At DevApp, only a handful of people worked in UX/UI design, including their lead designer, a self-absorbed omega named Werner. It was a highly valued job that took years of experience to break into. You had to start as a programmer or a graphic designer, then specialize after years of grinding.
Years.
The thought of spending a decade in a hostile environment as an isolated, looked-down-upon alpha, making countless icons and avatars before finally getting a shot at UI design? Hated as the boss’s son, a precious ‘golden boy’. Someone who just… didn’t deserve it. That was not appealing.
"You’d better spit it out. If not, I’ve got some news for you," Father went on, jaw clenched.
"Sure you do," I mumbled, shoving a piece of salmon into my mouth.
"As I already mentioned, before you interrupted, one issue is no longer an obstacle. I had an interesting talk with Winter Nolan. He told me he’s open to hiring you in his department."
Swallowing, I stared at him, eyes wide.
"What? The albino again?"
Fa let out an impatient sigh. "He’s not an albino. Educate yourself."
"He sure looks like one. But what’s changed…? He hates alphas! He’s the company’s leading alpha-basher. He’s fought you every step of the way to keep that company policy against hiring us. What the hell happened?"
All I said were facts. This dude was even more anti-alpha than my father. After my graduation, he actually had the balls to protest to the CEO about hiring… the CEO’s own son. Gotta respect the guts, but it also showed just how deep his hatred for alphas ran.
And now he was going to be my new boss?
Father let out a sharp huff and spread his hands. "Funny thing happened. His own brother wants a job at our company. And his brother’s an alpha."
I blinked, not getting it. "And what does that have to do with me?"
"Well, nothing directly. But since he’s asking me to lift the alpha hiring ban for his own family, he probably figured it’d look bad if he kept refusing to hire you."
"That’s crazy!" I rubbed my eyes dramatically.
Vren chuckled, continuing to stuff his face.
"Looks like the albino’s got a knife to his throat. Doubt he’s happy. I bet asking you for this, Fa, gave him serious constipation." He burst into uncontrollable giggles. "He’s only gonna shit it out once Sariel walks into his office, and it’s gonna blow the fuck up."
My brother was now chortling and muttering barely audible nonsense, something like‘brown explosion’,‘gonna be epic’, ‘poo-shower’,and other dumbass ramblings.
Sometimes I really pitied my brother’s subordinates. He was even more immature than me. The difference was, he actually went along with our father’s plan and started a career in banking, which gave him this fucking immunity I didn’t have. I’d have to prove my worth with a steady stream of cash flowing into my account.
Fa didn’t seem bothered by Vren’s gibberish. Of course, he didn’t.
"Two months ago, Winter’s aversion could be a problem. I was a bit worried he’d single you out back then, but now he kind of owes me. He’ll have to treat you fairly, give you the same shot as any other employee."
"I don’t buy it," I mumbled, my stomach twisting with nerves. It was one of those rare cases where I agreed with Vren. "That guy is gonna make my life hell. There’s no way he’s suddenly gonna play nice just because you let his brother in. His contempt for alphas is legendary at DevApp!"
Fa took off his glasses, and set them aside. Oh, great. That was a bad sign.
Dad stared at his plate.
When it came to us, my dad’s parenting style was soft, bordering on passive. He could be quite overwhelmed by our personalities at times. But he never punished us or raised his voice. That role belonged to Father.
Vren continued to smirk in the corner of my vision, he obviously enjoyed it in a sadistic kind of way.
"I see what you’re doing, Sariel." Father’s dark blue eyes poked me like a steel lance. "Making excuses! You won’t even be working under him directly. Winter’s the head of the whole department. He’s got seven managers under him. Your manager will be Lorens, the leader of the graphic design team. And he has no problem with alphas at all. In fact, he was the one who supported that intern program where we had a few alphas."
My hands were shaking.
It wasn’t a silly trolling, I really didn’t want the cozy job granted by ‘Daddy CEO’—to enter a company where every employee thought I was ‘destined’ to inherit the whole thing. They knew nothing about my father’s stance on nepotism. They’d naturally assume I was about to be handed DevApp on a silver plate to ‘rule’ over them.
