Page 22 of No Mane, No Gain
Gerri’s warm laughter filled the line. “I’m so glad to hear that. And tell me, what did you think of our lovely Ms. Russo?”
Chaos sucked in a harsh breath. “You knew,” he said, realization dawning. “You set me up, didn’t you?”
“I just allowed you two to meet in a casual manner without anyone’s interference,” Gerri replied, and Chaos could practically hear the mischievous twinkle in her eye. “But I’d much rather hear your thoughts on the matter. What did you think of Olive?”
Chaos leaned back, closing his eyes as he recalled Olive’s radiant smile, her quick wit, the way she’d fit so perfectly in his arms as they danced. “She’s... incredible,” he said softly. “I’ve never met anyone like her. The moment I saw her, it was like... like everything clicked into place.”
“Mm-hmm,” Gerri hummed encouragingly. “And how did your lion react to her?”
Chaos’s eyes snapped open. “How did you-”
“Oh, honey,” Gerri interrupted with a chuckle. “I told you, I’m very good at what I do. Now, tell me about your lion’s reaction.”
Chaos took a deep breath, deciding to trust the enigmatic matchmaker. “It was instantaneous,” he admitted. “As soon as I laid eyes on her, my lion went crazy. It was like... like it was claiming her as our mate on the spot.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then Gerri let out a delighted laugh. “Oh, my dear boy,” she said warmly. “I always love when what I know to be true is what happens.”
“What does that mean?” Chaos asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
“It means, Mr. Amato, that you’ve found someone very special,” Gerri replied, her voice soft and sincere. “Something rare and precious. My advice to you is this: don’t let it slip away. Pursue Olive, get to know her, let her get to know you – the real you, lion and all.”
Chaos nodded, even though he knew Gerri couldn’t see him. “I intend to,” he said firmly. “I asked her to dinner. I want to see her again as soon as possible.”
“Good,” Gerri said approvingly. “But remember, Chaos – Olive has her own past, her own fears and doubts. Be patient with her. Show her that she can trust you, that you’re not like the others who may have hurt her before.”
ELEVEN
The morning dawned bright and clear, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Chaos’s penthouse. He woke feeling more refreshed and energized than he had in years, the memory of Olive’s smile the first thing to cross his mind.
As he went through his morning routine – another punishing workout in his private gym followed by a protein-packed breakfast – Chaos’s mind raced with plans. He needed to see Olive again, and soon. But how to approach it without seeming too eager or overwhelming her?
He was mulling over his options when his phone chimed with an incoming message. His heart leaped when he saw it was from an unknown number, and the content made him break into a wide grin.
Good morning, Chaos. I hope this isn’t too forward, but I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation last night. I’d love to take you up on that dinner offer. - Olive
Chaos’s fingers flew over the keyboard as he typed out a reply.
Good morning, Olive. Not too forward at all – I’m glad you reached out. How does tonight sound? I know a great Italian place in the Village.
Her response came almost immediately.
Tonight sounds perfect. Text me the details, and I’ll meet you there. Looking forward to it!
Chaos couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he went about his day. He had meetings scheduled with potential investors, a conference call with his R&D team back in Silicon Valley, and a mountain of emails to tackle. But for once, work wasn’t at the forefront of his mind.
All he could think about was Olive – her laugh, her wit, the way she’d felt in his arms as they danced. His lion paced restlessly within him, eager to see her again, to cement their connection.
As evening approached, Chaos found himself standing in front of his closet, deliberating over what to wear. He usually didn’t put much thought into his attire beyond ensuring it was appropriate and well-tailored. But tonight, he wanted to impress.
Finally settling on a charcoal-gray suit paired with a deep blue shirt that brought out the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes, Chaos gave himself a final once-over in the mirror. He looked good – confident, powerful, but not overly formal for a dinner date.
Date. The word sent a thrill through him. When was the last time he’d been on a real date, one that he was genuinely excited about? Chaos couldn’t remember.
As he rode the elevator down to the lobby, his phone buzzed with a message from Baxter.
Good luck tonight, bro. Try not to scare her off with your brooding billionaire act. Maybe crack a smile or two?
Chaos snorted, typing out a quick reply.