Page 19 of No Strings Attached (Omega’s Preference #4)

Olivia

The morning has been a blur of meetings that have my anger rising with every passing second.

Constant phone calls, rustling papers, and the faint berry scent of my own agitation.

My cream blazer’s folded over the chair, my blouse unbuttoned at the collar to keep me from feeling choked.

The meeting with Warren Hart is set just before lunch, my stomach twisting at the thought of his smug face coming into my office.

I’m itching for a release, my body buzzing with need.

If I could, I’d drag Jamie home right now, fuck him into my nest until the world fades away.

If I thought it wouldn’t scare Elias, I’d call him to the office and beg him to take me apart with those strong hands of his.

But I know what this is—our bond with Elias has already formed, his preheat stirring my Alpha instincts into chaos.

He’s out there, being mistreated, and it’s driving me wild.

I’ve resisted calling him all morning, knowing that he needs more time to process. Well, at least, we haven’t talked about relationships, about what this pull means, and it’s only been a day since we met.

I can still feel his purr and smell his stormy rain mixed with honeydew scent along my skin, the way he claimed us without even knowing it.

My chest aches with the need to check on him, to make sure he’s okay, but I hold back.

I let out a tired huff and lean back in my chair.

Only a few more hours and I’ll find myself curled up in my nest.

Until then, I’ll bury myself in work so that I can forget about the world around me.

The only part I’m still waiting on is from Reggie to call back about Elias' contract. I left him a message, practically begging him to find a way out, but he hasn’t responded yet, and the waiting’s killing me.

I pop another button on my blouse, a sudden wave of heat rushing through me.

I always knew that an Alpha’s bond with their Omega mate would send my own pheromones into chaos but I didn’t think I’d be feeling the same heat Elias did.

I know for a fact if I check between my legs, I’ll find my panties damp with need, a need that I can’t sate until after lunch.

A citrus scent pulls my attention toward my office door, Jamie peeking in with his bright grin.

His hair’s pulled back into a neat bun, my beautiful husband dressed in a soft gray sweater and khakis, looking like he stepped out of a cozy fall catalog.

He bounces over, his eyes crinkling at the edges with how wide his smile is. “You rang?”

I snort, a smile tugging at my lips despite everything. “Babe, what are you doing here? I thought you were touring the location for the movie set. Which one was it?”

His warm laugh rumbles through me, easing the knot in my chest. “It’s called Madame , and yes, the site is fascinating, but what’s more fascinating is my wife and the way her face lights up when I bring her these.

” He pulls a small box from behind his back and sets it on my desk, before he starts unwrapping the small box.

My eyes widen as the lid opens, revealing a strawberry croissant from the bakery across from the movie set, pink glaze glistening along the top.

I gasp, my anger softening for a moment. “Jamie, you didn’t .”

“Oh, I did. I knew it would give you some ammo before meeting with Warren,” he says, his eyes searching mine, knowing how much I need this, how much I’m dreading that meeting.

Goddess, he’s perfect. I spin my chair away from the desk and pull Jamie into my lap, my arm sliding around his waist as he leans his head on my shoulder. I drag him into a kiss, furiously smashing our lips together, hunger and desperation bleeding through our connection.

He giggles against my mouth, his citrus scent filling my lungs and mixing with Elias’ lingering honeydew rain-filled scent.

My anger from the morning’s meetings melts beneath his touch, “I knew I married you for something,” I tease.

“Do you need something too?” My hand dips a little to cup his ass, Jamie’s face warming at the contact.

He swats my hand away as he shakes his head. “I can’t tell you how I’m going to respond to Warren,” his tone turning more serious, “which is why this is also doubling as an apology.”

I nuzzle against his cheek, his beard scratching my skin, and breathe him in, letting his warmth ground me.

He picks up the strawberry croissant from the desk and breaks off a piece before feeding it to me, his fingers brushing my lips.

The sweet glaze and buttery flakes burst on my tongue, and I hum, savoring the taste.

I know what he means. Jamie’s not a typical Alpha, even less than I am.

He’d have been a perfect Beta, an even more perfect Omega, with his nurturing heart, his fierce love, the way he falls so hard.

I adore that about him, but it leaves him vulnerable to people like Warren who see his softness as weakness.

It gets him hurt, and I hate it. But this— this is new.

We’ve never both wanted to protect someone like we do Elias. Jamie might go rabid on Warren’s ass or he might look to me for direction, waiting for my lead. Either way, I’m ready.

“This is delicious,” I hum again, the sweetness a brief escape from the rage building for my meeting with Warren. “And for the record, you don’t need to apologize. I’m more than happy to put Warren in his place.”

I’m prepared for the fallout, especially when it comes to Elias' contract. He’s our Omega, bonded to us in a way that’s already rooted deeper than a physical bite.

I’ll tear through anything to keep him safe, to get him out of that trap.

Jamie agrees as he unearths a bottle of water from his pocket.

“I know you didn’t have any water today, so there’s that too. ”

“What would I do without you?”

His grin widens. “Crash and burn,” he says, leaning in for more kisses.

His eagerness has me losing myself in him all over again, my hand tightening on his waist as I drink him in.

I press my thighs together as the heat running through me builds, the need to please my mates growing with every taste of Jamie’s lips.

If we’re not careful, I may very well fuck myself on Jamie’s knot for relief.

My desk phone buzzes, interrupting the moment, as my assistant’s voice crackles through. “Mrs. Monroe, there’s a Warren Hart here to see you.”

I sigh, my jaw tightening, and glance at Jamie. “Send him up,” I push out. Jamie climbs off my lap, his grin fading, and moves to the couches in front of my desk.

I grab the contract Warren’s been trying to amend for weeks and join Jamie on the couch, settling beside him.

It takes a few deep breaths to keep my emotions from racing because regardless of what I feel about this Alpha, I need to be professional—unlike he was.

Game time, I tell myself as I harden my expression and stand the moment the door opens.

My assistant nods toward us as Warren enters before closing the door behind him.

I extend my hand for a formal greeting, which Warren takes, before we both take a seat, Warren sitting directly across from me, already dismissing Jamie’s presence in this business relationship. I hate it.

I raise an eyebrow, my hostility barely contained. “So,” I start, “we’re having this meeting because you would like to amend the contract that, might I remind you, you signed.”

Warren chuckles, straightening his jacket, unfazed by my rude tone. “Mrs. Monroe, might we have this meeting a little more privately?” he suggests, his eyes flicking to Jamie and then back to me.

I narrow my gaze, my irritation spiking.

“Mr. Hart, unless you have some perfect reason to change the contract, I’m not sure why you came all the way out here.

And if you continue to disrespect my husband and our company, I’ll have to see you out regardless.

The way I see it, you have two options. Either honor the contract, or we can dissolve it and go our separate ways. ”

Warren’s smile tightens, his fingers drumming on the armrest. “Now, Ms. Monroe—”

“It’s Mrs . Monroe,” I cut in, my eyes locked on his.

He sighs and leans back, his smile returning but colder now.

“Olivia, we both know my demands weren’t that difficult to incorporate.

A little more set time, longer hours during shooting, and the use of my own employees to fund the three commercials to advertise your next movie. That’s all I’m asking.”

I throw the original contract onto the table. “I get what you’re asking,” I tell him, my growl barely contained, “but I haven’t vetted any of what you’re proposing. That could take weeks, weeks we don’t have.”

Warren reaches into his jacket pocket and produces a similarly looking file to mine before flicking it onto the coffee table. “It’s a good thing I brought everything with me. I have files on the three employees I want working on this.”

Even if I said yes, we would need our lawyers here to ensure that everything in this newer contract met our standards.

I cross my arms over my chest, my jaw pulling tight at his dismissive attitude.

“It’s still going to take time. Nature’s Beast comes out in two weeks.

We’re already cutting it close on these extra advertisements that I already paid for. ”

Warren waves a hand, his smile unwavering. “I get it, and I’m not asking for any money back.”

It’s always about the money. Always.

“I’ll have to look through these,” I say, “but I’m not agreeing to longer hours and more set time. We stay within the same working hours as everyone else. I will not be overworking any one of my employees or anyone who chooses to work with us.”

Warren’s smile tightens, frustration flashing in his eyes. He leans forward, his fingers tapping the file. “At least look who I’ve picked out,” he says, flipping open the folder to reveal three photos.

My breath catches as I see Elias’ face staring back at me, his intense green eyes and orange-red hair framing a forced smile. Warren’s voice drips with smug satisfaction. “I had different ones yesterday, but I just acquired the most beautiful specimens after taking on Hallis Films.”

Jamie stiffens beside me, his hands clenching in his lap. “Your employees aren’t specimens ,” he pushes out, his face twisted up in disgust. “They’re humans.”

Warren snorts, his gaze flicking to Jamie with disdain. “Wonderful, the soft one talks, does he?”

I nearly launch myself over the coffee table but Jamie grabs the side of my blouse and tugs, reminding me to keep it professional. One deep breath later, I respond to Warren’s taunts. “I’ll look at the files, but I’ll warn you to change how you talk about your employees. It’s gross.”

Warren chuckles, a low, deep sound that grates on my already fraying nerves. “I can do what I want. They’re contracted to do as I say.”

I fold my arms across my chest, unable to hold back. “Is that right? Are they also contracted to just let you assault them in exchange for whatever kind of salary you might be paying?”

His eyes darken, his smile twisting into something colder.

“I was wondering what he told you after he slipped off into the night with you,” he smirks, his tongue darting out to lick his upper lip.

“Oh, I keep an eye on my specimens. Tristan doesn’t know, but I watched him all night and wondered what lies he might be telling you. ”

“Elias didn’t need to lie to me,” I throw back at him. “I could see the shock he was experiencing from a mile away. You touched him without his consent, and that doesn’t sit right with me.”

Warren lets out a low, menacing growl as he slams his hand down on the coffee table between us, the sound echoing in my office.

However, I don’t flinch, moving on instinct as I grab the closest thing to me from the stand beside me.

The cool metal in my hand makes me smile, the letter opener from our second anniversary now stabbed into the table between Warren’s fingers.

He freezes, his eyes wide with shock as he stares at how close the metal is from his flesh, Jamie’s shriek tearing through the room.

My husband slaps both hands over his mouth as I lean forward, pushing an extra ounce of vitriol into my voice.

“Don’t you dare try to disrespect me in this place, in our home,” I tell him.

“You know what? I’ve thought about it. I’ll agree to your amendments to the contract, for the new employees, but only because that makes me their boss for the next two weeks. ”