Craving Their Omega (Knot Her Pack #5)

1. Penelope

Chapter 1

Penelope

Stop fidgeting, Pen. You can do this, I tell myself for probably the fifteenth time since I was shown into this office, clasping my hands tightly together in my lap to keep from wringing them nervously. The anxiety tries to make its way out through the bouncing of my leg instead, and I put a hand on my knee, shooting a firm look to my own body.

I take a deep breath, letting the scents of dark wood and cleaning polish settle in my lungs, trying to use it to ground myself. Yes, this is a big deal, but it’s never going to work out in my favor if I come off like a nervous wreck during this interview.

Before I have time to think too much more about it, the door to the office opens and a tall, beautiful woman comes walking in. Her heels click on the polished floor with every step she takes, and she walks with an air of confidence that I definitely envy right about now.

She barely glances at me as she comes around to sit behind the desk, flipping her long, dark hair out of her face and over one shoulder. Sharp grey eyes flick over the papers in front of her, one of which I can only assume is my resume, and then finally she looks up at me.

“Ms. Dalton?” she asks.

I nod quickly. “Yes. Penelope. Penelope Dalton.”

“Right,” she drawls. “I’m Sienna Livingston, and I’ll be conducting your interview this morning.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Livingston.” I have to fight with my Southern upbringing to not get up and try to shake her hand, instead clenching my fingers together in my lap where she won’t be able to see it. This definitely doesn’t seem like the kind of office where that kind of thing goes over well. And even if it was, Sienna has a sort of ‘untouchable’ vibe about her, and I don’t want to make things awkward before we’ve even gotten started yet.

She just makes a noncommittal noise and pins me with her stare. “I’m sure you already know the basics of our company and what it does, but I’ll give you the rundown just in case you didn’t do your homework. Vantage Digital Systems is a comprehensive tech conglomerate, offering our clients an all in one solution to any of their technological needs. We handle tech, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, and we employ only the best.”

Her gaze turns even sharper as she finishes speaking, like she’s waiting for something.

So I nod again.

“Yes, I researched the company extensively before I applied,” I tell her. “It’s very impressive how three businesses came together to make such a strong company.”

“It is impressive,” Sienna agrees. “Even more so are the three owners of Vantage. It wouldn’t be overstating things to call them three of the most influential men in the city. You’ll understand why we can’t hire just anyone for a position here.”

“Sure, that makes sense. I can understand you wanting to make sure you only hire people who align with the company’s mission.”

Sienna smirks, raking her eyes over my resume again. “Exactly. Which is why I am confused at what I see sitting in front of me. Did you read the job description?”

“Yes?”

“Hm. We asked for at least three years of office experience.”

“Yes,” I say again. “And if you see on my resume, I worked in a few offices from the time I was in high school until a year or so ago.”

“Sporadically. Nothing for longer than a year, from what I’m seeing, and I don’t even recognize the names of most of these companies.”

“Office work is office work though, isn’t it? I know how to file and make copies and handle data entry. I worked for a smaller tech firm a couple of years ago, so I’m familiar with the day to day of how a tech firm works.”

Her lip curls a little. “Ms. Dalton, I can assure you that no other tech firm will have prepared you for what it’s like to work here. It’s not even on the same level at all, so you might as well throw that out the window now.”

“Okay,” I murmur, trying not to bow my head in shame. I can’t tell if Sienna is just passionate about this company and everything it does, or if she genuinely doesn’t like me. I’ve been in her office for less than ten minutes, and already she seems determined to humiliate me.

“I see here you owned your own business for a time,” she says, continuing on.

I nod, swallowing back the pain that thinking about that still causes me. “Yes. Unfortunately, it wasn’t viable at the time, but I did learn some valuable lessons in the process, so I think the experience is still relevant.”

“It might be,” Sienna agrees. “Vantage could use someone with an enterprising spirit. It all depends on why the business failed, though. Was it from lack of leadership? Poor organization?”

“No, nothing like that. If you want the truth?—”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t,” Sienna replies shortly. She makes a note on the notepad in front of her.

“Right. It was more a lack of… funding.” And admitting that hurts. The bakery was my dream for such a long time, and seeing it crumble while knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it was a unique kind of torture. I don’t get into the particulars with Sienna. She’s just going to draw her own conclusions anyway, I’m sure.

“I see.” She makes another note, and I can only imagine what it must say. Bad with money. Irresponsible. Something like that, I’m sure, in her handwriting, which I can tell from where I’m sitting is flawless script. “Frankly, Ms. Dalton, I have to admit I don’t know why you’re here today. Your qualifications are lacking, and there’s nothing here to suggest that you’d fit the exceptional mold required to work for Vantage. It takes more than a handful of office jobs and a failed business to excel here, and I don’t know if you have what it takes based on what I see in front of me.”

The way she looks up when she says it makes my stomach drop. It feels like she’s not just talking about my resume, but me as a whole. It makes me want to gather my things and hurry out, away from the piercing pale gaze she has trained on me.

But I don’t have the luxury of that. One of the reasons why I chose to interview here instead of somewhere more… accessible, is the salary. Even for an entry level position, Vantage was offering more than a lot of other companies would for a higher level role. Money like that could change my life, especially at this point.

Because the thing is, being an Omega isn’t cheap. Or at least, being an Omega hell bent on pretending that she’s not one isn’t cheap. Blockers are expensive, and after losing my business, I can barely afford them, let alone afford to rebuild and put money away so I can have my bakery again one day.

At this point, if I don’t get this job, I’m back to square one, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to have to go back to scouring the job boards online, throwing out my resume over and over and over again, clinging to the hope that someone might ask me to come in for an interview. Job hunting is exhausting, and rejection stings every time. Getting my foot in the door here was such a golden opportunity, and I can feel it slipping away.

But I can’t let it. Not without trying to fight for it first.

“With all due respect, Ms. Livingston, I think you’re wrong,” I say, keeping my tone polite.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but you said yourself that Vantage Digital Systems isn’t like any other company out there, right?”

“Yes,” she agrees.

“So it really doesn’t matter what other companies I’ve worked for in the past then. Nothing would have prepared me to work here, somewhere that’s the first of its kind. I’d be learning on the job, and I’m good at that. You can call any of my former bosses, any of my references. All of them will tell you that I can think on my feet and I’m a fast learner. I follow instructions well, and I don’t shy away from tackling hard tasks. I can think outside the box and be innovative, which I would think is something that would be valued at a company like this.” The words pour out of me, and I can only hope that I sound passionate and compelling and not just straight up desperate.

“That’s all well and good,” Sienna says, tapping her perfectly polished nails on the desk. “But if you don’t have any relevant experience, then we would be teaching you from the ground up. I’m sure you don’t think we have that kind of time.”

“Ms. Livingston, can I be frank with you?” I ask her, playing one last card and hoping there’s a heart there somewhere under her charcoal power suit. “I really need this job. I think I could do a good job at it, so I’m not asking you for charity, just to take a chance on me. It could change my life for the better in ways I can’t even explain.”

She seems poised to tell me no, the look on her face not budging an inch. I guess at least I can say I tried, but disappointment is bitter in the back of my throat.

Just then the sound of footsteps pass by the office, and I turn to look at whoever is going by, probably about to witness me being thrown out in shame.

I have to do a double take when I realize I recognize him.

He’s clearly an Alpha, carrying himself with all the confidence and grace that comes with it. But even if he was slouched over and tiptoeing down the hall, there would be no mistaking his presence. He’s tall, built on lean lines, but still fills out his dress pants and button down shirt nicely. His hair is a rich brown color, like warm chocolate, laced with gold highlights that catch on the fluorescent lighting in the hall. When he glances into the room, I get a glimpse of bright, mossy green eyes and a whiff of a scent like fresh mint and coconut. Light and sweet and refreshing.

I recognize the scent almost as easily as his handsome face, and I feel caught, like a deer in the headlights.

“Oh, good morning, sir,” Sienna says immediately, smiling brightly at him.

“Morning, Sienna,” the man replies, giving her a little salute.

My heart races a bit as I look up at the man who I ran into on the street almost two years ago on one of the hardest days of my life. I hate thinking about that time, but I don’t think I could ever forget him.

He glances at me, and suddenly I don’t know what to do with my face. I go for a small smile, hoping that’s appropriate, and he smiles back.

“I was just finishing up this interview if you need something,” Sienna says. “I’ll just be another minute or so.”

My heart sinks because that sounds very much like a dismissal.

“No, that’s all right,” he says. “Actually… I’ll take it from here, Sienna.”

Sienna blinks, looking surprised and then annoyed and then settling on something pleasant and neutral. “You don’t have to do that. I’m sure you have more important things?—”

“Not right now I don’t,” he replies cheerfully. “And I need you to make sure the meeting for this afternoon is all set up.”

“I… of course you can do it if you want to, but are you sure?”

He nods. “Very sure. Thanks for handling it up to this point, Sienna. Shoot me over her info?” Before she can say anything else, he gestures for me to follow him, and I scramble to get up and do so.

I turn around to thank Sienna for her time, but catch sight of the put out expression on her face and think better of it.

The man leads me down the hall to a much more spacious office. It’s lighter in color, with a large desk dominating the center of the space. A comfortable chair sits behind it, and the ones on the other side for guests are plusher than the chairs in Sienna’s office. A large window overlooks the city behind the desk, sunlight streaming in and catching on the man’s beautiful hair, making it sparkle.

“Have a seat,” he says, gesturing me to one of the plush leather chairs.

I sink into it gratefully, heart still hammering in my chest. “Thank you,” I manage to say without stammering.

He smiles, and it makes his eyes even brighter somehow. He pulls out a tablet and interacts with the screen for a while before looking up at me. “So, you’re Penelope Dalton?”

“Yes, that’s right,” I say.

“Perfect. I’m Xavier Sterling.”

There’s a twinge of sadness to go with my nerves now because it’s clear from this interaction that he doesn’t remember me. It makes sense, I guess, that I wouldn’t be that memorable, and honestly, it’s probably for the best that he doesn’t remember. That would just complicate things.

I’m here to get a job anyway, and if there’s a chance that he might be more willing to take a chance on me than Sienna was, I have to take it.

“Nice to meet you,” I reply. “Um, not to be rude or anything, but are you the head of HR or something?”

He flashes me that smile again and then shakes his head. “No, I’m not in HR. I’m one of the owners of the company.”

It takes a lot of willpower for my mouth to not drop open on the spot, but I’m sure my eyes are wide enough to show my surprise. I’m sitting in an office with one of the company’s owners. One of the three Alphas who merged their firms together to form Vantage and become the biggest names in the tech world right now.

This is such a giant leap from sitting in that room with Sienna, especially considering the fact that she was definitely not going to give me the job. That doesn’t mean Xavier is any more likely to want to hire me, since he probably has even higher standards for who he lets into his company, but it’s a chance.

Don’t blow this, Penelope, I think to myself. You might not get another shot at it.