Cassidy
Day one—a huge bouquet of flowers.
Day two—a pair of heels from the Kohi business line.
Day eight—a daisy chain necklace with diamonds and citrine gems.
It’s obscene.
Today marks day nine, and the newest gift has yet to arrive. My anxiety has been simmering away all morning long.
My office barely feels like mine anymore outside the safety of my nest, at least.
There are flowers everywhere because Evander thinks I need more.
Jewellery I’ve yet to figure out what to do with from yesterday, and ornaments across my shelves and desk that I’d never have selected for myself.
The latest bouquet sits beside my monitor in a heavy crystal vase I’m terrified of breaking, while the white gold earrings he gifted me earlier this week remain hidden carefully inside the locked drawer of my desk beneath three notebooks and an emergency cardigan.
I still don’t know how I’m supposed to enjoy this when every attempt to protest only seems to encourage him further.
My nest has expanded, too. At some point over the last week, one blanket became three, then four, and now there’s a ridiculous collection of soft pillows tucked beside the sofa beneath my office window.
“It’s practical,” I remind myself, staring at the growing collection of blankets and pillows.
My laptop screen blurs slightly as I stare at the endless spreadsheets in front of me, and I rub tiredly at my eyes before my phone buzzes against the desk beside me.
Instantly, warmth unfurls low in my chest, my scent glands tingling softly beneath my neutraliser.
But somehow, I’m not surprised to see a message come in from my favourite beta.
Isaac.
Just seeing his name makes me exhale slowly through my nose, tension easing from my shoulders for the first time all morning.
Isaac
Have you moved since you last messaged me?
I grumble at how well he knows me and type out a reply.
Cassidy
Are you so desperate for work that you’ve got extra time to keep tabs on me?
Isaac
It’s practically part of my job description now, shortcake.
My groan echoes in my silent office, and I’m grateful I’m alone.
Isaac
But even if it wasn’t, I’d still sneak to the toilet to message you.
Cassidy
I can’t decide if that’s weird or sweet.
Isaac
It’s sweet.
But don’t think you’re managing to distract me.
Have you moved at all since we last messaged?
Cassidy
I’m taking my movement break now.
I jump up from my office chair so I’m not lying to him and walk around my desk.
I pace in front of my nest, resisting the urge to crawl straight back into it before finally letting myself sit down again.
I grab my phone as it buzzes and laugh at the influx of messages.
Isaac
You were meant to take it half an hour ago.
You need to remember to take care of yourself whilst everyone’s working you to the bone.
Damn it. You’re pacing now, aren’t you?
Imagine what Harlan would say if he walked in right now.
I’m laughing just imagining it.
I hope you know that I am going to cry through lunch today since you have declined my presence.
I’m going to call into the café on my way back from my afternoon meeting. I’ll bring you your usual.
Cassidy
You don’t have to, honest.
Isaac
I want to. Now stop protesting. Is your water bottle full?
I glance at the half-full water bottle… from yesterday and grimace.
Cassidy
I’m going to refill it on my next break.
Isaac
Ah, ah, ah. You’ll have to refill it now.
You know the rule.
I grimace, thinking about the last time I bent this rule ever so slightly, and he showed up to my office with a bottle of water.
I felt awful because I know how busy he is, and the last thing I want is to become another burden for him to carry.
Cassidy
Okay, okay. I’m going.
Don’t worry. I’ll send some proof.
He sends back a heart. I tuck my phone into the waistband of my skirt and grab my water bottle to do as I promised.
The floor is quieter than usual as I step out of my office, most people either trapped in meetings or downstairs grabbing coffee before lunch properly begins.
Honestly, I should probably do the same if I want to save Isaac from worrying.
Instead, I make my way towards the small staff kitchen tucked near the styling department, already mentally sorting through the pile of unfinished work waiting back at my desk.
I barely make it through the doorway before a familiar voice startles me.
“Cassidy,” Gemma exclaims, shock filling her face. “What are you doing in here at this time?”
I look over to find her curled over one of the small kitchen tables, blonde curls spilling across her folded arms.
Even looking like she’s in pain, Gemma somehow appears perfectly put together.
Her fitted cream dress hugs her slim figure beautifully without technically breaking dress code, and her glossy makeup still looks almost untouched.
Thick lashes flutter over baby blue eyes as she looks up at me, heavy artificial omega peach perfume immediately coating the back of my throat.
The scent she favours is too sweet, and it burns as I inhale it.
Underneath it, faint vanilla and sharp lime linger close to her skin—the traces of her real scent struggling beneath the synthetic peach.
“I just need some fresh water,” I explain, lifting my bottle slightly.
Gemma frowns sympathetically before resting her head back against her arms with a soft groan.
“Oh, that’s fair enough.”
I glance at the clock. It’s not long past ten, so I understand her confusion. I’m much too early for a lunch break.
“Are you okay?” I ask, moving over to the tap and rinsing out my bottle.
“I’ve got a migraine,” she says through gritted teeth. “I’m a little anxious because I have a few things to get done by Friday, and I’m barely able to sit up without vomiting.”
My heart immediately goes out to her, and I shut the tap off before moving to sit down at the table near her.
“Would… is there anything I can do to help?”
She shakes her head, a weary look on her face. “I can’t add this to your list. I’ll be fine.”
“No, no, honestly, I’ll manage. Let me help you,” I say immediately. “We’re all a team here, and you’re struggling. Send me an email with the bits, and I’ll get it done, okay?”
She gives me a gentle smile. “You’re a lifesaver, doll. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, just get some rest,” I say softly. “I’ll check in with you later.”
She nods, her eyes closing, and I switch the light off on my way out.
Hopefully, Harlan doesn’t need much from me today. Then I can get it all done sooner, and Gemma will feel better.
The optimism lasts approximately forty minutes.
By midday, my inbox contains six separate emails from Gemma, each one beginning with an apology and ending with another attachment she forgot to include earlier.
It’s fine. This is what teams are for. This isn’t about me but about our clients and the company’s reputation.
If I were the one struggling, I’d want somebody to help me, too.
Still, by the time lunch rolls around, my desk is buried beneath campaign briefs, unfinished layouts, and enough sticky notes to make my eyes ache.
Harlan’s sent along four separate requests for me to get started on, and I wish I had a clone.
Or five.
My phone buzzes, and a grin flickers across my face.
Isaac
Have you eaten yet or are you pretending marking things off your to-do list counts as a food group again?
Warmth flickers low in my chest, and I hate that it does. I press my lips together against the smile trying to form, glancing towards the door out of habit, like someone might walk in and catch me at it.
Cassidy
I had a pastry this morning…
Isaac
Cassidy Hargrove.
Oh, wow.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I should not get this many tingles from a telling off.
Especially not from the beta best friend of my scent match.
Cassidy
There might’ve been half a banana, too.
Isaac
I’m calling bullshit.
I laugh, unable to hold it in. He’s not wrong. The pastry was yesterday, and I don’t think I’ve had a banana in… honestly, I have no idea.
I’m sure I could benefit from the potassium.
Before I can reply to him, a sharp knock sounds against my office door.
I barely glance up from the folder in front of me.
“Come in?”
The door swings open, and Gemma stands there with a surprised expression on her face.
She doesn’t hesitate in letting herself in further and closes the door with her foot, dropping five folders onto my desk.
“Here you are.” She drops the folders and turns away from me before I can thank her, tilting her head back slowly as her gaze moves across the shelves, the desk, the windowsill. A low breath escapes her. “What on Earth?”
“What’s wrong?” I ask, twisting in my chair to follow her gaze around my office.
“I’m just surprised at all of the… expensive ornaments,” she says carefully. “I figured it was easier to bring you the materials in person, rather than emailing it all over.”
I nod, pulling the folders towards me. The top one falls open as I drag it across the desk, and I catch a glimpse of the sheer volume of what’s inside before I can stop myself—layered briefs, annotated printouts, a colour-coded spreadsheet with half the columns still empty.
This is a lot more work than I expected.
It’s fine, though. Gemma is struggling, and I will help her.
“All of this is due by Friday?” I ask, looking at what is surely at least a week’s worth of work. She sighs but nods.
“Sadly,” she says, dipping her head and sniffing. “I’ve had it really hard, Cassidy, honestly. I don’t want to drop out, but these migraines—”
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you get caught up.”
“You’re such a good omega,” she says brightly. “Honestly, I don’t know what we’d do without you. The pretty models upstairs would never do half the stuff you do.”
She laughs, light and easy, like she’s just said something kind. I half-smile, half-grimace, unsure if it’s actually a compliment or not.
“Where did you get this from?” she asks, picking up the latest gift from Evander.
A white gold daisy chain necklace with each of the petals set with diamonds, and a citrine gemstone in the centre of each one.