Chapter 91

Aria’s POV

I’d never met this man before, not even in passing, that I could recall. I had no idea why he held such affection for me, or why he even thought I’d be receptive to the idea of a date.

Yet I was so flabbergasted, words failed me for a minute.

“Do I know you?” I asked, because maybe I had met him and I couldn’t remember.

The man’s confidence wavered. “Uh, well, no. Not really. But, uh. Your reputation precedes you, Dr. A. And I heard you are unmated… I was hoping we could just, I don’t know, try this out. T-to see if we are a good match.”

I took a moment to look at the man’s attire. His clothes looked expensive, and his hair was done in the short cut, slicked back style of the modern successful businessman.

“Are you part of high society?” I asked him.

“Oh, yes. Very much so. I run my family’s import business. We’re one of the tops in the industry. I can provide references if necessary,” the man said, like this was a job interview and not a date request. “I do hope you will consider me.” He glanced around. “Am I the first one to arrive?”

“What do you mean?” I asked him, not liking the sound of that.

“Oh,” he said. “Everyone at the club was talking about you. All of the bachelors were saying how they were going to come here and try to ask you out.”

This positively baffled me. “Why would anyone want to date me?”

This time, he was the one surprised. “Why wouldn’t they? Dr. A, you are one of the most respected members of the pack. Your reputation grows all the time. Why, any man would be proud to have you on his arm. More so to call you their mate.”

Even if what he was saying was true, the last thing I wanted to do was tie myself down to someone new. I was still trying to untangle myself and my life from Lucian. Though, to an outsider, who didn’t know Dr. A was actually the Luna Aria, they wouldn’t know about my fresh breakup. To them, Dr. A might have been seen as on the market for a while.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you and your fellow patrons at the club,” I said. “But I have no interest in dating anyone.”

The man deflated slightly. “Oh. Are you certain?”

“Yes,” I told him firmly but gently. His offer wasn’t offensive. In fact, it was flattering. But I still had no interest.

“Very well.” Though his smile wavered, he fought to keep it on his lips – even if it seemed more disingenuous now. He dipped his head slightly, bowing at me a little, and then started to turn. “Thank you for your time and consideration. If you change your mind, I hope you will think of me.”

“Of course,” I said, though, as he walked out of the office, I realized I still had no idea who he was. I supposed it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to change my mind.

After Piper hung up the phone, she made clear she had overheard. “You know, not all of the callers have been interested in making medical appointments,” she said.

“Seriously?”

“Afraid so,” Piper replied. “A few of them were so confident as to already make dinner reservations for tonight, and they wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Piper lifted up a sheet of paper. “Right now, you have your choice between the nicest, most expensive steak place in town, a lobster dinner, or sushi.”

I groaned. “Tell them I’m not interested.”

“I have been,” Piper said. “But it doesn’t surprise me that they’ve started showing up as well. Maybe be careful walking around today.”

That was sound advice, but unfortunately, as a Healer, I still needed to make my rounds. Along my route, these men started to come out of the woodwork. It was as if, after that first man, the floodgates were opened. I couldn’t take more than three steps at a time without being stopped to be asked out on a date.

One man jumped straight past the courting phase and asked, “Will you be my mate?”

“No,” I told him, more firmly than I’d told the others. He didn’t even know me! I’d seen him a few times at a few events I attended as Aria, but even then, I hadn’t spoken more than two words to him at any one time. What would possibly make him believe that I’d want to be his mate without forming any kind of emotional connection first?

“Wait,” he said, adamant. “I’ve brought my bank statements. When you see how much I’m worth, surely you will change your mind.”

“No,” I said with even more force, beyond annoyed now. I pushed my way around him and rushed to the breakroom where I thought I might be safe.

“Dr. A, I was hoping to run into you,” said one of the Healers, approaching me.

I recognized him instantly as one of the men who had always been so adamantly against me before I helped Caleb. While he had apologized since then, I wasn’t terribly comfortable around him, knowing how nasty he could be.

Yet, even this man, still grinned at me like he was ready to give me the world if I wanted it, and said, “I know we started off on the wrong foot, but I think we have a lot to offer each other, you and I. We’re both trailblazers in our field. If we accomplish so much alone, imagine what we could do together.”

My stomach lurched in disgust, but I pushed down the bile. He hadn’t said anything about dating. Maybe he meant that he wanted to work together. I could agree to something like that, as long as it wasn’t too big a time commitment.

“What project did you have in mind?” I asked him.

“Project?” he scoffed. “Dr. A, I’m talking about us dating.”

“No thank you,” I said, and immediately turned and walked out of the breakroom.

The man who had wanted to be my mate, sans the dating, was waiting for me just outside the door.

“If you’d only meet my family,” the man continued, without even a greeting. “I’m sure they could convince you. Or maybe you’d like to see my house. I have plenty of money, Dr. A. You’d never have to worry about a thing.”

“I really have no interest in being your mate,” I said, and started forward.

Annoyingly, he kept pace beside me. “You aren’t thinking clearly. I know women can be emotional about things like this, but think in terms of practicality. I’m one of the richest men in the pack, and you are one of the most reputed. As well as the most beautiful… We could help each other.”

“No,” I said. What was it going to take for this man to accept my no as my answer? Was he one of those types who was so unaccustomed to hearing it that he assumed pestering me enough would change my mind?

He wasn’t even trying to change tactics. He just kept talking about his wealth, like that would change my mind. I had my own money, I didn’t need his. And even if I did, I would never marry without love.

…even if that love hadn’t been returned.

“But, Dr. A –”

“She said ‘no,’” Lucian said, his voice low and firm, not to be argued with.

My paramour and I both stopped in our tracks. Ahead of us, Lucian had his arms crossed as he glared at the man beside me.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear her,” he said.