Page 48 of Galaxy Between Us

“Yeah. It’s what lead us here,” he gestures fondly around the office.

“You’re a cleaner, aren’t you?”

Arius’ eyes snap back to me with offense. His voice has an edge when he responds.

“Yeah… I am, Knox.”

I continue shuffling back from him, uncertain of all these damn Omegas around here. Shouldn’t they be more…controlled? Why are they allowed to wander into my office? Am I some kind of pimp on the side?

“Right, well, maybe you should get back to that,” I clear my throat, reaching up to loosen the knot of my necktie as I start to sweat. I remember something about myself. My temper. I recall it being rather short and dangerous at times.

“E-excuse me?”

“And quit projecting! You could get fired for that!” I cup my nose.

“Knox?! I’m not projecting pheromones, I’m– I’m just– Look, you’re backing me into one hell of a position here,” he argues as his hand lifts to his stomach.

“Why did you come in here?” I narrow my eyes above my hands, untrusting of his motives.

“To see you! We’re– We have something between us, Knox! I’m not trying to break orders, I just want you to remember!” he cries, moving forward again.

“Stay back!” I warn him, bumping into the edge of my desk.

“Knox, please! I’m not projecting! Try to remember! Try to remember how you feel about me!”

“Jaimie said you would do this.”

Arius freezes. His eye twitches and his face pales before taking on a rather furious expression.

“Jaimie was in here?”

“Yeah. Just before you came in. He’s my assistant.”

“A-and he said what exactly?”

“That you’d behave exactly like this!” I fold my arms, standing tall and defiant.

The Omega winces as if my words stung him. Now he’s the one taking cautious steps away from me. His hand goes to his stomach again. His eyes water and his lip quivers, triggering a primal urge to comfort him, but I reach back and clutch the edge of my desk instead until my knuckles turn white.

“Do me a favor and don’t let any more Omegas enter my office. Including yourself,” I demand, rubbing at the headache beginning to spread.

Arius nods, balancing on the brink of tears before hurrying out. His footsteps tap lightly down the hall, leaving me standing in the ghost of his tantalizing scent, frustrated and lost. Once they’ve faded into silence, I grab the solar system display and smash it on the ground.

I hate this. I hate not being in control of my own damn mind. I need to forget everything they’re trying to convince me is the truth and get my memories back.

Pacing with pent up anger, I glance at the observatory. If I could at least figure out my job, I would have something to do other than mope around in fancy suits.

Finding a badge on my breast pocket, I carry it to the sliding door and scan it on a sensor. Inside the observatory, I let my feet take me in whichever direction feels right until I’m standing in a room with a massive telescope sitting beneath a circular window pointing into the sky. Wow.

Chapter XXI

That evil bitch.

Sitting alone in a dark lounge room, I numbly go through the motions of my recovery exercises. I haven’t left this beanbag since yesterday because I’m waiting for Knox’s parents to arrive. I need them to tell him that I’ve always been by his side. He’s mine, not Jaimie’s. I need him to remember.

Speaking of evil in the shape of sunshine, the snarky Omega intrudes on my crying session, sauntering into the room with a cocky grin. He has no business in here, so I know he only came to taunt me some more.

“How could you?” my voice breaks as I hold his gaze head-on. This charade of hating me has gone too far. He has hardly anything to gain from this other than hurting me emotionally. How much lower can he stoop? To what merit?