Page 109 of Knot All is Forgiven

I didn't know how much I needed this.

Thank you.

I'll let you know how it goes.

It's lackluster and doesn't even begin to scrape the surface of my feelings for all of them, but it's the best I can do until I have time to process it more thoroughly.

Slipping off to the bathroom, I clean up my face, make sure my eyes don't look swollen, and re-tuck my shirt into my slacks. The cream blouse makes my pink-toned skin look milky and soft, and my hair is freshly styled today in pretty waves that skim my shoulder blades.

As nerves threaten to bubble up within me, I pull out my phone and read over the messages from the guys one more time. Their positivity and affection buoy me out the door and into Mr. Wood's office.

I rap on the door and he looks up from his computer with a blank expression. His beard is entirely silver and well-kempt, and his head must be shined with wax to be that reflective. He's a handsome man for his age. A charcoal grey suit jacket hangs on the coat rack in the corner.

He stands up and motions for me to come in. "Shut the door behind you," he instructs.

I sink into the leather chair across from his desk, folding my hands on my lap as I wait for him to begin.

His mouth drops open to speak and then slams closed. An unreadable expression shutters his face, and he leans forward, hands braced on the dark wood surface of his desk. "Omega," he snarls.

I didn't realize the word I used to long to hear could be used in such a mocking way.

"Excuse me?" I say when I gain my voice.

"You're an Omega." His nostrils flare, and he leans forward on his desk, his stance aggressive. "You lied to me. You told me you were a Beta."

"Not that it's any of your business, but I was. It turns out I was extremely late presenting." My hands shake, and I wedge my fingers under my thighs to hide it.

"You should have come to me and told me!"

His voice is nearly at a bark, and I start to tremble in my seat.

This is a new development for me. I've never been around an Alpha bark before, and I had no idea it would affect me this much.

I hate feeling like my body is betraying me by fearing him.

"I did not know there was anything to come to you about. I filed my bonding paperwork with HR so I could go on heat leave…"

"Youbonded?" He stands up and walks around the desk, crowding me. "You knew my pack was interested in you."

"You briefly mentioned it, inappropriately, I may add, five years ago when I was still a Beta." His entitlement has me fired up. Does he think he has purview over every Omega who works for him?

Still, I push backward, plastering myself to the back of my chair. "I was unaware it was company policy to report presentations or bonding to the COO. Can you please show me where that information is in the handbook so I can disseminate it to my team?"

Mr. Wood's face goes red with anger.

After I told him I was a Beta, I didn't hear from him again. He kept his distance as I trained under Milton for my current role. But now that I'm an Omega, he's expressing an interest in me?

This goes past inappropriate.

"I think we're done here," I say, pushing the chair farther away from him so I can escape. I waver a little in my heels but keep my face steely. "I see now this was not about my performance at all."

"We're not done until I say we're done!" he barks, spittle flying out of his mouth. "Your performance has been questioned, and I now see that the complaints may have been legitimate."

I stumble backward, his words a punch to my gut. "That's not true. My work is exemplary."

"Are you calling me a liar?" His pheromones scent the air, sickly sweet, like when you pass an old dumpster, and I quiver a bit. "Sit down, Omega."

"This is so wildly inappropriate," I spit out. "You will address me by my name, not my designation."

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