Felix’s incessant rambling was making her head hurt.

She had already assumed that he would learn about the incident that involved her and that little Omega. Rumors often travel at a rapid pace, especially when it involved those who you just did not expect. She had always been out of the spotlight when she was just a secretary, the best thing she learned about herself from the rumor mill back in the past was that pretty much everyone was surprised that she was from a family of Alphas. It was not something she bragged about since it would bring questions, none of which she had plans in ever answering in detail.

“And Krista?” Felix rambled again about Krista, the nurse who was stationed in the infirmary primarily for Omegas. It was their lunchtime and Magnolia was rethinking her relations and wondering if her friendship with Felix was more trouble than it was worth. Sticking her fork on the sad-looking patty that was on her plate, she gave her friend a deadpan expression. Waiting for him to realize that she was not in the mood to talk about the event that made her that more interesting in the eyes of those at the company. “She was super confused. There was a time where I talked to her about you when you realized you were an Alpha. I always said that you were a lazy bitch. And if ever you get trapped under the rain, you would rather drench in the rain than get your umbrella that was hidden inside your bag. Imagine her surprise when you all but carried a 180-pound man, walking briskly, not even breaking a sweat.”

Felix places his fingers on his temples like he was summoning something that neither of them could see.

“And in heels,” He emphasizes, his words full of pride and admiration. “In four-inch demon heels.”

Magnolia sticks the sad-looking patty in her mouth and swallows in one bite. She rolls her eyes and leans back against her chair, scoffing. “It was six inches. If you’re going to listen to stories that are based on rumors, at least get the ones that are informative and accurate.”

Her friend makes more noises that made her head throb so doing what she does best, she grabs the EarPods from her pocket. Wearing them, she grabs her phone and flips through the audiobooks that she had downloaded on her phone. She had an extensive list of books that she wanted to read, but since she was busy most of the time and it would be hard to carry books every now and then to work, she opted for the easier version. Plus, it is easier for someone to read to you than having to flip on pages your own self. For today, she opted for a self-help book regarding anger. It was something that she really needed.

‘Anger is an emotion…’ The voice of a woman floods Magnolia’s senses as she lets herself be emersed in the book. It was just something that came so naturally to her. Whenever she encounters a great book, whether it be fiction or nonfiction, she loses touch with everything around her. That was one of the reasons why she wanted to fulfill her wish and be a writer. Just the thought of having someone lose their whole sense of being as they immerse themselves in something that she had written, was enough to make her feel joy. ‘…Anger is rooted in our fight or flight mechanism. This is when our brain sounds an alarm when the body is in imminent danger. Mobilizing us to run away…’

There was a tap on her shoulder, and she opens her eyes. She did not even realize she had it closed in the first place.

When she turned around, she wished she had not. Levi stood there, a flush on his face. He no longer had that scent on him, but he still smelled sweet. Raising one of her perfectly trimmed eyebrows, she waited for him to speak. He was the one that approached her first, he was the one that needed something from her, not the other way around. It had been days since their last encounter, and she hopelessly thought that he took into consideration her warning. Obviously, since the Omega was standing in front of her, a tray of food in hand, a sheepish smile on his face, the warning had gone one ear and out the other.

‘…or stand up and fight.’ She sighs when he does not speak. He just stood there smiling, stuck staring at her face. Not bothering to avert her gaze, she turns off her phone. The woman speaking on her audiobook stops and she removes her EarPods. Once she had both her EarPods and phone placed inside the safety of her pocket, she tilts her head and waits for Levi to talk. When he did not, she felt her mouth twitch, the anger that she was trying her hardest to control wanting to come out. She had enough of causing scenes, especially when it had involved him. Glaring, she taps her heels on the tiled floor. “If you’re not going to say anything-“

“CouldIhavelunchwithyou?!”

Magnolia stares wide-eyed at Levi, confusion on her face. Just at the same time that Felix started coughing up the food that he was probably chewing on. He could hear her friend in the background asking for water, but she was too startled at what the man by her back had asked that she did not even bother handing him his bottle. Not that she would, either way, it was way too far from her reach. Levi had spoken way too quick for her even to understand but with the way that he was furiously blushing, she knew that whatever it was will not please her. In fact, she could already tell that another migraine is coming up.

“Excuse me?” She asked.

Levi clears his throat. His face fills with determination and his eyes settle on hers. She does not avert her gaze, but it was probably too much for the poor Omega. He starts blushing furiously again, looking anywhere but her eyes. And that was when he had found himself staring at her chest instead, which obviously made him squeak. Magnolia shakes her head, wondering if it was too late for her to leave. She could feel the eyes on them again, waiting for her to commit another mistake. Felix seemed to have settled down, he was no longer coughing. She could hear how he greedily drank his water; someone must have given him some.

Levi’s eyes were a mess, he was stuck alternating on staring at her chest and her eyes.

She glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest in instinct. Which proved to be the wrong thing to do, since the man’s eyes were drawn to them the moment that she did. Snapping her fingers directly at his face, she waves her hands. “Eyes up here. What did you just say?”

“C-could I have lunch with you?” He stuttered. His whole body was shaking now, his eyes looking straight up at the ceiling. The blush on his cheeks seemed to have been a permanent part of his body. The tray he was holding was clacking, the sounds of the utensils ringing from hitting the tray over and over again because of his incessant shaking. The ringing was making her head throb, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. She just could not get a freaking break.

“If I say yes, will you be quiet?” She asked through clenched teeth.

A huge smile appears on Levi’s face. She could feel a flutter on her stomach again, which made her rethink the whole situation. As quietly as she could, she lifts her nose up in the air, sniffing. He was not in heat, that she was sure of. Yet his scent still filled the air making her do things she rarely thought of doing. Mental images flooding her mind like it was always there as a photo album.

Rage flowed through her like lava, making her grind her teeth together. Just what was it about this guy that made her so…confused and angry?

Levi, completely oblivious to the thoughts that were running inside her head, sat down beside her. He sits excitedly, a bounce to his step. Placing his tray in front of him, she was surprised to see the amount of food that was on it. There was spaghetti, two cartons of milk, some pork cutlets smothered in gravy with rice, biscuits, and three pieces of double-patty burgers. She looks at his physique once more, making sure that she was not making things up. Making sure that she was truly able to carry this man, while wearing heels, nonetheless.

Felix coughs, startling her. She had completely forgotten that her friend was just right in front of them. She turns towards Levi again, just in time to see him clumsily take a bite of his burger, mustard staining his cheek. She felt another flash of irritation, he was both idiotic and a klutz. Grabbing a piece of tissue, she grabs his chin towards her face and angrily wipes the condiment. Making the three of them widen their eyes in surprise.

Just what was she doing?

“What are you doing?” Felix asked.

When words fail to exit her mouth, she lets go of Levi. Levi, who as of that moment, seemed to have gone to nirvana. A stupid smile on his face, a twinkle in his eyes. A mantra rings on her head again, that Omegas were nothing but trouble. Looking at her friend, her eyes almost pleading, hoping he could answer the very same question he had just asked her. He does not. Instead, her friend rolls his eyes, grabs his fork, and points it towards Levi. Still, with the stupid grin on his face, he blinks, dazed on the object that was pointing at him.

Felix gives him a deadpan expression, “Do you even work here?”

He grins smugly, “I was invited by the Mister Hermosa himself. They want to publish my book.”