Davian held the shopping bags as they made their way back to the car.
They had only planned to buy a single outfit each but there were far more bags than that.
"The cooking school is just down the street from FluxCorp," Lake said as they drove off. "I’ll drop you off and then head to the company, and when you’re done, you can just call me. I’ll pick you up then."
Davian wore a pinched expression at that arrangement, "You’re not staying with me?"
"I thought you didn’t like me looking over your shoulder while you cooked," He teased.
Davian was only mildly appeased by that, conceding to the fact that Lake was only down the street, and he could get to the Omega by foot if he needed to.
The cooking school was nestled in a commercial building. It was on the ground floor, which was a great plan for when fires broke out.
Lake took the lead as he walked right up to the secretary who was nestled in the little lobby.
"Hi," He said in response to her polite welcome, "I’d like to register for cooking school."
The Omega shot to her feet, her eyes bulging at the sight of the towering Alpha behind the pregnant Omega.
Was that... Was that Mafia King Davian?
"Of course," She said with a strained smile, "We run a variety of courses, with lengths varying from two weeks to a whole year, and with board-approved certification on graduation."
Lake turned to Davian, "Want to go with two weeks to start?"
The secretary listened to their conversation with apprehension, hoping she was simply misunderstanding the situation.
"Yeah," Davian accepted, still not over his inevitable separation from Lake.
"We’ll take the two-week course," Lake said to Omega behind the desk.
"W-Will that be for you both?" She asked hesitantly, a little frightened now.
"Oh no," Lake gave her a smile, "Just for my husband," He blurted out without meaning to, the secretary’s face going pale.
"T-That’s great," She said in a shaky voice. "There are three classes daily, and you’re free to attend which works best for your schedule."
"Does that mean a class is about to start?" Lake clarified, going just as pale as the secretary.
He hadn’t meant it that way... well, he had kind of meant it that way. He didn’t want any of the Omegas at the cooking school getting too close to Davian.
Talking about Davian, the Alpha had taken his claims in stride and while the secretary made the necessary documentation, he risked a look at him.
Davian’s slate gray eyes were fixed right on him, it made a shiver go down his spine.
"I-If you could please fill this document," The secretary handed over to Lake. "You’re also welcome to check out the facilities before the class begins."
Davian was clearly not about to address the fact that he had basically made it out to be like they were married so Lake clung to that lifeline.
So after the Alpha filled the document, they made their way to where the classes were held.
It looked like an average classroom if each desk was replaced with a fully equipped kitchen corner, no expense spared on the appliances.
There was a lady seated at one of the desks at the back, her head bent over a book.
"Do you like it?" Lake turned to Davian.
"I do," Davian kept him company as he headed for the car.
They bumped into a student on their way out, the Beta staring openly at them as they walked past.
"Will you be alright?" Lake asked, worried.
"Thinking of staying?" Davian didn’t hesitate to ask.
Lake got into the car after Davian held it open for him, "Yes, but I got work that needs to be done." He said with a content smile.
Davian reached out to adjust his hairband one last time before closing the door, standing in the parking lot until his car was out of sight. Which meant that he had taken the turn into the parking lot of FluxCorp.
Husband... Lake had called him his husband.
Lake rang up Rosie as soon as he got out of the car to inform the secretary that he was at the company.
The secretary somehow managed to meet him in the foyer, Lake secretly suspected that she had superpowers.
"How are the secretaries holding up?" He asked as they made their way to the elevator.
"The backbreaking work is the documents generated by the companies, but there’s no rush with that." She got her tablet up, "The new changes are already being implemented, BlueAir already requested a meeting with their executive board for an important decision..."
Lake listened intently, "What’s next week’s schedule looking like?"
"The quarterly Mafia boss is meeting coming up-"
"The what?" Lake had to interrupt her.
"It’s my first time hearing about it too, but it’s right there in the boss’ laptop."
"And when’s that?" Lake made mental calculations, he wouldn’t have minded a busy schedule but had other engagements.
Talking about that, he needed to call Caspian to make sure his friend was fine.
"Mid-week, but there’s the final look at the head branch of a new chain of stores, and the launching of a new product right here in FluxCorp..."
Caspian couldn’t believe how well Lake’s advice had worked, a little too well because now Asher wouldn’t even let him in the same room as him.
He had slept in a different room for the first time last night, and he was already over the Alpha’s fever, he didn’t care anymore if he caught it.
He grumbled as he stared at the screen in the cinema room without processing what was going on in the movie.
Caspian had put it on to distract himself and it was doing a pretty bad job of that.
He was just about to stomp over to his shared bedroom with his mate and break down the door to get in himself when his phone rang.