CHAPTER 1
HAILEY
I thinkI want to stab my date in the eye with the butter knife in my left hand.
“So yeah, it’s really important to start saving now so that you’re not struggling when you want to retire.”
I blink at the Alpha sitting across from me. On paper he sounds like the perfect guy. A massive property in Spanish Hills, a steady job in finance, and he isn’t tied to a pack already.
However, in reality, this man doesn’t have a fucking clue.
He clears his throat, dabbing the corners of his mouth again. “I forgot to ask, what is it you currently do?” Justin asks.
Why are they always named Justin?
“I work at Lavender Moon,” I say, sipping my lemon drop martini, ready to wave down the waiter for another.
His green eyes go wide for a moment and he clears his throat.
“How long have you been working there?” he asks, visibly uncomfortable.
“Since I designated six months ago,” I tell him, taking another heavy sip. The vodka burns just the right way as I watch his brows furrow in confusion.
“But your profile said you’re twenty-four.”
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a fucking genius on our hands. I don’t bother going into more detail about my extremely late designation, or how I had to work at Lavender Moon because I had no other choice when my mother kicked me out.
Which was fine; I had been planning on moving out anyway. Luckily I had just enough saved to handle first and last month's rent. Being an esthetician wasn’t going to cut it anymore, not only because I needed more money to survive, but my scent was an issue for some clients. I don’t bother telling Justin all this, because there’s simply no point.
I make a mental note to delete the Knotted app when I get home. Every single date I’ve agreed to has been a complete joke.
“Well, if things were to progress you would need to find another job,” Justin says.
I blink at his pretentious Alpha face for a moment.
“All those savings, your expensive house with the rounded driveway, your Tom Ford suit, and you would want your Omega to work?” I ask.
He takes a drink and hisses slightly, trying to catch our server's attention.
“Isn’t that how things work now? Wouldn’t you want your own money?”
I sigh, tossing back the rest of the martini. “No. Thanks for dinner,” I say, grabbing my purse and throwing it over my shoulder.
“Wait. You’re just going to leave and not offer to cover half?”
I glance back at this man, look at the tip he’s planning to leave, and pull out a crisp hundred dollar bill and place it directly into the server's hand. He smiles at me, and I glare at Justin one last time before leaving the upscale restaurant.
I don’t hate Alphas.
Well, maybe I hate most Alphas; they’re really on a case by case basis if I like them or not.
Work is easy, it’s pretend. I’m not Hailey there, I’m Cherry. I didn’t pick the name, the owner’s Omega, Luna, did. She said I reminded her of someone back home and that was her stage name. Plus, the deep red hair I’ve been sporting as of late fits the name.
It’s easier to be nice to Alphas when they’re paying you and as soon as you step out the door I get to shed that persona.
A lot of the Omegas at the club find packs and people to date at the club, but that’s an absolute fucking no for me. Maybe it’s because I still haven’t fully accepted my designation yet.
I used to easily blend into the background. Quiet. I’d do my job, come home, work on my projects, and do it all over again. I was invisible. Not just to everyday people, but to my family too.
