Pasta and kisses
Río anxiously checked her watch, tapping it lightly with her finger as if that would somehow speed up time. Her new client was a perfect idiot, a spoiled twenty-something who had crashed into a kindergarten while driving drunk. Thank God it happened on a Saturday night and no one was there. Listening to father and son trying to justify themselves and solve everything with money was absolute torture.
And the worst part of it all was that Río knew she would have to handle it. The pair of fools shamelessly demonstrated their sexism. Unfortunately for the Latina, the only other available lawyers besides herself were Agatha and Wanda, a Beta. The father barely allowed the redhead to speak, constantly interrupting and dismissing her suggestions.
With Agatha, the situation was much worse. They didn't even look at her, and on the rare occasions when they addressed her, it was with a condescending tone.
—Dear, would you send that information to my email, please?
The dark-haired woman took a deep breath and counted to five mentally.
—Mr. Byron, I remind you… Again – She smiled falsely — that this is the job of our secretary.
—Oh, yes, yes, of course. Now, Río, where were we?
"In that you're a little piece of shit" she wanted to say, but instead replied:
—Here, Ms. Maximofwas very clearly specifying the legal procedures we will go through.
Without a doubt, what Río hated most was the way the Omega finished every explanation and the man waited for her to approve it.
—...This way we would avoid a major media scandal. — She concluded.
He looked at Río, and she, resigned, confirmed:
—Yes, what Ms. Harkness says is correct.
Both of them smiled, satisfied. Unable to take it anymore, the brunette stood up from the table.
—Well, we've been debating for almost two hours nonstop. I think it's best for everyone to end here and give ourselves time to reflect on the matter.
Once everyone was on their feet, Mr. Byron shook Río's hand for several seconds. His son mimicked the action.
—I trust you will represent us well, Ms. Vidal.
They gave Wanda a nod. When they approached Agatha, she extended her hand and looked him in the eyes. The man observed her, not knowing what to do, while Río hid an amused smile. The dark-haired woman insisted on shaking hands. Finally, the Alpha took her hand but instead of shaking it, he kissed it, looking at Agatha with lascivious and victorious eyes.
Río felt a sudden urge to vomit and, well, murder. Some of these feelings seeped into the air through her pheromones, and Wanda hit her shoulder in warning. When the clients were finally out of the office, the Beta declared:
—Sons of bitches.
The other two couldn't agree more.
---
The Puerto Rican headed to the parking lot, seeing Agatha a few meters behind her. She kept walking, thinking it was a coincidence, but when she almost reached her car, she turned around.
—Are you following me? Should I get my pepper spray?
The Omega nervously scratched the tip of her nose.
—No, I… I’m buying lunch today. You know, for what you did with the kids yesterday.
Río opened her mouth, but Agatha stopped her with a hand.
—And before you refuse, I warn you that I will not give in. So save me time and start the car.
Río smiled widely.
—I wasn’t going to reject you. I wanted to know if you’re included in the dessert.
The dark-haired woman blushed and mumbled:
—You really aren't afraid of a harassment lawsuit. — Then she got in the car without waiting for an invitation.
---
—What are you going to order? — She placed the menu on the table.
—A bit of Caesar salad will be fine.
The Omega raised an eyebrow.
—Come on, Río, I know you eat much more than that. Don’t be shy, I can afford it.
—And how do you know how much I eat? — She replied.
—Because you order an obscene amount of donuts and smoothies to eat in your office.
—Okay, you got me, I'm a food addict — She raised her arms in defeat — So, to hell with the salad, I want two plates of pasta.
—I’ll order the same.
Immediately after the waitress left the food on the table, Río transferred all the pasta to a single plate, making a large mountain of spaghetti. Agatha couldn’t help but look at her in surprise.
—What? — She asked with her mouth full — In their 30s, Alphas are in the prime of their virility, we need a lot of protein.
Ignoring the erroneous Neanderthal statement, Agatha asked:
—Are you thirty?
—Thirty-six.
The dark-haired woman teased:
—Now I see why you get along with my kids, you’re still a youngster.
Without stopping eating, the other replied:
—You say it like you’re an old woman.
—I’m older than you.
—Eight years is nothing.
—How do you know my age? — She was surprised.
Río froze with the fork a few centimeters from her open mouth. Agatha looked at her suspiciously.
—Did I guess?
—Río… — She threatened.
—Okay, okay. Do you remember that time you couldn’t get into the building because you lost your ID?
—Yes, and I was late to the Jokins case meeting. But what does that have to do with anything?
Río looked at her, raising her eyebrows.
—It can’t be… You took it! — She started hitting her arm with the menu.
—Ouch, oh, I'm sorry. I really wanted that case, it had everything.
—I know, that's why I wanted it too. — She stomped on her with her heel.
Río choked back a scream of pain with a mouthful of noodles. She took a white napkin and waved it like a flag of surrender.
—All right, I forgive you.
—Don’t act like you haven’t played dirty too.
—Me? Never — She placed a hand on her chest with an exaggerated indignation.
—You put weird stuff in my coffee so I would spend all day in the bathroom. — She accused.
—They were just natural herbs. In my defense, the package said it would only make you pee.
—It did much, much more than make me pee.
Río shuddered, recalling that traumatic event. Agatha laughed remembering her prank while the brunette repeated “it’s not funny, not at all funny.”
—Well, well, back to the topic. Eight years isn’t much of a difference.
—No, but eight years, a marriage and three kids are. — She replied, disheartened.
Río straightened up and gently took her hands.
—Agatha, you’re the kind of person who could be eighty and still be young. You’re the most stimulating and magnetic person I’ve known in a long time. I mean, extending your hand to that arrogant Alpha, hiding a whole family, putting herbs in my coffee, that’s… that’s crazy! And… — She smiled — I love it. Agatha Harkness, you’re completely insane and I must be too because I like you.
The warmth spread from her chest to the tips of her fingers, causing a slight tremor in her still intertwined hands. Tears timidly appeared in the Omega’s eyes. Noticing how affected she was, she hurried to dry her face with a napkin and try to compose herself.
—You’re so pretty...
—Don’t you dare laugh at me, Vidal. — She buried her face further into the napkin.
The Puerto Rican carefully removed the piece of fabric to see her eyes. She took her chin to bring her closer until their noses touched. And with an uncharacteristic seriousness, she said:
—You’re a beautiful Omega.
In a burst of courage, Agatha closed the distance, uniting their lips. Thus began a loving and long-awaited first kiss.