Chapter Text
Charlie bit the side of his finger as he watched the two men shake hands through the glass office.
Ridiculous. Ridiculous. Ridiculous.
He was supposed to be the one standing there.
He thought his late papa had practically guaranteed him the position. And even though part of Charlie dreaded the expectations that came with it, it was still something he'd spent years preparing himself for. Maybe even looking forward to.
Maybe he shouldn't have been surprised.
Across the room stood Alpha Senpai in his sharp suit, perfect posture, and confident smile. He was the kind of person people listened to the second he walked into a room.
Charlie knew he looked like he'd rolled out of bed in comparison.
His long hair desperately needed a trim, hanging unevenly around his face. His clothes were never quite right either. Nothing was dirty, but nothing matched particularly well. His sleeves were slightly wrinkled, and his tie sat crooked no matter how many times he adjusted it.
Charlie bit down harder on his finger.
Ridiculous.
The older executive shook Alpha's hand one last time before heading toward the door. Alpha waited until the man disappeared from view before sinking into his chair, his face stretching into a smug grin.
Charlie lowered his head, frozen in surrender.
Maybe this is for the best. After all, his current position was comfortable. He barely had to talk to anyone. He could hide in his office, do his work, and go home.
Who cared if the man who had only been here for a year stole it?
Who cared? But who was he kidding?
He cared.
God, he cared so much it made his chest hurt.
No. He could not accept this.
Charlie stood so abruptly that his chair nearly toppled over. Before his brain could catch up with his body, he was already marching across the office toward Alpha's undeserved glass office. Employees looked up as he passed, their eyes widening at the unfamiliar boldness. A few immediately looked away. Others openly stared. Charlie shoved open the conference room door. It slammed against the wall harder than he intended.
The room was technically private. When the door was shut, it muted their voices. But the walls were glass. Everyone in the office could see straight in.
Alpha looked up. For a split second, surprise flashed across his face. Then came the smirk.
"Oh?" he said, leaning back in his chair. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Charlie's hands curled into fists. He hated that smug expression. He hated how perfectly Alpha’s blonde hair was and how he wore his suits. He hated how effortlessly charming he was. And more than anything, he hated how everyone else seemed to love him.
Alpha raised an eyebrow at Charlie's lack of a response.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Charlie stepped forward, caught the toe of his shoe on the edge of the carpet, and stumbled. He flailed wildly to keep himself upright.
"I'm f-fine!" Charlie blurted.
Alpha watched him smugly before leaning back in his chair. "Can I help you?"
The calmness in his voice somehow made Charlie even angrier. Charlie's fingers twisted together. His heart was pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat.
"Th-that was supposed to be my position!" he said finally.
"Hm?" Alpha tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"I-I..." Charlie swallowed. "I was in line for that p-position." His voice cracked on the last word. Charlie immediately wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole.
Alpha looked him up and down. Something almost amused flickered across his face. "Who are you again?"
Charlie could only stare back at him.
Then Alpha smiled. "I'm joking. Of course, I know who you are." He pressed a hand dramatically to his chest. "Mr. Charlie Ciceric himself. We miss your father every day."
Charlie bit the inside of his cheek. Alpha hadn't even worked here when Papa was alive. He had no right to say that.
"But anyway," Alpha continued, resting his chin on his hand, "I'm honestly shocked to see you storm into my office. That was a surprisingly aggressive move."
Charlie's face flushed.
"But I'm curious." Alpha smiled. "Besides the whole nepotism baby thing, why exactly do you think you should've been promoted instead?"
"W-well..." And suddenly Charlie's mind went blank. His mouth felt dry. "I um..."
"I'll answer for you." Alpha swiveled his chair around and picked up a file from his desk. He flipped through it lazily. "You did these numbers." He whistled softly. "Fantastic, actually."
He glanced up before continuing. "From what I remember, you've never missed a deadline. You've been with the company for almost ten years." He nodded approvingly. "That's impressive."
Charlie hated how relieved he felt hearing the praise.
"Am I wrong?" Alpha asked.
"Y-yes, but—" Charlie clenched his jaw. He had the sudden urge to shove that smug expression right off Alpha's face.
"But," Alpha interrupted, holding up his hand, "You never speak up in meetings, you make other people present reports you've written, you avoid company events, and you barely talk to anyone." He shrugged. "Frankly, before today, I wasn't entirely convinced you could speak in complete sentences."
Charlie's face burned. "I c-can too!"
"Oh?" Alpha's smile widened. "Then by all means, prove me wrong."
Charlie opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
Alpha sighed dramatically and leaned back farther in his chair.
"See, this is exactly what I mean." His expression softened, though not by much. "Excuse me if I'm wrong, but this position requires leadership, people skills, and public speaking." He tilted his head. "We wouldn't want to put you in an uncomfortable position."
Charlie looked down. "I can p-push myself."
"Hm?" Alpha rested his cheek against his hand. "But I can already do all of that without pushing myself." He paused. "And Charlie..." He sighed. "I hate bringing this up, but I think it's only fair to mention."
"What else?" Charlie asked quietly, looking away.
Alpha hesitated before saying, "This isn't coming from me," he said. "But you know how shareholders are. People talk."
“A-about what?” Thought a knowing feeling washed over him.
"It is public knowledge that you're the child of one of the company's founders. And your father originally introduced himself as having two sons and two daughters."
Then the meaning of Alpha's words sank in. A sick feeling spread through him. The room suddenly felt too small.
"People are bound to notice that he has three sons now. And you're the one they'll talk about," Alpha continued softly. "I'm sorry." He looked away. "Unfortunately, something so personal has become common knowledge. And... the current political climate isn't exactly kind."
Charlie stared at the floor. He hated that everyone knew. He had joined the company before he transitioned. Plenty of employees remembered him from before. He always wondered who still thought about it. Who whispered. Who stared when he wasn't looking.
"A-are you saying..." His voice shook. "...that it would be bad for me to be the head because I'm trans?"
"Charlie, now, now." Alpha twisted in exaggerated shock, holding up both hands. "Don't turn this into an HR violation."
Charlie looked up sharply.
"I'm saying the company cares about optics," Alpha said. "And I think that's bullshit." He shrugged. "But whether I think it's bullshit or not doesn't change that it exists."
The room went quiet. Charlie didn't know what to do with that answer.
Alpha closed the file with a soft thud.
"But don’t worry," he said brightly, "As your new supervisor, I'll take good care of you."
Charlie frowned. The words sounded patronizing. Or maybe teasing. He couldn't decide which annoyed him more.
Alpha grinned. "In fact, how would you like to go to a convention in Europe?"
"A company trip?"
"YES! Congratulations," Alpha said, standing up and throwing his arms out dramatically. "The best of the best get to go on this. And you get to spend a whole week with me."
"...Why are you even offering me this?" he asked.
Alpha shrugged. "Because, as I said, I'll take care of you. And I see potential. Not many people would storm into my office as you did. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two that'll help you in the future," Alpha added with a smug grin.
Charlie looked at him for a long moment. His mind screamed at him to curse him out. To slam everything off the desk. Maybe even grab him and throw him to the ground. The calmer, more rational part of him told him to just quit. But that wouldn't solve anything. And it would be a disgrace to his papa.
"...Okay," he said quietly. He turned and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Charlie!"
Charlie paused and glanced back.
"It's in a week," Alpha said. "So get packing."
Charlie sighed, shaking his head as he walked out. A week in Europe. With a group of corporate executives who looked down on him.
And Alpha.
His headache worsened.