Page 4 of Knot My Secret Santa

Once she was done, everyone turned their attention to Nathaniel. He gripped the arms of his chair and stared hard at Jessalyn. “Did you read the parameters of the requested design?”

“Of course, Mr. Donner. Word for word.” Jessalyn dipped her head and gazed at him from beneath her lashes.

“Then before I say anything else, you must know that you went far above the stated budget and beyond the maximum footprint allowed.”

I stiffened at his sharp tone. My heart thumped a little harder, and it wasn’t even my design. He wasn’t pleased. Not at all.

“But those are only suggestions. Isn’t it standard practice to give the client something a little more to tempt them into a more expensive design?” Jessalyn wasn’t thrown off. She continued to smile as she raised a brow. “This room was meant for an Omega, and as one myself, I would die for a suite like this.”

“The budget said firm. When a client says that, you never go over. Same goes for the footprint. You may use the maximum space, but most architects do not.” Nathaniel folded his arms, hard gaze boring into Jessalyn. Somehow she managed to keep her smile, but I could see it starting to falter. “Where would the bed go in this room? And the closets? You didn’t include any storage space. We all know when an Omega goes into heat, they need storage space.”

Jessalyn wet her lips, clasping her hands together in front of her. “Well, I had imagined the bed in the center of the room so that the occupants could see the view in all its glory. There’s plenty of space for a very large bed. A closet could be made off the bathroom, but I thought that any Omega worth her salt would have a separate room for her wardrobe and vanity.”

I choked slightly on the breath I was inhaling. A separate room for her wardrobe? I shared a closet with my mom growing up, and the amount of clothes I owned was probably what Jessalyn bought on a single shopping trip.

Several people, including Nathaniel glanced my way. I quickly picked up my bottle of water and took a sip.Just a dry throat, folks. Yeah, absolutely.

Undeterred, Jessalyn continued. “This room is meant to be a private getaway. A room to relax, away from the clutter of life. I call it ‘Serenity.’ Beautiful and calming, an escape.”

“An escape from the practical nature of a bedroom. Marble floors? There’s no comfort in that.” Nathaniel didn’t yell, but his voice felt like it was booming in the enclosed room. “The design isn’t clean. It’s sterile. There is no personality in this room. If this was for a real client, I would never let them see it. It’s an insult.”

Jessalyn’s smile had completely disappeared, and her chin trembled. I held myself back from reaching out to hold her hand for support. I was not a fan of her design, but I wouldn’t call it austere. She didn’t deserve his harsh words.

“How is an Omega going to feel safe, secure, and comforted in that room to nest? This is not a room for an Omega, for her to settle into as she goes into heat. Even with a very large bed, as you suggest, it will still be more like a museum foyer rather than a bedroom. You have failed this project.” Nathaniel stood and pushed in his chair hard enough to state that he was done.

Jessalyn flinched. Her mouth opened a few times as if she might try to say something, but as she attempted to rein in her tears, no words came out.

Nathaniel was no easy man to work for. My aunt had warned me of that before I came on, but his reputation was stellar. This, though, the berating of Jessalyn and her design, was uncalled for. None of the senior architects at the table said a thing. They all kept their eyes averted from both Nathaniel and Jessalyn.

I sat straighter in my chair. “Mr. Donner, if I may?” Everyone except him drew in a sharp breath at the sound of my voice. He looked at me and dipped his head. Maybe not in ascent, probably more of a warning, but I was going to take it to mean I could keep speaking. My heart hammered as I struggled with my fear. “The profile for the fictional client was an Omega, yes. A woman who loved the sea and wanted to bring the outdoors in. Those were the only specifications. I would say Jessalyn succeeded in that with the grand balcony.” My fellow intern gave me a watery smile at that. “It did not say if the Omega was claimed or if she had a mate or mates. This room could be for an Omega on her own, perhaps the daughter of a wealthy business owner. Or an Omega in her later years past the child bearing age. There is no need for concerns about nesting then.”

Oh God. I can’t believe I just said that. I sounded pedantic, but I couldn’t let him chop down Jessalyn that way. Would he yell at me now? I swallowed hard. Tell me to collect my stuff and never return? I couldn’t lose this opportunity. Donner Designs is where I wanted to be. Not just because the firm was on the rise, but for all the amazing people in the office who felt like an extended family.

Everyone turned to look at him. His jaw was tight and his gray eyes seemingly had more steel in them. I was fucked, wasn’t I?

Ten seconds passed. Fifteen. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. No one had moved an inch.

“I can see how one may interpret the assignment in that manner,” Nathaniel said slowly, almost tigerishly, without baring his teeth. “Yet when I created the project, I specifically used the term of Omega because I wanted a design geared specifically for one who is nesting or will soon need it for that reason. I assume you’re stating the details because you went in the same direction as Miss…?” He waved a hand in Jessalyn’s direction.

“Jessalyn. Call me Jessalyn, please.” Her lips curled in a flirty manner as if he didn’t just bring the heavy hammer of criticism come down upon her.

He grunted quietly, but he continued to stare at me. The intensity of his look scared me and tickled something like desire in my core.

“My design is different than Jessalyn’s, if that’s what you would like to know, Mr. Donner.” I had taken the project to mean as an Omega who was nesting or going to nest, but I didn’t say it. I didn’t want to look like I was pandering to him, but hell, if only he would stop looking at me that way.

“I suppose we’ll see on Wednesday when you present yours then, Miss Bell.” With that, Nathaniel moved like a churning storm along the length of the table toward the door.

Jessalyn stepped beside me, half in front of him. What was she thinking? Did she want him to snap at her again?

Even worse, she held out her hand with a demure smile. “Thank you for your valuable time, Mr. Donner.”

I nipped my bottom lip. She wasn’t… Oh God, she was going to touch him.

It would be terribly rude of him to ignore her outstretched hand. If it was any other employee, none of us would have batted an eye. But Nathaniel was an Alpha and she was an Omega. Unless they were known not to be compatible, they should never touch unless he was set to claim her. A fact that, contrary to what Jessalyn wanted, wasn’t likely the case as he couldn’t even remember her name earlier.

Nathaniel’s lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he raised his hand and shook hers once. I couldn’t miss the flash of triumph in her eyes from where I was seated. She pushed out her chest a little more.

He swiftly pulled his hand away, with such force that his arm jerked back and his fingers grazed the side of my neck. My body stiffened as if I were a rod hit by lightning.

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