It was late in the afternoon, reaching the time when all anyone wanted was a nap and maybe an extra cup of coffee. Despite the time and whatever internal feelings people were harboring inside the office, it was anything but sleepy.

The day had been filled with photoshoots and models showing off the Phero-Patch - a translucent adhesive patch that goes over scent glands for those who don't want to stick out too much in a crowd or need to control their pheromones during heat or rut.

Instead of spending the rest of the work day in his office like some cryptic CEO, Jakob decided to oversee the photoshoots personally. The moment he walked into the room, everyone seemed to straighten up, work a little faster, keep their gazes down.

Good, he thought. Means they're getting shit done. Jakob checked his watch: 4:37pm. The photos were supposed to be done at 4:30. He scanned the scene - only one camera and background set up, with staff running around speaking in hushed tones.

He caught the nervous glance of an assistant. In a few long strides, Jakob hovered over the shoulder of the Beta woman. "Have something to say?" he asked, his tone sharper than intended after a long day.

"Oh, Mr. Bloom. Apologies, but we're having delays due to one of our models being late."

Late? Jakob bit back a scoff. "Do you have an estimate on when they should be here?"

The Beta froze, nails tapping against her clipboard. Jakob raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.

"...the model."

Ah. Jakob recognized the name from the modeling applications he'd personally reviewed. Handsome, professional credentials, perfect for showcasing his product. "Very well," he said. "We need photos done by the end of the week for the editors. Don't clean up."

The staff nodded nervously.

Jakob paced the studio, checking his watch repeatedly as the minutes dragged by. It's getting late, he thought. Where the fuck is he? The tension in the room grew palpable as employees sensed their boss's mounting impatience.

Almost an hour passed before Jakob looked down at his wrist again: 5:17pm. He huffed and looked up to see a man being led over to him by a staff member. Jakob pushed loose strands of hair away from his eyes, jaw clenching as the model approached.

"You're late," he said, foregoing introductions. He gave the man an up-down glance. Yep, definitely him. Fucking finally. "Go over to the setup," he pointed behind the model. "I'll meet you there. When you're done, come talk to me."