“You are a rare specimen, Miss Fortune. I am so very glad you came. Love is going to take the blood samples we need now, and then he’ll send you for a physical. Noninvasive, I assure you. After that, you’ll be provided with clothes and your compensation.” She closed the distance to me, gripped my shoulder and leaned over slightly. She was too close. I didn’t like it. “I’m sure you’ll be back again soon. You truly are marvelous.”
She straightened up, stared at me a heartbeat longer, and then left the room.
Her words stuck in my head like honey, pushing their sticky way into my grey matter.I’m sure you’ll be back soon.
Roughly an hour later,I was back in the presence of the kinder, far pinker, Beta Love. I was wearing a summery pant suit and silky tank. The shoes were about as practical as going barefoot, all cleverly woven gold straps and a thin sole. Josie was safely tucked away in a brand-new bag. It was as impractical as the outfit—a cream, long-strapped, soft leather briefcase with expanding sides and a few exterior zip pockets. Initially, Beta Love had offered a backpack. I’d refused. I didn’t want to feel like those Omegas waiting at Saints Shelter who had their backpacks on backwards to avoid someone yanking it off from behind. Plus, I wanted Josie close at hand.
“Here is your compensation. Inside, you’ll find the promised cash and your choice of voucher to the diner on the corner of Eighth and Sullivan.” Beta Love flourished a pale pink envelope at me. It was sealed at the back with a red heart sticker. Very on brand.
“Is that it then?” I readjusted the uncomfortable strap of the briefcase. It had no padding, and the bag was far heavier than my old one. It kept digging into my shoulder.
“Yes, for now. Apparently, you exceeded exceptions,” his enthusiastic voice delivered the words like he was part of a stage play, and I should applaud.
“Great… I guess.” I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say, but if he was disappointed, he didn’t let it show. He just kept pleasantly smiling. “May I leave now?”
“Of course! We need on last thing.” He turned and strode away from me without further explanation.
“You need something else?” I winced as I questioned, glancing downat the stretchy bandage around my elbows and wrists. The sides of my neck bore square bandages too. They’d already run me ragged. The physical had stopped just short of spreading my legs and cracking my most intimate parts open. I couldn’t take anymore.
“It will only take a heartbeat, Miss Fortune. I know this has been quite the day for you.” His voice carried back to me from his office. We were back in the waiting room that looked like a Valentine’s store threw up. He returned seconds later with a tablet and the double handles of a gift bag strung over his left wrist. A smart person probably would have bolted for the elevators in his absence. “Okay, let’s do a final check over. I’ve input your information from earlier, scanned in your contract document, and it looks like your test results are already loading. I’s dotted and T’s crossed! We just need to know where you’ll be staying the next week.”
I hugged myself, fingers digging harshly into my upper arms. “Why would you need to know that?”
With utter sincerity, Beta Love answered. “If your samples were as good as I’m hearing, then there’s every possibility that The Cupid Company will wish to compensate you further. We’d hate for you to miss out on further resources.”
“More money?” God, was that all that mattered to me? I was covered in bandages. My neck and wrists ached. But the dangling carrot of more cash had perked me up and made me forget all the shit I’d just been through.
“Exactly!” He raised his right hand and pointed one finger at the ceiling dramatically. “Our best research participants often find themselves quickly on the path to a new, wonderful life.”
I bit my lower lip, chewing it while I thought. It couldn’t hurt, right?
“I’ve been sleeping on the street lately,” I spoke slowly, registering the sympathy in Beta Love’s eyes. I hated that look nowadays. “But I’m always checking with the sisters at Saints Shelter to see if they have a bed. So maybe there? If not, and I can afford it, I might pay for a week at the motel on Pike.”
Beta Love nodded, his fingers flying across the tablet screen. "I've made a note of both locations. If we need to reach you, we'll check therefirst. Now, a quick photo," he spoke quickly, lifting the tablet up and snapping a picture before lowering it again. I didn’t have time to smile or pose. “Ah, that’s a nice one.” He tapped the screen a few times and then handed me the tablet. "Just sign here to confirm you've received your compensation."
I took the tablet, my hands shaking slightly. There was a line at the bottom of the screen with my name already typed beneath it. I used my finger to scrawl an approximation of my signature, trying not to think about what else I might be agreeing to. There was a mile of fine print. I guess I hadn’t learned my lesson the first time.
"Perfect!" Beta Love took back the tablet and beamed at me. "You've been absolutely wonderful, Miss Fortune.” He offered me the gift bag then. I took it mechanically, pushing aside tissue paper to peer inward. It looked like mini bottles and a box of something.
“Just a little parting gift,” the Beta explained. “Omega nourishing tonics and high calorie, protein bars. One can nearly get you through a day!” He beamed as he crowed the last.
“Thanks,” I mumbled. “I’m… going to leave now.”
"Of course, of course! The elevators are just back there,” he pointed, then looked a bit embarrassed. “Well, you know. The same way you arrived of course. I'd escort you, but I'm afraid I have a meeting with Doctor Swann.”
He beamed at me, as if I was the most important person in the world. It somehow came off as calculating, like there was ulterior motives behind the stretched mouth and pearly teeth.
“Right.” My voice was barely audible. I tried to straighten my shoulders and pull a sliver of courage from my exhausted body. “I know where to go.”
“Lovely! I truly hope to see you again soon, Miss Fortune! And, ah,” he hesitated with a slight frown, but only for a heartbeat, before regaining composure. “As a gentle reminder, you’ve signed a rather comprehensive non-disclosure agreement. So, mum’s the word!”
A non-disclosure…that meant I couldn’ttalk about what happened here today, right?It probably was in the paperwork, which I hadn’t bothered to read properly.
‘I truly hope to see you again soon’. Those words, so similar to the Alpha’s, echoed in my head, and made my stomach clench in discomfort.
I beelined for the elevators, forcing myself to take deep breaths during the descent. I didn’t even glance at the snooty Beta receptionist. I raced towards one of the doors next to the revolving one and I got the hell out of there.
10
