Chapter 23

Rachel's POV

Goldbrew cafe is the best cafe in the city, which is why it's the only cafe I ever walk into. Usually, the air-conditioned interior and the sweet aroma of coffee are enough to make me feel good, especially after a hectic day at work. But these days, all this place reminds me of is that bitch called Allison Carter, and how she humiliated me by making me come to the Omega outskirts.

I had to scrub my skin for hours just to get the disgusting stench of that filthy place off myself. I even had to burn the clothes I had worn to the place. Who knows how many germs they had picked up? Way too much for simple washing to have been enough, that's for sure.

As if I didn't already have enough reason to despise that bitch. I've always known I would never be able to stand her, from the very first moment I saw her. She had the guts to show up for an interview, taking advantage of Xander's kindness. She didn't even have the good sense to know that just because he said that employment in the company is open to everyone doesn't mean that a mere Omega should forget her place. And when she did get the job, she couldn't be bothered to dress like one who deserves a place in the richest tech company in the city. Instead she walks around in those shabby rags, and doesn't even cower like she should.

It's like she actually thinks that she belongs among us.

And now I hear that she wants to take part in the Tech Wizard competition. Like I would let her steal a prize that is important from more deserving candidates.

Not on my watch, I think, lifting my latte to my lips.

Right on cue, I see the person I'm supposed to meet here walking in.

Amy Becker, a high-class werewolf from an important family and Allison Carter's co-worker. It took me quite some time to find the perfect candidate with whom to bring that foolish Omega down.

"Good afternoon, Miss Fisher," she says.

"Amy Becker," I reply with a small smile, "take a seat. We have a lot to talk about."

She sits down across from me and places her order. Then we get to talking.

"It has come to my notice that you're taking part in the Tech Wizard competition," I say, going straight to the point.

"That is correct, Miss Fisher," she replies respectfully.

"Good. I assume you are aware that Allison Carter is taking part, as well?"

I don't miss the flash of disdain in Amy Becker's eyes at the sound of Allison Carter's name, even though she is quick to hide it.

Good, I think. She really is the perfect candidate to work with on this matter.

"Tell me the truth, Miss Becker," I say, leaning forward. "Do you believe that you can beat Allison Carter in the Tech Wizard competition?"

Amy Becker doesn't even hesitate before shaking her head. She stares into her white coffee like she's embarrassed to be admitting this.

"I can't beat her," she says in a defeated voice. "None of us can beat her. She's just too good at software development. I've been trying to get into her good graces, so I can find out what ideas she has for her presentation and steal them for myself. But so far, it hasn't been working."

"I don't think stealing her presentation ideas is going to be enough, but it's a start," I say. "You all should have realized by now that you can't beat Allison Carter by normal means. She has already walked away with the Best Software Developer award more than once, hasn't she? No, if you want to take down that filthy Omega, there are more creative ways to do so."

Amy Becker sits in silence for a while, no doubt thinking about what I said.

"If you don't mind me asking, Miss Fisher…" she says slowly.

"Ask," I reply, lifting my late to take a sip.

"Why do you want to help me defeat Allison Carter?"

I have to put down the cup just so I can laugh, because the question is just too ridiculous. As if it shouldn't be obvious already.

"Why?" I repeat. "Because she's a walking embarrassment."

I don't just want to see her fail the Tech Wizard competition, I think savagely. I want her to lose everything else she gained without deserving them one bit.

"Look at her," I continue. "She dresses like a street rat and acts like a slut. When the news of her pregnancy came out, I thought she would finally learn her place and resign from the company. But she's still there! She's actually going to make us the company whose famous employee has a bastard child. Even before then, when she was fired the first time, I thought we were rid of her for good. But no, the bitch lies and cheats her way back into the company."

When I came to her with that debugging issue, she should have been honored to serve. She should have been honored that we thought of her at all. She should have done what was required of her like a good subject and returned back to her disgusting hometown. Instead she laid down terms and conditions, as if she had any right to. As if she and I are anywhere close to equal.

Returning my attention to Amy Becker, I lean forward once again.

"We're going to play the Tech Wizard competition like a chessboard, you and I," I say to her. "And at the end of it, you will emerge as the winner, while Allison Carter is given enough reason to regret entering the competition. To regret walking into our company at all. Before if we don't, if we allow her to keep growing wings, do you know what will happen?"

Amy Becker shakes her head.

"The Omegas will flood our city one by one until they take over it. And we, the high-class werewolves, the true werewolves, will be reduced to their servants, treated like their inferiors. She has already brought one Omega into the company, hasn't she? What stops her from bringing in more?"

Amy Becker is looking at me with wide eyes. I smile at her.

"It's terrifying to imagine, isn't it?" I say. "So what should we do, to protect our company and our city?"

Her voice is low, but her answer is firm.

"We should bring down that Omega."