Atem strode into his office and set his bag down on his desk, stretching lightly while gazing out through the windows at the sparkling view of Domino City beneath him.

The bar hopping last night didn't go very well. All of his friends had managed to charm a couple of women over some drinks, but his night had been plagued with rejection.

One woman had barely glanced at him before commenting loudly to her friend, "he smells aggressive. Let's avoid him," before grabbing her friend and edging away.

He'd taken a chance last night and went out without any cologne to mask his natural scent and realized that had been a mistake.

And that's why working at this company is a godsend, Atem thought firmly, touching the knot on his tie and catching a glimpse of his reflection in the window. He'd been rejected all his life—by other Alphas, other Betas, and Omegas scattered at the sight of him, especially after they'd caught a whiff of his natural scent even when they were across the street.

Only when he covered it up with a cologne, was it manageable.
Barely.
Getting up to one of the top offices had only been easy because Atem knew other people were obliged to respect him, but to was hard to determine if people actually liked him, or if they were just behaving that way out of fear or jealousy.

Being treated like this made him hyper-aware of his status as an Alpha, and often, thinking about it made him uncomfortable.

Maybe that's why he gravitated so much towards Seto Kaiba, who was almost too good to be true. People liked him and respected him. It was possible to have both. He just needed to crack Kaiba's code and achieve that kind of reverence.

The trick was probably in the sweet cologne he wore and kept under wraps only for himself, because it was a phenomenal smell.

Even Omegas were dazzled by it. Atem had seen with his very own eyes, a group of Omega businessmen entering the building, turn to bow and then smile at Seto Kaiba as he brushed past them with a polite nod, acknowledging them.

He probably never intends to mass produce it, Atem mused, sitting down behind his desk and flipping his laptop open, staring blankly at the screen as he remembered Kaiba growing increasingly more hostile during their conversation yesterday.

So perhaps I should apologize for offending him, Atem squared his shoulders back and opened his email, wondering if it would be better to apologize in person.
Apologizing over a text was cowardly.

Closing his laptop with a soft click, he rose to his feet and walked to the door, rehearsing his words in his head.

He strode down the hall and saw a man and a woman from another department edge towards the wall and bow stiffly, letting him pass.

Irritated, Atem smiled as warmly as he could and tried to catch their eye, but they were bowed were so low, he could only see the tops of their heads. They also wore blue name tags around their necks, signifying that they were Omegas, and his irritation rose.

The Kaiba Corporation's hierarchy for identifying Betas and Omegas was intelligently designed to protect them, and Atem could appreciate it, but it made him feel more singled-out as an Alpha, because he was encouraged to wear a camera button the moment he stepped in through the doors.

He knew it didn't imply that Alphas couldn't be trusted, but it sure felt that way.

Omegas were encouraged to travel in pairs and wore a camera button at all times too.
Everyone did. Even Betas, who were not a threat to Omegas, wore camera buttons and sported yellow badges. The Alpha's badges were red, and Atem couldn't help but think that meant red 'danger' to the other people in the office.

Stepping into the elevator, Atem let out a tight sigh and tapped his badge against the reader, feeling people shuffle to the side behind him, and he chanced a glance over his shoulder.

Two more pairs of Omegas were eying him cautiously before they dipped their heads back down to look at their phones.

The air was heavy with the faint scent of their pheromones mixed in with the fragrance of the automated air freshener fitted into the ceiling, and Atem stared at the device until his eyes burned.

This was another perk about working at Kaiba Corporation.
Their technology was designed to make everyone's day more comfortable.

It would normally be suffocating to ride an elevator in public with everyone's scents horribly mixed in together, but here, the elevators were sanitized every hour, and the air was purified to mask anyone's scent which might linger from being in Heat.

Of all the places he'd ever worked at, Kaiba Corporation was the most humane towards Omegas. The lengths Seto Kaiba went to protect the lower class showed just what an outstanding human being he was, and Atem's admiration for Kaiba rose as the elevator travelled higher.

The pairs of Omegas got out silently and the doors whooshed shut.

Shifting his stance, Atem clasped his hands in front of him and rehearsed his speech again.

The elevator floated to a stop and the doors slid open for him to step out. The Beta woman at the front desk smiled kindly at him and immediately picked up her phone to dial Kaiba inside his office.

Atem could hear the phone ringing, and the woman spoke into the receiver, her eyes nailed to the red badge he wore around his neck, reading his name fluidly. "Mr. Kaiba? …Yes, Atem is here to see you. Let him in? Okay."

"Go ahead," she said sweetly, hanging up the phone and turning back to her computer with a swish of her ponytail.

Atem nodded and hastily pushed past the frosted glass doors into Kaiba's office, his heart pounding nervously in his chest as he wondered if he would catch a whiff of that wonderful scent again.

Seto Kaiba sat on top of the world for a reason, and it was all because of that secret cologne.

Atem strode confidently across the office and bowed curtly, straightening up and making sure to give Kaiba the friendliest smile he could muster, receiving a cold look in return from a set of piercing blue eyes that set his skin on fire.

"My adventure at the bar ended in failure," Atem announced, giving Kaiba a mischievous smile, hoping for some camaraderie. "I don't know how you do it. Share your secret with me."

And he kicked himself for sounding so forward again. He was here to apologize, not to wheedle am account out of a client.

"I don't participate in…" debauchery, Kaiba finished angrily inside his head, and decided to smile stiffly instead. "What do you want?"

And he dreaded hearing the answer. He knew exactly what Atem wanted—to be a loud, douchey Alpha in his presence and brag about how many Beta women he failed to court on his night out?

"I came to apologize," Atem said carefully, searching for any signs of hostility into Kaiba's handsome features, and when he saw Kaiba's eyes widen slightly, he added. "…For asking about the cologne when it's clearly your secret."

Taking a quick step closer to the desk, Atem inhaled tentatively, searching for the delicious scent but came up empty.

He's being predatory, Kaiba thought nervously, wondering if Atem would react to the scent of his nervous sweat.
Most likely, yes.
As far as he was concerned, Omegas existed only to placate Alphas in this world, and that was why society was so shitty.
Alphas were shitty.
Period.

"So I hope you'll accept my apology," Atem said simply, his leg pressed against the edge of the desk as he contemplated bowing again…only to get closer.

"Yeah, cool, fine," Kaiba replied heatedly, using all of his willpower not to back away from Atem who was steadily growing closer. Did this guy know he was acting like a predator?!

"You know, I consider you to be my friend, even though we don't see each other outside of this building," Atem continued, giving Kaiba a gentle smile. "Working for you has made my life more livable. That's why I'm so eager to help you market a scent that's distinctive. I love the look on people's faces when they smell the samples…."

This guy never shuts up, Kaiba thought frantically, now wondering if he needed to pull out the safety measure he'd put in place for this situation. He'd anticipated Atem would come sniffing again, not as soon as the next day, yet here he was. So last night, in a fearful haze, he'd made a "sample" cologne vial based on his own pheromones.
Just in case he needed to swat Atem away with it.
Atem wanted to see a failed sample, he'd show a failed sample and then this Alpha would fuck off. Hopefully.

"What do you say?" Atem asked hopefully, wondering if Kaiba had heard him at all, because the CEO's face was oddly blank the entire time he'd been pitching, so he tried again.

"I mean, you and I are similar men, aren't we?" Atem implored, seeing Kaiba's eyelid twitch visibly, and he took that as a good sign. "So you must understand where I'm coming from. It's absolute agony to be rejected so frequently, but you've found a solution!"

What's he saying?! We're not similar at all! Kaiba reeled, clenching and unclenching his fists under the desk, his palms now completely damp with nervous sweat.
Right. It was time for Plan B. Show the reject sample and make him fuck off because Atem's scent was overpowering, it was making Kaiba dizzy.

"Look," Kaiba made solid eye contact with Atem and his stomach did a flip, but he did his best to ignore it and pressed on. "I brought the failed sample. Will you just… leave me alone after you see it—"

"REALLY?!" Atem pressed his palms down on the desk and nearly jumped up with excitement. "Thank you so much! I knew you would understand!"

I really fucking don't, Kaiba thought sourly, hesitating before he reached into the topmost drawer and slid out the tiny glass bottle the size of his pinky, sealed in a small plastic bag.

Now, would Atem leave him alone?

Atem's angular eyes glowed and he reached his hands out eagerly, bowing one more time to show his gratitude as the plastic landed softly in his open palm.

He curled his fingers around it tightly, his heart thundering in his ears as he straightened up again and gave Kaiba a grateful, relieved smile.

"Thank you," Atem whispered, his throat closing with emotion as he gazed in Kaiba's clear blue eyes. "Maybe now…I can finally be accepted in the same way."

Kaiba blinked and nodded, thoroughly confused.
Sure whatever.
Accepted in what way?
He hadn't been listening because Atem's pheromones were suffocating him.
The scent had gotten stronger since he entered, and now he knew the smell was going to linger on all his stuff.

Another wipe-down was required after Atem left, if he would ever leave!

"I am deeply grateful for your trust in me," Atem said quietly, bowing again and making a hasty exit, just in case Kaiba changed his mind and wanted to take the sample back.

Kaiba jumped to his feet, wondering where the hell Atem was going with the sample.

He swayed on the spot, dumbfounded when he realized he'd inadvertently agreed to giving the sample away.

I'm so fucked, I'm so fucked! Kaiba gripped his hair in distress and after a moment, raced out of the office to chase after Atem, but was too late. The lights at the top of the elevator indicated he was already on his way down.

"Fuck!" Kaiba spat, and his secretary jumped in fear, pressing a hand to her chest and giving him a worried frown.

"What's wrong? Did he make you angry?" She asked, also rising to her feet, and Kaiba held his hand up stiffly, indicating she should stay seated.

"Nothing. I just fucked up," he said, more to himself than anyone else, and he walked back into his office, trying not to scream at the top of his lungs.
Whatever. It was a tiny sample.
Atem could fucking have it if he wanted it so badly.

Downstairs, Atem pressed the sample close to his chest and dashed back into the safety of his office, making sure to lock the door and draw the blinds.

Sinking into his chair, Atem realized he'd just been handed a golden elixir. The answer to moving with ease amongst Omegas was in his hands.
If he wore this scent, he would be respected, not feared.
Kaiba was a generous Alpha indeed.
Maybe if he wore this scent out tonight, he'd have a different experience.

I really owe him, Atem thought mildly, uncapping the tiny vial and nearly doubling over at the impressively sweet scent. It went straight up his nose and hit the back of his brain, clouding his senses heavily, making it hard to think, hard to breathe….

W-Wait…

Was this a cologne made from Omega pheromones?!

Capping it quickly, Atem's stomach curled with arousal and he nervously glanced down at himself, horrified at the solid boner pressing up against the fabric of his pants.

Right, of course.
It only made sense.
Kaiba, a Top Alpha, would wear the faint scent of Omega Pheromones to make himself appear harmless. That was why everyone thought he smelled good, Omegas and Alphas alike reacted to this scent. Only a dab was needed.
And here he and entire sample, which was more than enough for… several months?

Atem reeled, trying to stay composed as he ignored the tight throbbing in his crotch.

Maybe I shouldn't have asked, Atem thought guiltily, tucking the sample safely into his blazer pocket and itching to jack off. He didn't know the scent was so potent in one tiny sample. His dick ached to be touched, and Atem shifted uncomfortably, crossing and uncrossing his legs.
Damn.
Now he needed to jack off.

Embarrassed, Atem hastily got up and ran out of his office, heading straight for the bathrooms on the third floor, made specifically for Alphas experiencing ruts.

He heard several snickers echoing up the hall as he passed several cubicles, and he ignored it.

Yeah, they could laugh all they wanted.

Taking the stairs down three at a time, Atem barreled down the floors and reached the third floor quickly. He shouldered the door aside and threw himself into the nearest bathroom, pushing his way into the stall and not bothering to lock the door when he felt himself leak thickly into his underwear.

Shit.
He didn't bring any spare clothing…because he wasn't a mated Alpha who experienced ruts!

Throwing himself down on the padded bench, he unbuckled himself clumsily and shoved his hand into his pants, giving himself a frantic squeeze to appease the lustful throbbing before he managed to inch his underwear down to his thighs, exposing his erection to the cool air in the stall.

Letting his breath out slowly, Atem grabbed himself and rubbed furiously, willing his erection away. This was the worst. Thing. Ever.
Reacting to a manufactured scent.
Maybe this meant he was a Beta because this scent made him react this way.

Reaching into his blazer pocket without thinking, Atem took the cologne sample out and pressed the vial to his nose, desperately inhaling the residual scent from the edge of the cap leaked out and blanketed him softly, sending jolts of pleasure down his chest while his hand moved on it's own, jerking up and down roughly in synch with his pounding heart.

The scent… was amazing.

Atem threw his head back and leaned against the wall, losing himself to the pleasure of his own hand. Every rub sent a shiver of ecstasy running down his spine, and every time he inhaled, the flowery scent encouraged him to touch himself harder, faster, even making him dig two fingers further down between his legs between his balls and giving himself a firm, upwards stroke as he shivered and shuddered with pleasure.

Unable to think, Atem doubled over and came in a rush as one orgasm rocked his body in a violent jerk, sending a wave of fire coursing down his chest and over his legs, melting him steadily.

Breathless and panting, Atem kept his hand loosely wrapped around his semen-covered dick and thunked his head onto the wall and felt a tiny curl of self-pity.

Great. Because he'd been craving a mate, he'd gone and jacked off to a scent manufactured by the company he worked for. The epitome of loneliness.

Composing himself slowly, Atem stood up and cleaning himself off with the tissues provided and made sure to thoroughly wash his hands in the tiny sink protruding from the wall.

Feeling horribly guilty, he made sure the vial was tucked safely back in his blazer pocket before he exited the bathroom, feeling like the biggest villain.

On his way up the stairs, he passed another Alpha from the marketing department, and the man gave him a hungry look, his eyes glinting.

"Director. You smell nice," he said, bobbing his head respectfully before hurrying down to the third floor, his pants bulging with an erection.

Atem blinked and didn't nod back, his chest tight with a mild sense of anger.

Why do I feel angry? That was a good compliment, Atem thought nervously, reaching his floor and pushing the door open, passing by two Omegas who didn't bow and smiled shakily at him with their eyes wide.

They turned to whisper to each other after he passed, and Atem frowned, his confusion rising.

This was what he wanted.
He wanted Omegas to treat him like a normal human being, and he wanted his co-workers to respect him. It had worked. Almost instantaneously.

Except he had made a mistake and masturbated to the scent because he himself was susceptible to it.

Kaiba's engineering was truly something.

His phone rang on his desk, and he rushed to pick it up, hearing an automated voice remind him of a meeting he had in five minutes.

Either that's great timing or horrible timing, Atem thought nervously, gathering his laptop and notes, realizing he had to tell Kaiba about this blunder.

It might be an offense he'd be fired for.
No amount of apologizing would save him from this mistake.

Steeling himself to appear normal, Atem marched to the door and decided he would accept the consequences as they came. After all, he did ask for the cologne sample in the first place, so the blame was mostly on his shoulders.

Author's note:

kaiba fucks up and gives atem a scent he made from his own phermones which made atem horny. Now atem thinks he's a beta lmao (hes clearly not) and Kaiba called the meeting, so lets see how it goes….