Page 52 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
“He avoids me half the time at work, and the other half he’s being a dick to me. He dumped the DesigNation account on me the day I came back from being out sick. That’s a hell of a lot more than stern.”
“Not that I don’t believe you, but if it helps, I overheard him talking about how he needed someone with a stronger voice and ability to handle DesigNation, and you were the only person qualified to do that. So even if he dislikes you, he respects your work.”
Huh. That does take some of the sting out of my frustration, even if the man’s people skills need some serious work. “Oh. Interesting. Would’ve been nice to hear that from him, but god forbid he says anything encouraging to me. How is he as a boss for you?”
Lauren shrugs. “He’s not friendly, but he’s a hell of a lot better than the department head I had at my previous firm. I appreciate that he values competency over bullshit office politics and isn’t your typical alpha bro.”
My head tilts at her assessment. “But you’re so good at your job, and could handle much higher profile clients, but are stuck with all the omega-focused or omega-owned ones.”
“That’s because Iwantthose clients,” she says with a snort. “It’s not our boss discriminating against me. I asked for them. I love that I’m in a role that lets me help out other omegas and build them up. They don’t need some alphahole barking atthem about how they need to be more assertive or that they don’t understand their own PR needs.”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that.” There I go assuming the worst again.
“Besides, once you prove you can help an omega, you have an ally for life,” Lauren continues. “My plan is to open my own omega-focused firm in the future, and this is giving me the connections needed to get that off the ground.”
I’m once again humbled by this incredible omega. “Wow, that’s genius! You’d be amazing at that.”
Lauren beams at the compliment. “Thank you. I’m pretty proud of myself.”
Rekha kisses her cheek. “You should be. You’re amazing.”
“By the time I make my move, you better be out as an omega. Because with you on my team, we’d be unstoppable.” There’s an excited gleam in Lauren’s eyes that I can’t help feeling a little fired up by.
“That would be incredible. Gosh, maybe this whole omega thing isn’t so bad after all,” I joke.
“Give us a few more dinners and we’ll have you fully convinced,” Rekha says with a grin.
What started as one of the worst days of my adult life has ended with two amazing new friends and the potential for a huge career opportunity down the line. I’m still going to take my time to ease into the idea of openly being an omega, but it’s nowhere near as daunting now.
I laugh, my cheeks aching from how much I’ve been smiling tonight. “Deal.”
18
The restof the work week is less painful than my first day back. My boss sends no more judgmental messages, and he’s stayed holed up in his office with meetings, so I haven’t run into him in the hallway. For once, I’m glad he’s ignoring me, because I don’t want to deal with any awkwardness or confrontation.
While the lack of boss drama is nice, the real reason the week isn’t hell is because Lauren forces me to take coffee breaks and go out to lunch with her every day. I tried to resist at first, but she’s very persistent. She’s decided I’m under her care, despite the fact she’s got to be almost a decade younger than me.
Her gentle bullying would’ve made past Camille bristle and dig her heels in, unwilling to accept that it didn’t have an ulterior motive. But after Lauren helped me and promised to keep my secret for as long as I need, I let myself give in to her.
Turns out, having a close work friend is amazing. Lauren and I were always friendly, but never like this. We laugh and joke in the break room, bitch about annoying clients, andexchange silent eye rolls when our most obnoxious coworker, Holden, tries to talk over someone.
It wasn’t something I realized was missing from my life until now. It’s hard to see how lonely you are if that’s been your normal state for years. Yes, I have Astrid, but she’s busy with her family, so we only have time to hang out a few times a month. Occasionally, I’ll go visit my brother and dad for the weekend. But the rest of the time? I’ve been alone.
The ache of that isolation is so ingrained in me I didn’t pay attention to it. My omega makes me keenly aware of it now, and the taste of regular socialization shines a light on the void in my life.
At my new work bestie’s behest, I schedule a follow up at the omega clinic. And by that, I mean Lauren glares at me and refuses to continue our lunch conversation until I call the clinic and make an appointment.
She assumes I’m hesitating because I don’t want to deal with any omega stuff, and I don’t correct her. I don’t think we’re at the friendship level where I tell her about how I begged for my doctor to fuck me during my heat.
A different receptionist than I’ve spoken to in the past picks up and asks if I’d like to see Dr. Stills again, clearly not aware of what occurred during my heat. Like a dumbass, I panic and ask if Dr. Stills wants to see me again. I almost hang up the phone when there’s a long, confused pause on the receptionist’s end, but Lauren shakes her head at me and holds me in her stare until I get through booking the appointment.
Friday arrives, and finds me sitting in my car outside the omega clinic on my lunch break, working up the courage to go inside.
I should’ve called back and requested a different doctor, but my omega wouldn’t let me. She’s eager to see Dr. Stills again, convinced that he’s going to take one look at me, pullme into his arms, and ravish me right on the exam table because he’s been dying without me. Meanwhile, I’m convinced seeing the man I coerced into being my heat minder is going to be the most awkward doctor’s appointment of my life.
My phone chimes with the reminder that my appointment is now, and my hatred of being late for appointments is the only reason I’m able to force myself out of my car and into the building.
In the light of day, the sterile, bright waiting room is a lot less jarring. I check in with the receptionist and barely have a second to sit down on one of the squeaky plastic chairs before they’re calling me back.
