THE ALPHA'S HIDDEN OMEGA

Chapter 5: Trapped In Elevator

Monday morning, 8:47 AM. Blackwood Tower was busy.

Lucas came early. He was still embarrassed about Friday party. He wore Bryan's jacket to return it, washed and folded neatly in a bag. He also wore three patches and took American pills Bryan gave him. He felt safer.

He entered the elevator with three other staff to go to 38th floor. Bryan was already inside, in black suit, cold face.

Everyone went silent when CEO is in elevator. Lucas stood at corner, holding bag.

At 8:48 AM, elevator shook. Lights flickered. Then darkness.

Power cut.

The elevator stopped between 20th and 21st floor.

The three staff panicked. "NEPA has taken light!"

Bryan pressed emergency button, called security on intercom. "Power failure. Elevator B stuck. Send technician. Now."

Security replied, "Sir, whole area blackout. Generator switching, will take 2 hours. Please stay calm."

Two hours. Trapped.

The three staff were rescued first via manual door opening at 21st floor, because their floor was closer. They climbed out. Only Bryan and Lucas left inside. Small space.

Technician shouted, "CEO elevator is stuck middle, we need 1 hour more to move it! Sorry sir!"

Then silence. Dark elevator, emergency light only.

Lucas stood far from Bryan, holding bag. His heart beating fast. Small space + Alpha scent = danger for Omega.

Bryan loosened his tie. It was hot. No AC.

"You okay?" Bryan asked.

"Yes, sir," Lucas whispered.

Bryan looked at him. Lucas was sweating already. White shirt sticking. His scent patch on neck was sweating off.

Bryan could smell it. In this tiny closed elevator, with no air purifier, Lucas's vanilla scent had nowhere to go. It filled the space.

Lucas's suppressant was failing from heat and fear. He felt his pre-heat starting. Knees weak.

Bryan sniffed air, his eyes darkened. He knew that sweet smell. He had been dreaming of it since Friday.

"Lucas," Bryan said, voice rough. "Your scent..."

"I'm sorry! The heat... I can't..." Lucas slid down to floor, trying to make himself small. His face red, eyes wet. "Please... don't..."

Bryan crouched down to his level. In emergency light, his grey eyes looked almost black.

"I won't touch you if you don't want," Bryan said quietly. "But you are in pre-heat. You need help."

Lucas was shaking. "I took pills..."

"Pills don't work in 40 degrees heat," Bryan said. He took out water bottle from his briefcase and gave to Lucas. "Drink."

Lucas drank, hands shaking, water spilling.

Bryan took off his own tie and used it to fan Lucas.

The close distance made it worse. Bryan's cedar storm scent mixed with Lucas's vanilla honey. Perfect match. Fated mates.

Lucas whimpered softly, Omega instinct wanting Alpha close. He hated himself for it.

Bryan heard the small sound. His Alpha instinct screamed to pull Lucas close, bite his neck, mark him. He fisted his hands to control.

"Look at me," Bryan commanded softly.

Lucas looked up, tears.

"Why did you lie you are Beta?" Bryan asked.

Lucas cried, "Because no one hires male Omega! I applied 47 jobs! They all said Omega too weak! I have first-class! But they said go home and find Alpha to marry! I need money! My mother sick!"

Bryan's cold face broke. He finally understood.

He reached and wiped Lucas's tears with thumb. Gentle touch.

"I said I don't hire Omegas," Bryan said slowly. "I was wrong. My father taught me wrong. Omegas are not weak. You are strongest person I know. You hid who you are to work for me, who hates Omegas. That is brave."

Lucas stared, shocked.

Bryan continued, "Friday I said you are mine. I meant it. Not as CEO. As... as Alpha. You smell like my fated mate, Lucas. Do you know what fated mate means?"

Lucas nodded, blushing deep red. In Omega biology, fated mate is one Alpha who smells perfect to one Omega. Rare. Once in lifetime.

"From first day interview, I smelled strawberry soap and knew you lie," Bryan whispered, leaning closer, their knees touching now. "But I hired you anyway because my Alpha wanted you near."

Elevator was still stuck, hot, dark. Two people, fated scents.

Bryan leaned in slowly, giving Lucas chance to push away. "Can I..."

Lucas didn't push. He closed eyes, expecting kiss. His lips parted, red.

Bryan's lips came close to Lucas's neck, where gland is, not lips. He sniffed, deeply, reverently. He didn't bite, didn't kiss, just breathed Lucas in.

Lucas gasped, whole body shivering.

Then power returned with a jerk. Lights ON. Elevator moved.

Bryan quickly stood up, fixed his suit, became cold CEO again in 1 second. But his ears were red.

Lucas stood up too, holding bag with jacket, face burning.

Doors opened at 38th floor. Staff waiting, worried.

Bryan walked out like nothing happened. "Meeting in 10 minutes. Lucas, bring files."

Lucas followed, legs weak, heart exploding.

In his office, Bryan locked door and touched his own lips. He almost kissed his Omega in elevator.

"Control, Bryan," he told himself. "Not yet. He needs to trust you first."

Outside, Lucas touched his neck where Bryan had sniffed. It was still hot.

He whispered, "He thinks I'm his fated mate."