Page 113 of Glitterati Omega

“I thought you’d been fired from catering.”

The alpha shook her head. “Yeah, yeah. Alina’s a hard taskmaster. You drop one tray …” She clapped the back of Rupert’s chair, then wandered off to one of the prep areas. Rupert watched her have a hasty argument with Alina, who seemed upset. Then she startled and finally looked in Rupert’s direction.

“Roo!” the other omega cried when she charged over to him. “Oh, honey, how are you? You look amazing!”

Elise gifted him a glass of water and, wisely, held her tongue. Rupert waved a hand. “I won’t keep you,” he said. “I know you’re very busy.”

Alina shook a finger. “Nuh-uh, you’re not getting off the hook so easy. We still have to decide what you’re doing about that cake for the baby shower.”

“Sh!” Elise hissed at her. “He’s not supposed to know about the baby shower!”

“Oh,” Alina said, then clapped her hands over her mouth and gave Elise an almost terrified look.

“You’re … planning a baby shower?”

Alina nodded, and Elise sighed. “Yes,” she grumbled. “That’s why we were asking if you were free on the twenty-sixth.”

“Oh,” Rupert said, “gracious, you don’t need to throw me a shower. I don’t need anything, and even if I did, I could buy it—”

He paused, looking at them both. Alina had put her hands on her hips. “We’re giving you a shower and that’s final,” she said.

“We’re doing it because we love you,” Elise said. “Now that alpha of yours, he’s another story.”

Rupert huffed in annoyance. “I wish you’d just learn to get along with him.”

She shook her head. “Nope, he’s gotta earn it. I didn’t play hardball with the other one, and I’m not about to let another one of those sneak by. Not on my watch.”

Rupert shook his head again. “Really,” he murmured.

Alina slapped her hands on her thighs. “All right,” she said. “I need to get back to work.” She pointed at him. “But we are going to talk about the shower.”

“Yes,” he agreed.

“Cake flavors,” she said, then turned on her heel and walked off, her tresses bouncing.

Elise leaned over and whispered, almost conspiratorially, “She hates making German chocolate.”

She settled back against the wall as Rupert glanced up. “But you didn’t hear that from me.” She smirked, then glanced down at him. “Y’know. Just in case you need to get her to drop it.”

He laughed. “Personally, I’m fond of Black Forest.”