Revea
Turns out the beautiful omega who was chatting with Luc and Val isbondedto a pack of tattoo artists. One of which had tattooed Val’s swallow.
Said omega was Joshua’s two o’clock, who was so worried she’d offended me, she made him come get me soshecould apologise.
So not only is she beautiful and bonded and also kind, but I’m a lunatic.
After we went back and forth apologising, I told her today’s colour, cut, and blow-dry would be free. When she tried to refuse, I gave Josh the look that meant ‘do not let her pay’.
I then apologised to everyone in the waiting area, with a nervous laugh about being over-protective of my staff, to which an elderly woman shouted, “I’d be protective about those alphas too, love!”
That promptly ended my apology session.
I never went back to my office. Let my brother and them hash out whatever they want, because after today, they’re not coming back.
I’m hyping myself up in the stock room, organising the colours by code and shade, preparing my speech.
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done, but I think it’s best we end it here…”I mutter. Then jam the box into place with a loud, “No.That’s not clear enough.”
But how can I be clear when I don’t really know what I want? Especially when it’sveryclear what my omega does.
This isn’t the time to get tied down by a pack. My business isn’t even a year old, I’ve got conventions lined up across the country, and my focus needs to be on this business, my staff,notalphas who make my skin feel on fire.
I haven’t dated inyears,haven’t been interested in anyone to even consider it, and after my last organised-heat disaster where I barked the alpha away, I’ve been dealing with that alone too.
Which is… fine. Justfine.
You don’t need alphas to get through a heat. Toys work… multiple toys… It’s remembering to stay hydrated that’s important. It might not be convenient, but it’s totally manageable.
Fine. Like I said.
Why am I eventhinkingabout heats right now?
“You hiding from us, Revea?”
Oh god,no.
I wince, gripping the counter with one hand and a box of colour in the other. I keep my back to Luc even when I hear him getting closer.
“Is this how it’s gonna be now?”
When he chuckles, my skin prickles, heat rushing through me.
“No words, no eye contact.” He’s even closer, his warm breath fanning the top of my head. “Come on, Ve. Look at me.”
My grip tightens around the cardboard tube, crinkling it, before I turn to say, “I think we should—”
“Move on to the next stage of the action plan?” he interrupts with a smirk, knowing that was nothing close to what I wanted to say.
I blink. “What action plan?”
“The one I made during my first day. Didn’t you read it?”
“I… glanced at it.” Meaning I glanced at the email without actually opening the attached file.
His eyes narrow as he nods away with that damn smirk. “Uh-huh, so you’ll know the next step is looking into your technologies. Cameras, computers, sign-in processes… all that type of stuff.”
“I didn’t expect that to be included.”
