Page 145 of Knot So Social

Chapter forty-five

Jeremy

Logan doesn’t waste any time getting down to business in the Human Resources office. “So glad you’re up on your feet and looking a lot less pale today.” He pulls a chair out for me to hobble over to.

I ease my ass down, not even feigning pain since driving was rougher than I expected. Probably wasn’t the best move, having sex with a sprained groin.

Logan holds up a sheet of paper. “Now, I’ve got your medical records back from the hospital, and the specialist recommends two weeks of leave followed by four weeks of light duties.”

I nod. “Sounds like a reasonable timeframe, assuming I’m healing.”

“Yes, we’ll do progress reports along the way. What I wanted to talk to you about was the light duties program. Do you have any experience with administration?”

“Some general stuff, but not really customer service.”

A flicker of doubt crosses his face. “I see. The administrative roles here are quite complex. How would you feel about being an observer then?”

I blink at him. “A what?”

“Some omegas like to have a non-contact third party in the room to ensure the practitioner never crosses their boundaries.”

“So, I’d just . . . watch?”

“That would be your primary duty, but you’d also take over the recording and liaising with our office. There are a few situations where that becomes necessary, like if there’s more than one omega in the heat.”

I think back to Willow’s heat. Recording her temperature and markers wasn’t always easy with exhaustion setting in and the omega herself clinging to me. An uninvolved co-worker would take that load.

Logan clears his throat. “I’ll be upfront with you. It’s a simpler job, but can be rather boring. More than that, it takes a special kind of person to be present without intruding, able to preserve the omega’s dignity . . . and their own.”

He holds my gaze, making sure I understand.

Right. It would be like a constant stream of live porn, complete with omega slick and pheromones. The idea of anyone watching me have my way with Willow makes my stomach cringe inward.

“The alphas don’t mind?”

He smiles tightly. “It’s a requirement of the employment contract.”

Which means if Willow had requested it, someone like the alpha I met in the staffroom, Simon, would’ve been watching me.

“Are there any other duties I can do?”

Logan sighs and leans back in his chair. “That’s the problem. The medical department has a lot of manual handling. Cleaning isn’t any easier with an injury.” He shrugs. “We’re a hands-on business.”

The phrasing makes me chuckle. “Yeah, we sure are. Can I have a couple of days to think about it?”

“While I’d love to give you all the time in the world, the truth is, we’re short staffed right now, which is why we got you certified so fast.” He picks up a pen and taps it on his notebook. “We also line up our personnel weeks in advance, due to the shifting rosters. If you can take over as an observer, one of them can be freed up to do the service officer work.”

Logan rubs one knuckle into his forehead, his stress palpable.

“We have a couple of omegas booked in two weeks, one of them with special needs due to a recent bad breakup. I’m sorry to put the pressure on you, but I need to know sooner rather than later what you can do.”

My throat closes up.

I applied for this job to help omegas, but I never dreamed I’d be in this situation where I’d fall for my client. Leaving the company that gave me a chance puts a bad taste in my mouth, but the idea of anything that might feel like cheating on Willow is far worse.

“I . . . there’s a reason I’m hesitating.” I link my hands in my lap, pain and nerves mixing in an uncomfortable cocktail. “Um, I’m not sure how to start this, but maybe I need to disclose that I’m pursuing a relationship with the omega I helped.”

He stiffens. “Has she indicated an interest in this?”