002

I edited some parts of a novel for one of my team members before my alarm rang. I had to face Azrael today and the thought that someone hated me before they even knew me had me feeling uneasy, especially since I liked him, but I was taking my chance because I was determined to make Azrael accept me as his editor.

“I have to leave Sven.” I said as I gathered the manuscript and handed it to Sven Walker, who smiled when he saw I was done.

“Wow, you really do a thorough job.” Sven said as another of the team member. Jade peeped at the paper and nodded.

“I’m almost jealous. How can your work be that neat?” Jade said as I smiled at the compliment.

“I really enjoy books and I love it more when someone else can enjoy it as well.” I replied before I grabbed my things.

“I’ll probably see you later or tomorrow.” I said before I left immediately, greeting and waving at anyone I was familiar with.

I arrived at Azrael’s apartment as early as I expected. I was confident today to use the key, so I did and entered the apartment before I locked it behind me quietly.

The first thing that disgusted me before I hit the lights was the potent smell of alcohol, sex, and puke. The environment was very much scattered, disorganized, trash everywhere, with empty bottles of beers, wine and alcoholic beverages. There were used condoms on the floor and clothes scattered around that it terrified me to cross to the other side.

“I’ll have to clean here up.” I said as I walked around the entire house in search of any cleaning agent until I found them in the bathroom. That was the only neat place in the house, apart from the kitchen.

I hummed as I cleaned the trash, sorting it into biodegradable, organic and non-biodegradable waste. Things I wasn’t certain about, I placed in another bag to sort it later with Azrael because we could never produce a great healthy book in a dirty and unhealthy environment.

It would be too dark for the readers and the author, whose positivity would be influenced negatively.

Now it was time for breakfast and I was thankful I picked up groceries on the way, since Azrael had nothing in his kitchen.

“I’ll need to buy groceries, new cleaning agents, air freshener, some supplies…” I wrote everything he would certainly need for a healthier living.

I was in the processing of making breakfast so I could wake Azrael when I heard someone at the door of the kitchen.

It shocked me when I saw a woman, strawberry blonde and tall against the door with a bathrobe she had let loose that revealed the fullness of her breast. She had a towel wrapped around her shoulder showing she came out of the shower and her hair was dishevelled, that gave her an exciting sexual allure and it didn’t help that she was an alpha.

Women were not my sexual preference, but I give credit to beautiful women, especially the ones who can make me blush.

“You must be the new maid Mitsu was talking about. He didn’t say you were quite a beauty.” The alpha female said as she approached me before she placed her hand underneath my chin and raised my head towards her.

“Have you slept with him?” She asked as I stared at her in disbelief. “You’re quite his type, small and honest and very naïve. It almost makes me sick.”

I shoved her as I hugged my body in defence before she laughed hard with her hands on her stomach.

“I shouldn’t be worried. There’s absolutely no way Mitsu would like an omega, though I wouldn’t mind playing with you sometimes.” She said as I turned back and switched off the gas.

“I don’t understand why you’re laughing but I assure you, Miss, I have no sexual interest nor physical intimacy with Azrael and I would appreciate it if you didn’t feel threatened by my presence or identify as his maid. His editor is me. I said with a patient smile, even though I was a few words away from hitting her.

She was going to argue when Azrael walked in with a scowl on his face and stared at me before his eyes shifted from mine to the female alpha, whose facial expression changed to excitement.

“Baby, you’re awake.” The lady said as she hugged Azrael, her big boobs pushing against his chest while I rolled my eyes at the vixen.

“Daphne, you’re still here? I told you to leave before I wake up.” Azrael said, as he glared at her with indifference.

“I was planning to make you something delicious, but I didn’t know we had a guest. Can I keep him?” She asked as I gritted my teeth and clicked my tongue.

“Get out.” Azrael said as I stared at him.

I was silent at the tone he used before I tiptoed past him, but he grabbed my arm before I could move any further.

“I wasn’t referring to you, omega.” Azrael said as Daphne stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re not kicking me out because of… because of that omega?” Daphne asked in disbelief as she stared at Azrael, who still had a straight face.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now. I’m tired of you, so leave and don’t come back.” Azrael said, as tears escaped Daphne’s eyes before she slapped him and ran away.

Azrael chuckled as he pulled out a cigarette pack and a lighter from his pocket and lit the cigarette.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I watched a large smoke escape from his mouth.

“I’m hungry.” He said, ignoring the bruise on his cheek that made me feel uncomfortable.

“I’ll get the ointment.” I was going to get it before he grabbed my elbow and pushed me to the wall.

“You should listen to me or join her.” Azrael whispered before I glared at him and exhaled.

“Fine.” I dragged my arm from his grip and entered the kitchen to get his breakfast.

I dropped his meal in front of him and sat down opposite him before he picked up a spoon and started eating.

The first bite he took, he stopped eating and dropped the spoon as I pondered if it tasted bad, but I was certain it wasn’t.

“Is anything…”

“Why do you want to be my editor?” Azrael asked as he rubbed his facial hair.

“To be honest, I never thought I would meet you in my lifetime before wanting to be your editor. An author is just as good as their editor because it’s our motivation and sacrifices that make our authors proud of anything written, produced, thought, imagined. You may not know, but I’ve been your biggest fan for almost nineteen years.”

“Nineteen years?” Azrael asked, as I nodded and placed my finger on my wedding ring.

“Most of your fans think that Time Loop is your first book written, but when I was seven, your first book was a children’s book; All Alien needs is a friend.” I narrated. “It was quite sad, but I loved it and from that day I followed your books. It led me to a lot of good people, including my partner, but then suddenly when I was in high school, your writing style changed and I couldn’t understand why because I didn’t know where you were.”

“I picked this career not just because I love books but because I wanted to see you and tell you I am grateful for dedicating your life to writing and I want you to write not to please the market but because it’s a story you want to share with the world. A reflection of you, of someone who loves to write because I love that about you.”

Azrael said nothing before he picked up the spoon and ate the meal after I poured out my honest feeling.

I felt embarrassed for saying words that seemed like words of confession but you can’t unsay the said and I felt very content with it, even if Azrael was to reject me as his editor.

He dropped the spoon on the empty plate as he opened the bottle of water and drank as I watched his Adam's apple bobbing before he dropped the empty bottle on the tray.

“Are you good with house chores?” Azrael asked, and I nodded. “Can you drive?”

“No, but I’m taking classes.”

“Isn’t your partner worried about you staying in another man’s house?”

“My partner trusts me and is also aware of my schedule in case of emergencies.”

“Do you have kids?” Azrael asked, and I shook my head.

“I don’t think I’m ready to be a parent, plus it’ll take some time to conceive since my husband is a beta.” I explained as I placed my hand on the table.

“I will pay you extra to work as my housekeeper. You do a neat job and your food is edible for a working male omega.” Azrael said, as I clenched my fist.

Azrael chuckled warmly, and I felt slightly embarrassed before I released my fist and smiled.

This partnership could definitely work.