Chapter 4 Life and Capitalism

"Do you understand the contract terms now, Mr Hagakure?".

"Please call me Sora, all my friends call me Sora". He's sniffling.

"We are not friends, Mr Hagakure," Yamato Eiji sighs. He lives every day filled with some sort of regret. Clearly, everyone does, too. It's not like being rich gives you fewer regrets. His greatest regret right now is not guiding this omega out of the room the moment he stumbled into his meeting with Miyamura at the bar that night.

"Then we can be friends now, can't we?". He had to question the security team and go through all the recorded surveillance feeds to find the omega sniffling in front of him. He finally found him in the restroom, four seconds away from a breakdown, looking like he was going to off himself right there. Right in his favourite cubicle. Like hell he'd let that happen!.

"You seem to have been experiencing breathing problems in the restroom Mr Hagakure, How are you feeling now?". He had to spend over twenty minutes coaxing the omega out of there. Surely Miyamura couldn't have done something cruel so soon.

"He jabbed me in the throat with his finger".

Of course, that bastard had to do something like this. Why does Miyamura not have any sense of self-control? Why the hell does HE have to do damage control? He protested against 'hiring' this omega, quite insistently too. If only he hadn't met Miyamura in high school. He'd be somewhere else, doing something less stress-inducing. Living his best life. Damn it!.

"We have a medical unit in this building, I could direct you to them...".

"He jabbed me in the throat!!", the omega cuts in, his eyes wide and panicked. "I didn't even do anything, I didn't even know I signed that stupid contract!...you can't do this...y-you can't keep me h-here I-i...", Eiji recognizes the signs, the omega Sorahiko is heading towards a very strong panic attack. He gets up quickly, rounds his table, and bends low while directly facing the omega. He doesn't want to lean over him and have him panic more.

"Shhh shh calm down...there there...you can do it...follow me...no no...follow my breathing...", he inhaled and exhales deeply for the omega to see." One two three...one two three...yes, you're doing so well...continue...one two three...you're doing good Sorahiko". As Sorahiko follows his movements, the tenseness of his body dissipates. He takes one final deep breath and slumps down on his seat, rubbing his hands down his face.

"I'm sorry". The words are soft, barely a whisper. "I haven't had one of those in a while, I'm so sorry". He sounds so raw, it's almost painful to hear.

"You don't need to apologize for anything Sorahiko". If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you. "Miyamura is not a good person...". Not like you need me to tell you that. "...he's mean-spirited...". He's some kind of ancient evil spirit that likes toying with people. "He does a lot of cruel things that he can get away with because he's a dominant alpha...". I'm a victim too, he just gets away with it because people label it as 'friendship'. I need saving too. I should poison the bastard. "...and he tends to go too far...".

"Then you can help me", Sorahiko's looking at him with hopeful eyes and he feels like shit. "If you know how he is, y-you can talk to him and you can s-save me right?". He's stuttering. Bloody Miyamura! Damn Aronohais and playing with people!.

"The thing is I can't". He doesn't wait to see Sorahiko's hopeful look crumble, he stands up immediately. He'd sugarcoat it but he's never been that type of person. "He's a mean-spirited bastard, but he won't show you any cruelty over a joke. Like that's any better. "Because that's what this is to him, a joke", Sorahiko makes a small choking sound. I can relate. Its time to hook him in.

"This is a j-joke to h-him?". That tone borders on complete disbelief. I feel you too man.

"He tricked a mouthy omega into being his secretary Sorahiko, it's all fun and games to him". The delivery is deadpan. I could have worded that better. I shrug.

"I-I'm not mouthy! I w-was drunk", Sorahiko exclaims.

The omega sounds exasperated. I feel you, man. I really do.

"Then that's good, isn't it?...". Please take the bait. Line.

"W-what do you mean?". And sinker.

"I've gone through all the details of your past work contracts". He blinks at me, and I blink back at him. Good, he's following me". "You've never made as much money as you will if you work for a month here...". I'm reeling him in.

"What exactly are you saying?". Good, the stutter's gone.

"I'm saying that you should work here for as long as you can and earn your salary and all the benefits and bonuses that come with it...". Stay with me now. "... and if you're as boring as you think you are, Miyamura will get tired of you in like, let's say three months tops...". His eyes widen in understanding. "...he'll fire you but you'd end up with a job at a high-class corporation like Rohai on your CV and more money than you've had in years, what do you say?". I have him.

"And all I have to do is just work?". You've got to respect the man for not falling for it completely. I definitely respect him.

"He won't be kind to you, he's still a mean-spirited bastard who has the power to wipe your entire existence but he wouldn't do it because...".

"Because this is just a joke to him". He gets it now. "He has no reason to really harm me because even if I'm on his radar, I'm nothing". A bit too pessimistic for me but I'll take it.

"Exactly!". I stretch my hand for a shake, "It'd be my pleasure to work with you Hagakure Sorahiko". We shake hands amicably. Both slaves to capitalism and the whims of bastard alphas.

"As is mine, Mr Yamato". I refuse to be so formal with such a kindred soul.

"Please call me Eiji".

"Only if you call me Sora".

"Sorahiko".

"Yamato".

A smile here, a grin there. And, it's a deal.

____

Five minutes after Sorahiko leaves his office, Eiji's intercom buzzes.

"Badmouthing me with strangers now Eiji?". If I keep quiet and hold my breath for two minutes, he'd get bored and stop speaking.

"You're being so mean you know?". Maybe I should invest in holy water. Is that possible? Can I do that?.

"Go make other friends".

Huh?

"That one's mine".

Freaking bastard.