It's Monday, eight in the morning.
Mikaela is dressed in a grey colored suit, wearing a plain red tie. This outfit was carefully picked by Darcy for the interview.
Mikaela sees some birds fly past the window. Sitting on a sofa in the lobby at the top floor of Jang Towers, the highest point in the city, it's unbelievable how far up he is from the floor as someone who is used to working below ground.
I don't think nature intended for man to even be this high…
The lobby was empty, the secretary's desk was vacant obviously but he didn't expect to be the first person, aside from the cleaners, to enter the building.
Especially since the HR manager set the interview to be at this time.
As Mikaela rests his back further into the sofa while he waits, he can't help but recount the conversation he had with Director Park once Darcy exited the office…
• • •
Director Park's face got serious as soon as the door closed.
"I know you already figured out why I had asked Miss Wires to step out and leave us." She stated.
Mikaela crossed his hands, His shoulders shrugged, "Something about me being an Omega?", he scoffed loudly, "Look, if you had doubts, why did you even consider me for the job-"
"You remember when you first got here? Six years ago, a fresh young face, stubborn, kept your walls up and had a front like you were hiding something…"
Mikaela rolled his eyes, "Director, where are you going with this?"
"My point is, you were able to keep your secondary sex a secret for so long till one major slip up that even I, as a recessive alpha, could tell you were an omega. And if not for the fact that we have more agents who are betas than alphas, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Mikaela's stoic expression was replaced with a scowl. There was a reason he had to hide his identity as an omega. Career choices were limited for omegas. They were still looked down as the weakest sex, especially in this line of work.
Even if law enforcement agencies and special forces were open to hiring omegas, the discrimination alone wouldn't be worth it. Not to mention the biological factors that could hinder an omega from performing efficiently like heat cycles or worse case scenario; a sudden pregnancy.
"You'll be working undercover in close proximity to a dominant alpha. Not only will you be hiding your personal identity but the identity of your secondary sex as well. I want to be sure you know what is at stake here, not only the safety of the victims but also your safety as well. If Ji-hoon finds out you're an undercover agent AND a secret omega, I fear he might give you a far worse fate than death. Can I trust you to handle it?"
• • •
That last question replays like a broken record in his head.
Can you trust me? When have I given you any reason not to?
Mikaela hated this need to constantly prove that he was exceptional. He wasn't like other omegas who were often careless in his eyes. He took suppressants for his cycles and pheromones, he drank birth control pills before and after every time he would get intimate with anyone, and he wasn't dreaming of being a kept omega pushing out eight babies. He was different.
The sound of the elevator's rising snaps Mikaela back into reality as he brace himself for whoever is coming out of the door.
A man of average height in a colorful flower patterned suit steps out in a flamboyant manner, swaying his hips from side to side. He has dark skin, and he is clearly from West African descent, his coily hair in a neat low cut.
He looks at Mikaela, turning his head around, his eyes clearly expecting to see more people.
After seeing that it is just the pale boy in the boring suit, he walks in his direction, putting on the most believable fake smile.
"Good morning!" He greets, his British accent clear as day, "I'm Ola Joshua, the manager of The Human Resources Department. We can call me Mr. Joshua. You're here for the interview right, shall we begin?"
— • —
The interview took place in Olas's office and lasted about 30 minutes. Mikaela answered all of Olas's questions according to the fabricated story of the new persona Darcy made for him. Liam Miller was 25 years old, a Yale business graduate with honors, 5 years experience with working as a clerk, assistant, or project manager for tech start-ups. customer service and non-governmental organisations. Liam loved schedules, Mondays, and of course; He was a Beta.
Still, Mikaela can tell Ola isn't impressed.
Ola drops the cover letter and resume on his desk, "I could run some background checks, but Mr. Miller, I personally don't think someone like you is well suited for this job, I'm sorry but-"
BRRRIIIIIING!
The sound of the telephone on his desk interrupts him, and he quickly picks it up, "Yes? I'm in the middle of an interview-" He pauses before nodding his head, "Yes, I suppose he'll do. Alright, I'll send him down right away."
Ola faces Mikaela with an intense yet apologetic stare, "Congratulations Mr. Miller," He smiles bleakly, "You're hired. Your first assignment at this company is to pick Ceo Ji-hoon from a meeting at a rival company. His guards are downstairs waiting for you."
He stretches out his hand, offering a handshake, "Welcome to Jang Industries."