Never have I ever met such an arrogant individual in my life! I was enraged, slamming everything upon reaching my dad's flower shop. Luckily, I had been the first to arrive there as routine; hence, no one was around to witness my tantrum.

Sitting down, I wondered if I'd overreacted by quitting. With my best friend's discreet management, Pheromone Experience was doing well, so why did I have to put up with all this crap and that imbecilic of a customer? And how long has he been investigating me to find out about my hidden venture?

Darn it. I had to calm down. It was almost sunrise, and other suppliers would be walking in soon. Additionally, I had many accounts to organize and determine who owed me what and how much.

The jingle of a bell startled me from my silent venting, and I stood up as the second supplier of the day walked in. The shop was filled with all types of flowers delivered for about half an hour. It mesmerizing. Perhaps this was why Dad loved this business. However, his loyalty to that client no longer made any more sense to me. 

Taking a deep breath to ward off the negative feelings, I enjoyed the mixture of fresh flowery scents, wishing my lover's pheromones were in harmony just as much. Too bad I was still nursing a heartache from a Dormant Alpha lover.

"Oh well, better get the day going." I caught myself smiling. I had to admit that Dad was right. There was a way this business had a soothing mechanism. Perhaps I did enjoy running the shop after all. 

"Uta! Done with the suppliers already?"

"Noelle? You're here so early, I think." I looked at my watch and then realized a lot of time had passed. I must have been lost in thoughts for far too long.

"Was our morning client the same grouch as usual?"

"I had my last straw with him today." I grimaced. "That drama aged me fast." I proceeded to the counter, avoiding her anticipating gaze for more information. Seeking to change the sunject, I asked, "Since you're here, how much money did we make last night at Pheromone Experience?"

"We have a lot of new customers booked for the next three months; we can hardly take in any more appointments because of holidays."

"All of you may proceed for the holidays. I may be having legal matters to settle with that piece of trash."

"Speaking of that 'piece of trash', tell me more," Noelle added enthusiastically, rushing to the counter then leaned foreward, a little too close for comfort. She seemed to want to dwell on the subject despite my efforts to avoid it and knowing her, she would nag me about it all day. 

"You want the good news or the bad news?"

"Good first."

I couldn't help but smile at her excitement as she giggled on. "You are weird. Most people would start with the bad news."

"Do I look like other people to you?"

"Shut up you Recessive Omega." I teased her. "Good news is I'm planning to meet a lawyer and end our contract with that ass of a client, and the bad news is, it might take a while for us to free ourselves from him. He knows about Pheromone Experience."

Noelle seemed somewhat dissapointed. "I said good news first."

"Weren't you paying attention earlier? I'm done with that client. He has been stalking us too. Can you believe he dared to mock me by asking me to marry him?"

"Interesting and unexpected. What did you say?"

W- Wait a minute... Noelle seemed not disconcerted and perturbed. By now, she would have gone ballistic the moment I mentioned marriage or the discovery of our illegal business. Something didn't seem right. "Do you know something I don't?"

"I guess it's time I came clean."

'Clean?'

"That client called here. We were about to close shop that day and I was surprised he asked for me, considering you've kept us from meeting him in person."

"He called here himself?"

"Yes."

"When? Forget that... W-Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well, he was going to tell you himself today. That's why I rushed here to find out what had happened. I've already kept tabs with him for a few weeks. He pleaded that I be discreet about our call appointments, so since I'm great at keeping secrets, I had to honour his request."

"Great, my ass! You run your mouth every chance you get!" 'And you probably told him about Pheromone Experience, too!'

"This was urgent, Uta! He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It's a marriage of convenience anyway, so what are you losing anyway?"

"My freedom!"

I could feel myself fuming with every word Noelle spoke as she further elaborated, but my anger became more of a shock when she narrated how pleasant she found that man to be.

"He is quite a charmer. I'd say go for it. The marriage arrangement is only for a year after all."

"You speak of him as a friend." I couldn't believe my eyes watching her laugh after my remark. "If you like him that much, you marry him instead."

"He doesn't like Omegas and Alphas."

"I'm an Alpha stupid!"

"You are as good as a Beta since you are Recessive. He would never find out in a year as long as you keep your mouth shut and your pheromones in check during your rut."

'Did she just say that?' "Noelle, this offer you speak of that you couldn't refuse, did he bribe you or something?"

She giggled. "Something like it."

"W-What?"

"Calm down bestie, will you?! Remember when you didn't have money for your dad's expensive meds, then I told you it was sorted. That's where it all came from."

"Noelle..." I was in shock. It was as if I couldn't recognise who my friend was anymore. "You're scamming him." 

"Your father's health is in danger bestie. We can hardly support him with the sales here and our business. You need this!"

"I'm not that desperate!"

"Too bad. I'm already on his side. I wouldn't want the old man's life on my hands knowing I could have done something to save him."

"Stop guilt-tripping me."

"Beatie, this is your chance, our chance to get the old man some proper medical attention and, at the same time, keep both businesses afloat. All our profits have been going to his treatment for the last two years and more. I want to grow financially Uta, but I can't do that with the older man's health hanging on a thin thread. He is like a father to me. Besides, I'm not blind to how you worry for him. It's only a year, and you are Recessive. He will never know you are an Alpha."

"So I should pass off as something I'm not."? I asked Noel after a brief silence. Perhaps that might explain why he treated me like his personal punching bag.

"Are you considering it?"

"Of course not!"

Noelle frowned at me. "Anyway, I was equally surprised he wanted a Beta for a partner and, more importantly, you specifically. He told me he doesn't trust a lot of people, and for you to have put up with his crappy attitude for all these years, he could endure you for a year."

"Why a year?"

"To please his parents, I guess. He said he shall discuss all the details with you today, but from the looks of it, all you heard was marriage and ran like a scared cat."

"For your information, he was blackmailing me. Thankfully, I gave him a piece of my mind as I should. I'll deal with the repercussions later."

"No bestie, we will deal with everything together."

"Noelle, I can hardly trust you right now. Secondly, did you tell him about Pheromone Experience?"

Noelle frowned. "You're offending me, twice for that matter."

"I'm sorry but I had to ask."

"I didn't, and your dad's recovery is not your worry alone; you selfish excuse of an Alpha."

I chuckled at her attempt to mock me. I've never understood why she places my interests above hers, but I had to turn down her peculiar wish. 

"Noelle, you're my closest friend, and as much as I'd do anything for you, I'm afraid, this particular one, I'd rather drink hot lava than share the same room with that man. I'm in dire need of funds, but I refuse to sacrifice a year of my life to save my father. Besides, this is practically him scamming his family and us reaping off that scam. I'm still puzzled that you'd side with him when you don't even know him well enough or what we could be getting into."

Noelle chuckled. I could tell she wouldn't give up on this matter easily from the hollow smile she forced on her face. "I warned him you'd refuse."

"Don't meet up with him again, please. I'll figure out how to pay the amount you took from him. Okay?"

"No."