Page 11 of Holly Jolly Heat
I laughed, slightly hysterical, and wondered what I'd just set in motion.
Tomorrow, my carefully controlled world was going to collide with three alphas who'd already turned it upside down.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of preparation that I absolutely hadn't authorized.
Mom immediately went into hostess mode, despite my protests that this wasn't a social visit, it was a professional... discussion? Crisis? Negotiation?
"It's your pack coming to meet your family," Mom corrected, pulling out her good linens. "That's absolutely a social visit."
"They're not my pack," I said automatically, but the words felt hollow even to me.
"Keep telling yourself that, mija."
She conscripted Bill into a deep clean of the guest rooms, plural, because apparently we were housing all three of them. Maya and Josh were sent to the store for supplies, though Isuspected "supplies" was code for "ingredients for Bill's welcome feast."
I retreated to my room to work, but I couldn't concentrate. My inbox was full of the usual urgent matters, a client was upset about a brand deal, another needed help negotiating rates, someone's stream had technical difficulties, but all I could think about was that tomorrow, three alphas would be sleeping under the same roof as me.
My omega was thrilled.
Professional Michelle was having a panic attack.
Around four PM, Maya knocked and entered without waiting for permission, flopping dramatically onto my bed.
"So," she said. "Your pack is coming tomorrow."
"They're not?—"
"Michelle. Stop. They sent you courting gifts. You invited them to stay at our house. They're your pack." She propped herself up on her elbows. "The question is, what are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I can't date clients, Maya. It's literally in my company policy. The policy that made my business successful."
"So change the policy."
"It's not that simple. The industry already treats omegas like we're too emotional to be objective. If people think I'm using a pack bond to keep clients exclusive, I'll lose everything I built."
Maya considered this. "Okay, but counter-argument, what if you're the first to make it work? What if you prove pack bonds can be professional assets instead of liabilities?"
"That's a really big what if."
"Yeah, but you literally built a company from nothing. You negotiated that impossible deal with CozyCon last year. You're the person who makes impossible things happen." Shesat up, suddenly serious. "Don't let fear stop you from having something good just because it's complicated."
"When did you get so wise?"
"I'm sixteen. I contain multitudes." She grinned. "Also, I've been reading romance novels. Lots of them. I know how this story goes."
"This isn't a romance novel, Maya."
"Are you sure? Because from where I'm sitting, you've got the whole thing, fated mates, dramatic first meeting, the heroine running from her feelings, thoughtful courting gifts, the big reunion?—"
"There's no reunion. They're coming for a professional discussion."
Maya's look of pity was devastating. "Sure, Michelle. Professional discussion. That's why Lucas texted you a smiley face and named your plant George."
I threw a pillow at her.
She left laughing, and I was alone with my thoughts again.
My laptop was open to Lucas's streaming schedule. In two days, he had a major holiday stream planned, a twelve-hour marathon of cozy gaming content with multiple sponsors. It was a huge opportunity, the kind that could really elevate his brand.
