Page 5 of Feeling the Heat: Part Two
“Someone informed HR about my designation, and they fired me for not disclosing it,” I say flatly, forcing down the surge of pain from discussing that awful day. “And only you and River knew that I’d revealed as an omega.”
“Oh god, Camille, that’s horrible! Is that why you didn’t say anything to me? Because I swear on my life and Rekha’s that I’d never betray your confidence like that.”
“I know you wouldn’t. I didn’t think it was you. I just…” I release a shaky exhale. “I was embarrassed and in pain and stressed trying to find a new job. I didn’t want to burden you with any of my drama. You’ve already helped me so much.”
“It wouldn’t have been a burden, Camille. We’re friends.”
A fat tear rolls down my cheek, wetting the phone screen. “I convinced myself you were being nice to a pathetic old mess of an omega.”
“Pshh, fuck that, you know me. I’m not nice to people I don’t like.”
That pulls a watery snort from me. “True.”
“Do you want me to kill him?” Lauren asks, sounding deadly serious.
I half-laugh, half-sob. “No. Then you’d go to jail, and I’d lose another person I care about.”
“Oh, honey,” Lauren murmurs. “It’s okay. I’m here now. Want to meet up for dinner? Rekha can cook us something delicious, and you can tell me everything.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m fine,” I say weakly.
“You don’t need to lie to me, Camille. You’vegone through the wringer. You’re not okay. We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I really want to see you. I actually had something I wanted to discuss with you anyway, before I saw that article. I was just too chickenshit to bother you. You’re not the only one who was questioning whether we were really friends.”
“Of course we’re friends!”
Lauren laughs, the sound warm and soothing. “Okay, so then come over. Or I’ll come to you. Your choice.”
I look around the disaster zone that is my apartment and grimace. “I should probably get out of the house.”
“Okay, I’ll come pick you up around 6?”
“I can drive myself,” I protest, not wanting her to think I’ve devolved to the state where I need someone to chauffeur me around.
“Nah, I’ll already be in the neighborhood looking at a potential office space,” Lauren says dismissively.
It takes me a beat before the question rises. “Office space? For what?”
I can hear the smile in Lauren’s voice as she replies. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”
I gapeat the petite omega as she pulls into the parking garage for her condo. “That’s incredible. I’m not surprised you already have early investors, but to have that level of support for an omega-owned startup is…”
She turns off the engine, angling herself in her seat so she can grin at me. “I know! I honestly thought it’d take me at least a year to get the capital needed to get things off the ground, but turns out your girl made a good impression on a lot of people.” She flips her braids off her shoulder witha giggle.
“Of course you did! That’ll show all those fuckers who say omegas don’t belong in high-pressure jobs.” I sound more than a little bitter, but being around Lauren’s confident omega presence is bolstering me to voice the anger that’s been building inside me over the past few months.
Lauren nods as we get out of the car and head to the elevator up to her condo. “Exactly. God, I still can’t believe that no one has hired you. And don’t get me started on that fucking AlphaNet article.”
I wince at the reminder. “Hopefully people will move on to the next gross click-bait article soon, because I’ve already burned through all my options here, and I think I’ll truly have a meltdown if that story prevents me from getting a job anywhere in the country. That’d be the cherry on top of my absolutely cursed shit sundae of a life.”
Lauren narrows her hawkish eyes at me. “Uh, what are you talking about? You’re not going anywhere.”
“I am if I want to have a roof over my head and enough money for my meds. I’m burning through my emergency fund, and every PR firm in town rejected me.”
The elevator doors slide open, and Lauren steps out, her purple heels clacking on the shiny hardwood floor. “You’re coming to work for me,” she says nonchalantly.
My steps falter, and my mouth falls open. There’s no way she’s serious. It’d be the perfect solution for me, but I’m not letting this shining star get dragged down into the mud with me because she feels bad.
“Don’t do that. I’ll be okay.”
