PROLOGUE - MANDY

“Take off your clothes.“

My breathing stopped for a moment when I heard what Victor said. My body went rigid as fear and nervousness started to consume me, making me question myself for the hundredth time if I am making the right decision.

But the moment I started doubting my decision, the moment I silently asked myself what to do, the face of Theo, my younger brother, immediately popped up inside my head. And that was more than enough for my resolve to strengthen once again.

I need to do this. For my brother. For our survival.

“I cannot afford to waste my time, young lady. This is not the time for you to be having doubts.“ Victor then stood and fixed the suit he was wearing. He was gearing up to leave his office. “Come back once you're fully decided to do this.“

I started to panic.

Come back? As if that is so easy.

Victor is one of the most powerful men in the city of Corvalis. He is the boss of one of the biggest mafia groups in the city and is very well-known to be not just intelligent but also a very violent man. He owns some of the biggest clubs—be they normal clubs or sex clubs—in the city and some other dirty businesses I don't even want to know. Having the chance to see him in person, and most especially having the chance to speak to him, is very rare, something that not everyone could attain unless you're a part of his world. I even had to beg one of the bouncers just to have a chance to meet Victor. I also had to ignore all the dirty remarks and sexual innuendos being thrown at me by some of Victor's men as we made our way to Victor's office. So there is no way that I am letting this chance slip away. Not when I needed this so much.

“Wait!“ I said in panic, causing Victor to stop in his tracks. He looked at me with an expression I could not name. He said nothing, just waiting for me to speak, which is not easy. The look he is giving me could make any man's knees go weak. But remembering my brother again, the main reason why I am doing this, made me brave again.

And so, before I get scared again, I finally decided to take off my clothes slowly, but…

”I do not have all the time in the world, young lady. If you really want to work here, then do as I told you. Quickly,” Victor said in an impatient voice.

I bit my lip and swallowed my own saliva, then I hastened my undressing until I was left with nothing on my body.

Cold air quickly wrapped my nakedness. I can feel my cheeks getting hot and flushed. Nervousness, shyness, and embarrassment filled my entire being, making me want to cover my bare body. But before I could even move my hand, Victor had already spoken.

“Don't. I need to see everything.“

And I did what he asked. Despite my hands aching to cover my most private parts, I held back. I instead bit my lower lip even harder and balled my fists as if those would strengthen my already strong resolve.

Victor slowly made his way towards me and only stopped when he was just a step away from where I was standing. His critical and analytical eyes first looked at my face, then at my neck, my shoulders, my breast, my stomach, and even my waist. Then his hawk-like gaze went down to my feet, my legs, my thighs, and then to my womanhood, where he let his gaze linger a little.

To say that I am uncomfortable would be an understatement of what I am feeling. The way Victor stares at me makes me feel like I am nothing but a mere product that he needed to check thoroughly before he could sell it, which, in this case, might just really suit me and my situation. After all, once I get his approval and start working for him, that would mean I really have become his product, one of his commodities.

After what seems like a long, agonizing time, Victor finally brought his gaze back to my face, his expression still unreadable, making it hard for me to discern if he likes what he is seeing or not. I would like to say I hope he thinks of the latter, but knowing that if it indeed is what he thinks, then my chance of getting this job would vanish like smoke, which is what I don't want to happen.

I need this job more than anything. Besides, I've already undressed myself in front of him anyway, doing something so low, which I never thought I would end up doing, so giving up and running away is not an option for me anymore. I have to get the job. I have to be one of Victor's girls.

“A dominant omega,” Victor muttered after a while. “A rare one. That explains why you are able to hold your ground despite not wanting to be here.“

I gulped. I tried to hide my scent that could tell people I am a dominant omega, but of course, Victor would know. Victor is a dominant alpha after all. He could easily tell even by my slightest scent whether I am a dominant or a recessive.

Fuck! I know very well that most alphas do not like dominant omegas, the type of omegas that can withstand them, ones that can be confident and strong around them. What they like are the recessive omegas, the type of omegas that will easily submit to them, ones that will fear them right away. That was why the omegas that work in Victor's sex clubs that cater to the alphas are all recessive. I have never heard of a dominant omega working in his sex club, and I hope I will be the first one.

I know that's not something I should be proud of, not the kind of first that can be bragged about, and definitely not the kind of hope that everyone would want to have, but with this life and situation that I have, achieving that would be life-changing to both my brother and me. It's just that the kind of life-changing effect it would have on my brother is going to be positive, while mine would be hellish. But I don't care. As long as my brother gets the cure and help that he needs, then I am willing to do anything.

“You know not many alphas and betas would be into you if they knew you were a dominant omega, do you?“

With a fake confidence and bravery in my voice, my head held high, I replied to Victor, “I can hide it. I can use drugs as much as needed to hide my dominant scent. And I can act like how a submissive acts. I can be anything you and your patrons would want. I'll do anything and everything that you'll ask me to—”

“Would you crawl and beg, then? Would you lick their shoes, let them spit on you, and piss on you?“

I got speechless, but only for a little while. I did not even let my brain fully process Victor's question anymore, and I just immediately answered, “Yes.“

Victor did not speak right away after that. He just stared at me, making me wonder what he had in his mind.

Will he take me? Or will he throw me away?

“Age?“ He asked again after a few minutes of being silent.

“Twenty-three.“

“Virgin?“

I felt my face heating up again, but I did not let the embarrassment take over me again. I schooled my expression, and then in a neutral voice, I answered him, “Yes.“

There is a moment of silence once again, but this time, it is longer, and it caused so much nervousness in me, though I did not let it show on my face.

After what seemed like forever, Victor finally spoke.

“I will give you a chance to prove yourself worthy.“

In other times, this should not make me feel relieved. But at this moment, that's what I really feel right now. I am relieved, and as sad as this sounds, I am happy.

Hope blossomed in my heart. “Really?“

But Victor did not answer me. Instead, he called one of his men that was just right outside of his office and ordered him to call someone. And just a few minutes after, a very beautiful and sexy-looking middle-aged woman came knocking on Victor's office.

“Amanda,” he called to the newly arrived woman.

“Is there anything you need from me, Victor?“

Victor turned his attention on me. “This is…”

“Mandy,” I supplied.

Victor looked at the woman he called Amanda again, whose eyes are now fixed on me. And just like Victor, the expression on her face is unreadable.

“She will be serving Trent tonight. Give her a sufficient amount of pheromone nullifier, and give her all the details of the job. Help her prepare for everything that needs to be prepared.“

Amanda appeared shocked, but only for a little while, as she immediately schooled her expression and put on her neutral look again.

“But she's new.“

“And a virgin, which is exactly what Trent wanted,” Victor said.

“But—”

“Are you questioning my decisions, Amanda?“ There is a certain sharpness and danger in Victor's voice, as well as in his eyes, causing me to feel a chill. Fear started to surge inside me, and I know Amanda feels the same way because she had to gulp several times before finally responding to Victor in a polite voice.

“I am sorry, Victor,” Amanda said while bowing.

Victor did not say anything to Amanda anymore. Instead, he looked at me again, the sharpness and danger still visible in his eyes. “This is your only chance, omega. If you fail me now, then I expect to never see you again.“ And without waiting for me to respond, Victor finally left his office, leaving me with Amanda, who was looking at me with still an unreadable expression.

She told me in a serious tone, “I don't know why you are doing this, omega, but you made a huge mistake in coming here and asking for a job.“

I know that. But again, I don't have a choice. We, omegas, will never have a choice.