I growl at the way she misunderstood me. Which confirms my earlier assumption she’s being metaphorically beaten down. It might take me a while as I earn her trust, but I will get to the bottom of who has marred this beautiful innocent woman.
But the past isn’t the issue right this second, it’s aboutusstarting the right way and resolving things from the get-go. I squat down and tap her leg to get her attention which is harder said than done, she’s shutting down. “I wasn’t having a go. I’m not going to demand you act or feel a certain way, but in time I want us to be able to trust each other. If you’re angry, or upset, I want to know why. If I am, I will let you know the reasons. Can we do that?”
Simona chews her lip like she’s got a few things she wants to say but at the same time I’m fully aware I’m pushing hard. I stand up, giving her space, and while she doesn’t look directly at me, she follows my movements.
“And for the record, your lips are incredible. I’ll be dreaming of them way too much.”
I don’t miss the small smirk on them, or the faint blush that paints her cheeks rosy pink. Shutting the door, I walk to speak with Danny. “Perhaps on the way, you’d tell your passenger you’re in need of late-night snacks then order too much. Pick up extra supplies while you’re there and theninsist they’re hers. Stay out front of Unity Collegiate and keep an eye on her.”
Danny doesn’t need to promise me anything. I know without a shadow of a doubt the man is loyal. As they drive off, I try Ryder, then Dom, and leave the same message for each of them.
“She has an Alpha. The stupid prick is in the Flamingo Room causing shit and all I see is an opportunity. If you don’t hear from me before the sun rises, please call my lawyer.” I laugh, hanging up, already imagining Ryder’s cheeky grin as he reads my message while my lawyer would be pinching his beautiful lips.
The walk back through Noire doesn’t fill me with the usual sense of accomplishment. Instead, I’m spurred on by coming face to face with him. As is standard protocol, the members have been separated, a guard stationed with each of themwhile our staff are already waiting in my office.
Stopping to wash my hands, and regretfully wipe her scenting off my face, I elect to change my suit. Despite knowing how steadying her scent would be, I’m not prepared to put her at risk. Her cookies and cream scent are impossible to ignore, but the other reason is I’ll be able to savour her scent later this way.
After listening to Coco and Justin recount their version, I arrange for them to be checked by our resident medic before finishing their shift and insisting they relax in one of the staff suites.
I feel strangely relaxed myself, even after pushing the door to where Brody Henderson greets me with the biggest shit-eating grin I’ve ever seen.He takes a step towards me, and I let him run the show.
“God, what a mess,” he offers sympathetically, flicking his chin up, intentionally keeping his posture as neutral as the look on his face.
In a lot of ways, he’s not what I expected; he’s got a schmooze about him, but it’s something a lot of rich, entitled men his age carry. It’s an indicator of his confidence and I’m sure a lot of people would trip over themselves to befriend him.
I’m not here to make friends. Using my hand, I wave to where I want him to sit, essentially in the thick of it. The small chair I pull in front of the bed I’m forcing him to sit on should be a clear sign of what I want to speak with him about, and as expected, he immediately jumps to try to placate me.
“I am sorry…”
I cut him off with a look. “And what is it exactly you’re apologising for?”
He throws his hands up in mock surrender. The cocky smirk on his face is as patronising as I expected. Clearly, I’m aware I was already not a fan because of his association with Simona, but at the same time he grates against my nerves.
I literally loathe everything he is and what he represents. And, yeah, I know I’m judging him without knowing, but much like I knew instantly that Simona was mine, I know this fucktard and I are never going to see eye to eye. He is everything I despise—pompous, conceited, wrapped in an air of entitlement so thick it nearly masks his scent. Which, for the record, is as offensive as he is. I grab the scent neutraliser we use and hand it to him, barely resisting the urge to lob it straight at his head.
While he sprays, he gets somehow even more brazen like he’s aware he’s under my skin. “Are you the manager?” he asks.
Instead of answering, I rest my forearms on the tops of my thighs, leaning into his space. “I’m confused.”
That statement has him tipping his head. The well-practised, oily smile drops slightly while in his eyes there’s a stirring of suspicion. I pause, knowing he will break first.
“About?”
“Do you not understand the word no?”
He recoils before managing to refix his expression. I’m getting under his skin, and he doesn’t like it one bit.
Before he can explain himself, I go on. “I ask because in our terms and conditions of membership, which according to your signature on the form you read, we stipulate in black and white that any scene or situation requires ongoing consent. The cameras in the room, and there were three on record, have the male Omega you were engaging with making it very clear he did not want you to bite him.”
“He didn’t complain once when I was knotting him.”
“Perhaps you missed him telling you to stop because you were choking him? You may have robbed him of his voice, Mr. Henderson, but even I could see him shaking his head and fighting you off. Thankfully, my other employees did not miss his obvious signs he was not consenting. It took them seconds to react.”
He rolls his eyes. “Hardly an issue then, is it? Honestly, it was nothing more than a nip in the heat of the moment.”
“No means no.”
“I’d suggest Jasper,” he starts. The smirk on his face gets even cockier in his intentional misuse of Justin’s name.
