It was time to tie up loose ends.
For Alexei, this meant formally and publicly acknowledging the scandal surrounding his marriage. Even with Hanzel's official statement and apology from OPS, the whole issue did not die out. There were still clamours that he be brought to justice. It had been months, did these people not have lives of their own or something? He straightened his tie again. Were he facing this issue alone, things would not have gone so smoothly. To think some members of the board would try to take advantage of the opportunity and request for him to step down because 'they were a company that needed the public on their side'… the absolute gall of those fuckers. He scoffed internally, so what if they had a few shares? Hanzel was his, no one could change that but to make sure it remained that way for a long time, when share prices dropped and people were panic-selling, both he and Jason used the opportunity to increase their stake but that's all irrelevant information. He made a mental note to organize a clean house once the issue was resolved, what was important right now was the press conference at hand.
Dawson handed him a tablet "Everything is ready." He informed.
He took a deep breath, swiping from one page to the next as his eyes scanned their contents "Whatever would I do without you?"
"Everything will be alright, sir."
"Of course, are you doubting me?" He tossed the device back to him "Are your standards so low that you would be willing to work for a person who can't handle this little issue?"
Little issue? Was almost losing his position in the company a little issue? The board wanted to vote him out as a show of good faith for the public but thank heavens that nonsense was stopped in time. "You're right, sir. What was I thinking?"
Alexei scrutinized his assistant "Dawson."
"Sir."
"Has your loyalty begun to waver?"
"Not at all, sir."
He gave him a firm pat on the shoulder "That's right, I'm amazing, why would you have doubts about working for me?"
He sighed "Sir, the conference."
"Indeed." He flashed a charming smile "Shall we?"
Dawson took a step back "After you, sir."
Alexei straightened his jacket and walked down the path to the conference hall.
A few seconds after he held up a hand, the noise and camera flashing died down "I know my marriage has been hot news for a few weeks, even with OPS stepping forward to clarify the issue some people are still unsatisfied so... Here we are."
"Excuse me, Mr. Rockwell..." He reported started immediately "...if there really was no issue, how did your husband end up at OPS?"
"Right into it, I see..." He muttered, before resting both elbows on the podium "That's something you should ask them, how they managed to dig up my husband's information and come up with a story alleging abuse is absolutely beyond me."
"Are you saying it was all a lie?"
He nodded "Well, yes. We're just a happily married couple."
"Your husband is an omega..." Another interjected "...and it is a well-known fact that you hate omegas, it's not exactly a reach."
"My dislike for omegas has always been greatly exaggerated."
"They aren't allowed on certain floors in your building, that's clear discrimination. You clearly limited the opp-"
"Stop!" He straightened "As I have said before, it is not discrimination and no one is limited. All positions at Hanzel are open to all peoples regardless of gender. The floors in question are floors reserved for specific personnel who handle sensitive information. Personnel indispensable to me and to Hanzel. They are not open to unrelated persons in general. The fact that those individuals are not omegas is something not within my control. We've dealt with this before, Hanzel adopts a blind hire model, it is all based on merit."
"That's... Are you saying you can employ an omega as your assistant?"
He tapped the edge of the podium with a finger "You want me to trade in the person that has been by my side for years for a random person simply because they're an omega, just to prove a point to you?" He asked with a smile.
"I just -"
"All those positions, that of my assistant included, are held by highly qualified and very deserving individuals. They have held them and painstakingly cultivated their talents for years, but just to satisfy you, I should fire them all and hire a bunch of omegas?" He tilted his head playfully to the side "You don't seem very bright."
The room fell into an uncomfortable hush.
Alexei sighed audibly "My apologies..." He rubbed his forehead "...this issue has intruded far too much in my personal life." He gestured to the scorned reporter "I am sure you're well qualified for your job. It takes a lot of effort to get to where you are."
Another hush.
"Ex-excuse me..." Another reporter dared to speak up "...about your husband..."
"Yes, my husband."
"Rumour is that he had a medical condition, can you clarify on that?"
"No." He answered firmly.
"Then, your husband? Will he also be making an appearance?"
"No, he will not."
"Did the incident cause a separation?"
"No. We are still very much in love and happy."
"Then he should step forward and-"
"No. I have no intentions of parading my husband for your benefit. Next question."
A petite person stood "I have a question." They announced softly.
"Yes, please." He replied, mirroring their tone.
"If you refuse to explain or give a proper explanation, then why are we gathered here?"
Alexei sighed, took a sip of water "An explanation..." He echoed "I guess I do owe you one." He let out a slow exhale "My husband is indeed an omega and yes, he has... had a special condition." He scratched his temple nervously with an exhausted smile "I get a little defensive when it comes up. You see, it is true he made a consultation with a centre, and it is true that he asked about a gland extraction, but it was just a question he asked the doctor. Nothing came of it. Shortly after that, his treatment began properly and somehow, OPS took consultation and ran with it."
"Are you saying it was an unfair witch-hunt?"
He looked at the reporter helplessly, still with that smile and slumped shoulders.
"Then, is your husband fine now?"
"Yes. His treatment suffered a little because of all the stress, but things are getting better, thank you."
The reporter nodded and returned to his seat.
"Are there any other questions?"
"YES!" Someone shot out of their chair "Are you saying there was no abuse?"
"Yes, OPS stated as much. Remember? They did a whole investigation about it and separated me from my husband but there was nothing to show for it."
He nodded "Then, will you be holding them accountable? You are not known to be one to let those who cross you go scot-free, is there anything we should expect?"
Alexei laughed cheerfully "Are you saying I'm vindictive?"
The room was filled with a few uncomfortable laughs, snickers and murmurs bellying their agreement with the thought.
"I will not be taking legal actions against OPS. Ultimately, they are a very important and extremely necessary institution. They were merely doing their jobs, the fact the a few irresponsible and incompetent individuals exist within their ranks is not…" he furrowed his brows "…I have no intentions of making things difficult for them, they are an indispensable agency. Just because there was no story here doesn't mean it is the same elsewhere."
There were calls of "wows" as disbelief circled the room.
"But that is just for OPS, anyone else that interferes with my work or slanders my husband or I in any way, shape or form would have to answer for their actions."
"Very well done, sir " Dawson accepted the blazer Alexei handed over.
"Please refrain from throwing yourself at me, I am a happily married man." He said, folding his sleeves and loosening his tie as he stepped into the elevator that was waiting.
"I am also married but I will be sure to keep that in mind." He pushed the button for the topmost floor.
"Anything new?"
"Your beloved husband asked if you would return in time for dinner."
Alexei checked his watch "I guess we have to make this quick. Where's Jay?"
"In your office."
He let out a long sigh as he leaned against the wall, the coolness of the stainless steel eased his nerves a bit. This was actually more exhausting than he had anticipated. Would he really have to take Ethan out and parade him before the noise would disappear.
"The most important issues have been resolved. I'm sure the board and shareholders will be happy with this." Dawson started, sensing his distress.
"Yea..."
"As for the advocacy groups..."
The elevator dinged and the doors opened.
"What do you suggest, Dawson?" He asked as he stepped out "Should I put my recovering husband on display?"
"I would never suggest such a thing."
Alexei glanced back at him "I know you would never, you are smarter than a lot of people out there." He stepped into his office.
"You could have been nicer." Jason commented immediately Alexei walked in "You shouldn't be mean to reporters."
"I can also hire a bunch of omegas, that would solve the issue, but who would give money to a person easily swayed by public opinion?"
Jason chuckled "Indeed, either way, we're stable now."
Alexei clicked his tongue "You'd think they'd at least be grateful after all the social work Hanzel has put in."
"Well… you have to give them something."
"Do I?"
He sighed "Come on."
He waved Dawson out of the office "You know this isn't about Ethan or my marriage." He said, slumping on to the couch, next to his brother.
"It'll be over soon." Jason chuckled "…so just lay low for a while. Father said he would call in a favour."
"What?"
"It's dragging out too long."
Since the conference aired, Ethan was stuck to all the screens in the house reading and listening to everything and anything that could be said about it, and everything he heard stung him. Every feedback dug deep into his heart because they were mostly negative and a large portion of those reviews were dedicated to mockery, calls for the husband.
All this because of something stupid he did.
Curled up on the couch, he increased the volume of the TV as bits of the press conference were broadcast.
"So, if he says he likes omegas, how does that add personally to your life? What does that fact do for you?" One person at the table commented.
"This isn't just about him not liking omegas, there is systemic discrimination at play. He benefits from omegas, but he can't employ them? What does that even-"
"There are omegas at Hanzel, don't rewrite reality to fit your narrative."
"Some positions-"
"That's because those positions are filled! Oh, my days! Should he kick out those people? Will you take the job? Will you fill the post?"
"No but it would be nice to know omegas have a shot."
"Well, you can only have a shot if someone gets fired!"
"That still doesn't absolve him. In this day and age, coming out to say you dislike someone just based on their second gender alone is not right."
"That's within his right; it's not like he's hurting anyone. I mean, it is a fact that he and Hanzel have done more for omegas than a large number of advocacy groups out there. It's not performative, it's practical. Just look at the Rush II trial that was only just concluded, many of the victims were omegas and Hanzel, no, Alexei Rockwell opened the doors for these individuals and gave them treatment for free."
"He benefits off them so yes, he has to support. It's the bare minimum."
"And what did the advocacy groups do? What did OPS do? I think the more important question to ask is anytime an omega makes a consultation or ask a question in the privacy of their doctor's office will they have to stand before OPS to defend themselves?"
"Well, that consultation was clearly a cry for help."
"Listen to yourself, you've been consuming theories off the internet and can't think straight."
"Hanzel has medical facilities, why make a consultation outside if something were not amiss?"
"That's a conspiracy and you know it."
"Conspiracy or not, there's no smoke without fire."
"The most omega-centric products on the market are from Hanzel. Affordable and safe but OPS invades into your private business and airs out your-"
"Where is his husband? Where is the husband? Not a word from him since all this began."
"OPS already said to move on, there was nothing there. Are you doubting their investigation?"
Ethan lowered the volume when he heard the door open turning the passionate debate into background noise.
"Ethan, what are you-" his gaze stalled on the almost silent tv screen "Don't listen to that." He said softly.
He dropped his feet to the floor and walked over timidly to welcome his husband.
"How are you feeling?"
"It's okay, just a little light-headed." After telling Alexei everything, his emotions had become more stable, but still no heat so Olly put him on a mild stimulant.
"The drugs?"
He nodded slowly before leading Alexei to a couch.
"Sit." He pulled him down to the chair before the fellow could scurry away "Don't move around so much."
Ethan obediently remained by his side, while Alexei turned off the TV.
"What did you do all day?"
He picked at his fingernails.
Alexei shifted closer "Ethan..."
"Let me do a press conference, if I explain everything they'll stop saying bad things about you."
He chuckled softly "Heh, you want to fight for me? I'm so moved."
"Alex-"
"No." His playfulness was replaced with a firm tone.
"B-but..."
Alexei softened "Ethan, this... This is not going to end until you say what they want to hear."
He shifted closer, whispering eagerly "What...what is it?"
He leaned in, lowering his voice to match Ethan's, feeling a little amused by his eagerness "They want to hear that I am abusing you... That, just based on the fact that you're an omega, I've deprived you of your basic rights as a human. Can you say that to them?"
His eagerness died down "B-but... That's not true."
Alexei pinched his cheek "But that's what they want to hear, if not, everything and anything you say will be subject to all sorts of debates and analysis. They'll say you're being coerced and turn your words against you." He stood "It's not worth the trouble, honestly." He added before walking off to their bedroom with Ethan stalking behind.
"Then what should we do?"
He shrugged, explaining as he took off his shirt "What you should do is focus on your recovery..." He met his gaze "...Ethan, does my body please you that much? You can touch it you know." He said wiggling he brows "Don't be shy."
"Alex."
"Want to join me in the bathroom?"
"Alex."
"I guess you're not in the condition to mess around, huh, but it's been a while you know."
Ethan's eyes darted, uncomfortably, about the room.
Alexei laughed at this before heading to the bathroom.
Ethan was left alone, if him stepping forward to explain wasn't an option then what was? He hurried to the dining to set up the table for dinner; Alexei had insisted on him no longer cooking but that was all he could do.
"I told you to stop doing that." Alexei said from behind.
"But I want to."
"I guess that's fine." He took a seat at the table.
The rest of the night progressed amicably, and the topic was avoided until later that night, they were in bed and Ethan decided to make another attempt.
Alexei tugged on his lower lip with a thumb "Don't bite on it."
"Mm." He snuggled closer "I'm so sorry."
He pulled him closer "This again?"
"It's my fault."
"Ethan, I don't want to have this conversation over and over again."
"But..."
"But nothing. If not this, they would use something else." He said impatiently.
"I'm-I'm sorry..."
Alexei let out an exhausted sigh as he rolled on to his back and stared up at the ceiling "Ethan, it's my shortcoming that you didn't have any confidence in us."
He sat up, his heart thumping hard against his chest "That's not true!"
"But if I had-"
"No! It's not your fault."
He rolled to his side to look at him "We can keep playing the blame game or we can put this behind us."
"But-" his words were cut short when Alexei pulled him back into his arms.
"I was asked to lay low for a bit, so I have some time to spare. Will I spend every day telling you to let it go?"
He whimpered as he pressed his face against his chest, drawing in a deep breath. It was comforting, there was no pheromone scent to speak of, but it wasn't any less soothing.
"I've told you to throw tantrums and cause me trouble."
"Youdon'tevencallmebabyanymore." He mumbled against his chest.
"Huh?" He rolled on to his back, pulling Ethan to lay on his body "I don't? That's a very serious problem." He craned his neck to kiss his forehead "Fear not, I shall spend the coming days making up for this blunder."