Hastings listened for a moment as a satisfied smile spread across his face. "Lilies and strawberries? Yes... thatsounds perfect. Have her here for an interview tomorrow morning at ten."
He hung up.
"What about Presley?" I asked, my chest tightening.
"I'm sure she'll be happy to spend another night in the suite. Send flowers, chocolates, and the best food the hotel can provide to her room," Hastings said, already looking back at his tablet. "Let her know we’ll get back to her tomorrow afternoon. And we’ll pay her for her time. First, we need to do our due diligence."
The next morning, thePerfect Omegawas sitting in the chair Presley had occupied. Her name was Chloe. She was blonde, petite, and wore a dress that was cinched at her tiny waist. She smelled like a wedding bouquet of lilies and strawberries.
She was everything the agency promised, yet I wanted to throw her out of the thirty-fifth-floor window.
She was giggling at something Fritz said. The tinkling grated on my nerves. She was omega-sweet, yet, but she was so wrong. She just smiled and nodded. There was no grit. No talk of turkey basters or field mice or cottages.
I stood up abruptly, my chair screeching against the floor.
"We’re done." My voice was cold enough to frostthe glass.
Chloe blinked at me, her big blue eyes wide. "I'm sorry?"
"The interview is over." I walked around the desk. "You’re a lovely girl, Chloe, but you’re not for us."
I didn't wait for Hastings to intervene. I led the shocked omega out of the room, through the reception, and watched the elevator doors close on her confused face.
When I returned to the office, Hastings’ face was like thunder.
"We haven't found anyone yet, Etienne," he warned, his voice vibrating with alpha command. "You cannot just dismiss a tier-one candidate because you’re in a foul mood."
"Did you smell her?" I roared. "Presley? Because I did. And I slept on it all last night! I’d waited for you to realize.” I didn’t tell them that I sat in my room with her scent wrapping around me like a ghost while I stroked my dick until I was raw, because all I could envisage was a blonde waitress with her pink ribbon, her turkey baster, and her big dreams. “I don’t understand why, but I can’t breathe in this room without wanting her!"
“We agreed we didn’t want an omega!” Hastings yelled.
I slammed my hand down on the wooden desk, the thud echoed through the office. "I thought we were a pack! If we’re a pack, you should be going crazy like I am. I can’t stand the thought of another woman having our child."
Fritz stood up, his expression solemn. "I agree. Chloe was... empty. Presley is the only one who feels real."
I spun to him. “Her scent is rain.” I turned to Hastings. “You both have rain too. You must be able to smell it on her.”
Hastings’ grip on his pen was white-knuckled. A pulse jumped in his jaw. "We’re looking for an heir, Etienne. Not a mate. We tried that before. We opened the door to an omega and she nearly destroyed the corporation. This is supposed to be clean."
"The time is right," I growled, my heart pacing. "And if we don't move now, we're going to lose the only thing that's felt right in years."
“You thought Greta was right too,” he countered, but I didn't wait for his permission. I picked up the desk phone and dialed the fourteenth floor.
It rang and rang. But nobody picked up.
A cold pit formed in my stomach. I dialed the front desk.
"This is Etienne from the thirty-fifth floor. Connect me to the guest in suite one four one two. Miss Prince."
As I listened to the receptionist, my blood turned to ice.
"She checked out of the hotel yesterday?" I repeated, my voice dropping to a whisper.
"Yesterday?" Fritz growled, stepping closer.
"She didn't wait," Hastings said, his voice laced with a shock he couldn't quite hide.
"No." I disconnected the phone and looked at them. "She probably overheard us discussing other options."
