Never have I encountered such an insufferably arrogant man in all my days! I stormed into dad’s flower shop, slamming down every object in reach, my temper echoing off the empty walls. Thankfully, I was the first to arrive, as usual and no witnesses to my tantrum.

I collapsed into a chair, burying my face in my hands. Had I been too hasty in quitting?

Under Noelle’s discreet management, Pheromone Experience had been thriving, so why must I suffer insults from an imbecile of a client? And how long had he been investigating me to uncover my secret venture?

I drew in a sharp breath. I needed to calm down. Sunrise was near, and the other suppliers would soon arrive. I had ledgers to balance and debts to collect… I could not afford to wallow in my own fury.

The jingle of the bell snapped me out of my thoughts. The second supplier entered, followed by a flurry of fresh blooms. For half an hour, the shop filled with flowers of every color, every scent. It was… mesmerizing. Perhaps this was why dad loved the business so dearly.

But his loyalty to that client, I could no longer make sense of it.

I inhaled deeply, letting the scent of lilies and roses wash over me, imagining how much I wished my lover’s pheromones could be as harmonious. Too bad he was a Dormant.

“Oh well. Best to begin the day.”

To my own surprise, I smiled. Dad had always said this shop had a soothing charm, and perhaps he was right. Perhaps I did enjoy running it.

“Uta! Finished with the suppliers already?”

I turned, startled. “Noelle? What are you doing here so early? You are not due for two hours.” I checked my watch and realized much time had passed. Perhaps I had been brooding far too long.

“Was our morning client the same grouch as ever?”

“I reached my final straw with him today.” I grimaced. “The ordeal has aged me by ten years.” I moved to the counter, determined to change the subject. “Since you are here, tell me how much money did we made last night at Pheromone Experience.”

“We are nearly booked solid for three months! We can hardly take more appointments since the holidays will keep us busy enough.”

“You all may take your holidays. I may have legal matters to settle with that piece of trash.”

“Speaking of which, tell me everything,” Noelle said with far too much delight, hurrying to the counter and leaning forward eagerly. “What did the piece of trash do this time?”

“You want the good news or the bad news?”

“Good news first!”

I smirked despite myself. “Most people would start with the bad news.”

“Do I look like most people to you?”

“Shut up, Omega,” I teased. “Good news: I plan to meet a lawyer and finally dissolve our contract with that client. Bad news: it may take time to untangle ourselves. Worse yet, he knows about Pheromone Experience.”

Noelle pouted. “Bestie, I asked for good news.”

“Were you not listening? I am done with that client. And can you believe actually he mocked me by proposing marriage?”

“And what did you say?”

Something was off. Noelle was not nearly as shocked as she should have been. “You know something I do not.”

She hesitated, then sighed. “I suppose it is time I came clean.”

“‘Clean’?”

“That client called here. We were about to close one evening, and I was surprised he asked for me, given that you have kept us from meeting him all this time.”

“He called here?”

“Yes.”

“When? And why did you not tell me?”

“Because he wished to tell you himself today. I have been keeping in touch with him for several weeks now. He also asked me to be discreet, and since I am excellent at keeping secrets, I honored his request.”

“Excellent? You run your mouth at every opportunity! And you probably told him about Pheromone Experience too!”

“This was urgent, Uta! He made me an offer I could not refuse. It is only a marriage of convenience so what are you truly losing?”

“My freedom!”

I could feel my anger boiling over, but my fury turned to shock as Noelle explained how charming she found him.

“He is quite disarming, actually. I say go for it. The arrangement lasts but a year.”

“You speak of him as though he were your friend,” I said bitterly.

Noelle only laughed. “If you dislike him so much, marry him and get it over with.”

“You marry him!”

“He does not like Omegas. Or Alphas, for that matter.”

“I am an Alpha!”

“You are as good as a Beta. He would never know, not if you kept your mouth shut and your pheromones under control.”

“Did he bribe you?”

“Something like that.”

My blood ran cold. “Explain.”

“Calm yourself! Do you remember when you could not afford your father’s medication, and I told you it was taken care of? That was him.”

“Noelle!” I was almost shouting. “You are scamming him!”

“Uta, your father’s health is at stake. You cannot support him on this shop and our business alone. You need this.”

“I am not that desperate.”

“Then you will let the old man die, knowing you could have saved him?”

“Stop guilt-tripping me.”

“Listen to me, bestie. This is our chance to save him, keep the businesses afloat, and finally grow beyond scraping by. The old man is like a father to me as well. I cannot sit idle. It is only a year. And you are Recessive so he need never know.”

“So you would have me play a part that is not mine.”

“Are you considering it?”

“Of course not!”

She frowned. “I admit, I was shocked he asked for a Beta, and specifically for you. But he told me he trusts few people. If you could tolerate him all these years, he believes he can tolerate you for one.”

“Why only one year?”

“To appease his parents, I suppose. He said he would give you the details today. But from the sound of it, all you heard was ‘marriage’ and fled like a scared cat.”

“For your information, he was blackmailing me. I gave him a piece of my mind. The consequences can come later.”

“No, bestie… we will face them together.”

“I can hardly trust you right now. And tell me honestly. Did you tell him about Pheromone Experience?”

She bristled. “You offend me, twice.”

“I had to ask.”

“I did not. And your father’s health is not your burden alone, you selfish excuse of an Alpha.”

I laughed under my breath. Noelle always put me above herself, and yet, this I could not grant her.

“Noelle… You are my closest friend. I would do anything for you except this. I would sooner drink molten iron than share a room with that man for a year. Yes, I need money, but not at the cost of my freedom. This is nothing but a scheme to deceive his family, and you would have us profit from it? I cannot believe you would take his side when you barely know him.”

Noelle chuckled, though her smile was thin. “I warned him you would refuse.”

“Do not meet him again. I will repay what you took from him myself. Agreed?”

“No.”