2. Oscar

Chapter 2

Oscar

I pulled into the parking garage of the giant building and took a deep breath. As much as I loved my job as a senior technician for Kingsley Science, there were some clients that just gave me the creeps.

AIDEN was one of them.

Not only was their security ridiculously tight for a company that supposedly made vitamins and health care products, there was just a weird energy in that place. If I didn't know any better, I'd say they were one of those alien research centers like the ones they had for Area 51. But that was ridiculous. Probably.

The worst part was, I ended up there on a quarterly basis for general maintenance. On those days it was in and out. Done. But today, I'd been called in for an extra visit to recalibrate a machine that got dropped and wasn't working right. Hopefully, it was an easy fix, and I didn't have to spend more than an hour or two inside the place because it seriously made my skin crawl.

I never asked how they managed to drop it or how far it fell. Something told me that the answers they gave me wouldn't be honest, so why bother. And besides, I'd be able to determine the how-far part easily enough. The how it happened was frankly none of my business.

Every time I walked into the place, I could only stand to be there for a few minutes before I was desperate to get out. At first I thought maybe I was allergic to something in the place, but I'd tried allergy pills with no success, leaving that possibility out.

Hopefully, the work was going to be relatively straightforward.

They led me to the room and let me get to work. It was a mess. They'd managed to do a number on it, but it was easy enough work. I had all the spare parts I needed in my case, so I was packing up my bags and heading out within about an hour. I probably could've dragged it out to two or possibly three if I wanted to, but my senses were on overload and I needed out of there.

Usually when I was there, I didn't speak to anybody in the facility, other than my direct contact. I wasn't forbidden from chatting with the staff, but everyone who worked at AIDEN just seemed to keep to themselves. Whatever they were doing, I had a feeling most of it wasn't shared on the company website.

And that lack of communication was unnerving. Saying hello when someone was passing you or when you were both waiting for the bathroom was a pretty standard social norm. The way those didn't exist to them was…interesting. And I was a scientist. It wasn't like that was the issue.

But today was different. As soon as I stepped into the elevator to go to the underground parking garage, a man's hand slid in to stop the doors from closing, and then he nudged his way inside the car with me. The alpha was very good-looking and wore an interesting cologne. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was kinda woodsy and kinda oceany and kinda gamey—all at the same time. It was indescribable, but I caught myself unconsciously leaning toward him several times during the short ride. And I wasn't the only one who noticed him. My cock was stirring, ready to give him a salute.

That was the last thing I needed while at work.

The name on his badge was Daxton, and every time I looked up in the mirrors surrounding the inside of the elevator car, I caught his eye. I wanted to get lost in his eyes, but, as was the way of my life, that wasn't happening.

The entire ride only lasted a handful of seconds, but it felt like time stood still as the tension and energy between us built up. I hated that it was over so quickly, that I hadn't braved talking in the few moments we had together.

After the doors opened and I was about to step out, he cleared his throat and held the door open so it didn't close. "Excuse me, but could I get your card?"

My jaw dropped, and I didn't know what to say. Was he hitting on me? I wasn't used to attractive alphas asking for my number, but my hand slipped into my back pocket and retrieved one of the cards I always had ready for clients. I didn't want this man to be a client, though. I wanted him to be… I wanted him. Pretending it was more than that was silly. I hadn't even had a conversation with him. At this point it was all need, need I wanted to act on.

"Yeah, sure." I handed it to him and stepped out then turned to watch the doors close behind me.

Daxton stayed on the other side of those elevator doors, and I stood there for a moment, wondering if he was going to hit the button to open them and step out. But he didn't. The doors closed, and he disappeared behind them.

After several awkward seconds, I composed myself and went to my car. Usually, I felt better and more relaxed as soon as I started driving away, but this time, AIDEN had gotten under my skin. It always did, but not like this. This feeling was new and not necessarily unpleasant.

In fact, it wasn't unpleasant at all.

Maybe it was the man, Daxton, who'd gotten under my skin.

All man. All alpha. In every way.

My dick was still hard when I hit the highway, so I pressed my palm against it as I drove back to town. An alpha was the last thing I needed in my life. At least, that's what I assumed. I'd never actually been with one.