The rest of the session passed in the blink of an eye, and for a while, Owen didn’t think of the alpha on thestairway.
Daniels.
But when Lucian left his office with a wave and a cocky, playful grin that promised trouble, Owen’s mind was sucked back in by the alpha’s dark gaze and his dominant body language. Maybe Lucian wasn’t the only one who needed to be reminded that he was of equal status. When Owen thought of those eyes and how they’d bored into him, all he wanted to dowasobey.
There was no excuse for thoughts like that, not even when Owen’s heart beat a little harder as he remembered their encounter, or how many goosebumps the thought of Mr. Daniels and his dark, sultry gaze sent running up and downhisarms.
He was equal. He was worthwhile. He wasn’t meant toserve.
Owen only wished he could convince his cock that itwastrue.
* * *
The day ended.Owen ran a hand through his hair and sat back in his chair, stretching. The paperwork on his desk was done, and his request to get Lucian into a work program with one of the cooperating local businesses had been submitted. Whataday.
As Owen relaxed, thoughts of the alpha from the stairwell, Daniels, crept back into the forefront of his mind. The Google search he’d done hadn’t resulted in much—the information he had was too vague to get good hits. Still, he couldn’t shake the thought of Daniels’ piercing gaze or the rugged cut of his jaw. The way Daniels held himself, and the expensive suit he wore, spoke of power. He was the kind of alpha who could turn an omega’s world upside down—the kind of alpha who could own an omega with asinglelook.
Guilt wracked Owen’s mind. He was an omega rehabilitation counselor—he had no right thinking about Daniels in such a way. Omegas weren’t property, and they weren’t lesser human beings. The equality movements over the last fifty years had advanced their place in civilization and granted them basicrights.
Owen would never submit to an alpha. Not again. He’d fought too hard for his place in life to let itallgo.
A sharp rap at the door stole his attention. Owen lifted his head. “Comein.”
The door opened. Torres, head counselor at Stonecrest, stood on the other side. In her hand was an envelope. She leaned against the doorframe and looked him over, skeptical. “This just cameforyou.”
“What?” Owen rose from his desk. “Mail? I thought we got our mailatnoon.”
“SodidI.”
Owen approached. As he did, Counselor Torres extended the envelope in his direction. The paper had a subtle granite finish and was thick enough not to be flimsy. Owen frowned as he turned the letter around in his hand. On the back was a black wax seal. The front bore nothing but Owen’s full name in elegant script. The lettering was so precise that he wasn’t sure if it was done by hand or printed by machine. “Whatisthis?”
“It was hand delivered,” Counselor Torres said. “The man who dropped it off was young—probably about your age. The security guard stopped him at the door, he delivered the message, then left. The guard didn’t think to get any other information outofhim.”
Owen hadn’t ordered anything, nor was he expecting any kind of mail. Even if he had been, there was no sign of paid postage, or any trace at all the letter had been through the postal system. Torres wasn’t lying—it really had been handdelivered.
“I… thank you,” he said, at a loss for words. “I’m sorry that it came here, of all places. I promise, I wasn’texpectingthis.”
“I know. You’ve never had anything delivered here before.” Counselor Torres shrugged. “There aren’t any rules against receiving mail at work. I suppose as long as it isn’t disruptive, it’s fine. And it wasn’tdisruptive.”
Owen was still embarrassed. He bobbed his head and lowered his gaze. He didn’t feel comfortable opening the letter until he was alone. For as nice as Counselor Torres was, he had a feeling that whatever was in the letter was private. No one sent mail anymore, especially notlikethis.
“Are you heading out?” Counselor Torresasked.
“I am. I was just finishing up some paperwork when you came in.” Owen rubbed his thumb over the wax seal. Anticipation started to eat at him. “I’ll probably be gone in another fewminutes.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Counselor Torres said brightly. “Take care tonight. I’ll see youtomorrow.”
Owen closed the door behind her as she left, then locked it. He sank against the door and raised the envelope up to the light, trying to see through it, but it was too thick. The only way to find out what was inside was toopenit.
Why was he so nervous? Owen attributed his paranoia to the vestigial remnants of his heat. All he needed to do was take a deep breath, pop the wax seal, and get on with it. Still, he hesitated. He turned the envelope around and ran his fingers over the delicate lettering. The attention to detail was stunning. He’d never seen his name looksogood.
Eager and anxious to find out who the letter was from, he worked the wax seal up with his thumb and opened the back flap of the card. Inside was a stiff piece of cardstock paper. Upon it, in the same elegant handwriting as the front of the envelope, was a message. The date in the top right corner wascurrent.
Mr.Ellis,
There are very few things in life that I am not privileged enough to have, but it wasn’t until I ran into you today that I realized there are things I am missing that I did not even know existed. Allow me to treat you to dinner this weekend. I am eager to know you again, and more intimately this time than a simple moment on thestairs.
I will be waiting at Castyna on Saturday night at seven. It is entirely your choice whether I dine alone, or in goodcompany.
