Tainted Bloodline

Chapter 3 - Aurora

The next morning

At Auralight Designs, the recruiting office was buzzing with activities and discussions filled the air. A woman sat at a quiet corner of the office, discussing the latest designs with her colleagues.

Suddenly, she gasped and poked the man close to her and showing him a file.

“Look at this. It’s the file of an alpha. A true blood at that,” she exclaimed.

The man with a calm demeanor, collected the file. “You didn’t hear? When I entered this morning, I overheard the receptionist telling someone that an Alpha was accepted for the errand job. By Mr. Rowan himself.”

“But we mostly hire omegas for this kind of work. Why would he allow that?” The woman asked, baffled.

The man leaned back on his chair, thinking for a moment before responding. “I think it’s because Omegas struggle to keep up with it, especially when it involve physical strength. As long as he didn’t cause any trouble, hiring him would be better and efficient.”

The woman sighed, glancing at the file, “He has a degree in business administration and quite an impressive result but… she despises alphas. Would he be allowed to stay when she arrives?”

The man replied with a shrug, “If he does not misbehave, then all is well. Besides, she cares more about her work getting done than who does it.”

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke. “You are right. It’s going to be weird having him around but hopefully, all will work out just fine.”

And with that, they focused on other things.

*****

Aurora Vale, 26, an Omega, is one of the most powerful and youngest CEO’s in world of business. She is effortlessly beautiful, with soft features and an aura of confidence. Her intelligence was unmatched, and her presence was enough to command a room. But beneath her flawlessness, an undeniable truth – she despises alphas.

She had lost her parents at a young age, and her only family was her grandmother, an Omega, and her cousin – Rowan Vale, an alpha, and his wife Renee Vale, an Omega.

Her grandmother, a strong and resilient Omega, raised her be fearless and not to submit to any alpha. Unlike the expectations placed on Omegas, she was made to believe that she alone was enough. She didn’t need an alpha to protect or complete her.

Stereotypes didn’t move Aurora; she dismantled them. To her, being an Omega meant nothing unless she made it mean something. Power wasn’t a rank. It was a mindset – and hers was carved from discipline and control.

She wasn’t the type of woman people interrupted. She ran Auralight Designs with precision and a reputation that had earned her fear and admiration.

Today, the morning air tasted like rain and deadlines. Aurora Vale’s heels clicked against the marble floor of Auralight Designs, each step crisp, deliberate, and powerful enough to silence the chatter that usually filled the open office. Her tailored beige velvet gown hugged her delicate and curvy figure, moving with elegance and unshakable confidence that makes heads turn.

The faint scent of jasmine and pear followed her like a signature she never needed to sign. Her long wavy hair, swayed and gleamed under the early sunlight spilling through the glass walls.

A Chanel handbag dangled effortlessly from her wrist, exuding wealth and sophistication, and her signature infinity earrings glinted under the office lights as she walked past lobby.

She was admired by many Alphas, Betas, and Omegas but she was not interested to have a mate, especially not an Alpha. Aurora had everything – money, intelligence, influence, and looks. She was her owner protector and provider.

Aurora finally get to her office and settled into her sleek office before she began typing on her laptop. As she began to type, a soft knock on her door signaled her secretary arrival. Betty, a competent Omega in her early thirties, worked for Aurora for a long time to understand how she worked. With poise, she entered the office, clutching her tablets as she read her schedule.

“By 2 PM, you have a lunch meeting with Mrs. Travis, in regards to their clothing line deal,” she informed her.

Aurora hummed, “prepare the meeting room for them and arrange the lunch. All should be perfect before she arrives.”

“Right away ma’am,” Betty replied professionally, taking notes. With a quick bow, Betty exits, leaving Aurora alone.

*****

The city was still gray when Rhett reached Auralight Designs, smiling. He checked his phone – 7:45AM. Fifteen minutes early. Excitement was bubbling in his chest as he walked into the sleek lobby. He has always dreamed of working in a prestigious company, and now, here he was, ready to prove himself.

“Right on time, Mr. Rhett” the receptionist greeted with a polite smile and he returned the smile.

Just then two junior workers passed mumbling, “His scent is overwhelming… yet oddly comforting. He’s definitely an alpha.”

Rhett and the receptionist heard them but completely ignoring their statement. It was not important right now.

“Mr. Rhett, today-”

“Just Rhett. I feel old when you call me with a title.”

The receptionist chuckled lightly, “I like you already. You are really humble for an alpha.” Rhett rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little shy at the compliment, but before he could respond, the receptionist straightened and handed him a folder.

“Alright, let me brief you about your job.” The receptionist flipped through a few pages, scanning the details. “You’ll run office errands, make photocopies and deliver documents between departments, clean the design studio area, help move art materials, and most importantly, make and deliver coffee to Miss Aurora daily.”

Rhett nodded attentively, mentally taking notes.“Miss Aurora is the CEO of Auralight,” the receptionist continued, lowering her voice. “She’s a perfectionist so everything must be done exactly as she likes it. Her secretary, Betty, will teach you exactly how she likes her coffee and where you should get anything she needs if need be. So, from tomorrow, you be responsible for preparing it. Understood?”

Rhett nodded, absorbing the information.

“For now,” the receptionist continued, handing him a small paper, “Pick up the delivery on this location and be back before 12 AM. A client is visiting later, and we need to be ready before then.”

He glanced at the paper and gave a firm nod. “I understand ma’am. I’ll be quick.”

She handed him a small plastic card and a key. “Here’s your temporary ID and your office bike key which you’ll be using for delivery.”

He smiled and thanked before leaving.

*****

Rhett finished his deliveries right on time, parking the bike neatly in its designated spot. He hoisted the heavy load on his broad shoulders like it weighed nothing, making his way inside with practiced ease. His shirt was rolled up to his elbows, stretched over his muscular arms, the fabric strained against his biceps with every move he made.

As he walked into the office with the heavy load, all the omegas peeked from their desks, eyes widening in admiration. An alpha – especially a true blood alpha, was rare sight in the company where almost 98% of employees were omegas.

Rhett, however, paid no heed to their stares. His focus was solely on his job as he placed the boxes exactly where they were meant to be.

With a deep breath, he wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. Unaware of the commotion and the hearts he was staring, he made his way to the receptionist he had met earlier in the morning.

“Ma’am, I’m done with the delivery and I have placed the boxes where you asked,” he reported.

The receptionist raised her head from her desktop, adjusted her glasses and regarded him with a nod. “Rhett! You are back. Great.”

She glanced at the clock on the wall close to her before continuing, “We need to prepare the meeting room for lunch. Follow me.”

With no hesitation, he bowed his head and followed her. He had vowed to avoid all the omegas so it won’t cause him any trouble – especially as they dominated the workplace.

They soon arrived at the meeting room. It was a luxurious room, far more refined that he had seen before. A large, polished mahogany table stood at the center, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs. The soft lighting and elegant décor made the entire place more pristine.

Rhett eyes widened as he took it all in. He had never been in such a sophisticated setting before, let alone be allowed to handle anything related to it.

“Alright. Let’s begin,” the receptionist said, gesturing to smaller table that had plates and cutleries stacked together.

Rhett nodded quietly. “Of course.”

Without another word, he rolled up his sleeves and began.

He started by ensuring that every chair was aligned perfectly - each one measured by sight, adjusted until the space looked just right. His movements were deliberate but fluid, almost like a quiet rhythm only he could hear.

Next, he laid out the white tablecloths - crisp and freshly pressed and smoothed each corner with the palm of his hand until there wasn’t a single wrinkle in sight. He adjusted the folds so they hung evenly on every side.

The napkins came next. He folded them one by one into elegant triangular pockets, each with the sharp symmetry of origami. The company’s logo - embossed faintly in silver-faced upward.

Then came the plates. He centered each one precisely before the chairs, ensuring the edges aligned in a perfect invisible line. Forks on the left, knives on the right, spoons slightly aligned. He even turned the cutlery handles so they reflect the light uniformly, the same gentle sheen on every piece.

The cups followed - a soft clink each time he set one down. He wiped every rim with a clean cloth, leaving no fingerprints or water spots.

When he finished with the table, he stepped back, eyes scanned the room like a craftsman checking his work. Something felt missing.

He crossed to the sideboard, took a small vase, and filled it with white lilies. He placed it at the center of the table-simple, but elegant. The room instantly breathed.

Rhett was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t notice the receptionist standing at the doorway, speechless.

“Rhett…” she breathed out, taking a slow look around. “This is…wow.”

He gave her shy half-smile. “Just wanted it to look nice for the meeting.”

“Nice?” she laughed softly, walking closer.

“This looks like something straight out of a designer’s catalog! The symmetry, the neatness-look at this napkin fold! You did all this under an hour?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, “Guess I’ve always liked things being in order.”

The receptionist shook her head, still in awe. “Miss Aurora is going to love this.”

Rhett smiled faintly, unaware that the very person she mentioned would soon become his fiercest storm.

*****

After a successful deal secured with Mrs. Travis, he concluded the meeting. To celebrate the finalization of the deal, Aurora extended an invitation for a celebratory lunch - a customary gesture of appreciation to her clients.

Aurora Vales swept into the conference room with Mrs. Travis and two of her associates trailing behind her, her every step commanding attention. Her presence filled the space like lightning filled storm cloud – crisp, charged, and impossible to ignore. Her scent – jasmine and pear – announced her arrival before her voice did.

The clients – a woman and a man in black suits and Mrs. Travis, paused at the door, looking around in admiration.

“Impressive setup,” the man remarked, his tone appreciative. “Your company’s attention to detail is remarkable, Miss Vales.”

Aurora gave a small proud smile as she turned to her receptionist, who was still standing by the door. “Good work,” she said smoothly, her voice carrying the faint trace of satisfaction.

The receptionist froze for a second, her lips parting. “Uh-thank you, ma’am. But, actually…”

Aurora’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Actually, what?”

The receptionist swallowed, her voice faltered slightly. “It… it wasn’t me, ma’am. I, um asked someone to help me. He did everything.”

Aurora tilted her head slightly, that subtle warning in her tone. “He?”

The receptionist hesitated, the gestured towards the far corner of the room.

Rhett was standing there quietly, clutching a folded cleaning cloth. His posture was straight but not rigid, and he offered a polite nod when their eyes met.

Aurora smile faltered instantly. The faint smell of his scent – rain mixed with a strong tinge of suppressed dominance – hit her senses before logic could. Her wolf stirred in alarm, hackles raised.

An alpha? In her company?

Her expression hardened as she studied him.

Deep down, her blood boiled but she forced herself to remain calm. This was neither the time nor place to cause a scene, especially in front of her clients.

The lunch proceeded smoothly, the clients enjoying their meal with laughter and conversation filling the space. By the time they were done, they wiped their faces with napkins, expressing their satisfaction.

Aurora escorted them to the exit, exchanging final pleasantries and ensuring they left with a positive impression. After the clients left, her expression became unreadable but her mind set on one thing.

She will get to the bottom of all this.