2. The Living Dead

I can't believe he has the nerves to say that.

I blinked trying to come to terms with his words and also to possibly kill a little more time as I come up with a clever response. I can't lose in front of his parents. No. I need them.

"Arthur" his mother chided "That's a very rude and personal question"

Thank heaven for this woman. I could kiss her right now. I doubt she'll be sent to the hospital for that.

"I agree. Excuse my son for his rudeness, Amelia" George Leoline nodded "However I'll be lying if I say Arthur didn't get me a little curious"

'Arthur' lazily sipped on the poison in his hand and looked at us with disinterest.

I looked at Mace for help but he simply shrugged.

Can I tell them my childhood lover died or something? Sh*t no. I can't do that. I run Spirit's Match. The predators come to me for a second chance. They wouldn't come to me if I can't even give myself a second chance.

Asexual? Aromantic? Simply not interested in anything that moves?

Nah! I am going to have the most scandalous affair in the entire city once this project wraps up. They will definitely get a whiff.

"I don't know where you got that information from, Mr. Leoline" Deny it. Fervently. Yes, that's my only choice. I smiled sweetly at the devil "Your gossip circle doesn't have the strongest ears. Lot of snake friends? They have issues with sound frequencies" I said all of that with a smile "I do like keeping my love life private" I told his father and then glared at the devil "Unlike some people"

George Leoline chuckled which encouraged Mace to support me "I can totally attest to that, Mr. Leoline" he winked at me "lovely couple. I once had the fortune of meeting her boyfriend when I visited her office. She got all flushed. I keep asking her why she hides such a handsome stallion"

Bless you Mace.

I pretended to blush lightly, careful not to overdo it. I also took extra precaution to keep myself from looking at a certain Leoline. He's scary.

"That's lovely dear" Mrs. Leoline gushed seeming genuinely excited. Why and how she does that got me curious. But that's for another day. "I can see the glow of love on your face" she finished.

Woman! What?

"I guess we got a little sidetracked there" George Leoline said. Finally. "We have been meaning to give you a call for a while Amelia"

I did a happy dance inside my head.

"Are you guys getting married again?" Arthur interrupted him "is that why you need the matchmaker? I don't see any other use for her"

I glared at him which he returned with equal vigor. I would be lying if I say that didn't scare me.

"Now is not the place Art" his mother said softly.

"We would like you to schedule an appointment, Amelia" George Leoline continued "We believe we have some personal business with your institute and we would appreciate if you keep it under wraps just like that handsome stallion of yours" he smiled.

I beamed. Arthur let out a throaty roar before turning and storming out angrily.

Heads turned to us. Mace looked like he wanted to run after Arthur and pacify him. An angry Arthur isn't good for his business I suppose.

"Don't worry William" George Leoline assured him "He'll come around. He's a stubborn cub"

Cub? Really?

I quickly pulled out my business card and handed it over to George Leoline lest he changes his mind about needing my help.

It's not about them needing my help, it's me helping myself. I need them more than they need me. I couldn't care less about their son being mateless for over a decade, which really isn't affecting him anyways if you believe the tabloids. I just don't want to be called a twenty-nine year old virgin. I want this misfortune of mine to be gone with twenty-eight.

So with a solid promise from the Leolines, I walked back to my friends with a proud smile. This has to be the best night I've seen in twelve years.

_____________

"I don't think we can help you Caroline" I patiently explained it to the mer sitting across me.

"But....but they say you find the perfect mates" she was almost on the verge of tears "I want a perfect mate" she demanded with downturned lips.

Spirits! Why are these mers so pretty? It's impossible to say no to them without feeling like thrash.

"Here's the deal, sweetheart" I patted her head "First thing first, you are too young to look for a mate. You should probably go finish school"

Mia glared at me. Okay. Not the best thing to say to a thirteen year old mergirl who ran away from home to meet me. She has a lot of expectations from me. Apparently I'm famous at sea.

I pulled the glass of water on my desk and held it out for her "Here drink this"

"I can't drink this Miss. Philip" she leaned away from the water "I'll lose my legs if I touch water here. It's a lot of work to turn back" she made a face.

"Oops! Sorry" I smiled.

"It's okay" she nodded "I really need a mate though"

"I'm sorry love even though we have a wide network of people working for us, we don't actually have a network underwater. I can't help you even if I wanted to" I explained.

"Oh!" she pouted "They said you find the perfect mates" she repeated.

I pouted with her "How about you work for us when you grow up?" I tried lightening her mood "You could run Spirit's Match's underwater branch" I offered.

Her eyes widened "You would let me do that?"

I nodded "You will need to do some groundwork over the next few years and then yeah, we will support you. You seem like a brave and capable girl" I smiled at her "And maybe you will also find your mate in the process?"

She pondered over it.

"Amy there's a call from Leoline for you" Jasmine, my secretary said.

My heart stopped for a moment before I quickly stood up with a grin that seemed to confuse the young girl sitting across me.

"Caroline" I smiled at her "Why don't you sit here and discuss the possibilities with Mia" I nodded at Mia "while I attend to a little job. Yes?"

She nodded and turned to Mia eagerly. Mia took my spot and I rushed out of the room.

"Call her parents" I told Jasmine before getting on the call I've been dying for.

.

Two weeks and four days.

That's how long I waited for a single call from the Leoline office. By the end of the second week I was convinced they forgot I even existed.

So when the call from Scarlett Leoline's personal assistant did come through, I wasted no time in jumping to business. I gathered all the data I had collected over the past months and made my way to the Leoline subsidiary office in the Western edge of the city of Archapolis.

I was mildly surprised when I was led to a conference room with only Scarlett Leoline in it. I was expecting more people.

"It's wonderful to see you again Amelia" She smiled.

Next time you miss me, call me sooner maybe?

"Same here, Mrs. Leoline" I smiled back as I took a seat.

"Scarlett will do dear" She said "Mrs. Leoline makes me sound old"

She's anything but old. Her beauty was almost hurting my eyes. Well old can be beautiful too but that's not the point I'm trying to make here. Duh.

"I know it's been quite a few days. We were actually planning on ringing you a lot early but..." she sighed "my son Arthur, you met him the other day"

I nodded.

"We actually wanted to talk to you about him. We...." She hesitated.

I put my hand lightly on top of hers on the table "It's okay, Mrs. Leoline. I had a hunch that Mr. Arthur Leoline would be my client. You can speak to me"

She grasped my hand between her palms before I could remove it. I winched silently trying not to imaging how many hunts those hands made. I hate touching predators. It gives me nightmares keeping me awake for nights.

Business. I remind myself.

"I should tell you, of course" she nodded to herself "You need to know if we are to find any happiness for my son"

Humor me.

"He lost his mate"

What the actual eff?

I was too shocked to react. So I simply stared at her dumbly.

She tapped her hand on mine in assurance "It took us a while to come to terms with the fact that my son's mate is no longer in this world."

"Wh...when?" I asked.

"Seven years ago" she replied.

"Seven?"

She nodded "Arthur only told us last year. We went to her family to offer condolence. Losing a young cub was hard on them"

"Where?" I realized I was too shocked to form sentences. Luckily she understood me.

"Sancville province" She replied. That's on the other edge of the country.

I don't understand what's going on. So I replied with "Oh!"

"We thought he was still looking for her" she continued "He never told us that he lost her. My poor baby has been suffering alone for so many years"

Ummm....excuse me? Don't you like read newspapers or use the internet? Your 'baby' has been anything but alone.

"So" I cleared my throat "like I said I had a hunch it was about it. I did a little groundwork and collected a data of prospective mates for Mr. Leoline" I was done listening to his sob story "But I'll still need his list of preferences and expectations. So, if you could forward these papers to Mr. Leoline. Once he fills it, you can give me a call and I'll come over to discuss things with you"

"Oh wouldn't it be better if you talk to him about it?" Mrs. Leoline asked sweetly "I think you will be able to understand him better if you interact directly with him"

"No that wouldn't be...."

"I know he wasn't at his best behavior the other day but I promise he'll do better" she said hurriedly. I wanted to roll my eyes at her.

I didn't.

Her sweetness is messing with my head.

"His office is on the fifty-second floor" she smiled dialing someone "I'll ask Keith to take you to him"

"Are you sure he agreed to it Mrs. Leoline?" a slow fear was creeping up my soul.

"Of course, dear" she smile "He himself insisted on it. He wanted to be here now but I told him I need to make you comfortable first and with the way he behaved the other day, you wouldn't probably be comfortable seeing him first" Her smile widened. I smiled with her "You have no idea how happy he made us when he said he was ready for a mate. We have been trying to get him to agree for months. Oh! There he is" She nodded at Keith "Will you please take Ms. Philip to Arthur?"

Keith smiled and agreed. I followed him with a final goodbye to Mrs. Leoline. I already miss her. More so when it's her devil son I am about to face.

.

Keith knocked as I waited. A grunt replied us. I rolled my eyes as Keith opened the door for me to enter.

The lion was sitting at his desk, elbows rested on it as his glaring eyes rested on me for a moment before looking over my shoulder at Keith.

"Thank you Keith" The lion told the bull "You may leave now"

The bull nodded and did as he was told. I got a feeling he doesn't like talking much. The door closed after him and I shivered at the silence it promised.

"What the f*ck do you think you are doing" The devil growled before I could even properly settle my gaze on him. I looked at the door quickly. Keith just left. He could have heard him "The room is soundproof" he answered my silent gesture as he stood up and strode towards me. His desk was a good fifteen feet away from me.

I winched was he was about to cross our one-foot distance rule. He realized it and stopped in his tracks.

"I don't like repeating myself Amelia" he gritted out "What are you doing? I told you to do one thing right.....stay away. But here you are chasing after me even dragging my family into your stupidity. What the f*ck do you want?"

I took a deep breath "Freedom" I said looking into his eyes "I want freedom from you"

"And I told you I'm working on it" he retorted "Can you stop sounding so desperate and wait?"

"Desperate?" I scoffed in disbelief "It's been twelve f*cking years. I want to live my life. I want to have someone to love, to start a family with. I'm tired of waiting for you to sort your mess out and you dare laugh at my lack of a love-life you selfish bastard"

"Well just because you want to sleep with an ugly stallion doesn't mean I should settle for someone less than the best" He replied airily "My mate has to be perfect and I haven't found her yet. I need time and no, I don't need your stupid matchmaking agency to do my bidding"

"I'm tired of hearing the same excuse every damn time Mr. Leoline. I'm done with you" I pointed at the door "I'm going to walk through that door and pick up the first available horse out there and go sleep with him" I said angrily not realizing how stupid that sounded.

He took a intimidating step towards me "You will do no such thing"

"Watch me" I glared back, our faces inches away.

"I'll kill him" he whispered threateningly "Do you want to be the reason for someone's death Amelia?"

"I wouldn't mind it much especially when it will ensure your time behind bars" I smirked "I think it will solve my problem anyways"

He smirked back, the gold in his eyes dancing in the artificial light of his office "The law doesn't include predators protecting the virtue of their soulmates Ms. Philip. A predator loses his mind at times like that and hence isn't bound by the law, remember?" he quirked a brow.

"Of course I know that" I smiled leaning away to look at his face. How I'll enjoy watching that stupid smirk die away slowly. "It's a good thing that the law doesn't apply to you. Didn't your soulmate die...umm....like seven years ago?"

___________

Quick update because I have a couple of chapters in stock :D

Happy reading :):):)