Eric walked slowly into the grand hall, scanning the surroundings. Noah stayed close behind him, standing tall like a high-end bodyguard. Liam and Jay weaved between the wealthy guests, trying to look natural.
"Okay, let's split up. Don't go too far. If anything feels off, signal me," Eric whispered.
Noah nodded. "Copy."
The hall was extravagantly luxurious. Marble floors, massive chandeliers worth a car, the scent of high-end Alpha perfume lingering in the air.
Liam nudged Jay. "Jay, smile. Smile. You look like you're about to pay off a debt."
"Shut up. I'm nervous, okay? You think it's easy pretending to be a fake Omega?" Jay replied softly, flipping his hair like a diva.
Eric and Noah patrolled the sides, pretending to watch over Liam and Jay. At the same time, their eyes scanned every face, every table, every guard.
At the far end of the hall was a small corridor. Two guards stood in front of a black door.
VIP Room.
Eric pretended to walk past the door, acting like he was looking for the restroom. The guard immediately raised his hand.
"Sorry, sir, this area is for VIP guests only."
Eric smiled lightly. "Oh, okay. Wrong way."
But in his head: This is the most important spot. There's definitely something here.
Noah stared at the door. "No access card, can't get in. We need another way."
---
Meanwhile, at the food section…
Liam and Jay stopped in front of the buffet.
The spread was anything but ordinary: lobster, sushi, seven-layer cakes, imported chocolate, sparkling wine—like a table from heaven.
Jay grabbed a small canapé, took a bite… and his eyes widened.
"Whoa… this is insanely good. Is this what rich people eat? I could cry."
Liam grabbed another. "Bro… if I lose focus tonight, it's because of this food."
"No, seriously," Jay continued, grabbing two more. "If the mission fails, at least I die full."
Eric noticed from a distance, glancing briefly.
"Jay… you're undercover, not here for the buffet."
Jay quickly swallowed. "I'm undercover eating. There's a difference."
Liam chuckled quietly. "Relax. Rich people eat like this. We just need to blend in."
"Blend in or binge eat?" Eric muttered, shaking his head.
Even with the joke, Eric noticed a pattern: a waitress carrying a tray of pink wine kept walking toward the VIP corridor and returning without serving anyone.
He memorized it.
Eric strolled casually with an empty wine glass, but his eyes never left the VIP room. Every time a server entered, every guard shift change—he noted every detail.
Noah whispered, "See anything yet?"
"Not yet. But the VIP… definitely something."
Eric moved slowly toward another table, appearing like a normal guest, but really timing who entered and exited. Not many could access that door—it was too private.
---
Meanwhile, Liam and Jay were in full character.
Jay's hair was neatly combed, chest out, confident face. He chatted with a wealthy, portly Alpha. Italian words spilled out naturally.
"Sì, sì… la nostra azienda ha investito molto quest'anno." (Yes, yes… our company invested a lot this year.)
Liam nodded beside him, pretending to understand Jay's nonsense.
"È un progetto esclusivo, capisce?" (It's an exclusive project, you see?)
The portly Alpha smiled. "Ahhh… interessante."
Liam whispered to Jay behind the glass, "What are you actually saying?"
"I don't know," Jay replied with a fake smile. "I'm just winging it. Sounds good enough."
Liam swallowed a laugh. "Don't try selling fake shares or anything."
Jay sipped his wine. "If he buys, great. Money in."
---
Back to Eric…
Suddenly, the VIP door opened.
The man who helped them at the gate earlier stepped out, still with that faint, smug smile. Two bodyguards followed.
Eric pretended not to care, but inside: You again? Why are you here?
The man walked slowly across the hall, moving like someone important. The bodyguards stayed close.
Eric started following at a distance, steps casual like any other guest.
Liam noticed from afar. "Eric's in stalking mode now," he whispered.
Jay replied softly, "Hope he doesn't get caught. If he does, I'm not helping. I'm running."
---
Eric followed…
The man turned into a narrow side corridor. The lights dimmed slightly. Eric slowed his steps, careful not to be obvious.
When the man stopped at a corner, he raised a hand slightly. The bodyguards immediately split off in another direction.
Now the man was alone.
"Okay… weird," Eric whispered.
He stepped closer, trying to see where the man would go. But…
When Eric reached the corner—
The man had vanished.
Empty.
Silent.
Eric quickly glanced around. "Huh? Where did he go?"
Just as he was about to turn—
A hand grabbed his collar from behind.
Eric was startled, instinctively raising his hands to counter—
But the man was faster. He pushed Eric gently against the wall—not roughly, but close.
And he stood in front of Eric.
Face close.
Smug smile.
"Why are you following me?" the man asked, his voice low.
Eric was about to answer, but the man continued, eyes fixed on him.
"Are you… interested in me?"
The man pressed Eric closer to the wall, grip firm but steady.
"Why are you following me?" he repeated. "Are you into me?"
Eric stayed silent, thinking fast—if he denied it, the man might kick him out. If he admitted it, he could stay close and get deeper access, a chance to dig into Ferum-9 info.
He took a slow breath. "Yes… I'm interested in you."
The man raised an eyebrow, a small confident smile. "Oh? So an Alpha attracted to another Alpha?"
Eric clenched his jaw slightly. "Yes. Something like that."
The man stepped closer deliberately, narrowing the distance. "Didn't expect someone like you to have taste like this."
Eric forced a smile. In his head: Eww… an Alpha. I prefer Omegas. But he had to keep the act.
The man slid a finger under Eric's chin, lifting his face slightly. "Don't be shy. If you want me, just say it."
Eric pushed gently, not too hard to stay subtle. "Don't overdo it. I… just like you. Not asking you to hug me."
The man chuckled softly. "Nice."
Eric held back the urge to kick. Patience first. Info first. Flirt later.
---
Eric stepped out of the hall, still breathing heavily after a few minutes that felt like an eternity in the crowd. The chandelier lights reflected warm light on the marble floor, and the whispers of guests began to fade as people started moving elsewhere.
Suddenly, he bumped into someone.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry!" a soft voice broke his focus.
Eric looked up. His gaze froze. The woman… was breathtaking. Hair perfectly styled, eyes sparkling, movement graceful yet natural. Her pheromones hit Eric's nose—subtle blossom and sandalwood, enough to demand attention. He tried to take a deep breath. "Okay, stay calm. Don't make yourself look awkward."
"Err… are you okay?" Eric asked, voice quieter than usual, trying to appear normal.
"Yes… I'm fine," Clara replied, her gentle smile calming. She tilted her head slightly, assessing the situation politely.
Eric nodded, and for a few moments they stood silently, an unspoken pull hanging between them.
Eventually, Clara spoke, casual but curious.
"Hm… which family are you from?"
Eric smiled lightly, trying to relax. "Err… I'm a bodyguard. My boss… Lord Harrington," he used the alias assigned for the mission.
Clara nodded slowly, still watching with interest but not pushing.
A faint smile appeared on her lips. They chatted lightly, the topic casual and slow—Eric's attention not just on her words but the subtle fragrance and calm aura she radiated. He tried to deny the attraction, but it was impossible.
"Your pheromones… smell amazing."
"Thank you," Clara said, smiling sweetly.
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke the moment:
"Clara!"
Eric turned quickly. Carl appeared at the far end of the hall, steps firm, eyes sharp on his sister. The atmosphere seemed to tense up, though no one else noticed.
Eric flinched, heart skipping slightly. Carl strode toward them, calm expression but eyes clearly showing jealousy.
"Eh… what were you just saying to my sister? Her pheromones smell nice? Huh!?" Carl asked, voice composed but controlled.
Eric stammered, trying to explain, but Carl continued without pause:
"Don't tell me you're attracted to my sister, okay? You just told me you're into me. Focus on me, not her."
Clara smiled shyly to the side, turning her face slightly, while Eric swallowed, trying to calm himself. He felt the tension between him and Carl, and Clara's fragrance was still tempting, making it hard to fully focus on Carl.
Unbelievable. He's jealous? And we've barely met. We're not even dating. A little intimidating.
Eric tried to steady himself. "Okay… okay…" he whispered softly, still sneaking glances at Clara, knowing Carl was watching his every move.
Carl exhaled slowly, calming himself slightly, before looking at Eric again, expression firm but controlled. Clara, though shy, seemed to understand the tension—she didn't interfere, just smiled softly, waiting for Eric to adjust to the sudden awkwardness.
---