Page 39 of Craving Their Omega

Even when I was working from my bakery, it was small enough that I was using a corner of the kitchen to prop my laptop up on a table and handle the accounting and supply orders and stuff. It was nothing like this.

I give in to the urge to go plop down in the office chair and sigh with pleasure at the way the plush leather molds to my body.

It’s perfect.

I can’t remember the last time someone did something like this for me, just because. And I know what Dominic said is probably true, and they have to make it seem like they’re taking good care of me if this whole marriage arrangement thing is going to have the intended effect. But still, it’s a nice gesture, and it brightens my day considerably.

I settle in to start working for the day, and when I realize I need a file from the outer office, I get up to head out and find it.

A few of the other assistants wave at me, and I smile and wave back, feeling a little bubble of warmth that there are people here who like me. I expected that I wasn’t going to fit in nomatter how hard I tried, but it seems like a little bit of good old fashioned kindness and friendship goes a long way, even in a place like this where money is the only real language people seem to speak.

“Penelope.”

A familiar, chilly voice cuts into my thoughts, and I have to amend my statement a bit. Kindness and friendship go a long way with people who are capable of returning it.

I turn and see Sienna coming toward me, her arms full of folders. As usual, she’s dressed impeccably, in a matching pantsuit that shows off her long legs. Her hair is pulled over one shoulder and her makeup is flawless. The look on her face as she comes over to me says she thinks I’m worth less than shit on her shoe, but I take a deep breath and plaster on a smile anyway.

“Good morning, Sienna,” I say pleasantly. “How are you doing?”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes.

“That might work on the other assistants here, but it’s not going to work on me,” she says.

“What isn’t?”

“Your ‘oh, I’m so polite and friendly’ routine. You’re not going to sway me into forgetting what you are that way.”

I blink at her, confused by the sudden amount of anger coming off her. She’s never liked me, and I’m willing to bet she never will, but she’s never been quite this hostile before.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I tell her, frowning. “There’s something wrong with being friendly now?”

She looks down her nose at me. “It is when it’s all just an act to make people forget that you came here with no qualifications or skills. I was wondering how you managed to charm the CEOs into thinking you were worth hiring, and it all makes sense now.”

“Whatall makes sense now?” She’s not making any sense.

Sienna just laughs, short and mean. “Oh, don’t play innocent with me, sweetheart. I’ve been working with men like this for a long time, and I know how it goes. I know how women who don’t belong in their jobs get promotions and keep the attention of the higher ups.”

I don’t mean to prove her point, but my eyes absolutely get wide when she says that. She’s not coming out and accusing me of anything, but I know exactly what she’s trying to imply.

I take a step back, caught off guard because that’s not what I was expecting to hear this morning. I guess I should have, especially from someone like Sienna, who seems to have made it her mission to try to tear me down and make me fail at this job.

There’s a vindictive light in her eyes, and something in my stomach drops a little to see it. Is she telling other people that I’ve been sleeping around to get favors from Xavier, Tristan, and Dominic?

Is that what everyone is going to think now?

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out for a second, and the look on Sienna’s face just gets more triumphant. She’s wrong, but I don’t know how to tell her that.

And even if I did, would it matter? Would she even listen to anything I have to say?

I hear footsteps approaching, and we both turn to see Tristan come striding into the outer office. He looks like he’s going somewhere with purpose, as all three of the men do whenever they’re going about their business in the office during work hours, but he stops when he sees me.

His eyes flick over my face and then dart between me and Sienna. I don’t even know what he sees when he’s looking at me, but whatever it is, it makes him stop and come over to me.

“Everything all right here?” he asks in his gruff way. He meets my eyes for a second before glancing back over to Sienna. As usual, there’s no telling what’s going on in his head.

The last thing I need is for Tristan to think I’m weak. He already barely seems to tolerate me most of the time, and I can’t seem to stop putting my foot in my dang mouth when he’s around.

So I force a smile and nod. “Yeah, everything’s just fine, Mr. Blackwell,” I say. “We’re just discussing some files I need.”

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