Page 85 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"Good lord, Mr. York. I'm not sure what to advise. I called Miss Jeena and Miss Taylor. They are both unavailable that night."

Bea looks up from her work.

Yeah, she's interested now.

I snigger silently. There ain't no French deal and there sure as hell isn't a Miss Jeena or a Miss Taylor.

"Miss Graham? Miss Long?"

"No, busy I'm afraid."

Bea chews on her lip.

"You told them it was important."

"I did."

"Shit!" Axel says, rubbing at his forehead.

"What we going to do, man?" I ask.

"I don't know." He sags onto the corner of Mrs. Finch's desk as if he's defeated.

"Wh … what's wrong?" Bea asks. All twitchy on her seat.

"Gotta take an omega date to the Macaby dinner dance otherwise we can't go," I tell her. "And if we can't go, the French deal is …" I drag my finger across my throat.

Her forehead wrinkles. "Why are they insisting you take an omega?"

"Prejudice," Mrs. Finch says, tapping away on her keyboard. "They believe a pack of alphas can't be trusted in civilized company unless they have an omega with them to calm their instincts."

"Oh my goodness," Bea says, her hands flying to her pretty mouth. Pink lips, all parted. Caramel eyes wide. Shit, this girl. "That's awful."

And bullshit. Complete cowpat. Like I said, Mrs. Finch can lie with the best of them.

"Usually, I'd say screw them," Axel lies, "but the Martins will be there and this is our chance to seal the deal. If we're not there, someone else will make a move and all our hard work … well … it's going to cost this company millions."

"People will lose their jobs?" she asks.

She's waning. I'd almost feel bad. But I've been watching her. My little bird may be fighting it, but she wants us. Wants us badly.

"Several. It breaks my heart," Axel holds his palm to his chest, "but–"

"I'll go," Bea blurts out.

"What?" Axel asks all innocent like.

"You can take me as your date."

"But you're not dating right now, Bea."

"Very sensible girl," Mrs. Finch mutters.

Bea chews that plump lip of hers. A lip I want to drag through my teeth.

"I know, but this would be business, right? Not a real date. And I can't stand back and let you lose the deal."

"You'd do that for us?" I ask.

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