Although Mark was in New York, finding him would be difficult. The city was quite large and with an immense number of people. Chris also didn't know if he was just passing through town or if he would really stay longer, but despite all that, he didn't give up hope. Mark could be anywhere in the country or the world, but he decided to come to New York. Chris wasn’t the type of person that believed in fate, but he really thought it was like that. Perhaps he was destined to see him again and just as he saw him in the subway station, he could see him again, anytime, anywhere.
It was a coincidence meeting him in Las Vegas and he was sure that this coincidence would happen again.
He promised himself that the next time he saw him, he wouldn't give a damn and would run up to him, running if need be. He would apologize for the punch, he would tell him that that day he was scared, he would ask for an opportunity to get to know each other better…
Because I couldn't stop thinking about you.
He could spend the rest of the day thinking of all the possible situations for his encounter, the words he would say to him and the possible words of Mark. But daydreaming would be of no use for the moment, it was just a matter of waiting. He knew it was too presumptuous to be sure that he would see him again in such a big city, mostly by chance, but there was something in him that told him they would see each other again. He had a feeling that not only would they see each other again, but that something else would happen. He wasn't sure if what would happen would be good or bad, but how could something related to his reunion with Mark be bad? That morning in Las Vegas… waking up after a hot night of sex, Mark was the first to take the initiative to take things beyond a simple one-night stand. What if Mark was looking for him too? What if he hasn’t stopped thinking about him too? Just thinking that, Chris's chest felt warm and his heart pounded with excitement.
In better humor, he finished getting ready to go to the headquarters of The New York Times.
He felt quite strange wearing formal wear, but if he was going to work at such a large company, he thought he should start dressing up well. He was going to miss wearing his denim jeans, his Air Force jacket that he bought from a thrift store, and his old Dr. Martens boots that he bought when he graduated from college.
It was hurting him to say goodbye to his cool biker outfit, but his mood was so good that in the end he even liked his elegant appearance when he looked in the mirror.
He was a bit disappointed not to find Mark on the subway like last time, but it would be too much of a coincidence to find him so soon and while he didn’t consider himself to be unlucky, it was not that his good luck was exceptional.
“I'll see you again…” he murmured to himself, pushing through the crowd while he tried to keep his suit intact.
As he exited the subway and walked the distance to reach the headquarters of The New York Times, he alternated his gaze from side to side, almost desperate, but when he realized that he probably looked like a madman or a junkie, he had to stop.
He promised himself to let things happen naturally and just wait, but he was too eager and desperate to see Mark.
Upon reaching the entrance of the building, he sighed heavily.
“Come on, Christopher, get your shit together”.
And he entered.
The receptionist's face changed when she saw him. Even when she gave him his visitor ID card, the woman smiled flirtatiously at him.
He was aware that due to his strong and masculine appearance, very different from the delicate appearance omegas usually have, it made him appear like a beta or even a normal alpha. The poor receptionist probably had no idea that, like her, he was an omega too.
Although that was the least of it.
His tastes had always been both betas and omegas, male or female, but now that he met Mark… Not that he now has a sudden taste for alphas, but that his taste was now Mark.
As he got out of the elevator, Mr. Craig's secretary was waiting for him.
“Welcome, Mr. Newman.” Chris nodded in appreciation of her welcome, the secretary sighed ruefully before continuing to speak. “Unfortunately, Mr. Craig is in a meeting and it has taken longer than expected. However, I have notified him of your arrival and he will be with you in fifteen minutes.”
“Don't worry, I'll wait here.”
“Oh no, Mr. Craig has asked me to take you to his office, please follow me.”
He had only been in Mr. Craig's office once, when they discussed adding him to the team of digital columnists, but just like the first time, he was feeling overwhelmed by being in the executive editor's office.
The secretary had offered him coffee, but he politely declined, he was too nervous about being called by the executive editor to even have a simple coffee.
He just stared at Mr. Craig's large office. It was overwhelming but cozy at the same time. Mr. Craig had given his own personal touch to the office, with too many private details like photos. On his desk and in the bookcase behind it, there were too many photos of him with his husband, of his children when they were little, of their grown children and a photo of the four of them together.
He couldn't help but look closely at that photo. The image showed a rather happy image. A happy omega with his alpha, along with his children. He wondered if he would have such a pretty picture one day. He had never thought of him having children but that image made him think it wouldn't be a bad idea. Mr. Craig might be an omega, but he was a respectable, successful man with a strong presence. He admired him and had dreams of being like him one day. But back then his dream was more focused on the work context, not the personal one.
His husband, Waylon Wahlberg, CEO and also Chairman of The New York Times Company, was an exceptional alpha, respectable and neat. There were no complaints about him and he had always been fair when it came to alphas and omegas. Mr. Craig couldn't have found a better husband and alpha. They were a perfect, admirable couple. Looking at that photo he thought that maybe he wanted to have such a good, normal life. Mr. Craig was an explicit supporter of omega empowerment, and yet he married an alpha and lives a happy life.
That meant that being a different and non stereotypical omega didn't necessarily mean he had to reject alphas as if they were all trash.
Mr. Wahlberg was not a trash alpha.
He was sure Mark was not a trash alpha...
He thought he was going crazy. Suddenly he imagined that photo but instead of being Mr. Craig and his husband, it was him and Mark. Craig's two sons suddenly became little children with different appearance, one with light blonde hair like Chris, but dark blue eyes like Mark and the other with brown hair but green eyes.
I haven't been able to meet him yet, I still don't know if there's a chance with him and I'm already imagining nonsense, he thought as he returned the photo in its place.
He suddenly laughed slightly, in recent weeks he was imagining situations that he never in his life thought to imagine. And the funny thing was, those imaginations didn't seem so bad.
The office door opened. Chris, scared as if caught red-handed, stood up immediately.
“Mr. Craig, nice to see you again.”
Chris's voice sounded almost robotic and methodical, Craig chuckled slightly.
“Make yourself at home, Newman. The New York Times is now your home.”
Chris nodded.
“Perfect!” Craig said as he smiled and sat back in his chair. “You look very elegant today, do you have any commitments later?”
“Oh no. I just thought it would be appropriate to dress like this to come here.”
“What are you saying? The day you showed up here you looked like a young green-eyed Brad Pitt. I loved your rebellious and different appearance. You don't have to dress up like you want to fit in. You don't have to fit in, you just have to be yourself. That is why I have you here, to make a difference. I don't want the newspaper to remain outdated and boring.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Craig,” Chris thanked, smiling slightly. He was relieved that he didn't have to look like a corporate member from now on.
“There's nothing to be thankful for,” he said, shaking his head and changing the subject. “You're wondering why I asked you to come over, right? Well, the reason is because I have good news. My goal was to have you in the printed version of the newspaper, but the board of directors was somewhat anxious about the reaction of the readers due to your content, that is why at the moment we are publishing your work in the digital version of the newspaper. However, your last two posts have had a very high acceptance. Sure, there are still people against your content, typical conservatives, but the people in favor are much more. In today's meeting we talked about that and reached an agreement that if your publications continue with the same good streak, we will give you a permanent space for the printed version of the newspaper.”
Chris was having a hard time taking in the news. He was so happy with working for The New York Times that he didn't care if he was just a non-recurring digital journalist, but knowing that they could give him a permanent space for his work caused him such a great emotion that he didn’t even know what to say.
“I'm… so grateful for the opportunity, Mr. Craig,” he said after absorbing the news. “I promise you that each work of mine will be better than the last.”
“I don't doubt it, Newman. But you are earning all this on your own merits... Ah, I'm very happy. If you keep up your good work you could win a Pulitzer prize, can you imagine? One of our most promising journalists won a Pulitzer Prize this year. He reminds me of you.”
“Really?” Chris asked surprised.
“Yes. He has that same special talent as you with the difference that he is an alpha. His work focuses on the deconstruction of the alpha stereotype and the fight to eradicate alpha superiority.”
“His work sounds pretty interesting.”
“It is, and like you, he makes conservatives feel thwarted.”
Chris laughed.
“You should meet him. His personality is somewhat different from yours, but I know that you and Mr. Kennedy will get along quite well.”
“It would be an honor to meet him.”
Craig smirked.
“Kennedy is divorced and I understand that you are single, right? Although they work on different issues, in the end they fight for the same thing. It would be the end of the Conservatives if you guys end up together,” Craig joked.
Craig's words sounded joking, but Chris felt that he was somehow playing a matchmaker role. He couldn't help laughing.
“The idea is pretty funny, but I'm afraid we'll have to find another way to piss off the conservatives. You’ll see… I already have an alpha in whom I am interested. He is not an eminence like Mr. Kennedy… But I am sure that he is a man who is really worth it.”
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