Andrew raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds like someone's inside the house."
Tina's voice remained steady, utterly indifferent to whether or not an intruder had entered her home.
"It's probably Elijah and Neko Neko."
"Who?"
"Oh,do you remember the butler that I talked about when my mom told me about the house,well that's Elijah my butler and Neko Neko is like my pet but i prefer to call him my little brother."
Tina stretched lazily under the silk sheets, her voice all soft giggles and morning mischief. She tossed a pillow at Andrew with zero guilt, the fabric of her camisole shimmering in the warm morning sun pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Right,totally normal."
Andrew muttered, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm. His voice was dry, sarcastic, still hoarse from sleep. He turned to face her, tousled hair and blanket still wrapped around his waist like a bathrobe-wearing Greek statue of disbelief.
Then.
It hit him.
A scent.
Soft.
Grounded.
Luxurious.
Like freshly brewed tea in fine porcelain and pressed linen warmed in the sun.
It wasn't Tina's scent-hers was electric, warm, sweet.
This was something else.
Someone else.
His instincts recognized it before his brain caught up.
Omega.
Polished.
Controlled.
His heart kicked up in rhythm. His skin broke out in goosebumps. And slowly-very slowly-his gaze slid to Tina, who was casually scrolling through her phone like this wasn't a literal omega-scented fever dream happening in her designer bedroom.
"Tina..."
His voice was low now,careful.
"Is your butler an omega?"
She didn't even look up. Just flicked a finger across her screen.
"Mhm...why?
"He's... he's here?"
"Of course he is. He lives here."
Andrew sat up so fast the blanket fell to his lap. He looked at the door, then back to her.
"Wait. You mean to tell me there's another omega living under this roof, right now, and you didn't think that was information worth mentioning before you-I don't know-dragged me into your mansion, got engaged to me and then let me wake up to mystery pheromones floating around like a scented soap commercial!?"
Tina blinked, finally giving him her full attention.She tilted her head, amused.
"I know something about you now,you're dramatic in the morning."
"Dramatic? Me? Please. I'm simply reacting appropriately to waking up in what feels like a soap commercial and realizing I'm engaged to someone who just casually has another omega butler lurking around the house."
He crosses his arms, pretending to be stern but his voice is low and teasing.
"And what, pray tell, do you expect me to do with this 'dramatic in the morning' info? Should I get matching robes for your 'omega' butler and me? Maybe start coordinating our pheromones?"
He smirks, watching for her reaction.
"Or maybe just get used to being the third wheel in your alpha-omega-omega world."
"Umm, that's not what I meant. Elijah and I aren't like that. He's been my butler since I was five-that's why we're close enough to live together."
She cups Andrew's hands gently again, looking at him with that mix of innocence and mischief. Andrew,raising an eyebrow, half-smiling.
"Ohhh, so he's basically your lifelong bodyguard-slash-older-brother-slash-mysterious-omega roommate?"
He lets out a soft chuckle, but there's a flicker of genuine curiosity.
"Okay, that actually makes a bit more sense. But... it's still wild. I mean, who keeps a butler that's basically been around since you were a kid? That's like... old news in mafia terms."
He gently squeezes her hands back, warmth peeking through the sarcasm.
"Do I need to brace myself for the tension of living with another omega while also figuring out whatever this thing between you and me is?"
"It's really not like that. And I get that you're still confused about... all this engagement stuff."
She gently squeezed his hands, her voice a little softer now.
"I'll give you time. But I should probably warn you-"
She leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to the back of his hand, eyes twinkling.
"-I've already started falling for you. So I'll be doing my best to make you fall for me too."
Andrew eyes widening slightly, heart stuttering.
"Wh-wait, you fell for me?"
He laughed nervously, tugging his hands back but not too forcefully.
"You barely know me. I could be a total mess under all this sarcastic charm."
He looked down, trying not to smile too much. His cheeks were heating up - total traitors.
"And what do you mean, you're going to make me fall for you? You think that's something you can just... plan?"
He looked back up at her, flustered but intrigued.
"...You really don't play fair, do you?"
"I don't."
She grinned like a girl who knew exactly what kind of chaos she was causing, then leaned in and kissed his already flushed cheek. Before Andrew could react, she was already out of bed, slipping on her fuzzy slippers with all the grace of a spoiled royal and practically skipping toward the bedroom door.
"Let's go get breakfast!"
Andrew sitting there, stunned.
"Did... did she just-?"
He touched his cheek, still warm. Still tingling.
"...What the hell just happened?"
He stared at the doorway, half-expecting her to come back and steal another kiss. When she didn't, he groaned, flopping back on the bed dramatically.
"God help me. I'm falling for a chaos goblin in luxury pajamas."
Still, he got up. Because despite everything-the weird engagement, the confusing feelings, the mysterious butler-he kinda wanted breakfast too. The walls glowed with soft natural light. Everything smelled like citrus, wood polish, and quiet money. When Andrew and Tina walked in, Elijah was already there. He stood beside the long glass table, dressed as always in his crisp uniform, gloves folded neatly in his hands. A full breakfast spread was laid out like it had been summoned by magic: croissants, fruit, steaming mugs, poached eggs that looked too perfect to eat. He turned to face them with that gentle, composed calm that never cracked.
"Good morning, Miss Tina. Sir."
His gaze flickered briefly to where Tina's hoodie sleeve was rolled awkwardly, then to Andrew's disheveled hair. He said nothing about either. But the micro-expression on his face? The ghost of a flicker? Andrew saw it. Andrew,in his head.
"~ Great. The butler is already judging me.~"
Tina bouncing slightly on her heels.
"Elijah! You're the best. This looks amazing. Did you get the strawberry preserve I like or the boring orange one?"
"Both, Miss. I wasn't sure which version of 'you' would be waking up today."
Tina grinned.
"Fair."
She flopped into her usual seat like this was just another Tuesday. Andrew hovered awkwardly beside the chair across from her, not sure if he was supposed to sit or ask permission.
"So... breakfast with the alpha 'queen' and her emotionally unreadable omega butler. Can't say this was on my bingo card."
Elijah said softly and calmly.
"Would you prefer coffee or black tea, sir?"
Andrew blinked.
"...Both?"
Elijah nodded without judgment and turned smoothly, pouring each into separate porcelain cups as though this kind of indecision was normal. Andrew finally sat down, eyes flicking toward Elijah, then to Tina, then back again. He couldn't help it. He asked-.
"So... how long exactly have you two lived together?"
"Since I was five."
Elijah said without even looking up.
"Since she was five."
They said it at the same time. Andrew's brows twitched.
"Right. Super normal. Just a billionaire alpha girl growing up with a full-time omega butler who makes breakfast prettier than Pinterest."
Tina said cheerfully.
"Hey, I turned out mostly fine. Maybe."
Elijah placed Andrew's tea and coffee in front of him with perfect timing.
"Would you like anything else, sir?"
His tone was polite. Professional. But Andrew couldn't help noticing, he still hadn't looked him directly in the eyes. And for some reason...That made Andrew feel like he had done something wrong. Tina,wiping her fingers daintily.
"Hmm,I have to check up on Neko Neko. Be right back."
She hops out of her seat and leaves the room, humming like this isn't a live grenade moment between two emotionally complex omegas. The door clicks shut. Silence. Andrew picks up his fork, pokes the egg, sets it down.
Sips his coffee. Too hot. Regrets it.
Steals a glance at Elijah, who is now calmly refolding a napkin that did nothing wrong. Andrew said dryly.
"So... is this the part where you poison my tea?"
Elijah doesn't even flinch. Elijah said in a quiet,cool voice.
"If I wanted you gone, I'd have done it before the engagement dinner."
Andrew chokes slightly on his coffee.
He sets the cup down, wipes his mouth with way more drama than necessary.
"Oh. So it's like that. Cool. Love that."
Elijah said,still not looking at him.
"Miss Tina's safety is my priority. Always has been."
"I'm not here to hurt her."
Elijah said now finally looking at him, voice calm but sharp.
"Not intentionally."
"...You don't like me."
"I don't know you."
"But you don't want to."
"I don't need to."
He straightens the tray with surgical precision. Every motion is clean, practiced, emotionless.
"You've been with her for years, huh?,Always watching? Always close?"
"I've always been where I was needed."
"But never where she looked, huh?"
That lands. Elijah's jaw clenches. Barely. But enough. Andrew leans back in his chair, arms folded now, voice lower.
"I'm not stupid. I've seen the way you move around her. The way you don't look, but also... never stop watching."
He tilts his head, mock thoughtful.
"Must suck. Being so close to someone who'll never see you like that. Especially when they're busy trying to make me fall in love with them."
Elijah says nothing. Just... breathes in, slow and quiet. Then looks Andrew dead in the eyes-finally.
"She's always been out of reach,Sir. You? You're just... passing through."
Door clicks. Tina's back. Tina said cheerful and totally oblivious to everything.
"Got Neko Neko and also,he just bit a cushion and I didn't stop him. Oops!"
Andrew immediately straightens in his chair. Elijah steps back into his perfect butler posture. The air is suspiciously still. Tina picked up on the stillness,raising an eyebrow.
"...Why do you both look like you were fighting with your minds?"
Andrew answered way too quickly.
"What? Pfft. No. We were just... bonding."
Elijah also answered but in a calmer tone.
"Your fiancé has excellent taste in tea."
Tina said smiling.
"Aw! I knew you two would get along eventually."
Author's note🤓🤓:
Ready for Neko Neko's Intro???😏😏
Author's note🤓🤓:
Lol Andrew just keeps looking for the trouble that keeps running away from him.😂😂