Beta Complex

Chapter 75: Two Years

"Table three is missing a desert plate." Ethan taps his hand against the shoulder of a finely dressed waiter. He doesn’t know his name, but he does know that he’s a recent hire based on his flustered expression.

"R-right!" The man spins around, the cloth of his black apron fluttering as he rushes towards the kitchen at the back of the dining room.

Ethan glances towards the large window, where the sun has already set. It may have been two years since their grand opening, but he still isn’t used to the view of the river. The water shimmers beneath the light of the moon, its reflection wading with the soft waves.

Ethan, Leo, and on occasion Max, have made it a habit to sit along the bank and have a few drinks. Maybe after the night is over, he’ll go down there and have a moment for himself.

He tears his gaze away and glances up. The chandelier on the ceiling casts an enchanting glow over the floor, the soft music drifting from the platform where the hired pianist plays.

If Ethan is honest, the fruits of his and Roxanne’s hard labor is almost like a dream. After he started his business lessons, time moved quickly and next thing he knew he was graduating. The thoughts of a certain dominant alpha has all but disappeared from his mind, leaving him to focus on other things.

The restaurant took off faster than he could have imagined thanks to his mother’s investor. It’s now a well known formal dining place where business men conduct meetings in private rooms, and couples make renovations for their anniversaries.

"You have a visitor." Roxanne comes up from behind him, wearing a red formal dress and a ’Manager’ tag pinned to her left breast. Her hair is styled up neatly, a pair of reading glasses on the bridge of her nose. She nods towards the office at the left side.

"I’ll take my break then." Ethan sighs and reaches up to adjust his black tie. He kisses his mother’s cheek and walks away. When he steps inside, he finds Leo looking out of the window, with his hands in his pockets.

The omega is dressed formally, matching the atmosphere of the rest of the restaurant. A scarf is wrapped loosely around his neck, a faint perfume scent fills the air around him. His blonde hair is styled back, his blue eyes vibrant due to the black liner.

"You look nice," Ethan smiles as he relaxes in the office chair. He spreads his legs, his calves sore from being on his feet for who knows how long.

"Thank you." Leo beams and reaches up to press a palm to his cheek, "I’m meeting Max’s parents tonight."

"Wow," Ethan blinks. He’s less surprised by the admission, he knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, if anything he’s confused as to why Leo came all the way just to tell him that.

Ethan didn’t know the couple would last as long as they have been. He never saw Max’s earlier pursuit as serious, especially with how Leo kept avoiding him. However, after Max seemed to wiggle his way past Leo’s guard, they both locked in.

"How is he doing?" Ethan asks.

"Good. He’s helping me open up a dress store." Leo can’t stop smiling. His cheeks are flushed red and he shuffles on his feet like he can’t keep still. "Can you imagine? I mean, I was always going to open up shop anyway. But knowing that other people will be wearing my designs is a dream!"

"That’s amazing!" Ethan smiles. "I’d get up and hug you, but honestly, I’m too exhausted."

Leo waves his hand dismissively, "Its fine. We bought a building down the street actually. So we can see each other more often now!"

"When will it be open?" Ethan asks.

Leo hums and then purses his lips, "Maybe in a month or two, if things go well." Ethan nods his head and they settle into a moment of silence.

Ethan doesn’t rush for the omega to leave. The longer Leo is there the longer he can stay away from working. It’s great their business is doing well, but it’s tiring nonetheless.

Leo steps forward and clears his throat, "Actually, there’s something else I came to say."

"What is it?" Ethan asks as he blinks tiredly up at him.

"I heard some news," Leo continues with an awkward rub to the back of his neck, "It’s why I’m here."

Ethan raises an eyebrow at him.

"I’ve heard Zander is engaged." Leo spits out and cringes at how loud his voice is. He clears his throat once more and rings his hands in front of him, "Well, technically, Max heard the news and then told me. You remember right? That Max is in the same social circle as him?"

Ethan blinks up at him, "Engaged?" The word sounds weird coming from him. It suddenly doesn’t sound like a real word. Like how if you say something enough it suddenly sounds fake?

"Yeah." Leo nods his head. He sighs and leans back against the wall, "I guess you haven’t heard yet."

"No, uh," Ethan clears his throat, his gaze shifting to the window to look out at the night sky. In all honesty, Ethan has avoided anything to do with the Alpha. It’s how he’s managed to forget about him until now. Any news that shows up about Phera Perfumes is turned off.

Before, Ethan used to wonder endlessly about him. How he was doing, why he would suddenly disappear the way he did, but most of all, he wondered if Zander ever really liked him to begin with.

"To who?" Ethan doesn’t mean to ask the question. It’s too late now though. Does he even really want to know? What would knowing do? Nothing.

Because they both live in two different worlds. Ethan lives as a middle class beta who works day and night while the other is a renowned dominant alpha. An idolized figure of society.

Ethan tells himself that this information is useless to him, but it doesn’t help ease the discomfort in his chest.