Chapter 279: The Sun Set In Your Eyes

[FROLO]

Katya had explained his choice to Aleksandr. He’d let him down slowly like a man who was still in love with him.

"I love you. I want you in my life. I want our relationship to work. But if I say yes now, Alek, we won’t have fixed so many things.

"Marriage is a lifetime commitment, and we can’t go into it just because we’re both running from something," Katya had said, like it was the only viable reasoning at the moment.

There was no other way, though, really.

Because no matter how they looked at it, their lives were far too busy and complicated at the moment for them to pretend like always, and that this was the right choice at the time.

"When things slow down, ask me again," Katya reassured, and Alek didn’t complain. That was a valid answer, honestly.

Katya wasn’t saying no to him forever.

He was saying no to the current state of things.

"I love you too," Alek said, pulling Katya into a hug.

The day hadn’t been as kind to Alek, really, and with his omega’s rejection, Katya wouldn’t be surprised if the man lost his suit. But then Aleksandr was always noble with Katya.

Always understanding, even when it hurt.

"Please don’t let go of my hand," Alek begged later that night as their bodies found a different tune in the night.

And Katya, he just smiled at Alek. Because for the first time, he wasn’t sure he would keep the promise Alek was asking him to make.

To always hold Alek’s hand.

Katya wanted to hold someone else’s hand. Someone Alek would probably never approve of. Someone Alek would refer to each time. But then the heart was a stubborn thing.

And Katya was slowly learning it the hard way.

Because every moment he spent with Alek was starting to feel like a duty rather than a desire. It was terrifying to feel like they were doing it because they had to.

Which was even sadder because at the end of the day, all they had was each other in this relationship.

But Katya’s heart belonged to someone else.

It had been for a while now.

Still, he willed himself to make the relationship work because a part of him believed that they owed it to each other to keep trying. Even if it was hard. It was the only thing the couple had left anymore.

Maybe that was also why when Wednesday came, there wasn’t much for them to fight over.

Instead, Katya had gone to work early, while Alek had stayed home because the expo started hours later. It was only right that he show up because he needed to fix his public relations with Sergei.

Even if there was a chance that Sergei wouldn’t want the same.

"Good morning, everyone," Sergei greeted the moment Katya stepped into his office.

It was as if the man was waiting for the elevator to stop and for Katya to come out. Because he had good in his hands, their little routine. He looked like he had had the best night of his life.

Katya didn’t even want to ask what it was this time because slowly, he was learning that Sergei Moskowsky had layers to him. And opening one didn’t mean there wouldn’t be a hundred more beneath.

Honestly, Katya had chosen to accept whatever Sergei showed at face value.

For the sake of his heart.

For the sake of his sanity.

Yet that was also proving harder because right now, as Sergei smiled like the sun was rising on his face, Katya couldn’t help the way his heart beat in excitement at the sight of the one man he was trying to stay civil with.

"I brought you breakfast early today, Solnyshka, because I won’t be available for the expo," Sergei said, like he was talking about the way things were working out in Moskowsky.

It should have worried Katya, knowing that without Sergei, Katya would have to deal with everyone else.

But a part of Katya knew that this was Sergei’s show of trust.

Him not attending the expo was a statement to the people who had questioned Katya’s ability to keep the company running.

It was something that Katya should have taken with a pinch of salt. Yet Katya couldn’t deny the fact that Sergei made his life a little better and more exciting.

"You’re running away from cameras again, no?" Katya teased as Sergei set the table, as if this was normal for him.

Honestly, it was. They had promised each other to keep the breakfasts active, and Sergei was only just keeping his end of the agreement, and it was working fine lately.

Maybe a bit too fine, but who was complaining, yeah?

"Nope, they’ll try to ruin your day by pitting your boyfriend and me against each other. I’d love to make fun of the senator a little more, but not at the expense of your reputation...

"Sit, let’s eat before they start swarming in," Sergei said, like it was the simplest thing he’d ever done. Like this wasn’t an important expo for him, too.

But then again, Sergei trusted Katya. If things were to be handled, he had full faith in his chairman, regardless of what would happen later. Because at the end of the day, this omega was worth it all for him.

"What if I want you to stay?" Katya said quietly, and the spoon Sergei had been holding fell to the table like the alpha was not sure what that meant.

For a moment, there was silence even as Sergei looked at Katya like that was really the most dangerous thing that he’d ever asked. Then again, what other choice was there?

"You want ME to be in the same room as your boyfriend with a combustible reputation? Solnyshka, you do realize both of us in the same room will definitely not end well, yeah?" Sergei asked calmly. He was being honest with Katya.

There was no denying that, even if that truth was one that raised far worse questions on trust than Katya was willing to explore with Alek.

He wanted Sergei to stay for the expo. Maybe he was selfish for that, too, because Sergei was right.

Alek and Sergei had been on each other’s necks.

Sure, there would be a chance at professionalism, but knowing Sergei and his attitude towards Alek, there was no guarantee that it would end peacefully.

The sad part was that Katya knew Sergei wasn’t going after Alek because Alek loved him and was his boyfriend. Those two were just being alphas, and Katya had nothing to do with their feud, at least on Sergei’s side.

"Well, yes. Besides, you’re the owner of Moskowsky, are you not?" Katya asked as he sat down beside Sergei.

"Oh, Solnyshka... We both know the company can run even if I’m not here for years," Sergei said as he looked at the omega on his side.

He’d honestly expected Katya to sit on the other side of the table like always, but damn.

"I don’t want to be alone with Alek... I know it sounds stupid since he’s my boyfriend and all. But he proposed and I... I said no.

"Feels awkward having to stay and pretend for the cameras because I know he’ll want me to smile and all," Katya sighed.

Sergei couldn’t believe Katya was telling him willingly, even though he already knew about it before.

"Solnyshka..." Sergei trailed off, and Katya let out a quiet sigh.

"I love him. I know I do. And maybe once upon a time, I saw a future with him, a family, and all that. But it hasn’t been like that for a while. I don’t..." Katya said, like he was trying his very best to make this make sense.

Maybe it wouldn’t have been for Sergei because Sergei’s last relationship was with Vitya, but how was he supposed to explain this to the one man his heart was yearning for?

"Uhh... okay. Maybe you’re feeling like that because the past few months haven’t been easy for both of you. You’ll find your way eventually, Solnyshka.

"I know you’ll figure it out," Sergei encouraged, like his heart wasn’t praying he was the one that Katya chose.

"That’s possible, but there’s only one problem," Katya laughed disbelievingly.

"Huh?"

"He’s not who I wanna go to sleep and wake up beside, my whole life," Katya said, as he looked into Sergei’s eyes like that was his truth, and he was owning it.

"..."

"Vladimir, I nee—" Katya began only for the door to his office to open.

"Sir, the expo will begin in fifteen minutes," Rahim reminded before leaving.

Sergei had never wanted to strangle Rahim that much.