Page 10 of No Mane, No Gain

“Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but the whole point of this arranged marriage is to make sure you end up with a suitable mate, right?” Baxter waited for Chaos’s nod before continuing. “So what if you found your own woman first? Someone who meets all the necessary criteria but is actually compatible with you?”

Chaos considered the idea, a glimmer of hope sparking in his eyes. “That... might actually work. But where am I supposed to find this mythical perfect woman? In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t exactly have a lot of free time for dating.”

“I might have a solution for that too,” Baxter said, a hint of mischief in his tone. “Have you ever heard of Gerri Wilder?”

Chaos frowned, the name tickling something in the back of his mind. “It sounds vaguely familiar. Should I know who that is?”

“She runs a matchmaking service - the Paranormal Dating Agency. Apparently, she has a 100% success rate in pairing up shifters and other supernatural beings with their perfect mates.”

Chaos’s eyebrows shot up. “A matchmaker? Seriously, Bax?”

Baxter shrugged. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve heard some pretty incredible stories. My cousin used her service last year and swears Gerri found him his true mate. They’re disgustingly happy together now.”

“Huh.” Chaos rubbed his jaw, considering the possibility. It was unconventional, to say the least, but at this point, he was willing to try almost anything to avoid the fate his parents had planned for him. “And you think this Gerri person could help me?”

“It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Baxter pulled out his phone, tapping at the screen. “I’ve got her contact info here if you want it.”

Chaos hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. On one hand, the idea of using a matchmaker seemed ridiculous - he was Chaos Amato, for crying out loud. He could have his pick of women if he wanted. But therein lay the problem. The women who threw themselves at him were only interested in his money, his status, or the thrill of bagging a powerful shifter. None of them saw him for who he really was.

Maybe this Gerri Wilder could find him someone different. Someone who would challenge him, support him, and see beyond the facade of the ruthless businessman and alpha shifter.

“All right,” Chaos said finally. “Send me her information. I’ll give her a call later today.”

Baxter grinned, tapping a few more times on his phone. “Done. You won’t regret this, boss. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet the love of your life and live happily ever after.”

Chaos snorted. “Let’s not get carried away. I’ll settle for someone I can stand to be in the same room with for more than five minutes.”

“Baby steps,” Baxter agreed with a chuckle. He glanced at his watch. “We should head out soon if we want to make it to the boardroom in time.”

Chaos nodded, his mind already shifting gears to business mode. “Right. Give me five minutes to grab my things.”

As Baxter left to make the final arrangements, Chaos allowed himself a moment of reflection. He thought about the endless parade of vapid socialites and gold-diggers he’d endured over the years. The constant pressure from his family and the pride to settle down with someone who looked good on paper but left him cold inside.

For the first time in a long time, Chaos felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this Gerri Wilder could help him find what he’d been searching for all along - a true partner. Someone who would see past his wealth and status to the man beneath. Someone who could match his passion, his drive, his intensity.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Chaos gathered his briefcase and strode out of his office. Whatever happened next, he was determined to take control of his own destiny - in business and in love.

FOUR

The sleek private jet cut through the clouds, its engines humming softly as it carried Chaos and Baxter toward New York City. Chaos sat in one of the plush leather seats, his laptop open in front of him as he reviewed the quarterly reports. The numbers were good - better than good, actually - but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was missing.

Baxter’s voice broke through his musings. “You planning to call that matchmaker when we land?”

Chaos glanced up, realizing he’d been staring blankly at the screen for the past few minutes. “I haven’t decided yet. Part of me still thinks this whole idea is insane.”

“What’s insane is letting your parents railroad you into a loveless marriage,” Baxter countered. “At least give Gerri a chance. What have you got to lose?”

“My dignity?” Chaos muttered, but there was no real heat behind the words. Baxter was right. This might be his best shot at avoiding the fate his parents had planned for him.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Chaos’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen and groaned. It was his sister, Tia.

“Chaos!” Tia’s voice was shrill with excitement as soon as he answered. “I know you said you couldn’t make it to Vanessa’s dinner party, but I have the most amazing news!”

Chaos pinched the bridge of his nose, already dreading whatever was coming next. “What is it, Tia?”

“Vanessa’s moving the party to Saturday night instead of Friday! Now you can come!” Tia sounded as if she’d just announced world peace rather than a change in party plans.

“Tia,” Chaos began, his patience wearing thin. “I appreciate the thought, but-”

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