Chapter 7 #2
In between setting up for the day, and after the busy lunch shift, I try to find a new place to stay.
I work through Stayz and Airbnb, getting knockback after knockback.
I’m considering available hotels as a short-term solution when my phone dings, alerting me that one of the properties I was looking at has unexpectedly become available, with the rent less than half of what it was originally.
It’s an expensive warehouse apartment with heavy security and state-of-the-art features throughout—their words, not mine.
The building isn’t huge, but it’s an odd U-shape which means there’s plenty of natural light, and only two apartments per floor which works well for me.
I pay the security bond and rent before the stress that’s been distracting me from doing my job finally starts to recede.
The rest of the day passes with getting the bar ready for the weekend, restocking bottles, cleaning out the fridges.
“You wanna come and tap a keg with me?” Johnny, one of the barmen, asks.
“Of course,” I answer, following him.
“How are you settling in?”
I nearly stop walking. The casual nature of his question shouldn’t have any effect, but distrust goes hand in hand with my chosen profession. My creepy host has clearly gotten under my skin because Johnny’s question feeds the unease that’s been building since I first arrived in Ireland.
But I can’t jump to conclusions over every person I meet. Without solid evidence, I need to accept Johnny’s just a guy working to pay bills. A teammate, one that might one day come in handy.
I catch up to him before he notices. “Couple of issues with my current place, but I’m moving somewhere new after work. Ask me on the next shift how it’s going.”
“Aye,” he says, and then he changes the direction of our conversation, giving me a rundown on the chef’s specials for the day, along with gossip about the chef, on our way to the cellar. But then he does a one-eighty on me.
He stops at the door to the cellar talking loudly. “What’s your pack think of you being a working Omega?”
“No pack,” I answer, purposely not looking at him.
“That right? Alpha?” he asks with an increasing smugness mixing into his tone.
I smile sweetly, ignoring his smart-arse questioning, somehow managing to keep the disdain from my posture and my scent.
I’ll let my coworkers have their judgments for a couple of days while we get used to each other, but after that, if they raise this line of questioning again, I’ll be giving them a mouthful of what for .
“No Alpha, no Beta, no partner at all. None necessary, either. What about you?”
He ignores my last question. “You got needs, though, right? How’d you be handling your heat?”
My intention of being civil dissolves as his inappropriate line of questioning eats away at my control. “Look, I’m not sure where this is coming from, but what I do outside of work is none of your business. Clearly. How about we focus on the lack of lager?”
His voice drops, his designation becoming impossible to ignore as he walks past me. “Aye, lass, let’s do that, then, shall we? Was only tryna be nice, but you’ve made it known how we’ll be. I’ll let the rest of the staff know, so they don’t waste their breath.”
Luckily, he’s not looking, because I flip the bird at him. Freaking Alphas, always meddling when they don’t need to. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an Omega or a woman, though it’s probably a combination of both, but I swear it’s the same old tune— how can you survive without one of us?
When he checks over his shoulder, his expression might as well be him waving a red flag in my face.
But by looking over his shoulder I can also see why he’s been talking as loud as he has and being pretty invasive too, Walsh is listening in on our conversation.
Our whole interaction was probably planned.
“I’ll do a wee presentation on what my sensitive self can and can’t manage and pin it to the board in the staff room. Does that work for you, Alpha?” I offer back, my tone dappled in overdone sweetness.
Our sniping gets interrupted by Walsh yelling for us to hurry up. Johnny gets to work, forgetting he was meant to be showing me what to do, but I know already. I’m just here for appearances, anyway.
It doesn’t take long for him to fill the awkwardness caused by his line of snooping.
“Look, I wasn’t having a go. I’m just shocked you’re on your own, and it’s not the first time my big mouth has got me in trouble. I get it’s not my business what you do when we’re off the job. On the job, I got your back, and I trust you’ve got mine.”
I turn, a sugary sweet smile on my face. “Johnny, are you apologizing for being a dick?”
He laughs, checking the rightness of the tap on top of the keg again. “You and I will be fine.”
“Probably. If you don’t get involved in my business,” I say blandly, hopefully setting boundaries.
He rolls his eyes and I smile in return. The grilling is coming to an end.
After that, we find a good rhythm through our shift. Johnny also makes sure to introduce me to everyone coming into the bar, which is exactly what I want.