Page 128 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
The asshole turns right as I move to walk past him and steps in my path. “Camille. I’ve been looking for you.” His voice sounds casual, and he smiles, but there’s something unpleasant in the twist of his lips that has my omega shrinking back.
He’s not going to do anything to me. We’re in the middle of the hall where people walk by all the time. I’m safe.
So why do I feel like I’m prey trapped by a predator?
“In Lauren’s office?” I ask, attempting to keep my tone light.
“Well, I know how close you’ve gotten with her lately.” Holden gives me an obvious once over, his gaze clinging to areas where my skin is bare. I wish I hadn’t left my cardigan in my office. Though I could probably wear a long sleeve turtleneck muumuu and he’d still make me feel exposed with the way he leers.
“What did you need?” I ask, shifting in discomfort under his attention.
“Why is it that you’ve gotten so close to her?”
I blink back at him. “Uh, what?”
“I’m just curious. You’ve got to be, what, ten years olderthan Lauren? Surely you can’t have much in common. I’d think you’d have more in common with me, but every time I try to get closer to you, you’re rude.”
Fighting to not show how much I bristle at Holden thinking we have anything in common, I cock my head at him. “So you’re finally admitting we’re the same age?”
He laughs, but there’s no genuine humor behind it. “Is it that you’re into chicks? I never pegged you for a carpet muncher.”
My face heats at his gross comment. I’m sure I’ve turned bright red and hate that he can see my anger written so obviously on my skin. “My sexuality isn’t any of your business.”
Done with this conversation and needing to get away before he pushes me more and I have a meltdown, I move to step around him toward the break room.
Holden slides to the side to block me again. “It could be, if you stopped playing games. We both know you’re not getting any younger. I’m an alpha in his prime, offering you something most women in your position would cream their panties for.”
I grit my teeth and swallow down the bile rising inside me. I can tell from the sick gleam in his eyes that he wants me to take the bait. To curse him out so he can pretend that I misinterpreted his disgusting behavior. Maybe tell me we have no witnesses, so who is HR going to believe—the conventionally attractive alpha or the chubby beta?
“Please move.” I know I should turn around and go back to the relative refuge of my office, but fuck that.
Holden scoffs. “Why are you in a hurry? Gotta get ready to suck DesigNation’s CEO’s cock? That’s why they moved me off that account, you know. They wanted someone who would get on their knees to please him, and you fit the bill.”
Don’t engage with him. Just go get your coffee, get ready for your call, and file a complaintwith HR. Don’t…
“You lost that account because of your incompetence,” I snap. “Anyone else would’ve been fired for being so shitty at their job. Now,move.Unless you want my knee to end up in your balls.”
The slight rumble of a growl from this large alpha has my blood freezing.
Oh fuck, what if he barks at me? Jackson and I discussed learning to ignore an alpha’s command, but there hasn’t been time to practice yet.
I want to curl into a ball or run away, but I remind myself that he won’t bark because that doesn’t work on betas. My legs shake as I hold my ground.
The blonde alpha glares at me for a second before his slimy smile slides back into place as he holds his hands up in appeasement. “Damn, lighten up. No need to threaten violence.”
I almost laugh at how absurd it is for him to say that to me when he growled and his entire posture holds a violent intent that has my omega cowering inside me.
I don’t bother replying as he finally steps back to let me pass. Adrenaline courses through me, my skin prickling with worry that I shouldn’t turn my back on that predator.
He’s all talk. He can’t hurt me. I’m safe.
I repeat the words to myself over and over as I force myself to walk to the break room at a normal pace, even as my omega screams at me that he’s dangerous and I need to get away.
41
When I get backto my office I’m trembling, the coffee in my mug threatening to slosh over the sides. Rick must’ve stepped out, so I have a moment to try to compose myself without him asking what’s wrong, but my attempts at deep breathing don’t put a dent in my agitation.
With trembling fingers, I open up the work chat and find that Lauren has an away message up—she won’t be back in the office until tomorrow.
