Page 5 of Accept Me (Fate’s Choice #4)

For a second, I thought Storm had brought in a janitor or a maintenance guy. The dude looked rough. Sloppy clothes in dull colors, worn-out shoes… like he’d just finished cleaning someone’s garage.

He was rail-thin, with sallow skin and small glasses. His face was average, with hollow cheeks. And there was this atmosphere around him, irritation, frustration, like a storm cloud clinging to him.

He gave me a quick nod. I didn’t bother responding, I wasn’t here to make friends.

From the first words I overheard between them, I could already tell the guy was in a situation similar to mine. Forced to take part in this fair or risk losing his deposit.

I stayed completely silent the entire time they were in the room. I figured this guy was sabotaging himself on purpose with that outfit, he just wanted to tank the whole thing and get his deposit back. Maybe he wasn’t that desperate to find a husband after all?

Well, if I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t take that route, but everyone makes their own choices.

"Mr. Sanderson, this is Star Daniels, another client I’m assigned to," Nolan explained, pointing toward me. "Mr. Daniels is waiting here for the fair to start, since he traveled a long way and had to arrive early."

"Sure, sure, don’t care," Mr. Sanderson snapped. "Let’s just get this over with."

Honestly, I got where he was coming from. I wanted to get it over with, too.

Their conversation was even more confrontational than mine with Mr. Nolan.

Day Sanderson wasn’t here for friendly chit-chat. He flat-out refused to change clothes, which I still thought was a mistake, and he kept bringing up how this whole thing was just a way to get his money back. He definitely wasn’t hiding it or trying to be subtle about it.

Eventually, after Nolan finished explaining the rules, he turned to me and said,

"Mr. Daniels, please forgive me, but I’ll take Mr. Sanderson to the hall first. It’s better to join Section A as late as possible, even a little after the gates open. There’s a bit of commotion at the front right now, and I’d rather save you any unnecessary nerves."

I didn’t reply. They left, and I was alone for about ten minutes.

The clock said the fair had already started. But I wasn’t in any rush to head to the hall.

When Nolan returned, he had a deep frown on his face. Clearly, that conversation with Day Sanderson hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped.

That was when I finally stood up and followed him.

We walked together toward the entrance to the main hall, and I realized the visitors were already inside. The first wave had broken through the front lines and was slowly moving deeper into the venue.

Storm explained in his usual matter-of-fact tone, "The first wave always crowds around the first few booths, and it can get pretty intense. But they’ll start spreading out soon. They want to see all the options. Looks like we waited out the worst of it. Let me take you to your booth."

The hall looked intimidating.

It was filled with long rows of small, glass booths, each with an omega seated inside.

From what I gathered, Section A, the one I was assigned to, was made up entirely of young omegas under twenty-five. Based on the info table placed roughly in the middle of the row, most of them were here to sell their contract for the first time.

Further back were the older omegas, often those whose contracts had already been purchased at least once. Sections B and C, meant for omegas aged twenty-five to thirty-five, were located right behind mine. Sections D and E, with the oldest omegas, were set diagonally across from me.

I didn’t have much time to study the layout though, because I quickly realized my booth was right near the front, and my nerves instantly went tight like piano wire.

Storm unlocked the door with a keycard, and I followed him in, stiff-legged, my jaw already clenched hard.

The visitors were passing by, but my nerves blurred everything into a shapeless haze.

Feeling shaky, I sat down with my fists clenched so tightly that my fingernails were digging into my skin.

Storm gave me a brief once-over.

"Well, here we go," he said. "I wish you luck. Try to have faith that this will end well. I truly believe a perfect man will come along… hopefully. Just be patient."

"I’ve heard that already. You can go. I’ll be out around lunch," I muttered through my teeth.

"Of course," Storm said, waving vaguely behind him. "Just remember, there is a floor assistant assigned to the group of four booths. He is here to help with anything you might need."

An older omega approached the booth door, eyes filled with curiosity. He gave me a small bow. I hesitated, then returned it with a stiff nod. I knew he was the one responsible for inviting potential contract buyers to my booth, so it wasn’t smart to make an enemy out of him.

"That’s Dylan. Dylan, this is Star. I hope everything goes smoothly," Storm said, moving closer to the door.

The omega gave a polite smile, though it looked a bit tense.

"If anyone is interested in speaking with you, please remember that it is also a paid feature. Dylan would handle the arrangements, and he is the only one authorized to enter your booth. He has a copy of the access card."

Storm let out a soft sigh and spread his hands slightly. "That’s about it. You’ve got my number. Call me if anything comes up."

He offered a small bow and stepped out, leaving me alone.

The moment the door closed, a group of alphas who had been lingering nearby, checking out the booth next to mine, started moving toward me. I knew what was coming next. They were about to read my information board.

It stood right beside my booth and listed all the personal data necessary to make a decision, or at least to determine whether I was worth paying for a conversation. There were also included the prices for my contracts starting from one year to the so-called Eternal.

The alphas appeared to be in their forties, probably men with the kind of financial resources that would allow them to seriously consider buying an expensive contract.

Two of them walked up to the board and started reading my profile. I watched from the corner of my eye, trying not to stare too obviously.

And then I saw it, the exact moment they got to the part about my previous job.

Their faces changed instantly. They exchanged a look, and neither of them glanced at me again. They both just turned and walked away.

Of course I knew things like this would happen. I thought I was prepared, but it still hit me like a punch to the face. A wave of humiliation crashed over me as I squeezed my eyes shut, the familiar pressure in my chest tightening even more.

It took a moment before I forced myself to open them again. There was already another group reading my info board. That was to be expected. My looks always drew people in, always had. But I hated it now, it felt more like a curse than anything else.

Because the problem was, these people didn’t really care for my looks, they were just a nice bonus. They just wanted virgin omegas as their husbands.

The next group read my file, and bam, a moment later, they were gone too. Then came another line of alphas, lured by my lush platinum hair and my long legs, and just as swiftly, they disappeared.

My heart slowly started racing, I felt like I might pass out.

I took a quick peek at the neighboring booths and noticed two other omegas there.

One of them was already having an interview with an elegant, silver-fox alpha.

The other had a few alphas reading his board intensely and waving at Dylan to arrange the talk.

Yeah, their business had already started, and they weren’t even in my league, if I was being honest.

One of them had barely covered acne scars and the other bowed legs. None of it seemed to be an issue for the buyers.

Just to be sure that my intuition was correct, I discreetly took out my phone and logged into the Fate’s Choice app. As a contractee, I had access to profiles of other people currently showcasing their contracts at the fair. I checked those two omegas’ data.

Yup. Both had decided to disclose their sexual past: virgins. I was almost sure their contracts would be bought on the spot. As I said. Looks were secondary. It was a hunting ground of backward alphas.

A moment later, I spotted Storm.

He was pushing through the crowd, arms held protectively around a very short but striking omega with long black hair.

He was guiding him toward one of the rear sections, which meant the omega was probably around forty, though he looked much younger.

I gritted my teeth, in older omegas’ sections virginity mattered less.

There, finally, looks were starting to be the main thing.

Someone like this guy would surely catch some attention.

And me? Too bad, I was still twenty-two, stuck in the horrible ‘virgin’ section.

I dropped my gaze to my knees, dressed in tight black pants, determined not to look at anyone else and see the disappointment on their faces when they read what was on my board.

But things just kept rolling. I sat on that stupid armchair for the next few hours, silently cursing, well, almost nonstop.

Why the hell had I ever thought finding a husband through an agency was a good idea? I wanted a safe situation, a regular marriage contract, but instead I was locked in a glass cage, drowning in shame, humiliation, and the overwhelming feeling of worthlessness.

The crowd of alphas was huge, and I was stuck in the most popular aisle, right in the middle, flanked on either side by rows of other young omegas whose booths emptied within a few hours.

So I put on my best mask. My eyes turned cold, sharp like twin daggers. In my old job, I had learned how to wear that face, how to project indifference while hiding hell underneath.

During the lunch break, I headed to the cafeteria.

No way was I going back to Storm Nolan’s office. I didn’t need his pitying glances.