6. Of Guns and Hearts

"It's you again" He grumbled.

"I feel so welcomed" I gave him a sugary smile as I took a seat opposite to him.

"Didn't I like see you yesterday?"

"No we met last week. It's been five days since you rejected the beautiful Zendaya" I replied.

"I need more time to get over that horror and a few more days without you will be much appreciated" He said

"I don't understand" I looked at him curiously "Isn't your animal like supposed to be super happy to see me?"

"We have come to a compromise, me and my animal" a bored expression on his face "He too likes it better when you don't talk"

"Oh!" I blinked "Well that kind of provided a gentle blow to my ego"

I saw the corner of his lips lift slightly but he simply shook his head and the smile was off his face as fast as it appeared. It was almost like I imagined it.

"Why are you here Amelia?" he asked "Let's get it done with"

Of course he wants me out of here as soon as possible. I cleared my throat and pulled out my tab. We are going to look at the next set of lionesses.

"There's only one Y" I showed him my tab "Yulia. She's from Scarhill" It's a province in the southernmost part of the country.

"Next" he said sipping on his coffee.

I sighed. If he keeps doing this, we will soon be back to Abigail and he doesn't even want an A.

"Veronica" I pointed at the next woman.

"I'm done with her" he said "Next"

"What's wrong with her?"

"Everything?" he cocked a brow.

"Arthur we will exhaust the list if you don't stop doing that"

"Next"

"Fine" I swiped my tab to come at the next one "Thalia"

"How old is she?" he asked

"Thirty-nine"

"What's the range of women we are looking at?" he asked

"Twenty to forty" I replied "I already told you, there aren't many options out there for you"

"You make me feel so wanted" he deadpanned "Next"

"What?" I frowned "What's wrong with her?"

"The only pictures you could find of her are in board meetings and company dinners" he replied

"Oh I forgot for a second that you don't like women of substance"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night" he shrugged "Next"

I rolled my eyes and swiped again "This one's closest to home" I looked at him to explain further but the tab was snatched away from me and for the first time ever, I saw eagerness in Arthur Leoline's eyes. It almost pinched my skin before I reminded myself of who he was.

"This is Rhea Wright" I said looking at the picture of the golden haired enchantress.

"What happened to her mate?" he asked without hesitation as if he had no doubt she had one.

"He was murdered" I replied.

His eyes snapped to me and this time I was sure Rhea Wright was an acquaintance if not more.

"....nine years ago" I continued "She left the country soon after and her family...."

"Stop" he snarled, his lips set in a thin line "Next"

"But..."

"Next Amelia or I'm kicking you out" He warned.

"Rayleen Scott" I huffed "She's...."

"Set up a date with her" he said curtly without letting me finish. He didn't even look at the picture.

I nodded and stood up "I'll mail you her details" I walked up to the door and turned the door-knob. I didn't bid him goodbye. We aren't friends.

"Wait" his whisper barely reached me but that was enough for me to stop without a second thought. There was something about that woman that rattled him and I felt strangely unsettled.

I turned around to see him walking towards me. I raised a brow but it didn't look like he was going to provide me with any information.

"Arthur" I narrowed my eyes as he crossed the one foot mark. I backed against the door forcing it to close with a thud.

"Close your eyes and hold your breath for a moment" he told me "I....I wouldn't do anything"' he promised as he caged me against the door with his arms on either side of me.

He wasn't touching me but I could feel the fear and nausea hitting me so I did as he instructed. I closed my eyes and held my breath waiting for him to move away.

He didn't. I felt his breath on my neck and then on the shell of my ear. I shut my eyelids harder, my hands clenched in fists by my side.

"My animal is upset" he whispered inhaling deeply.

"Why" I managed to say.

"You reminded him of the only defeat he ever suffered" He replied.

"Will he be okay?" I asked.

"Yes" he said "being close to you helps"

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be" he sighed "I'll soon find someone else for him to seek comfort in. You wouldn't have to suffer anymore" with that, I felt his warmth move away.

I exhaled and then gulped a lungful of air loudly and opened my eyes. He was standing a couple of steps away with his arms folded against his chest.

"Don't throw up on my floor" he warned.

"I won't" I rolled my eyes "I'm not a kid. You just took me by surprise the other day"

He scoffed in disbelief. It was then that I noticed the yellow in his eyes. His honeyed eyes were lighter in shade now.

"You should leave" he nodded at the door.

I needed no more encouragement.

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There were a lot of things strange about Rhea Wright. I was skeptical about taking her in when I read her bio-data. But when her parents heard that we were collecting data on lionesses, they came to us themselves. Her mother in particular looked so pitiful that I couldn't say no.

After Arthur's reaction today, I just had to see the woman for myself. So when Jasmine knocked on my door and announced the woman, I was jumping in my seat in anticipation.

"Ms. Wright" I smiled at the woman as I shook hands with her winching only slightly "I'm Amelia" I introduced myself "Thank you for visiting us at such short notice. Please have a seat"

She smiled warmly "Rhea will do fine Amelia"

"Rhea" I nodded "Tea or coffee?" I grinned welcomingly. This is business.

"I'm a tea person" she replied.

"Me too" I looked up at Jasmine.

"Right away" she nodded and left.

"So your mother told us that you aren't really sure about us" I prompted her to speak.

She smiled awkwardly "I am new to this and I don't know how....you know how dating and matchmaking works" she explained "No offence to you"

"None taken" I assured her "Welcome to our world where you have to kiss at least a dozen frogs to reach your prince"

She laughed heartily "Am I here to kiss my first frog?"

I chuckled "Aren't you excited?"

Her face fell at that. Jasmine came with our tea and we fell silent.

"I don't know" she said breaking the silence "I don't even know what I want"

"You definitely don't want to be where you are now" I told her softly "You wouldn't have walked through that door had that been the case" I pointed at my office door.

She nodded "I have lived miserably for almost a decade. It just doesn't seem fair to the one who gave birth to me or to my creator"

"It isn't fair to you either" I smiled sadly at her "breathing isn't living. You are only thirty. You have a lifetime ahead of you"

She nodded wordlessly.

"Is there something you would like to tell me" I asked "so I can make sure we keep that in mind while proceeding further?"

"I would like to meet someone who doesn't sleep with a gun under his pillow please" she replied softly looking out of the window to my right.

I have never been so distressed by someone's life. I have never been in her spot. I don't know what you say to women as unfortunate as her.

"How long were the two of you together if I may ask?"

"Five years" she replied "You can ask" she assured "It's been a while since I sat down to recall him"

"You were too young" I was surprised and not in a good way.

"I was sixteen when he took me away" she shrugged "I was his anyways"

That's so wrong.

I don't want her to recall the memories so I decided to change the topic of our discussion. I would rather talk about Arthur than about her dead mate.

"I'll be honest with you Rhea" I said "I did call you with regard to a client but well I.....I don't.....will you take a look at his profile?" I don't want to lie to her. She has suffered enough.

"That was fast" I could see the effort she was putting in her smile "Sure I guess that what I came here for"

I smiled "I promise we will only proceed with things if you are comfortable" With that I opened Arthur's folder on my tab and handed it to her.

To my surprise, unlike Arthur, a smile instantly lit up her face, a genuine one.

"That's Arthur" she said fondly.

I nodded. I don't know what to make of her reaction. Arthur made it seem like they were enemies for life.

"It will be too obvious to ask if you know him" I hesitated.

"He was my best friend" she replied looking up from the tab at me "Arthur Leoline was my best buddy and my partner in crime. We were inseparable right from kindergarten" she looked genuinely happy talking about the devil.

"That's nice" I said. Although it's weird to imagine Arthur could be someone's best friend.

"Arthur didn't find his mate yet?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

"You didn't keep a tab on your best friend?" I asked. I didn't want to tell her anything about Arthur's mate. He can tell whatever story he wants to. I wouldn't lie to this woman.

Her smile faltered "I tried connecting with him a couple of years ago. He wouldn't even talk to me. He doesn't want to see me"

"Why?" The word came floating out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

She smiled sadly "He hurt him, my mate. He almost killed Arthur when he shot him here" she pointed at her chest "right where his heart was"

I gasped. My feet went cold, my body numb.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh?"

"You are shaking, Amelia" I felt a hand rubbing my back "Here drink some water. Arthur is safe now. He's fine"

I flinched when I realized Rhea was the one touching me. She muttered a sorry and walked back to the chair across me.

"I'm sorry" I said when I realized I was behaving out of character "I wasn't expecting that. I kind of have a...."

"It's okay" she smiled kindly "Everyone has a trauma of their own"

"Thank you"

Arthur almost died? Why did he never tell me? What else do I not know?

"Why did he do that? Your mate?"

"Lions are the most territorial of all felines" she sighed "My mate had a habit of losing his senses when it came to me. Because Arthur was close to me, he assumed Arthur had a thing for me especially when Arthur tried so hard to keep him away from me" she chuckled humorlessly as a drop of tear rolled down her face "So he shot him in his heart"

Did he?.....have a thing for her. I wanted to ask but I have already pried enough into their affairs. I shouldn't ask more. Her mate is dead and Arthur is alive that should be enough.

"Would you like to meet him?" I asked instead.

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