Page 21 of Omega Chattel
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My second day at Tarin’s house I showered, dressed and entered the hallway. It was still early but I was greeted by a stranger Omega who was vacuuming the long rug that ran from the staircase and past my and Tarin’s rooms to the end of the hall.
He glanced up as I came out of the room, and smiled. “Hi.” He turned off the vacuum. “I’m Enin.”
“Alli,” I replied.
“I expected you to be Kee.”
“What?”
“I used to live here. You’re in the room Kee used to stay in. I guess he’s not here anymore.”
I shook my head.
“Do you work for Tarin, then?” I asked.
“Well, right now. But actually I work for myself. I own a house cleaning business. I have six employees.” He smiled, obviously proud of himself.
He was one of Tarin’s graduates then, a success. Two days ago, I had never thought I’d be speaking with an Omega who owned his own business.
“Wow.” I had no more words.
“Yeah. Tarin’s great. You’re one of the lucky few to be here. Congrats on being chosen.”
“Thank you.”
I wasn’t sure if I was exactly chosen. Rather, I’d chosen Tarin. Pushed myself on him.
“So where’s Kee? I’m assuming he’s gone again. He was always that way,” Enin said.
“I don’t know. I never met him. I’m new. I think he’s been gone for weeks, maybe longer.”
“Too bad. Tarin really doted on him. I never understood it. Kee was such a fuck up.” He reddened slightly. “I shouldn’t have said that. He was a nice guy, really. Just not the teachable type.”
A surge of jealousy pulsed through my veins. Stupid. I had nothing. I owned nothing. Tarin owed me nothing.
“Well,” said Enin. “I should be getting back to work. We have another house after we finish here today. One of my crew will be up in a few minutes to change your sheets, clean your bathroom and do laundry. Did you make use of the laundry basket in your bathroom?”
I nodded, feeling strangely pampered and invaded at the same time. The luxuries of living with Tarin never seemed to end.
In the kitchen, at breakfast, Tarin presented me with my own laptop and a list of studies. I would no longer be on his computer in his office.
Already I felt cast out.
The computer was a wonderful gift. I could not dispute that. But it meant I would see less of Tarin and be more on my own.
When he set the laptop beside my breakfast plate, I wanted to reach out to him, not the gift. His hands were large and tan, the fingers strong and beautiful against the plastic computer case.
Tarin wore a dark blue button up shirt beneath a gray blazer. His black trousers fit him perfectly, with a slight crease at the crotch to accommodate his full maleness. That part of him was right at eye level from where I sat, and he stood so close to give me the gift that I smelled the freshness of the soap he’d used that morning, and the heady autumn night scent that catapulted my body and mind into a longing that almost hurt.
I had liked working in his office yesterday because I could be near his things, the essence of him. That office smelled like him.
Now I would be away from him. I would have no excuse to see him except at the end of the day to show him my completed assignments.
Hot pancakes dripping with butter and syrup sat on a plate before me, but that wasn’t why my mouth watered.
“You can study anywhere you like with the laptop,” Tarin said.
