Chapter Text
”So. Castiel,” Michael began. ”You have been doing very well at your work in the last couple of years.”
Castiel nodded. Since he had finished his master’s degree in business five years ago, he had made it his goal to advance in the Novak family company. His last name had assured him a leg up, but it wasn’t a guarantee on promotions. The gossip mill had informed him that there would be a new chair opening in the executive board in the near future, and Castiel fully expected to get the promotion. His numbers spoke for themselves, as did the recommendations from his coworkers and superiors during his work history.
The goal had asked for sacrifices, but Castiel was happy to be here now, in front of the executive board after a series of interviews, listening to the CEO, who was also his eldest brother, talk to him and the others present.
“Mmm, your achievements are impressive, Castiel. The employee of the month for six months straight, great sales numbers, amazing recommendations from your peers,” Michael continued, flipping through his files while he walked around the room. Castiel didn’t want to interrupt him before he got to the point.
Michael put the folder on the table and sat down at the end of the desk. Everyone else was looking at him too. Clearing his throat, Michael crossed his fingers on the table.
“As you know, we are a family business, and family relations have always been important for us. I don’t only mean blood relatives, siblings and cousins, but also romantic relationships,” Michael said and Castiel felt his heart drop. “Finding a mate is incredibly important for every successful businessman, or woman, who wants to be at the top of their career. We have found that having a mate waiting for you at home is valuable for the work-life balance and will assure that our executives get a decent amount of rest and don’t spend all their time at the office.”
Castiel could feel in the air what Michael was about to say.
“We value all of your hard work, Castiel, but we need people who have their priorities straight, so as an unmated candidate…” Michael said.
“I am dating someone,” Castiel blurted out and every pair of eyes in the room turned to look at him. Michel’s eyebrows rose.
“Is that so?” Michael asked. “You haven’t mentioned it before. Is it serious?”
“Fairly so. I did not mention it because no one asked me during the interview process,” Castiel lied. “I was only asked whether I am mated, which I’m not yet, but hopefully that may soon change.”
“I see,” Michael pondered. “In that case…”
The CEO trailed off, looking around the room and frowning.
“Castiel, could you give us a few minutes to discuss this? You can wait outside the room,” Michael said and Castiel did as he was asked.
It took the board about fifteen minutes to discuss, which gave Castiel plenty of time to panic over what he had done. He was not dating anyone nor was he in a serious relationship, but at the moment it had felt right to say that he was, since it was the only thing standing in the way of his dreams.
Just when Castiel was seriously considering knocking on the meeting room’s door and thanking them for the opportunity before taking his leave, Michael opened the door. The board had left though another exit and only Michael and some of Castiel’s other relatives remained in the room.
“Castiel,” Michael said. “We have decided to reconsider you for the position after all. But we would like to meet your partner first. Of course, you know that we will be having the traditional company summer party at the Novak House at the beginning of June, and we would like for you and your partner to join us for a couple of days before it. If it all goes well, you can begin your new job in the fall.”
“Sounds great,” Castiel said, knowing he was in deep trouble now. How could he manage to find himself a partner in the next couple of months?
“Dean, your boyfriend is back,” Jo said. “You wanna go take care of him?”
“What? Who are you talking about?” Dean had been cleaning a spill from the counter when Jo poked him in the side and made him look around. The Roadhouse wasn’t too busy on a weekday night, although there were some people eating at the tables or playing pool, but it took Dean a moment to spot the lonely shape sitting at the bar counter.
Shit. He should have known it would be Cas. The incredibly handsome alpha had been coming to the Roadhouse for a couple of months now, and Dean liked to think they were becoming friends. Cas hardly recognized any of Dean’s pop culture references, but he had a witty, dry sort of humor, and he somehow managed to push all the right buttons that Dean hadn’t been aware even existed before meeting him.
“You know we’re not dating, right?” Dean mumbled, but finished his cleaning quickly. Damn, he could only wish someone like Cas with obviously good education and a high paying job would look his way when he barely had a GED and was working two jobs to pay the bills.
“And whose fault is that? An omega has as much of a right to ask out an alpha as the other way around,” Jo elbowed him again. “The looks you two keep giving each other make everyone in the bar feel like a third wheel.”
“Shut up,” Dean said.
“He looks sad tonight,” Jo said. “So you should go and offer him a drink and maybe a fuck to make it better.”
Rolling his eyes, Dean rinsed the cloth he had used to wipe the table and then washed and dried his hands before walking to the alpha, who did indeed look sad. Dean tried to sniff the air to catch even a glimpse of his scent, but he was wearing blockers.
What a pity.
“Heya, Cas. What can I get you tonight?” Dean asked, trying to sound relaxed and casual.
“Hello, Dean,” Cas said. “Can I get a beer and a shot of whisky? Whatever you would choose to drink yourself.”
“Right. Coming up,” Dean said and began to move around, getting glasses and drinks to fill them with.
“If you can find me an omega who would be willing to date me for three or so months, I would like one of those too,” Cas mumbled.
Only the fact that Dean was a professional stopped him from dropping the beer bottle he had just taken from the fridge.
“Sorry, we don’t really sell those here,” Dean joked and opened the bottle, placing it in front of Cas on the counter. His hands only shook slightly when he poured the whisky.
“It was worth trying,” Cas said. “Thank you, Dean.”
“No problem, Cas,” Dean said. “So it’s love problems driving you to drink? You want to talk about it?”
Cas drank the shot of whisky on one, and then pulled the beer bottle closer.
“Not really love problems, no,” Cas said, and Dean felt himself let out a quiet sigh of relief. “More like the lack of love being the problem, I guess? Or maybe work problems combined with family relations.”
“Well, you’re talking to an expert at complicated family relations. Spill it. Not the beer, but the information,” Dean corrected himself after Cas gave him a confused look.
“Ah, yes,” Cas said and took a sip. “I have been expecting to get a promotion at my work soon. It’s a family business and I’m part of the family, but I have also been working hard towards it. The 80 hour work weeks have caused me to lack sufficient time for dating or finding a mate for myself.”
“Been there, done that,” Dean said.
“Yes, well, today I was called into a meeting, and I expected to find out whether my promotion would proceed, but instead my eldest brother informed me that they will not be promoting unmated candidates.”
Dean let out a low whistle.
“That sucks, Cas. They were leading you on,” Dean said. “Fuck all of them. Doesn’t sound like it’s the right kind of company for you.”
Shrugging, Castiel took a sip of his drink.
“Maybe not, but it’s family.”
Who was Dean to argue with that? He had done more absurd things for his family than just staying at a shitty job.
“I may have implied that I am in a relationship that could later lead to mating,” Cas continued, and Dean raised his eyebrows in surprise. “To be clear, I am not in such a relationship and haven’t been on a date for over a year. Now, they want to meet my partner in June, and I think I will have to go look for a new job too.”
“Or,” Dean pondered before he could stop his stupid mouth from talking nonsense. “You could take an omega willing to pretend to be your partner with you as your date, act all lovey-dovey while you’re there, and then, after you get your promotion tell them you broke up. Actually, even better if you can take an omega you know they will absolutely hate and make them offer you the promotion in exchange for not making that omega part of the family.”
Cas placed the bottle back on the counter.
“There’s an idea,” Cas said. “They would expect me to mate someone from the upper class, with good fortune and family line. If I take anyone who is not up to their standards, they would rather see me break up and maybe let me find a mate on my own schedule.”
“There you go,” Dean said.
“However, that doesn’t really solve my problem,” Cas said and took another sip from his bottle. Dean tried his best not to look at his lips, or hands wrapped around the bottle, or the way his throat worked as he swallowed. “I would still need to find an omega willing to fake date me for a few months and make it seem believable.”
“Oh man, true,” Dean said. “Sorry, we still don’t sell those here. I’m the only omega behind the counter unless you want to ask Ellen.”
The intense stare Cas gave him made Dean freeze on his place, unable to turn away his gaze.
“Dean,” Cas said. “How do you feel about dating alphas? Specifically, would you like to pretend to date me for a few months?”
It took Dean a few seconds to recover from the question.
“Cas, I…”
“Hey, could I get some service here?” a voice called out nearby, and Dean saw an annoyed looking beta waiting a little further.
“Sorry, I’ll be right back,” Dean said, and Cas nodded.
While he poured the guy a drink, he had a few minutes to think about the suggestion. It was stupid to even consider agreeing to it, since he would only end up breaking his own heart in the process. He was already attracted to Cas who had made it quite clear that he appreciated his family’s opinions and would not choose an omega who they didn’t approve of. Then again, this could be Dean’s only opportunity to spend any time with Cas. Maybe he would find out the guy was actually an arrogant asshole, and it would help Dean get rid of his one-sided crush.
And the other option was that Dean would likely have to watch Cas pretending to be in love with some other omega for the upcoming weeks, if Cas would bring them on a date to the Roadhouse.
The thought was unbearable.
When the beta had left the counter, Dean returned to Cas.
“You know what? I’m in,” Dean said. “As long as you don’t mind me not being able to put much money into dates or high class activities. I can pay us to go to the movies or use my staff privileges to get us a discount here though.”
“That’s fine, Dean. I will pay for any expenses you will get from dating me,” Cas said. “I can even cover any wage loss you will have if you need to take time off work. I’m grateful for your help and don’t want to put any financial pressure on you for my sake.”
This was likely a stupid idea, Cas thought. Asking Dean on a pretend date had seemed perfect at that moment, but it would undoubtedly be painful to let Dean go after this was over.
From the very first moment Cas had stepped into the Roadhouse, he had been attracted to the omega. He was beautiful, funny, and kind. Intelligent too, and always talking to Cas about whatever book he was reading. Why Castiel had never gathered enough courage to ask Dean out on a real date remained a mystery, but now they were going to be learning to act like a couple until the Novak House weekend. Although Castiel found Dean attractive in every way, his family would undoubtedly disapprove of him, like they would any regular, hardworking person who didn’t have a perfect family tree and a mansion. Well, all of them expect Castiel’s older brother Gabriel. He would find the whole situation amusing and Castiel believed he would find Dean’s company refreshing in the house. Gabriel was the only one in Castiel’s family that he believed would actually trust him to choose what was best for him.
Although Castiel doubted the decisions that had brought him here, one thing at least was certain to him. It would undoubtedly not be too hard to act like he was in love with Dean Winchester.