Chapter 75 - Journalists' meeting

Didn't take to long for Júliu send to Nathaniel an answer. In fact, it was three days after the conversation at the library. Soon after receiving the message, the omega left preparations with Jake and Rapoxia. It was only the details that only they could prepare, since they were investigating the Callegari family.

As if all that stress was not enough, the boys also had to face the week of tests, which seemed like an endless hell. Nathaniel was exhausted by spending his late nights of insomnia studying, although he was sometimes taking a nap thinking about the interview.

— Well, I managed to pick a study room in law course's building. A few guys even said they will do the watch during the meeting — Matheus warned.

— I brought the contract you asked for and also my notebook. Ah, and a pen drive.

Nathaniel looked at the boys from Rapoxia who were gathered after training. All sweaty from training and yet they seemed worried about the meeting that would happen in a few hours.

— You are going too far because of me. I have no words to thank you...

— This is being fun. I feel like a spy — Ricardo joked.

— You have fun on the couch of your mistress that we know.

— Hey, hey, hey, don't even start.

— We better go to the shower. We met there in the room then, deal? — Matheus looked at the others who waved and already went to the dressing room. Then the alpha turned to the brothers — And you two should go get something to eat.

Jake and Guilherme exchanged glances, were worried about Nathaniel. Well, it was clear that the omega was coming to the edge of its exhaustion. The problem was that the joker always replied that he was fine, since he had been used to feeling like this since the accident. Not even Jake could do much.

Well, at least Guilherme had a card up his sleeve that always worked.

— Brother, are we going to eat some snacks? I'm hungry and I hate eating alone.

— Right.

When Nathaniel turned his back to leave the gym, Guilherme looked at the two alphas and all breathed relieved. Appealing to the protective side of the omega was always a triumph.

In the diner, while waiting for their alphas, the brothers ate a snack and drank a juice. Only then did Nathaniel realize how hungry he was, although he avoided the food by feeling his stomach wrapped in the last days.

— Nath... Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, it's something that will make the journalists appear at our door.

— I know, but it's the only way to solve everything. Both for me and for Jake.

Guilherme held his brother's hand and looked at him worried.

— I just don't want you to regret it later. And I know you promised Ares that you would keep it a secret.

Nathaniel gave a slight smile and stroked his brother's hand.

— Ares can forgive me this time. But I love Jake, and I want him to be on my side without any problems.

— You know, in novels the alpha is who acts as the hero — Guilherme chuckled.

— Well, I'm more of an anti-hero.

In that brief conversation, Guilherme felt more relieved. Nathaniel was the kind of person who carried the weight of the world on his back and said nothing to anyone. It was a mystery even to his own family.

The beta would never forget his mother's words.

"— He should cry, shout, say that he hates the world because everyone is against him."

It was true. Nathaniel never cried since Ares' death. They were so close and yet your brother had only that empty look and inexpressiveness on his face.

Therefore, seeing him making so many decisions and wanting to tell everyone the truth was something unexpected and surprising. At the same time it was worrying was a relief.

Maybe the beta should thank Jake later for bringing his brother back on track. Gradually he was ready to move on.

— It's time, Gui. — warned Nathaniel after reading a Jake's message.

— Hm, come on brother!

After having had a snack and talked for a long time, the two brothers went through the campus to the law school building. With the dusk soon students studying at night would arrive, but still the movement was calm.

The room that Matheus booked was on the top floor. The long corridor was full of study rooms, and there was only one door where a group stood in front. Nathaniel recognized Jake's friends, who only wave from afar.

Would they stand guard? At least they were reliable people.

As soon as Guilherme opened the door, the nervousness was more present for the brothers. It was full. Well, Matheus, Jake and Ricardo were inside with Júlio and two other people. One was Marcelo, the reporter who approached the omega during the volleyball match, and the other was an elegant and beautiful woman.

— Well, the star finally arrived — Said the woman, crossing her legs.

Nathaniel entered the room winning all eyes. Pushing the door behind him, the omega sighed low already feeling suffocated.

— I'd appreciate it if the alphas didn't use their pheromones in this room.

— Hm, so you are really an omega? — Marcelo smiled with folded arms.

Nathaniel sat at the end of the table, feeling like a mob boss. It was uncomfortable. But in that position he could watch everyone.

— Yes, I had my bloom a few months ago. Would you mind introduce yourself to get started?

— I thought you already knew who we are, since you called us here.

— No problem, I'm Cassandra Luminier. I was happy when my pupil brought the news, Nathaniel.

Ricardo's mistress was Júlio's supervisor. The omega looked at the two alphas and sighed. Why did Jake's friends seem to be related to powerful people?

Jake led the meeting and handed copies of the documents to the three journalists. As he read, Marcelo looked up with suspicion.

— What are you guys planning here, huh? It's supposed to be just an exclusive interview, but suddenly you're playing FBI?

— It is a guarantee that nothing said here will be distorted. We are sharing information that will expose many people — explained Jake, then standing next to Nathaniel, looking at him with a smile — so it is natural to want to avoid future problems.

Cassandra took a pen out of her purse and didn't take long to sign.

— Then send a copy to me, please. I only publish undisputed truths. And I believe that what you will show here are materials that I investigated myself.

— That's right — Nathaniel left the documents on the table, so that Marcelo and Júlio could see — But these documents only speak of Renata Mckenzie's attempt to seduce Ares.

Marcelo let out a whistle.

— This seems to me a underworld's business. All to be sponsors of the most famous boxing fighter in the world. But, that's not too much?

— Too much is the fact that my parents have threatened Nath with pictures of him and Ares to separate us — Jake replied, slightly irritated — Luckily Nath did not fall for the threat.

— Well, well, the Mckenzie seem desperate — Cassandra chuckled.

— My grandfather did not allow any of this, and as it is protocol that decisions about companies are always documented, so this is considered a private act of my parents and not the whole family.

— Hm... So your parents went far enough, to the point of Ares reporting to the US police? I don't doubt that they were the only ones.

Nathaniel took off his mask and crossed his arms, the two journalists looked at his scar with some surprise and a little horror. He needed to maintain composure despite his head throbbing, so he turned a blind eye to the natural reaction.

— In fact, many journalists were sued by the company that managed Ares.

— This certainly deserves to be investigated and published. But that's not what I came to find out — Cassandra held her elbows on the table, and looked at Nathaniel — I want to know what is your relationship with Ares.

— Everyone wants to know — Marcelo smirked.

This time, it was Matheus who handed over the copies of the documents. They were summaries that the people of Rapoxia managed to make about the distribution of inheritance of the Callegari. Cassandra was not surprised, since she was the one who gave the documents to Rapoxia. However, the alpha raised her eyes delineated for the omega.

— One thing I never understood was the absence of your father, Nathaniel. Ares went through all this to protect you, since he is the son of the man he loved.

Nathaniel arched his eyebrow.

— The man he loved?

— I know you were his favorite lover until his death, but surely Ares must have been involved with other people before.

Snorting controlling his anger, Nathaniel tilted his head, refuting that unhappy speech of Marcelo.

— How bullshit, Ares was never my lover. We never had that kind of relationship. Neither have I seen Ares fall in love with anyone in all the time I've lived with him.

— Oh... don't tell me that Ares was after the money of Antonio Callegari?

— Wait, wait, I'm starting to get lost here! — Julio interceded — If Ares was the kind of person who wanted money, he would not have rejected the sponsorship proposal from the McKenzie.

— Ares was famous and what else he had was money, why would he want more? — Ricardo pointed out — Also, the McKenzie used the rumors about Ares preferring young people, and so he refused and denounced the McKenzie.

— The rumor is false since Ares only welcomed Nathaniel at the request of Antonio Callegari. But unfortunately my contacts could not find any shadow of this Antonio and much less about Ares before he went to the United States — Cassandra pounted — What happened to your father, Nathaniel?

— He's dead, of course. — Nathaniel responded naturally.

His answer was so surprising that everyone remained silent. Guilherme looked at his brother with a worried face and Jake did not take his eyes off the documents.

Something was missing.

It made no sense for Ares to protect Nathaniel so much at the request of someone who was not even famous. And although there is a fight in the Callegari family because of the division of inheritance, it was not as if they were going to kill each other... At least there was nothing to prove any kind of violence.

Not to mention that Antônio Callegari disappeared from the map.

For all there, that story was poorly told. Jake imagined that it should be the opposite scenario, Antonio taking care of the son of Ares so that he was not harassed by journalists and the fame of his biological father.

But that's when Jake widened his eyes.

— Ah!!

He looked at Nathaniel with so much surprise, that for a moment it frightened everyone present. The more Jake tried to connect the dots, the more he was surprised. Realizing that made his heart to clench in his chest, because it gave the dimension of the burden that Nathaniel was carrying for all those years. In the end, his voice was so low and full of sorrow as he looked at those light brown eyes.

— He was never really your lover. He was... Ares was Antonio Callegari. He was your father.