Miss Reed wasn't sure what was going on with Avery, but one thing was for sure, he was glowing. Not just the usual cold-glow of someone who just won another business war, no—this was… warmth. Joy. He even smiled on the elevator ride up.
She squinted suspiciously.
"Did he just… nod at Mr. Tanaka?" she whispered under her breath as they passed the finance department.
Avery, who usually walked through the office like a ghost king, acknowledged, feared, untouchable, was suddenly… talking. To people. Greeted them, even. By the time he waved at the receptionist and asked how her cat was doing, Miss Reed seriously started thinking about booking him a medical checkup.
Some employees began whispering. A few joked that maybe he'd had a personality transplant. One intern dared to say: "I think he might be bipolar." Miss Reed nearly choked on her coffee.
But in the meeting room, it got worse. While discussing quarterly projections, Avery kept glancing at his phone like a teenager waiting for a text from their crush. Then, in an unprecedented moment of generosity, he offered to buy lunch for all the senior managers.
Miss Reed nearly fainted.
_______
Meanwhile, at home, Noël was in his own little cloud of sunshine. He couldn't stop smiling. He cleaned the dishes humming a tune, shuffled around the kitchen like a musical was about to break out, and even caught himself daydreaming while folding towels.
He made his way to the living room to take a small break. But as he was about to sit down, there was a sudden ache that bloomed in his lower back. "All this pain… just for a few minutes of pleasure?" he muttered, carefully lowering himself onto the sofa.
Then he thought again. "If it means I get to feel all that again... with him... I'd take it."
He was so happy that he couldn't contain his happiness. He needed to share this happiness with someone.
That's when it hit him: Leo.
Leo had always been there, even when Noël felt invisible. But… it had been a while. Noël hesitated for a moment, unsure, then picked up his phone and texted him.
"Hey Leo."
As always, Leo responded immediately.
"Noël? You okay?"
Noël smiled, fingers flying over the keyboard.
"I'm fine. Actually, I feel like I'm in heaven."
There was a pause before Leo answered.
"Really? What happened?"
Noël froze. His thumb hovered over the screen. Could he tell him? After Leo's confession?
Would that be too cruel? he wondered.
So, he lied.
"I got my first salary. With a bonus!"
Leo cheered him on virtually.
"Damn, that's great! How much?"
That's when Noël panicked. He had never talked about his salary with Avery. Just to sound impressive, he blurted:
"$3000."
Leo's response came instantly.
"WHAAAAT? 3K a WEEK?! Maybe working for a rich man isn't so bad after all."
They kept chatting a little longer, Leo excitedly asking about job perks and what he could do to get hired too.
But after the messages ended, guilt sank in. Noël sighed and leaned back on the couch.
"Why did I lie?"
And more importantly… what was the real number?
Curious, Noël began researching what the average salary was for beginner housekeepers. Most places said $200 to $300 per month. His eyes widened.
"I'm actually insane," he muttered. "I just said I make 3000 dollars a week???"
He immediately texted Avery:
"Uhm… I realized I never asked, how much do you actually pay me?"
Avery read the message… and didn't reply.
Noël waited, a little nervous.
Avery left him on Read.
"Great," Noël mumbled. "Now he thinks I'm asking for a raise."
Five minutes later, his phone rang.
Mobile Money Transfer: $5000 received from Avery Cheng.
Noël yelped and leapt off the couch, only to land badly on his sore legs. "Ow—! Okay... definitely not worth jumping."
But in his heart? He was floating.
_________
Back at work.
The first thing Miss Reed noticed that morning wasn't Avery's clothes or the lingering Omega scent he tried to mask with expensive cologne it was his smile.
Avery. Smiling.
At people.
"Did the CEO just say good morning... to the intern?" someone whispered as they passed by.
"Yes," Miss Reed muttered, eyes narrowed. "And yesterday he offered me a croissant. Something's off."
At the meeting, Avery, the man known for ignoring 99% of his emails, kept glancing at his phone like he was waiting for a message from God himself. And when someone made a half-decent suggestion during the sales pitch, he nodded. Nodded.
"Are you okay, sir?" she dared to ask at one point.
"I'm great," he replied, voice warm. "Actually, lunch is on me today."
Miss Reed blinked. "Did you hit your head?"
"Hmm?"
"Never mind…"
She scribbled in her notepad with increasing suspicion:
Symptoms: Mood swings, social engagement, spontaneous generosity. Diagnosis: Avery might be… in love?
Later during the day, miss Reed informed Avery that he had a visitor.
"Miss Yulan is here to see you."
Avery who was having a great day suddenly lost the smile on his face.
"Let her in."
The door opened. Yulan strolled in like she owned the building, sat without permission, and crossed her legs with attitude.
"You know," she said, eyes glinting, "you're harder to catch than I thought."
Avery narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here, Yulan?"
"To see my future husband."
He leaned back with a scoff. "You made it very clear you weren't interested."
"I've changed my mind."
Avery's jaw tensed. "Well, I haven't. If I ever marry you, it'll be posthumously."
Yulan stood and slowly approached his desk. "You're even sexier when you're angry."
Before she could get any closer, Avery growled. "Don't."
Her eyes glowed faintly as she released her pheromones, hoping to spark something between them. But Avery's nose wrinkled in disgust.
"I said, don't."
The atmosphere thickened.
"Get. Out. Before I call security."
Yulan's seductive expression turned sour. She grabbed her bag and stormed out, muttering something under her breath.
Avery sighed and opened the window, trying to flush out her scent. It clung like sour perfume.
Outside, Yulan climbed into her luxury car and slammed the door shut. She fumed in silence.
Then a memory crept up. Just before she walked into his office, she had caught a trace of something familiar… something soft, floral, warm.
"…An Omega?"
Her eyes widened.
Why was Avery wearing another Omega's scent?