Chapter 3 #2
I give him a quick tour of the room, lingering on the ocean view that still doesn’t seem real to me.
“Damn, Anya. That’s some serious upgrade from my couch.”
“I know, right? It’s insane.” I lower my voice. “But John, it’s weird too. The owner just pulled me from my job and brought me here to be his personal housekeeper. Who does that?”
“Someone who liked what they saw,” John says bluntly. “Be careful, but also... maybe live it up a little? When’s the last time anything good happened to you?”
I can’t help but laugh. “That’s your advice? You were the one making me scared to come here.”
“It looks pretty legit,” he says, grinning. “I want you to enjoy yourself. Promise me that you’ll try to relax.”
“I promise,” I say, a lump forming in my throat. Despite his gruff exterior, John has always been the one person I could count on. “I miss you already, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get all sappy on me. Your room probably has a toilet that costs more than my car.”
I’m about to respond when movement at the door catches my eye. Ryker stands in the doorway, watching me with an unreadable expression. I have no idea how long he’s been there or how much he’s overheard.
“John, I gotta go,” I say quickly. “I’ll text you later.”
I end the call and turn to Ryker, heat flooding my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
His eyes are fixed on my phone. “Husband? Boyfriend?”
The question catches me off guard with its intensity. Ryker’s jaw is tight, his posture rigid as he waits for my answer. I’m tempted to tell him it’s none of his business…because really it isn’t, but something in his expression makes me think that he would get mad at that answer.
“Just a friend,” I say, setting my phone down.
Some of the tension leaves Ryker’s shoulders. “I see.”
An awkward silence falls between us.
I fidget with the hem of my uniform, suddenly very aware that my thighs are exposed way too much in this dress. My heart beats rapidly as the dark look in his eyes slowly disappears. He had looked jealous at the thought of me having a boyfriend or a husband.
But I’m as single as can be.
“If you’re settled,” Ryker says finally. “I’ll show you around the main areas of the house now. You should know where everything is before you start tomorrow.”
I nod and follow him back downstairs, trying to forget the awkwardness from earlier. I try to memorize the layout of the house as we go.
The house is a maze of rooms, each of them so beautifully decorated. There is a formal dining room that could seat twenty, a kitchen that would make professional chefs weep with envy, and a living room with a fireplace big enough to roast an ox.
As we approach what appears to be an office, I hear male voices and laughter. Ryker pauses at the doorway, and I peek around him to see four men inside, all lounging in leather chairs around a massive desk.
The moment we enter, all conversation stops. Four pairs of eyes lock onto me with such intensity that I instinctively step closer to Ryker, as if seeking protection.
They’re all stunningly attractive in different ways.
One has spiky red hair and green eyes that seem to dance with mischief.
Another has long blond hair pulled back in a man bun, his blue eyes sharp and calculating beneath a scar that somehow only enhances his appeal.
The third has golden-tanned skin and perfect features, his curly brown hair falling to his shoulders.
The fourth is broader than the rest, with a short beard and dark, almost black eyes that seem to bore into me.
“Gentlemen,” Ryker says, his voice taking on a commanding tone I haven’t heard before. “This is Anya.”
The man with the curly brown hair immediately rises, a charming smile spreading across his face as he approaches. He takes my hand, bringing it to his lips for a lingering kiss.
“Enchanted,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m Lorenzo. If you ever need anything…anything at all, I’m at your service.”
The way he says it makes it clear he’s not talking about household chores. My face heats as Ryker lets out a low growl.
“Easy there,” Ryker says sharply. “She’s the new housekeeper.”
The redhead, who has been studying me with increasing intensity, suddenly jumps to his feet, his expression morphing from curiosity to outrage.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he snarls, causing me to flinch. “She’s an omega. She’s not a goddamn housekeeper!”
The room goes deathly still. All five men are staring at me now, their expressions a mix of shock, anger, and something else I can’t identify. I shrink back, confused and alarmed by the sudden hostility.
“An omega?” the bearded one says, rising slowly from his chair. “That’s impossible. There hasn’t been an omega in…”
“Decades,” the blond finishes, his calculating gaze raking over me from head to toe. “How did we miss this?”
I look between them, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I don’t understand. What’s an omega?”
My question seems to shock them even more. Ryker turns to me, his expression unreadable.
“You don’t know what you are?” he asks quietly.
“I’m human,” I reply, my voice small and uncertain. It sounds utterly ridiculous that I’m trying to explain this. “Just... human.”
The man with the spiky red hair lets out a bark of laughter that holds no humor. “Human? Fuck me. She thinks she’s human.”
The way he says it, like the very idea is absurd, sends a chill down my spine. What else would I be? And what the hell is an omega? Ryker’s hand settles on the small of my back, the warmth of it both reassuring and terrifying, given the sudden tension in the room.
“Rex, you’re scaring her,” growls Ryker. “Calm the fuck down. I didn’t realize she was an omega until you pointed it out. I wasn’t sure, but now her scent makes sense to me.”