Page 2 of Ashley & the A-Listers

“You’re welcome,” she returned. “Enjoy the… gym.”

He chuckled softly and then he was walking away and Ashley wanted to melt into the floor. Instead she leaned against the standing desk and tried to remember how to stand like a normal person, how to do her actual job.

Well, at least the gym looks nice.

Freshly cleaned rows of machines gleamed back at her, glinting in the early morning sun shining through the spotless wall of windows. Weights were stacked and racked neatly, the water stations were sanitized to all hell, and she had made sure the mats were spotless.

After the last gym had burned down and Nic had collected the insurance money, he’d used it to furnish a new one and begged her to stay on. Ashley had been a little lost in the few months it took to open the new one, so when she was needed again, she’d happily accepted the managerial role and, well, here she was.

It’s nice to have an alpha on the team who has their head on straight,Nic praised.

Ashley deleted a row of random keystrokes and tried to keep herself from staring across the room to the padded mats, where soft grunts and frustrated sighs carried across the silent gym. Cameron had arrivedalone,which Ashley had thought weird for such a famous omega, but who was she to question him?

It was empty this morning except for their special guest, which made sense, since all the other trainers and clients were scheduled for the evening.

Ever since Stellan MacKey, an MMA Champion, had made this his home gym, All Jacked Up had become quite the high profile place for private sessions.

Which made it even more silly that Ashley had been such an idiot in front of the omega. He certainly wasn’t the first famous client they’d had.

Then again, not all their clients left behind a muted aroma of something so sweet. What evenwasthat? Vanilla? Honey? Even with the chemical tinge of suppressants, it was no wonder the public was so feral for Cameron Thomas.

She stared at the computer screen as if it could take her back in time and let her redo the interaction.

Ashley’s phone buzzed in the desk drawer, and she eyed the empty gym guiltily before sliding it open.

Her big bad marshmallow of a boss’s name reflected back at her.

How’s it going?Nic asked.

Ashley snickered, his anxiety tangible through the text. She typed out a response and decided to answer the question hewasn’tasking. Put the poor beta out of his misery.

It’s quiet. He must be practicing choreo or something.

Is he good?Nic asked immediately.

It’s Cameron Thomas, of course he’s good. His footing could use a little adjusting, I’ll admit.

Been watching, have you?

That would be weird, Nic.

Didn’t answer my question, did it?

Another text came through before she could even answer.

Maybe you should offer him some pointers.

Ashley rolled her eyes.You know better.

Please. I’ve got my own omega. You, however…

Stop trying to play matchmaker. I think I’d be better off playing the lottery.

You never know if you don’t try…

Ashley turned, staring at the gym’s camera with an annoyed expression as if Nic were watching—he wasn’t—and fired off a final text about remaining professional, since she was representing the gym and all.

But her gaze trailed back across said gym as another sigh echoed around the tidy, empty space.

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