"I know that look," Tristin trills loudly as he plops down in front of Delaney. "You got stuck on a big fat kn--"

Delaney cuts his eyes at Tristin, silencing him quickly. "You're not here to talk about my lack of a love life. You're here to discuss why these changes I told you about four months ago have not been implemented. Four months, Tris." He shakes a stack of papers in front of the others' face.

Tristin gingerly eases the papers away to expose Delaney's face. "I'll answer your question when you answer mine. Who's the lucky alpha, darling?"

"There is no 'lucky alpha'." Delaney uses air quotes to highlight the ridiculousness of Tristin's suggestion. He returns his attention back to the papers at his desk and mumbles, "Just some cute guy I met at the hospital."

"See!" Tristin whoops loudly. "I knew it! You always get this dopey far off look in your eyes and a small, yet telling grin on your face when you meet some high society alpha." He sighs wistfully, "I wish it were me."

"It is you, you overgrown child. You're a 'high society alpha'. You come from one of the richest families in town. Why is it that I have to remind you of this on a near daily basis?" Delaney fusses, completely exasperated with his friend.

"Because I often forget that I was born into the lap of luxury, with a silver teat to suckle on, and undeniably good looks," Tristin preens as he smooths his hand over his blond hair. "Thank you for reminding me." Delaney has half a mind to leap across the desk and tear Tristin to shreds, but before he can do so, the alpha is asking, "Wait, you were at the hospital?"

Delaney wants to kick himself for slipping up with that bit of information, but he proceeds cautiously, "Yes, a routine check up. Don't ask me anymore questions unless they're how to fix this issue before it becomes a full blown shit show. Omega collars and leashes, Tris? Seriously?" He sighs loudly, a little exaggeratedly as he shuffles through the papers. "And it wasn't enough to maybe order a couple for those who are still into the archaic ways of collaring and leashing an actual human being to parade them around like property–,"

"Some of us enjoy the snug feeling of a collar around our neck and the tight pull of a leash as we're told we're naughty, naughty alphas who don't deserve to come."

Delaney fights back a gag as he ignores Tristin to continue, "But you order thousands of them, without testing the market beforehand! And they aren't selling."

"Because no one is willing to market them publicly," Tristin pouts as he folds his arms across his chest. "There's nothing wrong with enjoying being leashed and collared."

"There is when omegas were subjected to it, against their will I might add, for hundreds of years."

"Who says they're just for omegas? How come they can't be for alphas?"

Tristin raises a good point, albeit a point of contention that has been an issue for decades.

When the laws changed, people found that the collar and leash were an actual kink of many omegas, alphas, and betas alike. However, because of the pain and suffering surrounding being collared and leashed, this topic was not often discussed openly, let alone prominently put on display. When it was discussed, many had shame and guilt surrounding wanting to implement these items in a sex-positive space. Except for Tristin. He knew no shame.

Delaney is certain Tristin has never known shame a day in his life.

Delaney pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing heavily, as he explains, "You make a good point. They can be for alpha's, however, prominently displaying them in the window of each and every one of your sex shops is going to turn away the customers you do have and the ones you're hoping to gain. If you want to sell these, find a discreet way to push them. Maybe shopping them at the sex clubs I know you go to."

Tristin giggles softly, an oddly soft sound coming from the large man as he points out, "You know about them because you've been."

Delaney spits out, "That was once and it was so you would shut up and finally stop pestering me about going."

"And allowing two alphas to take you at once? That was also to stop me from pestering you?"

Delaney points to the door of his office. "Leave. Or I'll have security escort you out in handcuffs."

Tristin arches an eyebrow as he loudly whispers, "As long as it's that cute head of security, Jonah. Tell him I like the cuffs extra tight."

Delaney has steam practically billowing from his ears as he yells at Tristin to leave. Tristin laughs loudly as he does so, wiggling his fingers in a goodbye as he leaves Delaney to focus on the mountains of documents from his business and the businesses of other clients.

Tristin is wrong. Delaney doesn't have that far off dopey look in his eyes, because there is absolutely no reason to have that look. He and Eli met up for dinner a few days ago and he has yet to hear from the man. How can he text him all day long and then...nothing? But most importantly,

"Why does it bother me?!" Delaney laments. He hangs his head, placing it in his hands as he sighs loudly. That small voice, the one that he has been trying hard to ignore, is loud as it whispers,

He can probably smell it on you, your inability to get pregnant.

He knows you're defective. He doesn't want to waste his time.

You're barren. Empty. What can you give him?

He presses the heels of his palms to his eyes, inhaling deeply and holding his breath for a few seconds. He focuses on pushing the thoughts away, or tries to, but when he fails, he finds himself giving in to the inner turmoil and paging his secretary in order to cancel the rest of his day. He's able to sneak out, bypassing the front desk and the prying eyes of his staff, slipping out of the back door to make the short trek to the parking structure. Along the way, he decides to smoke, inhaling deeply as he welcomes the nicotine into his system. Smoking proves to be the least relaxing thing he can do, however, as he thinks back to the first conversation he had with Eli. Like a crazy person, and perhaps he is, Delaney flails his arms and stomps his feet as he pouts. He reaches into his bag and pulls out his phone, quickly sending a text.

[Delaney: What kind of person is insistent, annoyingly so, about a stranger going to dinner with them and then has the audacity to not reach out to them for three days?]

[Hospital Alpha: ...]

[Hospital Alpha: ...]

Delaney chews his bottom lip, watching as the indicator dots pop up and disappear for several long seconds.

[Hospital Alpha: I didn't have access to my phone. I apologize.]

"That's it?!" Delaney stares at the screen, mouth agape as he types,

[Delaney: In this day and age?]

[Hospital Alpha: Family vacations "require my undivided attention". Unfortunately.]

[Hospital Alpha: I was unaware my family had a terrible weekend planned that regrettably included me.]

[Hospital Alpha: Allow me to make it up to you?]

[Delaney: You said you were cut off from your family...]

[Hospital Alpha: I thought I was as well. I'd rather not talk about this if it's okay with you. I do apologize. If it's any consolation, I thought about you all weekend.]

With his ego stroked just right, Delaney smiles as he crosses the distance to his car. Maybe it's not that big of a deal. It was only a few days after all.

[Delaney: Perhaps it is.]

[Hospital Alpha: Can I tell you all about it over dinner? Tonight? My place?]

The still small voice creeps in again, shouting loudly,

Empty. You're empty. Eventually you'll have to tell him. Why not rip the bandaid off and do it now? Hmm? Why not let him know that you're an incomplete, sorry, excuse of an omega?

"There's no harm in getting to know someone!" Delaney argues aloud with himself. "Who's to say he would even want kids?! Why am I even entertaining the idea that if I could, I would want kids with him?!" He quiets the voice by sending a reply to Eli.

[Delaney: Tell me where to go and what to bring and I'll be there.]

Eli sends him an address and several emojis that honestly leave Delaney confused. He doesn't reply, instead, he pulls out of the parking lot, doing his best to simultaneously combat the growing anxiety and despair as the voice rages on while allowing himself to try and feel happiness at the idea of spending time with someone whose company doesn't frustrate him.