The Alpha King Call Boy
Chapter 229

Alexander

Grayson and I talked at length. The afternoon sun told the time as it slipped across the bright, clear sky.

He kept stealing glances out the window, and I became quite sure he was lusting after the forest, wishing he could get outside and go for a run through the trees. Too bad we had more important things to do today.

A long, hard run in the woods on crisp, cool day sounded amazing. But we had many, many details to discuss for this, the single most important plan I'd ever devise in my life.

Too soon, a text from Fiona reminded me it was nearing time for our dinner date with the visiting couples. Grayson and I wrapped up our work and walked together back to the dining room to reunite with our wives. He and I would resume our work later, looping in our Betas and finalizing battle plans.

Kayden, Chase and Dana dined with the four of us, too. Lexi was still enjoying a long nap, Fi reported when I swept her up into my arms for a kiss hello, so Nina had volunteered to stay behind with her.

With pride, I saw our guests' eyes go large as they were seated at the dining table once again and took in the sight of the dinner spread. And this time, I was the one to raise a glass and say a few words before the meal. I kept my toast brief and succinct. I held my eyes on Grayson's and thanked him for our new alliance.

We were only two of seven courses into feast when Fiona jumped a little at my side. I heard her phone vibrating in her pocket.

When she pulled it out and looked down at the caller ID, her face dropped. But only for an instant.

By the time she righted her head, a neutral smile was in position on her ruby lips.

Fiona silenced the call, but rose to stand immediately. "Please excuse me," she said to the group. "I'm afraid I need to slip away for a moment."

Liv, seated directly across from Fiona, offered an effusion of supportive words. "Of course-don't worry about us! Please, don't mind us at all..." Fi met Liv's eyes, and it looked like the smile on my wife's lips briefly changed into a sincere one. It seemed like the two of them had some sort of connection, already.

I gave my wife a supportive nod when she turned and met my eyes for a second. She gave an unreadable expression back to me, and then turned and walked from the room at an even pace.

I took my time folding my napkin, excusing myself, and making my own exit. I wanted to give Fi a head start in case she wanted a little privacy for the phone call. But I knew that I needed to follow her. I'd seen her screen. It was her Grandfather's nursing home that had been calling her.

"Yes," I heard Fiona saying from around a corner. I followed the sound of her voice until she was in my sights and felt my presence. She was pacing in one of the corridors, walking back and forth between two large windows, and holding her phone to her ear. I stopped about ten feet away.

Fi finally stopped her pacing. She turned to face me and met my eyes. "Yes," she said into the phone again. "Yes, I understand."

I could hear the other side of the conversation, too.

I have very good hearing.

Fi's grandfather was ill; more so than usual. The old man had fallen and injured himself, and then his wound had become infected. And then the infection had quickly gotten bad.

"I know I only just told you that you could come visit him any time," the doctor was saying, "but I'm afraid I have to change my recommendation."

"I see," Fiona said.

"His immune system is in a weakened state, so he should not have guests for the time being. Not until his condition improves. And I will surely notify you just as soon as it does."

"Of course. Thank you very much, Doctor. I appreciate the call."

Fi's mouth finally sagged down into a frown when she lowered her phone and hung up. I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around her. She collapsed into my chest and stayed there, silent. Just breathing. Thinking.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart." I pressed a kiss into the top of her head, savoring a breath of her sweet lavender scent as I did so.

I wished that I could also say something comforting like: "It's going to be okay." But I was pretty sure that, at least in terms of Reginald Il's future on this plane of existence, that would be a lie.

The old man was not going to be okay.

After a minute, Fiona started to pull away, extricating herself from my bear hug.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I just needed a moment.

Let's head back now." She smoothed her hair and glanced at her watch, just like she'd been doing all day. Wanting to make sure we were keeping to our schedule with our visitors. "Baby, you don't have to go back to the dinner.

Why don't I walk you back to our room, and you can hang with Nina for a bit while I go and finish up with _"

"No," Fiona interrupted firmly, shaking her head. " It's fine, Alex. Really. It's not that big of a deal. Let's get back to our guests. Come on." She slipped her hand into mine and pulled. I stayed firmly in place. "Are you sure, Fi?"

"Yes," she said, her voice now slightly tinged with irritation. I watched as the last traces of her frown vanished, replaced with a look of cool

professionalism. "I'm fine," she repeated calmly, sliding her phone back into her pocket.

"Fiona. They will understand. I can tell them you've had a family emergency. Or I can tell them nothing at all, it doesn't matter. Are you sure you don't want to take some time...?"

"I am sure," she said sternly. She turned to look in the direction of the dining room. "These relationships are critical, Alex, and we have very limited time to spend with these people. We only have this one day. I can put my feelings aside for a few hours. And it's not like there is anything I can do for my grandfather, anyway. There's nothing to be done. It's fine. I'm fine. Come on."

She tugged on my hand again, and this time I let her pull me forward, and onward back to our social commitment.

I hadn't seen her wearing this mask of hers in a long time. She wore it so well, so convincingly. The others didn't even notice that it was a false face she had plastered on, as she smiled at their stories and laughed lightly at their jokes. I hated it, though. It made me feel like the real Fiona was a million miles away.