The Alpha's Challenge

Ch.1 Gin and Tonic

Gin

*Ringgg...Ringgg...Ringgg*

"TWO RINGS GIN, ANSWER BY TWO RINGS!"

I sigh and throw the pile of bras in my hand on the side counter, picking up the screaming phone.

"Hello, This is Gin with Carter's Market, how may I assist you today?"

Another coworker saunters up while I listen to the customer on the other end of line.

"Gin, this needs new tags."

I nod and take the neatly folded pair of jeans from her hand and throw them on top of my pile of bras, while transferring the call to customer service.

I hastily print off the tag and attach it to the jeans tossing them in the ready to go out cart. I grab my bras and place them in their given location.

Shortly, after returning to my desk, in the fitting rooms a clearly belligerent woman approaches and starts screaming at me about an unidentical clearance price. I sigh and try my best to explain that even though the stickers aren't the same she will still receive the lower price, but she clearly just wanted are argument.

Suddenly, the entire aura of the store shifted, all eyes turned towards the entry as three huge men entered the store. One had dirty blonde hair and was covered in tattoos, the one standing behind him was even larger somehow, with long black hair tied up in a bun. The smallest of the three was staggering, inebriated most likely. I sigh and scan the store. No management to be seen and I'm the senior employee. I move to approach them but before I can the dirty blonde one shooed off the angry customer and they all stood in front of me.

"Jasper go, take Lyle into a fitting room, make sure he doesn't make a mess."

I quickly fumble with the keys and unlock the largest room we have, not entirely sure they would fit in the smaller ones.

The largest one with long ebony hair wouldn't take his eyes off me while I opened the room for them, his stare was rather unnerving due to his obsidian eyes, that seem to lack any color, yet something about him drew me in.

When the door locked behind the two, I turned to find the sandy haired one mere inches from me.

I shiver slightly and back away a little.

"I'll be glad to help you sir, but I require a bit of personal space please."

He freezes as if realizing his actions and steps away slightly.

"If your friend makes a mess of my fitting room, none of you are leaving till it's cleaned. Now, how can I help you?"

He c****d an eyebrow as if challenging me and I plant a hand on my hip offering him a stern look.

"Fine, I need a button up for my friend. It's his wedding day, he's a bit nervous, as you can tell."

I scoff and saunter with him in tow to the mens formal wear wall.

"Classic fit, long sleeve, size XL, i'm assuming."

I move to throw the shirt in his direction but he grabs my wrist with a painfully firm hold.

His eyes fall to my chest and then back up to my name tag.

"Gin..Your mother a drunk?"

He smirks proudly at his insolent statement.

"No, but my father was till he shot her and then turned the gun on himself."

The mans icy blue stare softened slightly at my words, as well as his grasp on my wrist. I took my chance and yanked it back, noting the bruises already forming.

I don't know why I told him my life story but at least it offered me a chance to escape his hold.

"I'm sorry, that was a stupid thing to say."

I begin walking back to the fitting rooms handing him the shirt.

"Yes it was. Why don't you go help your friend."

He pauses a moment just looking me over, like a piece of candy till he makes his way over to the room housing his friends and knocks. Thankfully, he disappears into the room, granting me some peace.

I sigh finding an ice pack in the first aid kit and med wrapping it around my wrist.

I'm startled when I look up to see all three of them in front of me again. The black haired one seething while gazing down at my arm.

"Would you mind throwing this away for me, I assume we pay up front?"

I grab the alcohol drenched shirt with the tips of my fingers and drop it in the garbage.

"Yes, that's traditionally how all this works."

The sandy haired one who seems to be the ring leader irritatingly smirks at my sarcasm.

"When do you get off?"

I scoff as he shoo's away his buddies to go pay and stays in front of me, blocking me from exiting my cubby.

"You're hilarious if you think I'm going to tell you that."

His eyes darken and he enters the door way slightly looming over me, which doesn't take much due to the vast height difference. I'm 5'2 on a good day and he is easily 6'4.

"Well, you are going to tell me, and I'm going to treat you to a drink for your kindness. I'm Emery, by the way."

His eyes look over me hungrily and I back away further but he just enters the room and walks me to the opposite wall, resting his arm above my head. I can't lie my body betrayed me a bit, his glorious blue gaze pierced into my soul, making my legs quake beneath me.

"N..Nine..I get off at nine."

He grins and steps away as his friends call after him.

"Nine it is then Gin."

As soon as they leave the store I take a deep breath and steady myself.

My coworker walks up to me her eyes slightly wide.

"He certainly took a liking to you didn't he."

I return to working on my pile of clearance.

"Yes, he did. A quite terrifying one."

She laughed and folded the clothes as I tagged them.

"You know Gin, did you see how massive his hands were."

I try my best honestly not to recall the past fifteen minutes, but she makes it rather hard.

"No, can't say I did."

She smirks suggestively, and bile bubbles in the back of my throat.

"Gin, He could palm your head like a basketball, and you know what they say about men with large hands."

I grimace at her insinuation and continue on, praying he doesn't show up at the end of my shift.