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CHAPTER 1

RYDER

What the fuck was I thinking when I agreed to this interview? I didn’t need a job that badly, especially one that was only for three weeks and right before Christmas.

This asshole behind his desk had ignored me since the moment I sat down. Maybe he thought he was sexy enough to get away with that kind of treatment with his day-old stubble and shoulders filling out his designer suit just right, but I was immune. He might have an excess of big dick energy, but after a decade in the porn industry, I could guarantee I’d taken bigger.

I opened my mouth to tell him this was a mistake and I’d see myself out, but he held up a finger to silence me and kept reading what I could only assume was my resumé, his eyebrows steadily climbing higher as his eyes tracked down the page. Finally, he put the paper down, craning his head so he could see past me to the still-open door where his assistant sat just outside. Rude prick. Who left the door open during an interview?

“Nate! Why am I interviewing this guy?” the asshole called, voice loud enough that a few of the workers behind his assistant perked up to listen as well.

Great. I liked an audience as much as the next camboy, but I preferred when they were out of sight behind a screen, or at least hidden behind a camera filming me if I was on set for a proper shoot. If I was going to make someone gasp, I wanted it to be because I was getting them off, not because of this sad excuse for office drama.

Nate poked his head in the door, mouthing a silent apology to me before turning to his boss. The asshole otherwise known as Alexei Vilcrest—billionaire, entrepreneur, and the latest owner of the Silverwater Glaives ice hockey team. Thankfully, they only pulled the glaives out on special occasions for PR. Surely, there were more than enough blades on their skates without adding more? Pretty sure hockey wasn’t supposed to be a blood sport despite all the fights.

“Because I finish up in two days and you need someone who can wrangle the hockey league’s black-tie fundraiser that you agreed to take over hosting yesterday without asking me first. You know, the fundraiser happening next week? Right before Christmas?” Nate said. “And you’ve run off the last three temps I found for you. Sir.”

That last honorific was tacked on a little late. Nate had obviously been in the role a while. At least the reason I’d made it to an interview was becoming clearer. They were desperate. I bet the shortlist consisted of only my name. My buddy Gregory must’ve forgotten to mention he’d sent three other people in before me when he fluttered his eyelashes at me and called in this favour.

Gregory was the founder and owner of the fastest-growing elite temping agency in the city. I had a soft spot for him because he was an omega too, and he was proving every day that designation didn’t have to hold you back from success on the corporate stage. The best omega assistants in the city flocked to work for him because they knew he’d treat them right, and that meant he’d quickly grown a reputation for stellar quality of service. I have no idea why he was risking that reputation on putting me with someone like Alexei who could make or break his business. He’d known me long enough to know I didn’t tolerate this kind of shit. This pairing was a train wreck waiting to happen. If the train even left the station.

“Why are you leaving, sweet thing? Did you get tired of tall, dark, and irritating over there?” I asked Nate, gesturing toward Alexei.

The beta, who must’ve been in his early thirties, threw his head back and let out a peal of laughter, moving further into the asshole’s office like he wanted to grab some popcorn and pull up a front-row seat to this disaster of an interview.

“Oh, I like you. You’re perfect for him. I’m leaving to be a stay-at-home dad for my pack.”

Now, that was intriguing. Way more so than the dickhead I definitely had no interest in behind the desk. Cocking my head, I gave Nate my full attention. Packs weren’t as common these days, with most people choosing to pair up rather than deal with so many personalities. The people who went the pack route tended to be pretty traditional and expected their omega to care for the children after they birthed them, not a beta.

“Good for you. When’s the baby due?”

“If you’re quite finished?” Alexei snapped, cutting over the top of whatever Nate had been about to say. “I meant why am I interviewing a sex worker for the position of my executive assistant.”

“He’s the office manager for the largest porn studio in the country. He’s organised the last three international adult movie awards shows—huge events in a different country each year. That sex worker is over-qualified for the position. Plus, you literally have no other options.”

Alexei turned his attention back to me, and I forced myself to draw in a long, slow breath to hide my reaction as those ice-blue eyes felt like they were piercing me to the gaudy, uncomfortable velvet armchair he had for guests. Honestly, the chair would’ve fit better in one of my old job’s porn sets than it did in a corporate setting. Pushing to my feet, I somehow managed to turn away from all that intensity to address Nate.

“You’re right. I’m overqualified. I don’t think this position is a good fit for me,” I said, turning toward the door.

Nate’s eyes flicked behind me, widening a little before he made a quick exit. “Uh, I’ll just wait outside.”

Spinning to see what had spooked the beta, I barely processed the click of the door closing as six foot three of pissed-off man stalked towards me. Typical fucking alpha bullshit. Throwing their dominance around like the rest of us should just bend over and take whatever they wanted to give. Rolling my eyes, I drew in a breath to give him a piece of my mind and almost choked on the pheromones rolling out ahead of him. The omega in me whined silently as my hole clenched and my slick-proof boxers proved they were worth every cent by hiding the evidence of my unwelcome arousal, the tight absorbent material concealing all sight and scent of what was going on in my pants. Whoever designed these things deserved a fucking medal and all the millions they’d made off them.

“You can fuck right off with that,” I snapped, not bothering to hide my rage and disgust at his lack of control.

“Oh, like this isn’t exactly what you’re here for?” Alexei asked, forcing me to retreat as he kept up his relentless approach until my back was pressed to the door and his face was inches from my own. “At least you’re more honest than most, listing your sex work on your resumé.”

“You asshole. Contrary to bigoted, small-minded opinion, omegas aren’t all trying to seduce you into hiring us.”

“I don’t think you’re trying to seduce me into hiring you. I think you’re trying to seduce me into mating you.”

Alexei was leaning even closer now, one hand braced on the wall beside my head as the other came up to grip my throat. His scent was overwhelming this close. I wish I could say it was overwhelming in a bad way, but he somehow smelled like cinnamon, whisky and fresh blood oranges—all my favourite things. My boxers grew even wetter, and my cock strained against the fabric toward the intoxicating scent. Damn alphas and biology.

Before his fingers could close against my skin, I snapped my knee up hard, aiming straight for his balls. I was no slouch in a fight. I had a thing for martial arts, and I trained relentlessly. You couldn’t count on anyone to protect you but you, especially when you were an omega in the sex industry. Alexei was faster, though. Suspiciously fast for the businessman he made himself out to be. Despite how close we were, he managed to twist his body and take my knee to his hip.

As he jerked back, I saw the first real emotion on his face since I’d stepped into his office—surprise.

“That was unexpected,” he murmured, his gaze flicking down to my lips before meeting my glare head-on again.