Page 80 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

“Quinn speaking,” I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Mr. Clarke, this is Evelyn Hartley’s assistant. Ms. Hartley would like to book an appointment this afternoon. She heard about your salon’s focus on omega rights and is eager to discuss potential collaborations.”

My breath catches. Collaborating with Evelyn? That could elevate us in ways I hadn’t even considered, but then I remember I have a meeting with Aria planned for this afternoon. We’ve been working on organizing an omega rights event, and we need to nail down a few details. Conflict buzzes in my chest, but only for a second.

“We’d love to schedule Ms. Hartley,” I say quickly, glancing at the time. “I’ll have Aria join us for the meeting. I think she’ll bring a lot to the conversation.”

After ending the call, I look around the salon, trying to imagine Evelyn sitting in one of these sleek leather chairs. It feels surreal. The bell above the door chimes, and Aria steps inside like a breath of fresh air. Her orange creamsicle scent immediately soothes my lingering nervousness.

“Well, if it isn’t the hair maestro himself,” she teases, leaning against the counter. There’s a playful gleam in her eyes as she takes in the salon. “You look like you’re about to go on stage at some big competition. Should I be worried?”

I laugh, though my mind is still reeling from the phone call. “More like preparing for a different kind of spotlight. Evelyn Hartley just booked an appointment for today. I want you to sit in the meeting with me. This could be big, Aria—huge, actually—for the salon and omega rights.”

Her eyes widen, excitement lighting up her features. “Evelyn Hartley? Are you serious? Quinn, that’s amazing!” She pauses, her smile softening. “But are we really talking about business or impressing her because you want to save the world and make everyone fall in love with you in the process?”

I give her a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of my neck. “Maybe a bit of both. The salon’s important to me, but with Evelyn involved, we could create something even bigger—a place that supports omegas and builds them up.”

Aria crosses her arms and tilts her head. “You’ve been talking about this since day one, and I’m with you, but let’s not just make it about the salon. This is about creating a safe space—not just for styling, but for everything.”

“Exactly.” I nod, feeling more certain with each word. “That’s why I need you there. You’ve been the driving force behind so much of this. I want Evelyn to see that.”

Her smile widens, and she reaches out, placing a hand on my arm. There’s always a spark when she touches me, something I can’t quite shake. “Time to put our code to the test. Let’s debug this meeting, shall we?”

We spend the next few minutes preparing, tossing around ideas for the conversation with Evelyn. Aria’s passion for omega rights radiates from her in waves, and I can’t help but admire her. She’s fierce, determined, and everything I want to be.

“Alright,” Aria says with a grin. “Let’s do this. Evelyn’s going to love what we’re about to pitch.”

“I hope so.” I smile back at her, feeling more grounded with her by my side. This isn’t just my dream—it’s ours.

The afternoon stretches out as we prep the salon for Evelyn’s arrival. At one point, I fiddle with the scissors again, adjusting their position for the third time when I hear Aria’s voice behind me.

“Quinn, are you seriously rearranging those scissors again?” She crosses her arms, amusement dancing in her eyes. “You’ve moved them like, what, twice already?”

I grin, turning around to face her. “Hey, precision is key. You never know when Evelyn Hartley might judge a salon by the angle of the shears. It’s basically the first thing activists look for.”

She rolls her eyes and steps closer. “Right. I should have known. Youarethe expert.”

“I am,” I say, leaning down a little, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. “But you, my dear omega, are the expert incharming people. That’s why I need you next to me when Evelyn gets here.” I tap her nose lightly before straightening.

She swats my hand away, laughing. “Oh, so that’s the plan? I talk while you stand there looking pretty?”

“Pretty?” I raise an eyebrow, pulling her closer by her waist. “I was going for devastatingly handsome. Like, the face of the omega rights revolution.”

Her giggle is soft, but it makes my chest tighten. “Devastatingly handsome? Well, your hair’s looking pretty on point today. Instagram worthy, if I do say so myself.”

Before I can reply, she leans up and presses a soft kiss to my jaw, lingering just long enough to make my pulse skip a beat. “There,” she murmurs, pulling back with a smirk. “Just doing my part to keep you calm.”

I chuckle, my fingers still resting on her hip as she steps away. “You’re definitely doing something.”

We’re still laughing when her phone vibrates on the counter, interrupting the moment. Aria picks it up and glances at the screen.

“She’s here.”

I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “System check complete. Initiating Evelyn protocol. You good to launch?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She grins, excitement shining through her nerves.

When Evelyn Hartley walks through the door, she owns the room. There’s a quiet power to her, something that says she knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. As much as I’ve prepared for this, I feel my heart race just a little faster.

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