Page 8 of Omega's Formula
“He’s taking care of a sick sister,” Anna says softly. “Erik, he’s not some gold-digger. He’s desperate.”
“If the sister is sick at all. This smells of scam to me.”
My phone buzzes with another message. This time it’s David Sun, the Bureau liaison I’d spoken to at the last match rejection hearing.
Mr. Nilsson, as per your phone call earlier, I have spoken to the lab. Theblood results were processed as per normal parameters. There are no signs of tampering. Please note: failure to attend the introduction meeting will result in legal proceedings. Given the 98.8% compatibility, the Bureau will pursue criminal charges for refusal to comply. - D. Sun
Criminal charges. Of course. At this level of compatibility, refusal isn’t just a civil matter anymore. Fury builds in my stomach.
The waiter comes over, puts my salad in front of me. I stare at it. I’m not in the least bit hungry. I pass the phone over to Sara so she can see the message. She reads it and grimaces.
“You’re going to have to go to the meeting,” she says, picking up her fork. “And that’s my legal advice. But don’t worry. It’s just the preliminary meeting. We get it out the way and in the meantime, we’ll file for an injunction against the match. His history with your company is significant information. I’m sure we can get a judge to at least put everything on hold until we’ve had time to investigate.”
I sit back in my chair, mollified. “Sensible.”
“And we can draw up a prenuptial agreement if need be. Ironclad.”
“I’m not marrying him.”
“Just in case. We need to cover every eventuality. If worst comes to worst and the Bureau insists on the match, we can at least make sure your assets are protected. He’ll back down as soon as he realizes he’s getting nothing out of it.”
I frown. He won’t be getting nothing. I’ll make sure he gets more than nothing. I have no intention of letting this man try to defraud me for a second time. If I play this right, the only thing he’ll get is a prison sentence.
3. Nolan
Erik Nilsson.CEO, Nilsson Industries. That fucking bastard. And I’m supposed to marry him?
Hell no. I’m agitated in a way I haven’t felt since the lawsuit but I don’t have a choice. It’s a prime match. That means I can’t turn it down. Not really.
I’ve been furious for hours. I haven’t acknowledged the match to the Bureau yet, although they’ve already sent me two reminder messages asking me to confirm the meeting today. I’m still trying to acknowledge it to my own brain.
My fists clench by my sides. I squeeze my eyes shut and breathe through my nose, trying to find some kind of center.
The familiar sounds of the coffee shop wash over me—the hiss of steam, the murmur of conversation—but none of it helps. My heart is hammering against my ribs like it’s trying to escape, and honestly? I don’t blame it.
Damn it. I need to get my head straight before I walk into the Bureau meeting this afternoon.
“You okay, honey?”
Hazel’s voice pulls me back. When I open my eyes, my manager standing by the register with that look she gets when she’s worried about one of her strays. She’s noticed I’ve been staring into space like I’ve lost my mind.
Which, to be fair, I might have.
“Yeah. Fine. I just—” I take a breath. There’s no point lying to Hazel. She’s too sharp for it anyway, and she’s been too goodto me for me to insult her with bullshit. “I got a prime match notification.”
Her whole face transforms. “Oh, Nolan, that’s wonderful! Congratulations, sweetheart.” She moves around the counter to pull me into a hug, and I let her. She smells like coffee and the lavender hand cream she uses. When she pulls back, she’s studying my face with those sharp eyes, reading me the way she reads everyone who walks through her doors. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Yeah,” I say, and the word tastes bitter on my tongue. “It’s great. I’ve got the preliminary meeting at two. Sorry for the late notice but I’m going to have to ask for the afternoon off.”
She gives me a sharp look. “Of course.”
She looks like she wants to ask more questions, but clearly thinks better of it which I’m grateful for. She just squeezes my arm once more and heads back to the register, leaving me to wrestle with the knot in my chest.
But I can feel her watching me thoughtfully over the course of the morning. She brings me water without being asked, takes over on the register when a particularly difficult customer starts getting loud about the foam on his cappuccino.
“Hazel,” I say during a lull, when she’s reorganizing the pastry case and the shop has gone quiet. My voice comes out rougher than I intended. “Don’t tell anyone, okay? Not Ellie especially. She doesn’t know yet, and it all happened really fast and—” I run a hand through my hair, trying to articulate the mess that is happening in my head. “I just need to figure out what I’m doing before I tell her.”
“Of course, hon.” She squeezes my shoulder again. “But I’m happy for you. Even if you don’t look happy.”