Andrew was waiting for Tatum to come down, so they could leave for the market. He was very nervous about going.

Meanwhile, Tatum had done some web searching on ways to mitigate the stress of going outside for Andrew.

Current research stated that holding onto someone or something dear to you could help diminish the impact of panic.

He spent the last 20 minutes making a beaded bracelet for Andrew which he wanted to gift him for this purpose.

Why is she taking so long to come down? She needs to come before I lose my nerve.

*walking down the stairs* Sorry I took a few minutes extra, I was making something.

Making something?

Yup! Could you please hold out your hand for me?

Why?

U-um I made you a beaded bracelet so you can fiddle with the beads when you're uncomfortable.

Did you make it for me? Why? All I've done is be rude and I even made you run away.

Just b-because.

T-thank you Tatum. He blushed.

Tatum put the bracelet on his arm, and Andrew turned away playing with the beads, as he turned Tatum saw him smile.

Did you make a list of the ingredients we need to buy?

Yes, I did we don’t have much in the house so we need to buy a few other things as well.

Okay, perfect. If you are up to it we can grab some lunch at the diner while we are out.          

Hmm. We can see how the outing pans out.

Cheer up, I promise not to talk too much. *making a zipping his lips motion*

At least my ears won't bleed then.

Hey!

*I'm feeling excited to be going out to the market; I haven't wanted to go outside for the longest time. It's all her.*

*Please don't let me have a panic attack, and hopefully, I can keep my temper in check.*

*He seems in a far better mood today than he was yesterday, is this how he actually is, was yesterday just bad luck?*

Okay and away we go. Are we taking my car or yours?

I-i haven't driven in 10 years and my license expired long ago, so let's take your car.

No problem at all, I am a really good driver; I took advanced driving as part of a previous job.

What type of job requires you to have advanced driving skills? Usually only stuntmen and military employees right?

U-um... *I have to think of a lie* I worked on a movie set as a stunt driver for a year while studying.

I see... *She looked flustered for a second there, I wonder why*

Tatum had been hired as a housekeeper to Andre Pearce but he also had a secondary job given by Mr Down.

Tatum turned away to open the front door.

Let's go *He stepped out the front door looking back at Andrew* '

Andrew Pearce stopped dead on the threshold, yesterday his worry over Tatum had driven him to step outside.

Now he was scared of even putting the tip of his shoe out the door.

As he was lost in succumbing to panic, he felt a soft warmth spreading in his hand, he looked up.

Tatum had come back to the door and slid his hand into Andrew's slowly pulling him towards the step and then the car.

Come on *softly holding his hand* times a wasting.

The warmth spreading through his hand was also spreading up his arm and chasing the cold grip of anxiety away.

O-okay... *He stepped out of the house curling his fingers to hold her hand, she squeezed softly and smiled at him*

Tatum opened the door for him, which he found funny enough to laugh at.

Role reversal much?

Ha ha, yeah! U-m you have to let go of my hand so I can walk around the car and get in.

Oh!

She calms me down with just her touch, I can't understand this.

Pulling out of the driveway, they made their way to the market.

As Tatum focused on the road, he caught glimpses of Andrew in his peripheral vision, more often than not.

He was playing with the beads on the bracelet Tatum had given him earlier.

He looked relatively calm for the most part; every now and then Andrew would look his way for a few minutes.

Then he would look to his hands or out the window.

They drove in silence for the first 15 minutes or so until Tatum felt the overwhelming urge to fill the silence.

Why don’t you tell me a story about your family?

What?

Tatum was astonished at the request, Andrew had previously told him No unnecessary conversation.

You said you had three older sisters.

He’d remembered that?

This disarmed Tatum completely.

You must have some awesome stories to tell.

Tatum blinked, he had shut him when he’d started nattering incessantly, but he was asking him to talk about his family.

Despite the pragmatic tone, Tatum could see the genuine interest in his eyes.

And he recalled from his internet search that Andrew had no family now of his own.

Tatum’s heart expanded as he launched into a favourite family story about the morning one of his many pets—

A hedgehog called Spike—had managed to surprise her middle oldest sister, Denise, in the shower.

By the time Tatum finished it—Denise charging through the house, naked, ready to murder him.

The hint of a smile on Andrew Pearce’s face had turned into a rusty chuckle.

Andrew had relaxed almost completely as Tatum spoke until he realised they were pulling into the market parking lot.

Stopping the car Tatum turned to Andrew.

Are you sure you're up for this?

…

Andrew?

Andrew was on the brink of an all-out panic attack, he couldn't hear Tatum.

He was momentarily thrown back into the basement o torment from 10 years ago.

Realising that Andrew was oblivious to his surroundings right now, and about to lose it Tatum leaned across the seat.

He wrapped his arms around Andrew and started singing "Baby mine" the only lullaby he knew well.

His low husky voice and the sweet lullaby slowly brought Andrew back to himself.

Andrew started relaxing in his arms; Tatum had also released some pheromones to assist in soothing Andrew.

As the song drew to a close, Andrew looked up straight into Tatum's eyes.

Who...What are you?

He stared at Tatum in utter confusion but also a slow appreciation was forming in his eyes.

Why? What do you mean, I'm Tatum, have yu forgotten me already?

No, I mean how did you do that?

Do what?

Pull me out of my own head.

Oh! Well, you looked like you needed a hug so I gave you one and sang you my favourite lullaby.

Andrew was flabbergasted.

Would you still like to go with me, we could always just go home and cook something else.

...I-I don't know.

...How about this, I'll hold your hand till you can let go yourself.

Tatum was good with wounded and scared animals, he also had tons of experience with kids.

...You promise you won't let go?

I promise you have to be the one to let go first.

Andrew didn't feel like Tatum was treating him like a child he felt like someone was finally seeing his pain.

...Deal...

Tatum got out and walked around to the passenger side, he held out his left hand to Andrew who got out slowly.

Andrew then took Tatum’s offered hand, but instead of just normally holding hands he laced his fingers with Tatum's.

…?

So you can't pull away...

Heh, all good, let's go.

They passed quite a few stalls and stores till they eventually found what they were looking for, an Italian shop.

Andrew handed Tatum his card instead of handing it directly to the cashier.

He was purposefully avoiding the cashier.

…

The female cashier was openly flirting with Andrew paying no attention to Tatum even though they were holding hands.

This grated on Andrew, but he didn't say anything. As this was not his sanctuary where he felt secure.

Here he was out of his element and seemed like a kitten compared to the usual tiger he was at home.

Tatum noticed that he was getting uncomfortable with the cashier's constant attention and outlandish flirting.

The cashier suddenly released a ton of pheromones aimed at seduction; Tatum wrinkled his nose as the cashier's scent was very strong it smelled like cheap perfume.

Andrew started gagging and gripped Tatum’s hand painfully.

Tatum quickly realized that the woman’s pheromones were to blame and had likely started triggering Andrews’s trauma

Tatum turned to Andrew pulling his head into the crook of his neck.

*whisper* Breathe slowly, you’ll be fine, I’m here.

Tatum released a wave of calming and neutralization pheromones to counteract the woman’s scent. Even if Andrew couldn’t scent his pheromones they still had a calming and soothing effect on alphas.

Having grown up with only Dominant Alpha siblings, Tatum had employed this tactic to soothe many outbursts and fights and as such had tons of experience. He also was a registered controller and basically an international secret he had specialized traits not catalogued in the Omega gene registry as they were sealed under the international Evolution species act.

He couldn’t tell Andrew he was an Omega but he was prevented from telling him other things as well because he also worked for the IESF – International Evolution Species Foundation as an undercover agent and was called on for international conflicts and top secret situations.

Tatum did not want for money, he was doing normal work as a cover even though he had to look for work the old-fashioned way everything he did was to hide his secrets so even if he couldn’t find a new job he had to go home to London and pretend he was inconsolably unhappy then leave again to find a job a few months later or whenever situations arrived that needed his abilities.

His existence was so top secret that only a few had a clearance of the level which knew about him and could issue him orders.

Andrew obeyed on instinct, he breathed slowly into Tatum’s neck, inhaling the fresh scent of Gardenias. He still thought it to be Tatum’s perfume.

The cashier misunderstood.

Oh are you so afraid that my Omega scent will lure your Alpha in, you’re just a measly Beta, and you don’t smell like anything, Omegas always end up with the man anyway?

Andrew could no longer scent the cashier’s nasty Omega smell his nausea and dizziness had gone away completely.

*Tatum’s pheromones had an effect on every Evolved or un-evolved human, no Alpha had ever gotten aroused from his scent, and the Specialists said it would take a very Dominant Alpha who was 100% compatible with Tatum to scent him fully, others just smelled some light floral scent and were calmed and soothed never aroused even if he excreted seduction pheromones...

So even though they can’t smell the scent, they still get influenced by it. But Tatum was almost sure that Andrew could smell his scent.

He stepped out of Tatum’s embrace, giving her a warm smile; he focused on the troublesome cashier.

You don’t smell like anything, Omegas always end up with the man anyway.

You are awfully rude and obvious, for such a young woman.

Excuse me? Who do you think you are?

*Tatum looked sideways at Andrew* my "husband" clearly thinks very little of your loose behaviour as he is ignoring you.

Andrew didn't react visibly; he squeezed Tatum’s hand lightly as if encouraging him.

H-husband?

Yes, I'd bet that you throw yourself at any handsome man that steps through the door regardless of who is with them.

How dare you?

No! How dare you?! You can clearly see that he doesn't want to talk to you yet you keep flirting and trying to touch him

It's time for you to get some cats because with this attitude and your saggy tits you're going to be single forever.

*Andrew burst out laughing* Pfft ha ha

Saggy tits!!! At least I have some you are basically as flat as a surfboard!

At that Andrew seemed to snap and tower over them both suddenly, like he had found his inner tiger again.

My "wife" has the perfect figure, thank you very much... I don't like saggy tits or balloons and her butt is the cutest.

As he said this Andrew pulled Tatum closer as if to give him a hug, but he gave him a peck on the cheek instead.

Tatum flushed slightly at the sudden sign of affection.

Sadly your butt is just fat. And your mouth is too loose I wouldn't touch you with a barge pole.

W-wha-

You can see we are holding hands and I ignored you, yet you tried to throw yourself at me, you even tried to touch me.

I'd like to see the Manager right now.

...My dad is the Manager, who do you think he is gonna believe, his little girl or some old geezer?

Oh...He WILL listen to anything I say...

Why? Ha ha, you’re just some guy I’ve never seen before.

At that moment the Manager walked in the front door, he stopped dead in his tracks staring at Andrew.

He had, had many complaints about his daughter's promiscuous and rambunctious flirting but had paid it no mind.

After all, it was always women complaining, and the men always came back to his store alone many times after.

But now she had picked the wrong person to irritate...

He didn't know who Tatum was but he definitely knew Andrew Pearce.

He watched in horror as Andrew said...

My "wife" doesn't know your father, but I most certainly do...

What?... How?

The manager felt total despair if the young woman standing next to Andrew Pearce was his wife.

His daughter was in for a very bad day, and so was he...

Before his daughter could do any more damage, he made himself known.

Ah... Mr Pearce, so lovely to see you again, it's been many years. I've only seen your COO Mr Down the last few years.

And who may this vision of a woman be by your side, sir?

Mr Lucci, It's been too long, about 10 years give or take a few. This is my lovely "wife" Tatum, we recently wed.

*I'm so screwed* Lovely to meet you, Mrs Pearce.

He extended his hand to Tatum, who grasped it firmly.

She has one hell of a grip.

Nice to meet you, Sir, Andrew insisted we visit your shop today, as he will be cooking us an Italian dinner today.

The cashier was watching the unfolding scene with mounting horror...Who were these people for her dad to be so formal?

Daddy? How do you know this guy?

Emily, I suggest you stay out of this; you have caused enough problems for one day.

I have to apologise for my daughter Mr Pearce.

No apologies necessary, Mr Lucci, but you will replace her immediately.

What!!! Who the hell do you think you are?

Me? I am Andrew Pearce the CEO of Pearce Enterprises and the owner of this entire market complex.

As well as the majority shareholder in every single shop here.

Emily lost all colour in her face, looking at her dad in shock, she ran from the shop.

Again, I apologise sir.

Just fix it today.

At that Andrew pulled Tatum from the shop, and they walked to the nearby diner.

Dear Reader, Did you enjoy this extended chapter...Follow me for more. Much love Simarah. Please support me on Patreon.  patreon.com/Simarah