“Right? I’msoglad I’m not the only one.”
We chat our way through lunch. It’s really easy to talk to Lily. I’d kinda forgotten that making friends didn’t have to be torture, that Artemis was going to be filled with my kind of people, and that I was far from the first bewildered PhD to stumble into my first day.
And as we return to the orientation room, I hate it, but I have to admit that the icebreaker kind of worked. Neither Lily nor I would have braved introductions otherwise.
The rest of the day and the week fly by too. Lily and I sit next to each other, chatter about our dissertations, find out we’re both only children, bond over Home Wreck Fixer, and resolve to keep meeting for lunch even if we get placed in different departments. I think I’m making a friend, I tell Mom. A good one, at that. Mom’s elated.
It’s Friday afternoon, and Lily and I are debating whether to skip the anniversary party.
“I amexhausted,” Lily says. “But also, the grad student in meneverturns down free food. No matterwhat.”
I think about my empty fridge, and how Wednesday’s takeout leftovers only got me through dinner yesterday.
“Shit, you’re right,” I mutter.
“And I heard it’s likereallygood food. Like, this caterer also does the Met Gala or something.”
“Really?” I’m not sure I love the idea that even a fraction of a penny of what I’m now spending on suppressants goes into overly-fancy catering. But then I realize I won’t actually be paying for suppressants anymore. Our legitimately excellent insurance plan covers them. And whether I partake tonight or not, the money is already spent.
I chew my lip, then force myself to stop. I’m trying to break the habit. “Maybe I’ll just come for alittle while…”
“We’ll get in early,” Lily affirms. “Eat our fill of hors d’oeuvres. Leave right after the big speech, home by nine, bada bing, bada free food.”
I smile, and for the first time since starting at Artemis—maybe since way before that—it’s a real, honest-to-goodness smile.
“I like that plan.”
Chapter 5
JAMIE
The event hall looks more like a concert venue than a corporate building. There are speakers and lights mounted from the ceiling, and TVs hang every twenty feet to broadcast the feed from the cameras pointed at the stage.
I opted for a matte black sweater with a cowl neck and wide sleeves—the closest my wardrobe gets to formal—and I worry it’s too casual. Most of the women are in dresses, the men in suit coats over slacks. Something a notch above business casual. I kind of wish I could wear a dress without drawing attention, or at least, like, a robe. Something flowy and loose. But oversized sweaters will have to do.
Lily has abandoned me. I don’t blame her. She ran into some friends from college, and I assured her that I was fine, then sought out a dark corner from which to watch the speech, picking up a glass of champagne along the way.
The food really is amazing. I snag another miniature beef Wellington bite. I’m glad I came—things have been pretty chill so far, and I get the sense that the party won’t really pick up until after the speech, at which point I’ll be long gone.
Claire York, whose name I only remember because it’s helpfully overlaid on the bottom of the camera feed, is up on stage welcoming everyone. She’s energetic and charismatic. I wonder if Artemis put something in the water here, or if they’re just that good at hiring extroverts.
Claire’s getting the crowd hyped for the CEO to come out, and I’m kind of distracted, glancing around to see if there are any waiters with the mini key lime pies.
A husky, feminine voice overtakes my senses, and I freeze.
“Thank you, Claire.”
I hear it before I smell it: the alpha command laced through those words. The Artemis Pharmaceuticals CEO is an alpha. A female alpha.
I don’t know why it surprises me—it makes sense.
But I know why my heart races.
Fear.
As soon as I see her, the fear morphs. I’m not sure into what. She’s gorgeous, incredible. Must be well over six feet tall, and as broad as any other alpha.
She doesn’t skip leg day. Her thighs and ass are layered with muscle that not even the sharp cut of her wide-legged suit pants can hide.
