Chapter 8: It's okay to be weak

"Here you are Sir your phone is ready". The store owner handed Leo his new device.

"Now are you certain you don't want one of the newest, top of the line, mobile devices for only two hundred more?" The man tried to upsell as he glanced over at the fancy card in the Omega's hands.

"I'm sure". Leo gave a disdained look.

The man threw his hands up in defeat as Leo completed his purchase.

Back in the car he turned the phone on. Having successfully backed up his contacts a rush of notifications hit the phone all at once. At least a hundred missed calls, unread text messages and fourty voice messages.

Getting ready to reply he remembered the number that Noah had given him that morning.

Pulling the slip of paper out of his pocket he added the contact to his phone.

Sending a text to confirm.

His attention went back to his other messages. Max's name had come up more often than the other contacts.

Leo read his last message.

*why havn't you called me back yet? Frankie is pissed man!*.

Leo scrunched his face.

"What's all this about?" He wondered.

Swiping over to another batch of messages, Frankie's name popped up at thr top of the list.

*where are you?*

He read another.

*you need to answer my calls.*

Scrolling a little further down he read another.

*you better not be hiding from me!*

Leo clenched his jaw. He knew how Frankie could be. He hovered his thumb over the call button: hesitant. He wouldnt know where to begin. What would he even say? He wasn't able to tell his circumstances to anyone outside.

A message popped up on the screen. It was from Noah.

Opening up the text Leo read.

*I'm glad you were able to get a new phone. I am terribly sorry for your old one. You now have my number, please call or message me if there are any problems. As for Mr. Blackthorn, please don't worry about him!*

Leo smiled.

"I don't get how such a nice guy could work for the biggest asshole of the century". He said to himself.

"Mr. Meadows?"

Leo snapped his head up, looking at the driver.

"Is there anywhere else you wish to go?"

Leo looked back down. His phone clutched in one hand d as he reached in his pocket and pulled out the black card that David gave him. He glared at the card thinking on what David said to him earlier.

"That's right I'm just a money hungry Omega just as you said", Leo softly smirked.

He looked back up.

"Are you able to take me shopping somwhere?"

The driver and bodyguard whispered back and forth for a moment.

"That should be no problem. Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go sir?".

Leo went quiet as he looked out the window.

"Where is somewhere you would recommend?"

--

Leo stood: hands on his hips staring up at the intricate sign to a top brand clothing store.

"I think this might be a little much." He mumbled checking the store front mannequins. Decked out in the latest fall fashion with faux fur coats along with the special jewelry that brought the pieces together.

Walking in the door, the entire room seemed to sparkle. Coats: suits as well as other business attire and ladies dresses lined the walls and racks. Every item neatly in its place.

The store workers wearing a fancy uniform: the women in heels and white gloves, a man in a butlers uniform handing out glasses of champagne to those trying on clothes.

Leo stuck out like a sore thumb. Still wearing the clothes he left the hospital in, he didn't exactly scream wealthy.

A woman briskly walked up to him.

"I'm afraid you may have the wrong store young man", she blocked his way. The other people in the store looking over at the commotion the woman was making.

"I'm sure you can find somthing more to your...erm..." She looked Leo up and down.

"TASTES, down the street."

She tried to corrale him out the door.

"Listen lady..." Leo snapped a bit.

"I'm a paying customer you can't treat someone like this". He tried to warn her.

"Such an arrogant brat you are". She hissed as she whispered low sot that no one could hear her.

"If you don't leave I'll call security and-"

Leo's bodyguard shoved the woman back causing her to stumble and fall to the floor.

The store was now peeking their heads over at the mess.

Leo could feel his face becoming warm, he wasn't sure if it was anger or embarassment.

"Let's just go". He said to the bodyguard.

On his way back to the car he clutched his stomach.

--

Noah was on standby. David had gone back into the building to deal with some more meetings. The morning had turned to the afternoon and finally the evening. Keeping a close eye on his phone he was expecting Leo to text him back: nothing.

He took note of the sun starting to set. Checking his watched he noticed the meeting was going on longer than it was supposed to.

He walked to the boardroom to retrieve David.

As he rounded the corner he made a quick step back to hide.

David was leaned against the wall talking to a woman. One of his foreign influences from a company abroad. Noah had seen her more often than not lately.

He couldn't make out what conversation the two of them were engaging in but I t was apparent in the way she touched his shoulders. He body language was very flirtatious.

David was returning the favor. His hand resting gently on her waist, leaning closer.

The woman giggled in response.

Noah sighed.

He turned back down the hall; getting as far as he could from them.

Noah stood waiting by David's car.

The elevator connecting the office to the parking garage dinged, echoing off the concrete walls.

David stepped out, hands in his pockets, his usual stern expression as if nothing happened within the last twenty or so minutes.

Noah held the door for him as he climbed in.

The secretary froze. A familiar scent catching his attention.

He shut the door and climbed into the other side.

The driver pulled out.

Sitting next to David, Noah couldn't help but stare at him out of the corner of his eye.

He was more than sure he could smell David's pheromones. Almost as if he was intentionally letting them loose.

"Noah, I need you to clear my schedule for this Saturday evening". He commanded, taking his phone out as he scrolled through it.

Noah went and put in the appointment.

"Will it be overnight sir?" Noah asking as if he knew what this 'appointment' would be.

"It may or may not be". David answered: unbothered.

Noah nodded.

---

Back at the penthouse Leo had gotten back a little before dark. He lay on the couch Scrolling on his phone.

His mind wandered from what he was doing with the phone.

Thinking back to the odd looks he got anywhere he went. The way David treated him lower than trash. He didn't care. He was tougher than he led on to be. Though remembering the state of his apartment pulled him back to the reality that he really was now without a home.

He set his phone next to him as he stared at the TV screen: not having bothered to turn it on either. Seeing his own reflection: he studied himself. He truly looked homely. The tathers in his jeans to the questionable stain that was on his hoodie: it was evident he didn't fit into this lifestyle. Not that he was trying to anyways.

His thoughts were Interrupted by the elevator. Stepping out was David and Noah. David had taken a momentary glance at Leo, on the couch, and ignored him: walking to his room and slamming the door.

Noah walked over to Leo.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

Leo's eyes shifted to Noah. He grinned.

"Just tired".

Noah frowned.

"Have you eaten dinner yet?"

The Omega sat up.

"Sure did it was delicious!" He rubbed his stomach.

Noah's eyes narrowed.

"I see. That's good."

Leo stood and cracked his back.

"I think I'll turn in early tonight". He turned to the opposite side of the apartment.

Noah watched himdisappear into the other bedroom.

He knew the Omega was lying.

--

Later on that night Leo peeked his head out of his room. The apartment was quiet. The time was almost midnight as he stepped out in a black shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He tiptoes his way to the kitchen.

He again clutched his stomach. In pain: he was starving.

He made his way over to the fridge and reached for the handle.

*click*.

The lights turned on as Leo turned around: startled.

Noah stood in the doorway: his arms softly crossed as he looked at Leo.

"Oh uhm...hey." Leo tried to sound casual.

"I was just looking for a midnight snack-"

He could see the look on Noah's face. The secretary walked over to Leo: standing about a foot away.

"When I asked the chefs if you ate they told me no. When I asked if you were alright earlier you told me yes."

He stared down at the Omega.

"Why are you lying?" He finally: bluntly: asked.

Leo went to speak but couldn't find the right words.

"Why didn't you tell anyone about your apartment?"

Leo's eyes widened slightly.

"How do you know about that?"

Noah pushed back his glasses with his index finger.

"When you came to the company earlier you demanded money from Mr. Blackthorn. From what time I have spent around you I didn't see you as a gold digger, so to speak. You were acting strangely."

Leo furrowed his brow.

"Well maybe you don't know me as well as you think."

"And I know you havn't eaten all day either". He motioned to the hand that was still clutching Leo's stomach.

Leo let go.

"Why do you even care? I'm no one. I'm not a Blackthorn, I'm not some rich person, I'm not an honored guest of this house."

Noah took a step forward.

"I'm nothing."

Noah wrapped his arms around Leo. Squeezing tightly he kept his eyes forward.

"I won't look. If you need to shed tears then do so".

"Don't think that just because you are an Omega that you are worthless. Everyone is human and should be treated with human decency."

Leo shut up.

Noah didn't look at him.

They stood silently in the kitchen. Noah couldn't hear anything coming from Leo.

Hey grew increasingly worried.

"To be honest I would cry if I could".

Leo finally spoke. He grabbed Noah's arms and pulled the secretary off of him.

He looked up at him and smiled.

"I just don't have the energy." He laughed. His stomach began to rumble loudly.

Noah smirked.

"Sit down".

Noah sat beside Leo for the second night in a row. Both eating a hefty plate of food. Leo shoveled it in like a vacuum.

Either of them spoke until both plates had been cleaned.

Leo patted his stomach in bliss.

"Don't be afraid of anyone Here." Noah said.

"Everyone may be a little intimidating but that's because we have to be. We've never had a nice kid like you around".

Leo grinned.

"I do feel better. Thanks Noah".

Noah smiled back.

"I have been wondering though, you're an Alpha right?"

Noah blinked.

"Yes. I am."

"How are you so nice? Alphas are supposed to be intimidating, mean and strong!"

"You don't think I'm strong?"

Leo looked at him.

Noah let out a soft chuckle.

"I don't know. It's just how I was raised."

Leo tilted his head to think a moment.

"Can I ask you a favor in return for the meal I made?"

"Of course." Leo replied.

"I want you to eat all meals, don't be afraid of asking for food."

Leo sighed.

He shifted his shoulder thinking.

"Alright. I will."

Noah grabbed the plates from the counter and took them to the sink once again.

"I've got that-"

"No. You need sleep." Noah stopped Leo.

"Go rest. Start fresh tomorrow."

Leo gave a soft smile.

"You're a nice guy Noah. Thank you". With those words he left the Alpha to clean the dishes.

"A nice guy huh?" Noah muttered to himself.

"I can do that for him."

Finishing up he turned the lights out and made his way to a private bedroom off the main house.

He stopped walking.

He thought he felt someone standing behind him. He shrugged it off and walked out.

Behind him the door to David's room shut with a resounding click.