How Alphas work
Lara arrived at work in time. She reached the sales department and found the other agents drinking coffee or talking about non-related-to-work things.
She greeted them with a smile and a bright expression. For some reason, she felt in a good mood that morning.
She did get up early, but Nate had made breakfast by the time they stumbled upon the table. Or he most likely bought it.
Whatever happened, she didn't need to hurry to get up to feed the kids. It had been relaxing, for once.
The men in the sales department heard her voice and turned. They stared for a while in silence before the elder of the group regained his senses and greeted her back.
«Hello, miss. Are you lost, perhaps?»
The gazes on her weren't openly unfriendly, but most were too curious for her to feel relaxed. It was as if they weren't expecting her to appear there.
Oh, no, Lara realised. It was as if she was a Martian.
«I started working here yesterday,» she explained. «I will stay in the sales department for this week.»
«Uhm... Yeah...» he mumbled, utterly confused.
A few of the men exchanged meaningful glances as if they understood something Lara couldn't grasp. Her smile trembled, but she kept her image in check. She didn't like what those gaze implied. As if she had been hired for something different than her competence.
Which was actually the case; she knew it. It was a mystery why they chose her. Her long line of jobs wasn't a reference about how well she could do a corporate job.
However, she didn't get in there using any connection.
She wore the most proper clothes, taking care to look professional. She couldn't imagine that wouldn't help her.
She just read the right announcement at the right moment. Luck couldn't be considered a fault, could it?
«What are you doing?» Samantha asked from behind the wall of men. «Why aren't you talking bullshit like your usual?»
The men split into two sides, letting her walk forward.
«Oh,» she noticed. «You forgot what a woman looks like after getting in here? Go to work now!»
She then turned to Lara, and her gaze became gentler.
«Come this way, Lara.»
At least, Samantha seemed not to think anything bad about her.
«I need to check these orders. I have a meeting scheduled in half an hour, though. Can you do it for me? You should check the numbers are correct and the data of the clients updated.»
«All right.» Lara nodded.
«If you need help, call Roxy on the phone. There's no need to go around looking for people because those outside are useless. Just call Roxy. Her internal number is zero four nine.»
«Forty-nine, all right.»
«See you later, then.»
That said, Samantha went out and reached the HR department. Roxy was drinking coffee from a big mug.
«I hope you have a plan to get that girl out of there before Nate finds out about it,» Samantha said.
Roxy closed the fashion magazine she was reading and blinked.
«Sorry?»
«You just sent his lover to a department full of handsome males. You know he won't like to hear about it.»
«What are you talking about, for goodness?» Roxy murmured.
«Lara Clayton. You should have found a better place for her.»
«Are you going to complain? And why in the world would you think she's Alpha Nate's lover? They can't have progressed so fast...»
«There's his scent all over her. Along with his soap, you know? She spent the night at his place!»
«Oh, really?» Roxy said, suddenly attentive. «My, my... I didn't know our Alpha could be so smooth. They met yesterday and are already so close?»
«The males also sensed Nate's scent on a human. They were staring at her as if she was... I don't even know! Those creeps.»
«Well, they won't dare to make a move on her.»
«That's not what I'm worried about, Roxy. Why did Nate send her to the sales department?»
«He didn't. It was Bass's idea.»
«You shouldn't let your husband make decisions, you know that! And now? Does he even know?»
«I don't think I've notified Alpha Nate. I was planning to move her to another department by the end of the week.»
«If they meet tonight again, or tomorrow night for that matter, there's a chance Nate notices. He'll be furious.»
«What? We didn't send her there to be eaten alive. She's just working, for goodness's sake.»
«That's not the point, Roxy. Nate is an Alpha. He's possessive with his things.»
«Ah, well,» Roxy sighed. «We're doomed.»
«And you even involved me, now!»
«Nate won't get mad at you.»
«No? Let's see. How serious do you think it is?»
«For our Alpha to look at a woman for more than a minute? They could just get married and save our time.»
«And what about his mate?»
«Bass once told me Alpha Nate lost his mate long ago. But he doesn't have to stay alone forever, right? It might be good for him to have a lover. Even if she has children.»
«Why did you send her to sales if you wanted them together?»
«I told you: it was Bass. Also, it's not like we can send her to the reception or secretarial team. The girls would tear her into pieces at the slightest trace of Alpha's scent.»
«Slightest trace?»
«I smelt a little when she came for the job interview. She was also wounded, and I guess our Alpha took the chance to save her...»
«Slight? Roxy, go to sales and check for yourself how light it is. One can tell as soon as she enters a room.»
«Hmm... We do need to find her a better position, though. Where would she be safe?»
«Not just that. We promised an accounting position. You can't send her to make tea,» Samantha pointed out. «She signed a contract.»
«Why did he even insist on having her work here? He could seduce her out of here,» Roxy murmured. All of their headaches wouldn't have been there.
«You don't understand how Alphas work, Roxy. Possessive isn't just a word.»