probably unfit to live, let’s not say bake in, when he recognizes the person coming into the shop behind the Alpha.
“Move, hot shot,” Laura says, “he’s busy.”
Laura works at Hale Publishing, just across the street. She’s gorgeous and Stiles wonders what she does there to always look like she’s popped out a fashion magazine cover. She’s also one of the few Alphas who aren’t condescending assholes to him.
“Yeah,” the Alpha answers, turning to Laura with a sneer. “Busy talking to me.”
Laura laughs. “I could see he’s not interested from the other block,” she says. “Grab your coffee and go, I’m here to talk business.”
The guy huffs a “whatever” but does as he’s told. Laura watches him go.
“Thanks, Laura,” Stiles says once the guy is outside and the door is closed. “Your usual?”
“No.” Laura shakes her head, then stops. “Well, yes, but that’s not the only reason I’m here.”
“Something wrong with the cookies we sent to your office?”
Hale Publishing had been one of their best clients for some time now. They have Spark confections in every meeting. Stiles can’t thank them enough.
“No, not at all! Everyone at the office loves them! That’s why I’m here actually, we’d like it if you, Erica and everyone else at Spark came to our office Christmas party.”
Stiles has just started making Laura her usual cinnamon latte. “Wouldn’t that be kind of weird?”
“Honestly so many people come here for lunch they feel like you’re already part of the company. I’m sure our mornings would be half as productive without your coffee and muffins.”
Stiles smiles, he did recognize several Hale employees and at least one of Hale’s authors, Lydia, met with her editor at the coffee shop instead of their office. And that’s when he remembered someone.
“Will Derek be there?”
Derek was another author at Hale Publishing, one that Stiles thought maybe he had a chance with but after he word vomited his issues on him one day, he never came back. He looked like the perfect Alpha you would see posed on a romance book cover. With intense blue-green eyes, a stubble Stiles dreamed would scratch his skin, and wide shoulders that just made his tailored suits look even better on him. He had been tempted to search online for his books, get a taste of the man’s prose, but after that day when he basically ran away he more often tried to not think of the man.
Laura nods. “Yeah, he’s too important to not be there.”
“Is he one of your best-sellers?” Stiles couldn’t help being curious.
Laura shrugs, she was always stand offish when it came to Derek. She probably didn’t want to upset him. “He’s definitely responsible for some of them. Listen,” she goes on before Stiles can ask anything else. “I’m a proud Alpha, you know that, but if I have to beg you to come, I will. I kinda already said in a meeting that I was going to invite you and everyone was excited to meet you guys outside of work.”
“When is it? We do close kind of late,” Stiles says. By now Allison’s back from break and is looking curiously at them.
“Friday night! Put up a sign that you had some extra orders to fill or something. It’ll be fun! We’ll have lots of sparkling wine and karaoke.”
Stiles notices Allison’s eyes sparkle. He knows she and everyone else will want to go. He sighs. “I’ll see what Erica thinks about it.”
—
“You did WHAT?” Derek asks Laura, finally looking up at her from his computer screen.
“You heard me,” she answers, taking a sip from her cinnamon latte.
“Do you think Isaac will come?” Scott asks. Both Derek and Laura look at him. Scott tries to act innocent. “Just asking.”
“You’re both ridiculous,” Laura says sitting on the couch. Derek’s office as co-CEO of Hale Publishing is a mirror version of hers, but while Laura has leaned more into a classic style with wooden panels and red accents, Derek’s was all glass shelves and leather furniture.
While neither of them were writers, they always were surrounded by creative friends. When one of them had been unable to find a publisher for a manuscript Derek was sure would be a hit, they decided to come together and create Hale Publishing. It all started from their dad’s office, now they were one of the biggest names in fantasy, sci-fi, and romance. To name a few.
The book had been a hit, by the way, and the author was now writing a new trilogy for them.
After that it was organic for Laura to take over the more numbers focused side of the business, while Derek proved to have a knack for sniffing out hits. Hale had been the publisher to first put out a book on the current trend: abominable snowman love stories. They were ironing out the details for a movie adaptation.
“Stiles can’t come here, Laura,” Derek says, hiding his face in his hands. “He’s going to realize I lied to him.”
Laura rolls her eyes. “Oh no, the guy you like will realize you run a publishing company instead of write for them. How will you ever recover?”
Derek glared at her. Standing besides him, Scott unsuccessfully tried to hide a laugh and Derek glared at him, too.
“You don’t get to laugh at me, Mr. Isaac’s-eyes-are-like-stars,” Derek says.
Scott instantly sighs at the memory. “They are, though.”
Scott has been Derek and Laura’s assistant for almost two years now and while he looks like his head is in the clouds most of the time he’s actually great at keeping their calendar organized. He’s short enough that some people mistake him for a beta, but he’s got the right temper to work with the Hales.
“Ridiculous,” Laura repeats herself. “You’ve been smitten by two guys for who knows how long and when you have a chance to talk to them you,” she points at Derek, “don’t correct him when he assumes you’re a writer and you,” she looks at Scott, “go love-stupid and mess up our orders.”
“I’ve never messed up your orders,” Scott says, defensive. Then he sighs again. “Isaac always corrects me.”
Derek ignores him, he’s back to worrying about Stile. “Months, Laura, I lied to him for months. When he realizes it he’s going to hate me.”
“So don’t let him realize it,” Laura says. “Tell him. I really don’t think he’ll care.”
“I made up characters, plots, places. I told him I took long walks by the lake for inspiration.”
Laura grins, friendly this time. “I do think you have some good stories to tell in that brain of yours,” she says. “And so you take your boat out into the lake rather than walk around it, I’m sure he’d be glad to go with you either way.”
Derek lets out an exasperated breath and leans back in his chair. He had been caught off guard. When Stiles said: “Can I ask you a question?” Derek really thought he was about to ask him to meet sometimes so his enthusiastic “yes!” to “are you a writer?” had been misunderstood.
Stiles seemed so excited about the idea of Derek being a writer that Derek feared the truth would be a disappointment. So for months, Derek kept at it. He told himself he was going to come clean more than once but each time Stiles’ had new questions to ask.
Finally, one day Derek stopped by for some tea after work. The shop was mostly empty and this time it was Derek who started the conversation with a simple “how are you?” Stiles had been going through some rough moments and told Derek all of it. Worrying about his dad’s health, issues with assholes thinking less of him because he’s an omega, and a fight with Allison over maybe opening a second shop.
He had been so honest, the exact opposite Derek had been for months.
He felt so awful he simply paid for his tea and left. Then he realized Stiles had basically poured his heart out to him and all he did was say some version of “wow, that sounds awful, gotta go.”
He hadn’t gone to the Spark since. He couldn’t. He’d combust in shame.
The silence in his office was broken by Laura’s phone receiving a message. She looked at it and smiled.
“Stiles is coming,” she says. Derek nods, accepting he’ll have to deal with it somehow, and Scott looks excitedly at her.
“He didn’t mention him specifically but I assume Isaac’s coming, too,” she says. “I swear, Scott, if I find you making out with him somewhere I will fire you.”
“Make out with Isaac where you can’t find us, got it,” Scott says. “Oh no, I was gonna bring my ugly sweater but what if he thinks it’s ugly-ugly, not funny-ugly?” Scott takes some papers off Derek’s desk before heading out of his office, still talking to himself. “Lidya’s coming today, right? Maybe she can take me clothes shopping?”
The two Hale siblings watch him leave, amused grins on their faces.
“I can’t wait to see this year’s sweater,” Laura comments.
“Can’t be worse than Alpha rage Rudolph last year with the red lights in the nose and eyes,” Derek says.
-
The Spark closes at 2 p.m. on Friday and the four of them head to Stiles’ place for some lunch and to get ready for the party that evening. Erica and Stiles bake several types of pizza rolls for all of them.
Everyone’s excited, even Stiles, but he can’t help worrying a little.
“You’re thinking about him,” Erica tells him. They’re all in Stiles’ living room watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas while she does her makeup. Everyone has their own mug of hot chocolate.
“I don’t even know if he’ll be there,” Stiles says defensively.
“He always seems to be there,” Allison says. “Wonder why? Lydia’s an author, too, and she only comes every two weeks or so.”
“Maybe he’s writing other stuff?” Isaac says. “I asked Scott but he changed the subject and asked me if I liked animals. Which, weird.”
“That’s because Scott wants to know everything about you,” Erica teases.
“Stop,” Isaac says. “He’s an Alpha.”
“So?” Erica asks.
“So Alphas date omegas. Stiles’ pheromones probably make him confused.”
“First of all, that’s not how it works,” Stiles says. “Second of all, he never gives me a full grin like he does with you.”
“And that whole ‘Alphas date only omegas’ is decades old,” Erica adds. “You sound like my dad.”
Isaac shrugs. Erica turns back to Stiles. “And don’t change the subject. Derek. How much wine do I have to spill on his expensive suits as revenge?”
Stiles groans. “You’re going to get us kicked out of the party. And the answer is none. I just misread the situation.”
“Bullshit,” Erica says. Stiles wonders how she can do such a neat cat eye while ranting. “He led you on for months and when he noticed you’re a human with actual problems and not just some knot-hungry omega he bailed. He hasn’t even come to the store since! Typical Alpha macho stuff. Pretending he’s some sort of sensitive type.”
“He always seemed sort of cagey,” Allison adds. “And we already told you Hale Publishing’s website doesn’t have any Dereks in their authors list.”
“He probably uses a pen name,” Stiles says, but he’s wondered about that, too.
“He could also be a ghostwriter,” Isaac adds, but it’s obvious he’s got doubts about the guy too.
“I’m gonna make him a ghost writer if he’s an asshole to you tonight,” Erica says.
Everyone laughs, and Stiles knows that Erica means it. Everyone at Spark is fiercely protective of each other.
The movie gets their attention once again and they sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
“This movie’s so weird,” Isaac says. “Whoville and Grinch, aside, who’d think of making up a society with no Alphas, betas or omegas? I love it, but it’s weird, right?”
“Crazy,” Erica agrees, checking on her makeup. “How do I look?”
-
Hale Publishing’s offices have a showroom on the ground floor that usually serves as a store and is also used for book presentations and other events. For the Christmas party, all the books and shelves are placed in storage and it’s instead filled with tables and chairs, a dance floor and a stage for a band to play on.
Laura takes care of the decorations and for this year she chose a red (what a surprise) and silver theme. It’s just tacky enough to still be tasteful and look fun.
The party’s in full swing when Scott interrupts the writer he and Derek are listening to by saying. “Isaac’s here!” and running off to greet him. Derek smiles apologetically at the man but also turns to see where Scott has gone.
True to his word, Scott has worn his ugly sweater. At first sight it seems like lights wrapped haphazardly around a Christmas tree but a closer look reveals broken ornaments and cats in Santa hats tangled all over. Of course the lights are actual LEDs and there’s a button he can press to make meow sounds. Derek has to admit there’s a certain charm to it.
Laura approaches the foursome from the coffee shop, looking stunning in a red dress with a white blazer. His own outfit matches hers: a white suit with a red shirt and black tie. Laura had suggested a Santa hat, he had thrown it back at her.
Derek sees Laura introduce Stiles to several of their employees, most of which instantly recognize him. He drinks the sight of the omega smiling, happy and comfortable among friendly people. He’s wearing a simple red cardigan, stretched nicely over his slim figure, and blue jeans. So simple but managing to look so good.
“Friend of yours?” the writer asks. “Maybe more?”
Derek realizes he had completely missed whatever the writer said last.
“Kind of,” Derek says. “I mean, he works at Spark, the coffee shop? He actually owns the place.”
“Isn’t he an omega?” The writer asks. “Can’t imagine a place like that will last long.”
Derek bristles. The man is indeed older, early fifties if Derek remembers correctly, but such ideas should be outdated even for an Alpha like him. “It’s been running successfully for years now,” Derek states.
The man scoffs, ignoring Derek’s anger. “Good to see some omegas can keep their fleeting attention on one thing for longer than a few months. My ex wives all of them had a new thing to occupy their minds after every heat.”
“Well, a boring experience will sometimes inspire one to find something new and exciting to keep one’s mind occupied,” Derek says. The jab goes unnoticed.
“Derek, please, it does not take much to occupy the mind of an omega.” The man smiles, he puts a friendly hand on Derek’s back. “I know you know this. You publish those silly romance books they’re so fond of. How about publishing something with more gravitas instead? I’m open to a new publisher, you know?”
Derek wants to laugh in the man’s face. His last few books have been complete flops, obviously churned out to try and cash in on his own fame rather than trying anything interesting. If anything, he’s trying to make friends at Hale Publishing because they have a robust PR team.
“You of course do realize I’m one of this company’s CEOs, right? Not a smart move to bad mouth our books to me, Mr.-“
“CEO?”
They both turn to see Stiles and Laura looking at them.
-
The music is loud and there’s a lot of voices around them, but Stiles still feels like the world went quiet. He’d heard Derek correctly, right?
The man next to Derek rolls his eyes at him. “Yes, young omega, this is Derek Hale, CEO of Hale Publishing alongside his sister Laura Hale.” He points to Laura besides him. “Can’t believe you’re at this party without knowing that.”
Stiles looks at Derek, who’s frozen in place, and then at Laura, who looks back at him and bites her lip, looking guilty.
“Stiles.” It’s Derek. He turns back to him. “I can explain.”
Stiles ignores him and turns to Laura. “You, too?”
“I mean,” Laura says, looking at her drink. “You never asked what I did.”
“Oh, yeah, how convenient,” Stiles says. He turns around looking for Erica. She said she was going for drinks. He can probably get her and they can leave without bothering Isaac or Allison, both of them can at least enjoy the party,
“Stiles, please,” Derek says, reaching for him. He pulls back.
“No,” he says, flat. “I don’t know what weird game you two are playing and I don’t want to know. Were you in with him the whole time?”
The question is directed at Laura. She opens her mouth to answer but Stiles stops her. “No, I don’t care. Hope you both had fun. I’m leaving.”
He walks away, ignoring Laura as she calls his name.
Stiles looks around the party. He recognizes no one. He probably should text the group chat something. Maybe once he’s home. He’ll tell them he got heat flares or something. Erica will know he’s lying, but he doesn’t want to deal with any of this right now. He heads for the exit. There’s enough people in the space for it to feel crowded but not that it isn’t easy to get there.
Several people recognize him and say hi. He tries to be as friendly as possible, but he can tell they’re confused. Do they know what their boss had been up to?
He’s close to the exit when he feels someone grab his arm and pull him, he looks up and sees Lydia.
“What’s wrong, Stiles?”
All of a sudden all he can feel is anger. He sobs. “You should ask Derek that.”
“Derek? Hale?”
Stiles nods.
“What did he do?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Stiles says. He’s not even sure what Derek did. He lied. For months. Stiles thought he was talking to an author that lucked into being published by Hale when in fact he was talking to a guy with more money he’ll ever see. He probably found it funny. “I just want to go home.”
Lydia nods. She gets their coats and walks him out. They walk down a long, wide hallway, all decked in Christmas decorations, before making it out to the street.
“Why are you coming with me?” Stiles asks.
“I’m making sure you get in a car,” Lydia says. “Then you’re going to text me that you’re home safe.”
Stiles nods. Lydia used to be a lawyer, but she began writing mystery novels and they turned out to be very popular. She had even asked to have her next book presentation at Spark. Stiles doesn’t think he’ll want that to happen, but it’s good money. Maybe he can say he’s sick that day.
They stand on the sidewalk as Lydia tries to get a cab for him. Not one stops.
“Wait!”
Both of them turn to see Derek. He’s got red wine pouring down his face and suit, there’s icing on his hair, and a bright red bow is stuck to his jacket.
“Just, please, wait.”
-
Derek sees Stiles leave and begins walking towards him. Laura stops him.
“I think it’s better if you let him cool off,” she says.
“Cool off? Weren’t you insisting I talk to him for months?”
“Yes, Derek, so that you could tell him the truth. Instead he found out like this and now he won’t believe anything you tell him,” Laura says, annoyed. “It’s better to leave him alone.”
“Leave who alone?”
They turn to see Erica and Allison, both with drinks in their hands.
“Where’s Stiles?”
Laura again bites her lip. “I’m not really sure.”
Erica turns to Derek. “What did you say to him this time, lover boy?”
“Lover boy?” Laura asks.
“I didn’t say anything!” Derek says, defensive. “I was trying to tell him that-“
“Oh, save it, Mr. Suffering Author, are you even a writer here at Hale? Or is that just a thing you say to get omegas to fall for you?”
“You tell people you’re a writer?” the writer seemed as confused as anyone else.
“Erica, please,” it’s Laura this time, trying for conciliatory. “Stiles just left but I’m sure we can-“
“Stiles left?” Allison asks loudly. “Why?”
“Stiles left?” Scott repeats appearing holding Isaac’s arm. He has a cupcake on the other hand.
“Why?” Isaac asks, immediately glaring at Derek. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Derek almost yells.
“He’s not even a writer!” Erica accuses. “What does he even do here, Laura?”
Laura opens and closes her mouth, not sure what to say. She looks at Derek who doesn’t look any less lost at the whole situation.
“Where even is Stiles?” Allison asks.
“Stiles?” the writer asks, everyone turns to him. “The omega with the red sweater?” Erica nods. “Derek made him cry, and he left.”
In theory, Derek knows that the writer is right. That is what he did. He lied to him, and that is why he left, looking desolate.
In practice, Derek wants to punch the writer in his annoying face because he knows enough about Stiles’ friends to expect that at being told he’s responsible for making him cry, they’re not going to just accept it.
“You what!?” Erica’s voice basically stops the party in its tracks.
“I can-“ Derek suddenly receives a face full of wine. Did Erica pour half a bottle in her cup? Why is there so much? He doesn’t have time to think about that, as he’s able to look at them again, it is Allison who throws her cup full of red wine at his suit. His white suit.
Finally, it’s Isaac who rushes at him, cupcake in hand and manages to squish it onto his hair even though Scott’s pulling him back.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” Scott yells in a panic. “Isaac, he’s the CEO!”
By this point everyone is looking at them.
“Well,” Laura says. “One of the CEOs”
Erica, Allison and Isaac all look confusedly from Laura to Derek.
“No,” Isaac is the first to speak. “Derek’s a writer, he said so himself.”
“He lied,” Scott explains. Derek glares at him. “He lied because he thought it would impress Stiles.”
“You lied to impress Stiles?” Erica asks Derek. “And you thought writer was more impressive than CEO?”
“Look, it made sense at the time,” Derek says.
“And you’re also CEO?” Allison asks Laura.
Laura shrugs. “Well, my little brother asked for help, I couldn’t say no.”
“How did none of you know the Hales?” It’s the writer asking questions now. “You’re at the Hale Publishing Christmas party!”
Allison looks at Isaac. “Now that he mentions it we did see their names on their cards.”
“Ok!” Erica says, and everyone looks at her. “I’m confused, and honestly I’m not sure if I should throw more wine at you or help you.”
“Please don’t throw more wine at me,” Derek says.
“I have no idea why Stiles likes you, but if you’re dumb enough to make up such a ridiculous lie to impress him maybe, MAYBE, I’ll allow it. Now, where is Stiles?”
“Stiles?” Everyone turns to see a new person walk in. Boyd from HR looks as confused as anyone else. “Coffee shop Stiles?”
Everyone nods at him.
“I just saw him walk out with Lydia,” he says.
Derek immediately starts heading for the exit, Erica pulls him back. “Woah, woah, woah! Stop!”
“Erica, please, I’m just going to talk to him.”
“I want to talk to him first, and I don’t think he wants to talk to you just yet.”
“Then I’ll let him go, just, please,” Derek asks her. “Let me try to fix this.”
Erica contemplates him, before she can say anything Allison shows up beside her and takes a bow from a pretend gift on a table and puts it on Derek’s suit. “Go, we’ll keep her here.”
Derek looks from her to Erica and smiles. “Thank you.”
“What? No. Traitors!” Erica yells as Isaac and Scott hold on to her. “No more free cookies for any of you!”
-
Stiles opens the door to his apartment and sighs at the mess they left before leaving for the party before entering. Derek walks in behind him.
“Thank you,” the Alpha says, smiling tentatively at him. They did talk before coming here, and Stiles seemed stunned more than amused when Derek had explained what had happened at the party.
“Shower’s in the bedroom,” Stiles says pointing at the hallway. He had offered his place for Derek to clean up. Least he could, he felt, for what his employees and Erica did. “Probably not as luxurious as the ones you’re used to, Mr. CEO.”
“Co-CEO,” Derek corrects him.
“How,” Stiles asks for what feels like the thousandth time. “How did you ever imagine I would be disappointed that you own Hale Publishing rather than work for it?”
“You didn’t see your eyes when I talked about what I said I was writing,” Derek says, defensive. “You seemed super excited.”
“I still think you could write that story,” Stiles says, smiling. “And hey, you know someone who could publish it.”
Derek laughs. He takes off his white jacket and red shirt, Stiles groans.
“I knew you’d be hot under all those clothes but,” he pauses, shakes his hand at Derek’s torso like he’s offended by it. “You’re better looking than Theo, and he’s your main model for romance covers!”
Derek smiles, blushes a little and looks down. “Thanks, I try to keep fit.”
They’re interrupted by Stiles’ phone, he looks at it and laughs.
“Erica says she’s sorry about the wine,” Stiles reads.
“Lies,” Derek says, Stiles nods. They both share a small laugh.
Another phone chime, Derek’s this time. He takes it out from his pocket. “Scott,” he says. “Asking if a summer wedding is better than a fall one.”
“I hope he’s involving Isaac in that conversation,” Stiles says. His phone chimes again. He looks confused. “Laura… of course Erica gave her my number. She’s sorry.”
“Why?”
Stiles reads some more. “She told your parents and now they want to meet me.”
“Laura!” Derek complains, like she can hear him. “I just met you.”
“Well,” Stiles says, leaving his phone on the counter. “Not really.”
Derek nods. “But you just met me.”
“You think?” Stiles asks. “I’m sure not everything you told me was a lie.”
“No, I guess not,” Derek admits.
An awkward silence follows. Stiles finally breaks it. “Why?”
He doesn’t specify why what, but he thinks it’s obvious.
“That night, when you told me, you know, everything,” Derek talks slowly, he’s obviously embarrassed still. “I just wanted to say, hey, I understand you, I’m here. But I had been lying to you for months and I…” He scratches the back of his neck, Stiles can’t complain about how it makes him flex his muscles. “I felt so stupid. So fake. Such a hypocrite. I just thought you’d think I was a weirdo or a creep if I told you.”
Stiles nods. “Well,” he says approaching Derek and taking some icing off his hair, “maybe this way it was better.” He licks the frosting off his finger, Derek follows the motion like he’s hypnotized.
“Want me to show you how to work my shower?” he asks, hugging Derek’s neck. The Alpha wraps his arms around the omega’s waist.
“Yes, please,” Derek says. They’re about to kiss and Derek’s phone, still in his hand, chimes again.
“Scott, I swear to-“ He unlocks his phone and there they see a photo of Allison and Lydia dancing closely together and looking at each other like there’s no one else in the world.
“Asking for them,” the message reads. “Isaac and I are not gonna have our first date until next week.”