Page 2 of Whatever It Takes

“Seriously, don’t stress, we’re desperate,” the guy says, waving his hand to indicate I should head into the inner office. “Easton growls and yells a lot, but he’s harmless. If you can deal with a little ranting and raving and answer phones, you’ll be golden.”

My head tilts.

Does he think I’m here for a job interview?

Holy shit.

Maybe the universedoesn’thate me. They’re unlikely to help a random woman,butif I were to work here for a while, I bet I could make friends.

They’d be much more willing to help a coworker, right? At the very least, they could give me a discount or take some of their fees directly out of my paycheck.

I scramble forward before I can talk myself out of my new plan.

“I’m Calder, by the way,” he says, following me down the hallway. “Christian Calder, but everyone calls me by my last name.”

I spin around and nearly blurt out my real name. My brain catches up two seconds later. “Briar Maxwell.”

Shit.

Here’s hoping my new identity holds for the background check.

Calder directs me to a chair and drops a clipboard and pen into my lap. My heart beats so violently, I can feel it in my temples and ears, but I do my best to scribble down all my new information.

I’m screwed as far as job history goes. If I knew this was coming, I would have bought a burner phone and listed myself under a different name as the contact for some non-existent old job.

They’re going to have to beprettydesperate to hire me, but I’m an omega.

I’ll bat my eyelashes and beg while complaining about how hard it’s been to find a place to hire me, considering my designation. I’m even on suppressants, so they won’t have to worry about giving me mandatory time off for heat leave. This couldn’t have come at a better time.

I’ve been renting a crappy month-by-month apartment—if you can even call it that—but I’ve been scanning job listings all week.

I didn’t settle in Burlington just for the chance to beg them to help, but it didn’t discourage me from coming to this area either.

Shadow Security Services is a highly sought-after security company. I’m sure the owner is an alpha. Hopefully, I’ll remind him of his own omega, and he’ll take pity on me or something. Getting this job would be a perfect way to ensure I stay safe.

Alphas are notoriously protective of omegas, even if they aren’t their own bonded mate. It’s something ingrained in their DNA. There are exceptions to that rule, but I’m in my positivity era. I’m not letting any negative thoughts slide in.

My foot bounces erratically, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop fidgeting. I’m delusional. They’re never going to hire me with no past work history.

“Come on, I’ll take you up,” Calder says, appearing at the side of the wall I was sitting in front of. “This level is basically just for intake. Everything exciting happens on the second floor.” He chuckles awkwardly as I shove myself out of the chair. “Not that it’s all that exciting, but you get the idea.” He collects my clipboard and guides us to the end of the hall. On the right, a small area opens up with two elevators. He steps inside the one on the right, and I follow.

The ride is mostly silent as he glances over my paperwork.

Thankfully, employers aren’t allowed to ask for designation on a job application, but it’s not like they won’t see it on my driver’s license if they take a copy. It also wouldn’t be impossible for one of them to pick it up by smell.

I came here with the intention of wooing them into doing a favor for me. In that capacity, I considered my scent to be an asset, so I didn’t bother with scent-blocking soap.

Kinda regretting that.

The doors pop open, and my jaw falls.

The room is made up of glass offices on the left and right walls. The middle of the spacious area has cubicles and several long desks with whiteboards behind them.

Calder guides us through all of that and straight to the opposite wall. It’s also a glass office, but this one has blinds. My tour guide nods to a small desk off to the left. It has several spacious seats in front of it and two more on the wall at the edge of the office wall.

“Have a seat.” He smiles and gestures to the chairs. “Just a reminder. East is a grumpy dick, and he yells a lot, but he’s not cruel.”

Plopping down into one of the chairs, I pull my purse into my lap. Maybe my plan is hopeless, after all.

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