CHAPTER THREE

When I wake up the next morning, my mind is made up.

All I need is an opportunity.

There's no time to lose.

I leap from my bed and run down to the kitchen before anyone else has even woken up.

I need to make this dish perfect. It must be a culinary masterpiece.

I won't be able to hide my disappointment if I don't get the job.

I'll be forced to go back and live my life as an Omega.

Just watching the Alphas and their privileged lives.

Just going through the motions.

Just feeling that my life hasn't amounted to anything.

I'll be forced to be an Omega my whole life.

I don't want that.

I want to be with Alpha Nico.

And to do that, I have to prepare something so delicious, so beautiful, so much better than what the visiting Alpha would be used to, that he'll have to choose me.

That's my only chance.

I don't even notice the time passing.

I only know that when my stomach starts growling, I realize it must be late.

I haven't eaten for hours and I've been so absorbed in my task, I haven't even thought about food for myself.

I am alone in the kitchen, working.

I don't notice at first when the door opens.

Then I hear a voice, deep and chocolaty, call out, "Hello?"

I turn, and there he is.

My dream Alpha.

I want to run to him, but I can't move.

He's too gorgeous to be real.

My mouth goes dry.

I want to step forward, but my legs won’t move.

I wake with a start.

I have fallen asleep in the kitchen, right on top of the dish I was preparing!

It is now morning.

Omegas file into the kitchen, giving me funny looks.

I've never been this nervous before.

What if it's not good enough?

What if the Alpha hates it?

It's a lot of pressure.

I double check everything.

I make sure I haven't missed anything.

I know I've done my best.

There's nothing more I can do.

All I can do is wait.

I watch as the dishes are taken away.

My stomach twists and turns with worry.

I pace around the room.

I'm worried the food won't be good enough, but also that it might be.

How will I cope working for the Alpha?

He is strong and wise.

He really is the perfect man.

Even if he doesn't find me attractive, I will still be happy to serve him.

God, I'm such a wreck!

I should just forget him.

But my heart just won't let me.

I pace and fret, until I've run out the clock.

Then the servers return with empty plates.

"How did it go?" I ask them, eagerly.

"Good," they say. "He seemed happy."

I punch the air and smile to myself as I clean the dishes.

Then suddenly, the room falls silent.

The Alpha walks in.

I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Good morning, ladies," he says. "I want to come and personally commend you on an excellent breakfast. The food here is delicious."

He looks over at me.

I stare at him.

I see his eyes run over my body, taking in my slender form.

My heart beats faster.

"But it's hard to impress me," he continues. "And this food really impressed me. Who did it?"

I am about to raise my hand when Gemima steps forward.

"It was me, sir," she announces.

He smiles at her. "And what's your name?"

"Gemima."

"Well Gemima, I have a proposition for you. How would you like to come and work for me? As chef?"

My stomach drops.

This cannot be happening.

"I'll do it," Gemima says.

Alpha laughs and claps his hand on her shoulder.

She flushes with happiness.

I watch as they shake hands.

I am crushed.

I am aghast.

If I don't stand up for myself now, I may never get another chance.

But I cannot speak.

Gemima has worked here longer than me. She is clearly a talented chef.

I've been outshone.

I am not good enough for him.

I bury my head in my hands, unable to look.

I just can't stand the rejection.

It's worse than any physical punishment.

I am a failure.

How could I ever have thought I could be something more?

I didn't deserve him anyway.

I should just accept it.

My tears stream down my face.

I step back into the shadows, no longer able to listen.

Then suddenly, I find myself unable to hold back my tears.

I can't believe what is happening.

I will not see him again.

I will continue to slave away here in the kitchen.

And I will live the rest of my life as an Omega.

A servant.

I watch them leave, feeling a surge of anger run through me. Gemima sneers at us as she disappears out the door to a better future.

A future she stole from me.

I run from the room, unable to face the truth.

The truth of what I truly am.

I run and run, until I find myself in front of the Omega dorms.

I burst through the doors.

I run towards my bunk and then realise I have nowhere to hide.

My friends comes to me.

he wraps her arms around me and hugs me.

I want to push her away and scream at her, but I can't.

She's all I have.

I sob into her arms as she strokes my hair.

"Maybe they will let you work in the mansion," she says. "If you asked them? Maybe I could come and visit you every day."

I hate her for her innocence.

"They won't," I say. "I should never have tried. I am nothing. I have wasted my life."

I feel her arms tighten around me.

"No," she says. "You are going to be fine."

But she doesn't know it's true.

She doesn't know that I let my one chance of happiness slip through my fingers.