Page 7 of This Fate That Guides Us
Maybe even with the same band!
“Now this is short notice. The tour starts June 1st and runs for almost eight weeks, with stops along both coasts. You would only have a little over two weeks to get things sorted on your end.” Brady pauses for a moment before continuing. “What I need to know right now is if you’re interested. If you are, I'd prefer we meet in person to discuss the rest of the details.”
I take a deep breath to settle my nerves before replying. I don’t want him to realize how excited I am for this opportunity in case their offer isn’t worth losing what I would make outside of the tour. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Moore.”
“Just Brady, please. Mr. Moore makes me feel like an old timer.”
“I would love to meet with you to discuss things further, Brady,” I reply with a smile. “Though I won’t agree to anything without seeing the proposed contract first.”
Brady lets out a short, deep laugh. From his voice and the ease of the sound, he seems to be the type of guy who laughs often. A great tell for good people, or so Bea’s mom always says. “Smart girl,” he laughs. “Based on your profile, I notice you mostly work here in the Northeast. Our East Coast office is located in Starburgh. Does that location work for you?”
I already have plans to drive up to the city tomorrow to get the keys to our new apartment and give the place an omega-worthy deep clean, so it works out since I will be in town anyway.
“Your location works great. I am available tomorrow after ten if you have time free to meet then. Any day this week excluding Friday and Saturday also works.”
Brady hums thoughtfully, the sound muffled like he’s moved away from the phone. He returns a few seconds later. “Okay, Miss Powell, does tomorrow at 11 am sound good?”
“11 am sounds perfect, Brady.”
“Great. You’ll be able to meet the band we are asking you to work with tomorrow also, to make sure there aren’t any initial biological conflicts. I’ll send you an email with my contact information as well as the address and directions for how to get to our office. Please call me if you have any issues.”
He ends the call and I flop back on the couch, my phone falling to the empty cushion beside me.
Bea stares down at me. Her eyes are wide and I can tell she’s on the verge of jumping me for more information. Crazy, impatient omega.
“Soulbound Echo Studios would like to contract me to be the official photographer for one of their band’s upcoming summer tours.”
Bea squeals, throwing her arms around me and squeezing me tight. “Oms! That’s incredible! Both our dream careers are within our grasp now! And at the same company! Fate is smiling upon us!”
I can’t help but get swept up in her excitement. This could be an incredible opportunity for me. For us both. A step toward the future we’ve been chasing over the past few years and a solution to my fears regarding Bea going on tour while I’m left alone in our apartment.
Maybe Fate actually is working in my favor for once.
The sun is barely peeking over the skyline as I place my blue-gray colored contact lenses in to hide my light green eyes. I watch myself in the mirror trying for the millionth time to find some semblance of the girl I was growing up.
Not because I want to be her. I don’t. I only want to minimize the risk of being recognized.
My hair has been dyed from its natural medium brown to an ombre effect with black at my roots and slowly fading to light lavender tips. Even my eyebrows are dyed black.
All precautions I take seriously. The DAU doesn’t know for sure if my birth family is still looking for me, but in my heart, I know my birth father will never give up until I’m back in his clutches and punished for presenting as an omega.
I shake the desolate thoughts from my mind and hurry to finish getting ready so I can pack some of my things into the car.
The drive to Starburgh is uneventful but beautiful. A two-hour drive with highway views. The town is far enough outside of New York City to keep the idyllic upper state cuteness with a population under a hundred thousand. It has an adorable shopping district filled with unique shops in little brick buildings. Affordable, safe housing for unbonded omegas is also a big plus.
After meeting with the sweet elderly beta woman who owns the townhouse we are renting, I head to the building where Soulbound Echo’s office is located. The red brick building isn’t anything fancy, but luckily has its own parking garage.
Security greets me at the entrance, checking my ID and directing me to a bank of elevators. I wipe my hands on my pants nervously as I wait to reach the third floor.The Soulbound Echologo is painted on the door to my left just outside of the elevator, so I quickly step through and let their secretary know who I am.
A few moments later, a gruff alpha walks down the hallway toward me. This must be the man I spoke with yesterday. “You must be Omen. Please, come in. I’m Brady Moore. It’s nice to meet you.”
Brady is in his fifties with short, graying hair, a closely trimmed beard, and a strong jaw. It’s easy to tell he’s an alpha with a single look even before you catch his black currant scent.
He leads me back down the hallway to a closed door and pauses before knocking twice then waiting for a response from whoever is inside. When he gets an answer, he swings the door open and guides me inside.
I’m grateful I decided to take a dose of scent suppressors before the meeting today when I step into a room filled with a medley of scents that have drool pooling in my mouth.
Brady’s black currant scent lingers in the room, but it's like my senses can’t even register he’s here anymore. I’m lost in the delicious scents of the four men before me.
