15 - Transaction
The bastard did not even have enough decency to send Julian home after taking advantage of him.
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Emerging from the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology building, Maximillian found Stefan waiting beneath a massive paulownia tree. Right beside him, the department's symbolic double helix sculpture gleamed in the last rays of the setting sun.
"How is it?" He asked his subordinate, who quickly closed the distance between them with long strides.
As they walked to the parking lot, Stefan lowered his voice to a hush and said, "I talked to several of his classmates. Julian is very unpopular among his peers. Everyone hates him."
"Hm, I had the same impression when I talked to his professor."
"Many believe that he is not that excellent of a student, and that he only gets this far because he is... Cough... Sleeping around with the teaching assistants."
Maximillian stared at Stefan.
"Is that true?"
"Well, I don't know. I guess we need to collect some sperm samples and ask for Julian's permission to collect some DNA if we really want to know."
"Never mind," Maximillian frowned.
Julian Haas' private affairs were irrelevant. Maximillian just cared about the omega's connection to the explosion case and nothing else.
...
If anything, it was in his interest to keep Julian Haas safe until he could unravel the mystery surrounding him.
"Did you ask them about his former boyfriend?" Maximillian asked. "A certain Lars Eisenhart?"
"Ahhhh... Yes, about that one."
Stefan cleared his throat.
"Apparently, uhhh... Okay, this sounds unbelievable, but apparently Julian Haas has been cheating on Lars Eisenhart behind his back."
"..."
That was not what he overheard during the couple's argument last time.
"Go on."
"And uhhh Julian has been seeing Lars Eisenhart's father. Behind the son's back."
"... Frank Eisenhart, the president of the Eisenhart Group?"
"Yes, exactly," Stefan confirmed.
Unease coiled in Maximillian's gut. Julian, for all his brilliance and cunning personality, was venturing into dangerous territory.
If Lars Eisenhart was such a despicable character, could there be any redeeming qualities in the father?
"Put a tail on Julian Haas," Maximillian told Stefan when they were getting into his hover car. "Notify me when he meets Frank Eisenhart the next time around."
Maximillian's patience wasn't tested for long. Within two days, the junior agent tailing Julian reported back. They'd spotted Julian entering an Eisenhart Group hotel and heading straight for a meeting with the president himself -- in a hotel room of all places.
A young omega of 21 years old, a blossoming omega on the cusp of youth, was meeting with an established alpha in his fifties, a man whose societal position was as formidable as his age.
No matter the lens through which Maximillian viewed the situation, a grim picture emerged, casting a shadow on both Julian and Frank.
A heavy sigh escaped Maximillian as he climbed out of his car, the opulent facade of the hotel looming before him.
Julian might be young, but he was legally an adult. He was able to make decisions for himself, no matter how poor or reckless.
Besides, he might be doing it for money.
If that was the case, then Maximillian had the right to intervene.
Omega prostitution was prohibited by law.
Maximillian marched toward the receptionist table and showed the young ladies in charge his identification badge.
"Agent Grant from the National Bureau of Security. I am here to investigate an illegal sexual activity between an omega and an alpha."
The female betas manning the desk looked terrified. To think that such a scandalous affair took place in their prestigious hotel!
"H-how can we help?" They sputtered in anxiety.
Maximillian leaned forward and answered, "I would like to enter the adjacent room to investigate. The room in question is room 5061."
"A-at once!"
Within less than five minutes, Maximillian pocketed the key to room 5062. He took the elevator to the fifth floor and walked past several corridors to reach his room.
When he passed by room 5061, he shot the door a furtive glance.
As soon as he entered the room, Maximillian took off his suit jacket and threw it onto the bed.
He then extracted the bureau's special hearing device and affixed it to the wall adjoining the next room. A moment later, Frank Eisenhart's voice filled his ear.
"You have worked hard."
Followed by the rustling sound of something papery.
Maximillian's heart lurched to the bottom of his stomach.
Did he come too late?
Was the transaction already over?
In his experience, these wealthy alphas rarely wrapped things up in under an hour. A typical session involved toying with the hired omega for the entire day.
If the accompanying omega was enticing enough, the alpha might offer extra cash to spend the night with said omega.
"You are welcome, Mr. Eisenhart," came Julian's gentle voice in reply.
Maximillian's fingers unwittingly curled up into fists, his face distorted in anger.
The rumors proved to be true after all.
"Well then, I will take my leave now. Will you be fine on your own?"
"Perfectly fine, thank you."
The bastard did not even have enough decency to send Julian home after taking advantage of him.
Fury contorted Maximillian's face. He yanked the hearing device from the wall with a rip and flung it onto the bed. The front door slammed open with a bang, his anger a tangible force as he stormed out, ready to confront Frank Eisenhart for his atrocious deed.
The sight that greeted the alpha brought him to a halt. Not just Frank Eisenhart emerged from room 5061, but several more figures followed, all clad in meticulous suits and clutching briefcases in their hands. Five in total, their presence radiating an air of quiet purpose.
"..."
Thankfully, Frank Eisenhart and his entourage did not pay attention to him. They seemed to be in a hurry.
Before Maximillian developed the good sense of retreating into room 5062, Julian poked his head out of room 5061 and stared at Maximillian, catching him in the act.
"Good afternoon, Agent Grant," he greeted the alpha with a touch of surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here."