6. PR Team

It’s been the hardest forty-eight hours of my life.

Several headlines have made it to the media with my picture and an image of the Pack hospital, and several disturbing captions like:

OMEGA DOCTOR CAUSES SCANDAL

OMEGA DOCTOR’S INCOMPETENCE HARMS PATIENT.

I wake up to Dominic’s message on my phone, where he states that I've changed towards him, and he thinks we need to sit together and talk about it.

One would think his message would be about the dent to my name and the fact that the hospital is drowning in a scandal.

But no, he is speaking about my change towards him when I am drowning in hundreds of hate notifications, each one spitting venom at Jes112, who everyone believes is me.

Rosie’s plan and attempt at ruining my image were effective because people believe it.

It’s always easier to blame an Omega.

I ignore Dominic’s text and, despite the hate I am facing, I get ready and leave for work at the hospital.

When my HOD summons me to his office, I meet Dominic seated there, waiting for me. Mr. Milton excuses himself and leaves the room.

“Jess, we need to talk,” Dominic tells me, once the man shuts the door behind him.

“About what, Alpha?” I ask flatly, folding my arms as I remain standing.

“I saw the comments online,” he says, standing up and stepping closer. “It's getting really bad.”

“I know,” I reply. “I’m dealing with it.”

“You’re dealing with it the wrong way,” he insists, his tone softening as if he is coaxing a child. “I’m worried about you.”

He is worried now?

He touches my shoulder gently, and my entire body recoils before I can stop myself.

He notices that.

His voice drops. “You’ve been cold to me lately.”

‘Because I’m finally seeing you for who you are.’

But I don’t say that out loud.

He barrels on, “I know I’ve been… neglecting you,” he admits. “Things have been complicated. But you need to think of the bigger picture, Jess. Acting on emotions won’t solve anything.”

I meet his eyes directly and ask, “And what exactly do you want me to do, Alpha?”

“Rosie’s public image needs to be protected,” he says quietly. “She’s the daughter of this Pack’s Beta, and our families are very close. She has a big reputation that shouldn't be smeared for any reason at all. If you take responsibility for the misunderstanding, it’ll calm everything down. And I promise you that you will have my backing. No one can harm or hurt you. Everyone makes mistakes…”

I blink at least three times as the imaginary knots in my head try to make sense of what Dominic has just said.

“You want me to take the blame for what Rosie did,” I ask, just to be sure.

“It’s just temporary,” he rushes out. “For the Pack’s stability.”

“You are so unbelievable, Alpha Dominic!” I cut in, my voice stretched.

His jaw tightens. “Jess-”

“Alpha,” I call him, forcing my voice to remain calm. “You’re only panicking now because people are asking for accountability. So, after all these years, you’ve decided that it's best to humiliate me this way?”

My statement must have done something to him because he sighs and storms out of the office without another word.

I let out a shaky breath.

Goddess!

If there is one thing my conversation with Dominic just succeeds in doing, it proves to me that if I don't act fast and exonerate my name, he is likely to find a way to heap the whole blame on me.

And the goddess help me, I am not going to let that happen.

Getting myself together, I march straight into the hospital’s PR office. Together with the team, we create talking points, outline statements, and draft possible legal responses.

I answer questions, counter arguments, and pull the team together. By the end, the internet becomes calmer, as we state that the picture circulating on the internet space isn't the culprit, and the hospital is currently on the hunt for the culprit and won't rest until he/she is found.

“Dinner?” one of the PR team members suggests.

I almost say no.

But my stomach growls, and my brain feels like it is glucose-starved.

“Sure,” I sigh.

On my way out, my phone buzzes, a call from Allister Blackwaters.

“Hello?”

His voice is deep and instantly soothes my heart. “Skybloom,” that is a pet name he called me while I was still a kid. “I saw the reports from the news, how are you?”

I shut my eyes, contemplating telling him the truth of what I am currently going through or just pretending to be fine. "I'm fine, Allister." I manage a whisper.

But of course, he knows I am not. It can never slip past him.

He has always been the elder brother I never had.

I was such a problematic child as a teenager, and it grew worse after the death of my mother.

Since Alister’s mother used to be my mother's friend, I spent most of my days at his home with Allister helping me with my school work, while I continued being the bratty Jessica White.

Even with my ill manners, Allister never got upset with me. Instead, he tolerated me and even protected me from boy trouble countless times.

But I left him and blocked everyone in my pack without saying a word.

“Jess, don’t lie to me. I can hear that you’re not good at all.”

I groan and rub my cheek. "I had a little issue that I'm handling at my place of work...But it’s nothing serious."

"Tell me about it.”

I finally open up and narrate everything that happened to him.

When I am done, he asks, “Is that the best the Westwood Alpha can do? Let his woman suffer for a mistake she didn't make? Do you want me to step in?”

“No, I can handle it. Please, Allister. I want to handle it myself.”

“Then let me send a car. A driver assigned to you, 24/7.”

“Allister...”

He doesn't seem pleased that I am turning down his offer. “Don’t refuse me on this, Jess. You don't want to have anything to do with me, do you?"

What? How can he think that?

“Fine,” I whisper. “But just for a few days.”

“Good.” The tension leaves his voice, replaced by a whisper. “I missed you, my little-bratty-Jess.”

Hearing that name again, my heart skips.

I stammer: “Thank you, Allister.”

“I hope you know that you can rely on me if you need anything.”

There is a brief pause.

“Are you wearing the earrings I got for you?”

“The… what?”

“Earrings,” he repeats.

Oh my goddess, I thought were from my father…

“Those were from you?”

A deep chuckle comes through the speaker.

“Yes, it’s been years since the last time I got any gift for you. So, when I saw an opportunity, I utilized it.”

I don't remember giving anyone from my former Pack my address or even telling them my favorite boutique.

But Allister knew about the Pack and boutique, and that has me wondering if he knew where I was all along, but only decided to stay away because he was probably respecting my choice.

By the time the call ends, I am in a much better mood, and I walk the short distance to one of my favorite restaurants, three streets down the road, to join the PR team members for lunch.

As usual, the restaurant is calm, exactly what I needed, until my gaze accidentally drifts toward the glass windows facing the right part of the restaurant, and there they are.

Dominic, Rosie, and a few of their friends, having lunch.

Rosie has tucked herself against Dominic, who has a small smile on his face.

I quickly turn away, but I guess Dominic sees me.

A chair scrapes back loudly, and in less than a minute, he walks up to me, voice raised enough that people turn.

“Jess! Are you following me?”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

He looks furious. I guess he is still stewing after our conversation earlier, where I refused to throw myself under the bus for the sake of his Beta-daughter-girlfriend.

“Why else would you be here?”

A chuckle escapes me. “Alpha, I’m here with the hospital PR team members. We just finished working on the online backlash.”

An embarrassment slipped on his face. I don’t want to waste more time on Dominic, then I turns to leave.

But Dominic catches me by the arm, his jaw tighening: “Jess, I’ll help you deal with those comments and rumors.”

I feels amused by hid audacity. “Help me? Alpha Dominic, do you seriously not know who caused all of this and dragged all of us in the center of rumour?”

I glance at Rosie. She stands by Dominic’s side acting innocent, as if this whole mess has nothing to do with her.

Dominic seems to be more irritated: “Jess, don’t make a scene here. Rosie didn’t know things would get this bad. And you’re a doctor, you should’ve stopped her. It all comes down to your lack of responsibility.”

I stare at him for a moment, processing the absurdity of his words.

Having lost my appetite, I stand, excuse myself, and walk out of the restaurant.