1. Miserably Single

Romance, Fantasy & Humor. If that's your thing, read on....

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"Amy" Sophie barged into my cabin waving a stash of papers in the air "What the heck is this?"

"There is a door right there for a reason Soph. Please knock" I leaned into my desk and rested my head tiredly on my palm "I'm your boss, remember?"

She rolled her pretty little sheep eyes at me without fear. Seriously, why do I get no special treatment from my employees? Is it because I'm a woman? Should I start a candle-march to protest against such blunt display of sexism?

"You mean a boss who's all set to drag us to bankruptcy?" she raised a brow, folded her arms under her chest and looked at me with a challenge "There's not a single appointment on your schedule after August. Will you please explain why you are going on an indefinite leave when you know there are high-valued client who demand your assistance"

Spirits! I hoped this woman wouldn't catch up so soon. Although I think I should be happy that my CFO is doing what she's paid for.

"We aren't that poor Soph. I don't think we will go bankrupt just because I wouldn't take up clients for the next couple of months"

"But it'll still put a huge dent in our pocket" she insisted.

"It won't" I assured her "I have my eyes set on a prospective client. I had to clear my schedule for them. I just need to lure them in and I don't know how long that will take. So I kept my schedule clean"

She narrowed her eyes at me in distrust "You got a big fish?"

I nodded "Leoline"

"Leoline?" her eyes widened "You mean The Leolines?"

I nodded again.

"But....but they are predators" she said "they don't need us. Plus almost all of them are mated already" she argued.

"Almost being the keyword baby" I smirked.

"No" She gasped "Arthur Leoline?"

I shrugged "My lips are sealed" I pretended to be busy with a file "Now get out and let me concentrate"

I held my breath until I heard the door shut after her. Heaving a sigh of relief, I tossed the pen in my hand across the room and groaned in frustration.

I should probably at this point at least discuss what business I run before my CFO makes people believe I'm a high-paid exotic hooker.

Here's the deal, I help people find their 'Happily ever after'. That's right, I'm a modern-day matchmaker for the unmatched.

Six years ago, at twenty-two I was jobless and desperately in need of a source of income. One drunken night, Sophie told me that I should make poking my nose into other people's business my business. The entire town knows how good I'm at that. So I took her advice very seriously and started my journey.

My first client was Mr. Jeffrey Tusk, a kind middle-aged elephant-shifter and also a widower. Mr. Tusk was very lonely and there were very few shifters of his kind in our town. I recalled Ellie, my housemate from university had an aunt and helped them meet up. The ship sailed smoothly even with the two elephants on board and I never looked back.

I started with neighborhood clients and then within two years, I had the entire town in my grasp. Last year, we opened our first branch in the capital city and I'm working on making it larger. It was a unique idea for the shifters. We even have an app dedicated to shifters dating even though my job is more than dating; we help shifters find a mate most suitable to their temperament. Each case is handled delicately. The dating is more for the young shifters who aren't looking for anything serious and of course can't afford our offline services.

When I say shifters, keep it in mind that I am not including the predators here. Predators have predestined mates that the spirit of nature blesses them with.

Well the folklores say that everyone including humans had predestined mates in the beginning of humanity. But then too many mates were lost in wars and cruelty by the stronger races. When the weak humans and shifters couldn't protect their mates, they were devastated. No one wants to deal with so much pain. It was a curse in the disguise of blessing.

Eventually, nature was kind enough to take the gift away from us leaving only the predators with the privilege. Yes our love isn't as fulfilling as that of a destined mate but then our pain isn't as devastating either. I'm perfectly happy with that. Look at how happy my parents and everyone else around me is.

To be honest, I wish predators didn't have mates either. It would have ensured more business for me. Predators are usually rich a$$holes.

Oh! I'm a Mare by the way, if you were curious that is. My family comes from a strong line of horse shifters. We are the domesticated and sophisticated lot and I'm proud of that. And if it isn't obvious enough, I'm a vegan too. It isn't a big deal really, all my friends and family are.

Now back to business, predators don't constitute the bulk of my clients. But like I said, the scent of money is mouthwatering. We do have occasional predators who lost their mates come to us at the insistence of their family in search of a second chance at love. I feel immense joy in finding happiness for them again. But then eleven months ago something amazing happened to me.

A very special predator with a very special request came to me. Olivia North, a wolf-shifter. Now, wolves are almost non-existent in our town mostly because they breed a lot and are hence capable enough of having their own mini-country. They are territorial too. They prefer to keep to themselves. So I was surprised that she took the trouble to come to me from the other end of our province.

Her request? Help her find the perfect mate not because her mate was dead but because he was already mated to someone else. I know I shouldn't be excited about it but can you blame a woman for dreaming about a perfect future? I could almost kiss Olivia for the hope that she brought to my life. So I took it as a personal mission to find her the perfect mate even though it took me seven months to finally dig the handsome hunk of a wolf, Benjamin Knight, out of his depression. They are currently seeing each other.

Oh the joy of making people happy!

I love my job.

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"Are you sure you want to do this?" Mia whispered nervously looking around. Her animal was intimidated by the presence of so many predators around us.

We are attending a post-wedding party of a predator Feline-shifter, William Mace. He's a hot shot politician we found a match for. He is honestly our biggest achievement till date and has left us a lot richer and with a wedding invite obviously. I've lost count of the number of weddings I've attended till date.

"Of course she's going to do this. She's Amelia Philip" Sophie chipped in "The only true love she has is money" Aren't sheep supposed to be meeker?

"And Spirit's Match" I added. That's the name of our company by the way. Our tagline being, 'We match the unmatched'.

"I've worked too hard for this Mia" I told her "I know you hate sticking up to the predators but please do this for me okay?"

Sophie's eyes started drifting towards the other end of the hall where Arthur Leoline stood with all his smugness and ugliness, hopefully drowning his arrogant self in the glass of alcohol in his hand. How I wish it was poison he was holding instead.

Sophie hissed as I not-so-subtly pinched the side of her waist bringing her out of whatever dream she was floating in.

"What?" she barked "He's hot"

"He also probably had a lamb for lunch" I told her with a smile. She almost threw up at that.

Mia pouted uncomfortably "Why him though" she scrunched her nose "He's a lion. Couldn't you have found someone less intimidating? Like a hyena or something? Wolves are nice too" she added as an afterthought.

"Hyenas are evil" Sophie pointed out.

"A lion is perfect for my plan" I explained "They are the most secluded population among us. If we can get to them, more predators will come to us"

"We don't want predators, Amy" Sophie said "We are doing fine without them. And don't forget they have mates. You don't want to entangle yourself with that mess. The spirit's blessings are with them. We shouldn't interfere with that"

Mia nodded in agreement.

"The spirits can make mistake sometimes okay? We are here to correct that" I gritted out "Also I'm the boss. If I say we are doing this, then we are doing this" I said with finality.

"Fine. Don't get so worked up about it" Mia rubbed my shoulder "If you want this then we are here for you"

Sophie rolled her eyes but nodded with Mia "I have something to lighten your mood up"

I looked at her with disinterest. I don't think she could do anything at this point to lighten my mood.

"Adam asked Rickey about you the other day" She said with a smirk.

Oh boy. I was so wrong. I could hardly keep the smile off my face. Adam Stone is a meal. He is a field full of soft blades of green grass. And also the holder of the top spot in my personalized list of 'Man-I-would-want-to-lose-my-virginity-to'.

Yes I am a twenty-eight year old virgin. Stop judging me. You don't know my story. And also, this status is going to change soon, hopefully with the sexy stallion Adam Stone himself. I can plan on having five or six beautiful blue-eyed babies with him.

"Isn't he like on the top ten of your virginity list?" Mia questioned.

"One" I replied breathlessly "He is on number one"

"What happened to Noah Waters?" Sophie asked "I thought he was number one"

I winched at the memory "He found a mate so I had to cross him out and make a new list. If only he could hold on a little longer"

"You never told him to wait" Sophie slapped the back of my head "In fact you never even talked to him when he tried to flirt with you. How did you expect him to wait for you?"

"I couldn't do that Soph" I sighed "But once I'm done with this project, I'll be a free bird. I'll grab the collar of the first available man and pull him to the first available room and...."

"Yeah we got the gist of it" Mia waved her hand dismissively "We have been hearing that for years now"

"Not my fault. Trust me" I said.

"I think you need to see a shaman or something" Mia continued, ignoring me "There is something very wrong with your love life other than the twenty-eight-year old virgin that is"

"Yeah" Sophie agreed instantly "most of the men flirting with you seem to magically land in the white hospital bed within a week. Noah was in the hospital with twenty-six broken bones for three months after that drunk kiss of yours" she recalled.

I sighed again "All of that will change soon" I repeated it like a mantra. A promise to myself. I'll work harder.

I hate my luck.

I hate my life.

As if listening to my prayers, the spirits from above sent the man of the hour William Mace himself as an angel.

"Amelia" the happy man grinned wide "I'm so sorry I couldn't attend to you guys earlier" he smiled at Sophie and Mia.

"It's not a problem, Mr. Mace" I smiled with the elegance of a mare, my fake mask back on "It's your day. You are a busy man today"

"That doesn't mean I don't remember my promise to you" he winked suggestively and nodded his head to where the senior Leolines were standing, a bunch of high-end officials surrounding them. "Let get your business rolling, shall we?"

Of course he should do that. I worked my a$$ off to find him the perfect mate for this single moment. I wasn't going to move from my spot until he gave me what I want.

I smiled "Spirits! You remember" I pretended to be pleasantly surprised "Thank you so much Mr. Mace" I said as he held out his hand for me to take.

I winked at my friends before letting Mace take me to my goal. I can do it. I nodded to myself before planting the most kiss-as$ smile on my face as Mace brought us to a stop before George and Scarlett Leoline, the definition of a perfection themselves.

"William" The huge man boomed with a smile as he wrapped his arms around Mace "Congratulations once again brother"

His wife smiled and nodded along.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Leoline" It was weird to see Mace blush but I guess the senior lions had that effect on people.

"Oh! Who do we have here" George Leoline turned his perfect smile towards me and I almost felt guilty for drooling over a man my father's age and a predator no less.

I plastered a smile on my face waiting for Mace to introduce us.

"Ah! You said you wanted to meet the person who made this special day possible, Mr. Leoline" he smiled "This is her. Amelia Philip. She is the CEO of Spirit's Match"

Oh. No wonder Mace came to my service so soon. I thought I would have to wait until the end of the party for my chance. It wasn't my promise he was fulfilling.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Leoline" I smiled "Madame" I smiled at his wife who returned it with equal vigor. Her smile looked genuine though. She probably has more experience at faking a smile than me.

"I think that should be the opposite Ms. Philip" the woman said warmly "We have been hearing wonderful things about your organization"

"Please call me Amelia" I smiled.

"So you match the unmatched, Amelia" George Leoline looked at me with a strange curiosity.

"Yes we do, Sir" I replied confidently, this is my only opportunity "We find the perfect match for people who haven't been so lucky as to be blessed by the spirits of nature. Just like the spirits, our ultimate goal is love. We want people to find love and togetherness. No one deserves to be alone"

"Wow!" A familiar voice crept up from behind me "That's strange Ms. Philip" I watched as Arthur Leoline came up to stand next to his father, the glass of alcohol still in his hand as he glared at me "your business motto doesn't seem to sit well with your life's practices"

I raised a brow and gritted my jaws together "What would that be, Mr. Leoline?"

"Love and togetherness" He smiled, a hard smile, I could see the effort he was putting "I heard you have been miserably single all your life, Ms. Matchmaker"

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New Story :D

Its a Rom-Com which I think I deserve after the heavy dose of Luna's Last Choice.

Its my therapy :P

Happy reading :)