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I held up two items. “I just got this phone today from the bosses, and my wallet of course. The rest is just what I’m wearing.”
His eyes tracked over the phone, then my wallet, before taking the latter and riffling through it before handing it back. I kept my face neutral and silently willed him to ignore the phone.
It took everything in me not to let out a breath of relief when he didn’t bother with it. I probably shouldn’t have worried. I mean, if this Syndicate was capable of digging into my past and engineering all this, surely they wouldn’t be found out the first time someone poked through the phone they’d given me. Not to mention, he was definitely on their payroll as well, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
“Then let’s go.” He turned on his heels and left me to hurry after him. Knowing I’d have to embrace the submissive role, I kept pace behind him, my head down, without complaint.
He led me through the lobby and outside to a waiting car. I expected him to climb in the front, but he opened my door and let me in before going around to the other side and sliding in next to me.
“Welcome to your new life, Bailey.”
ChapterTwo
Bailey
Two Weeks Later
Becoming someone else was easier than I’d anticipated. It was strange, but hiding behind the fake name and mask was almost freeing. No longer was I plagued by nightmares and making ends meet. I was thriving and enjoying life.
It was almost easy to forget that I had a job to do.
Henry Burke.
He was intimidating in person. Most people fawned over him like a celebrity, but me? He made my skin crawl. Everything about him was an act. It took one look into his eyes for me to see the darkness that lurked there.
He disguised his platform around enhancing the Omega Services that already existed. He now wanted to call them Alpha and Omega Services, effectively taking omega's main safe space away by including those who had notoriously taken advantage of us in the past.
To the world, he said it was to ensure all had access to pack services, not simply omegas, along with the clinic doctors and other resources.
I saw right through it. There was no way this didn’t have some underlying corrupt themes, I just had to dig them up and expose him.
That was why I was placed here after all.
“There’s my new star!” he shouted as he came in. He was all white-capped teeth and sparkling baby blue eyes. Social media had gifted him with names like Daddy Burke and Silver Fox Senator, and it was easy to see why he’d made it this far. The man was charismatic and handsome, two things that gave him the ability to put anyone at ease with a few well-timed jokes.
He prided himself on reading people and often told us that was how he’d managed his success, and I knew it to be true. Sociopaths were often fantastic at reading others, so they could mimic their emotions. In my two weeks working with him, I’d seen him amp up his charisma or dull it down to fit whoever he was working with.
“Little old me?” I teased with a grin. “It was just a well-placed appearance at the right time, and someone just so happened to tip off the news.”
He boomed out a laugh that had the entire office chuckling along with him. His hand, of course, wrapped around my shoulders in a side hug as he turned me to face his people. The senator wasn’t afraid to get touchy. Little brushes of his hand escalated into full side hugs, his fingers uncomfortably wrapped around my wrist to keep me in place. I played the part, but I internally cringed the entire time.
“That is what will win us this campaign. Having staff who are dedicated to our cause and know what this world needs. We are the foundation for a brighter future!” He loved to add in that little moniker whenever he could.
The cheers of his mesmerized staff were heartfelt, and I played along, smiling excitedly and leaning into him.
When everyone returned to work, he released me but didn’t walk away. “I want to take you out to dinner tomorrow night, Bailey. I’m hoping between you, me, and a few of our allies, we can find a way to keep up the momentum,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper.
“I’d be honored, sir,” I said with as much respect as I could muster. “Should I dress up or be casual? I don’t want to give our campaign a bad name.” My doe eyes were wide and innocent, and he ate it up. To him, I was Bailey Soren, the innocent but innovative campaign manager who’d help him win this election.
Every time I saw him pinch an omega’s ass or scream at someone who didn’t do something exactly as he expected, it made the idea of ending his career just a little bit easier. Because I had no doubt that if I didn’t find a career-ruining scandal, it was my head on the chopping block. Call me selfish, but I didn’t see that as an option.
Everyone had started to trickle out of the office, but I needed to keep up my reputation as the diligent worker, which meant a few late nights a week.
“The doors are locking. Are you staying again?” The gruff voice had me turning to the doorway so I could see the head of security. I nearly dropped the brand new phone I’d bought because I didn't trust myself with the Syndicate phone for personal use.
Cyrus was a stoic man. His vigilant stare watched over us by day and evening, and his presence made me feel a lot better about the late nights. He always hung on the edges of the room, silently watching, keeping his distance. It made me feel safe, knowing someone was watching out for me.
“I am. You can leave if your shift is over,” I told him. “I’m not trying to ruin anyone else’s weekend.”
