Page 18 of Knot Your Sunshine (Snugverse Romcom #2)

Chapter seventeen

Mia

I grab my blazer from the closet and slip it over my white cotton pajama top. The blazer is wrinkled from being stuffed in my suitcase, but at least from the shoulders up I'll look somewhat professional.

The laptop chimes with an incoming call. I straighten my blazer, run my fingers through my hair, and click accept.

An omega appears on screen. She looks to be in her early thirties, with auburn hair styled in a sleek bob and sharp cheekbones that could cut glass.

Designer glasses frame intelligent hazel eyes, and her charcoal suit screams expensive.

I'm initially intimidating as hell, but when she smiles, her whole face transforms, suddenly becoming warm and approachable.

"Ms. Everly? I'm Naomi Quinn."

"Hi, yes. Thank you for taking this call so early." My voice comes out gravelly from sleep.

"Eight AM is hardly early for New York." She lifts a sleek black coffee mug to her lips. "Though I see you're sitting in darkness, so I'm guessing you're not on East Coast time?"

"Hawaii, actually."

"Ah." Her eyebrows rise slightly. "So it's 2 AM for you. You weren't kidding when you said this was urgent."

"Indeed." I tuck my legs under me in the desk chair, trying to find a comfortable position. "I have an important meeting this afternoon, and I need legal protection in place before then."

"Smart approach." The rapid click of her keyboard fills the brief silence. "Your email mentioned a unique situation involving a pack and business arrangement. Can you elaborate?"

"I wasn't sure how much detail to put in writing," I admit. "But yes, it's... complicated."

"I'm listening."

I take a breath, organizing my sleepy thoughts. "I'm working with a pack. Three alphas who want to invest in franchising my hair salon business. But we're also scent-matched."

Her fingers pause on the keyboard. "You're scent-matched with all three alphas and they'll be your business partners as well?"

"Yes."

"Interesting…" She leans forward, elbows on her desk. "So you need a contract that protects both your business interests and personal relationship with all of them?"

"Exactly. For the business side, I want to maintain control of my franchise concept regardless of their investment level. I don't want them overriding my vision just because they're writing checks."

"What kind of investment are we discussing?"

"We haven't talked specific numbers yet, but based on their resources and the scope of the project... millions."

She takes another sip of coffee, no reaction to the number. "That's substantial. What's your current revenue from your salon?"

"About eighty thousand annually from my single salon."

"So they're betting on significant scaling potential." No judgment in her tone, just assessment. "What makes them so confident?"

"They believe in the concept. Community-focused salons that create belonging, not just beauty services." I lean forward, finding energy in talking about my vision. "But I need guarantees that philosophy stays intact. I don't want my salons turned into soulless profit machines."

"Understandable." More rapid typing. "What percentage of equity are they requesting?"

"I don't think they want any equity at all."

Her fingers freeze mid-type. "They're offering millions with no equity stake? That's... highly unusual. But very favorable for you." She makes more notes. "Now, regarding the relationship aspect. What concerns do you have that make you want legal protection?"

"Well, their scents are... intense. Overwhelming." Heat creeps up my neck. "I'm worried we'll rush into something physical and lose perspective."

"Tell me more." She removes her glasses, cleaning them with a small cloth while she listens.

"I've dated alphas before. Never a pack, but individual alphas." I fidget with my blazer button. "They always say they love my ambition. Until they realize what that actually means. The late nights. Choosing work over pleasure."

"And then they expect you to change," Naomi says quietly.

"Exactly. And with these three, the physical pull is so strong I can barely think straight around them. If we get swept up in that, commit to each other, and then they realize they can't handle my lifestyle..."

"You're scared you'll lose both your business partners and your scent matches."

"Yes." I rub my eyes. "So I want to take things slowly. We've already agreed to use scent blockers. I want to see if they can handle my ambitions when we're all thinking clearly before we potentially take things further."

"Very wise, especially given pack laws in some jurisdictions." She puts her glasses back on. "Are you aware that in some states, cohabiting with a pack for ninety days constitutes implicit bonding consent?"

My jaw drops. "That's insane."

"Hawaii requires explicit consent, thankfully. But if you travel together to other states, different laws apply."

My mind drifts for a moment, imagining Josh, Keanu and Noa getting closer to my neck... biting me, claiming me on a technicality. Implicit bonding consent by law is terrifying, but the idea of them bonding me consensually…

"Ms. Everly?"

I blink, refocusing on the screen, blushing. "Sorry. It's very late. Or very early."

"No worries." She smiles sympathetically.

"Everything's clear to me now, so let me summarize what I'll do if you decide you'd like us to work together.

For the business terms, I'll draft an investment agreement with explicit operational control provisions.

You retain all decision-making power regardless of their contribution level.

All your intellectual property remains yours. "

"Perfect."

"For the personal side, I'll create what I call a progressive intimacy contract. Staged consent protocols and exit options at each level."

"Exit options?"

"The ability to step back without legal or financial penalty. Too many omegas get trapped in bad situations due to legal technicalities." She studies me through the screen. "Have you been sexually intimate with any of them?"

My face burns. "No. Not yet."

"Good. Maintain those boundaries until contracts are signed." She continues typing. "Are there other assets needing protection besides your salon concept?"

"My hair oil formulas. Those recipes stay mine no matter what."

"I'll make that ironclad. Pack investments sometimes assume all assets become communal.

" She glances at something off-screen. "I can have everything done by 9 AM your time.

That should give you more than enough time to go over the paperwork, share them with your alphas, and get ready for your meeting. "

"That fast?" I sit up straighter, suddenly more awake.

"I don't believe in leaving clients vulnerable, especially omegas negotiating with alpha packs. The power dynamics are already inherently imbalanced." She tilts her head. "Your alphas agreed to cover legal fees?"

"Yes, they insisted on covering everything."

"Good." She nods approvingly. "If they'd discouraged legal counsel, that would be a red flag."

That's a sobering thought.

"One more thing," she continues. "I'll be in Hawaii in three days for another client. If you need anything more then, we can meet in person."

"You'd do that?" My voice cracks slightly with gratitude.

"I prefer face-to-face meetings when stakes are this high. Ensures nothing gets lost in translation."

"Thank you. Really."

"Don't thank me yet." Her grin turns slightly wicked. "Wait until you see how aggressively I protect your interests."

The call ends shortly after, and with legal protection secured, my mind finally has space to drift to warmer thoughts.

I slip off my blazer and sink onto the bed, letting myself imagine how that magical dinner could have extended into the night...