Page 28 of Heat Me

I sat down at the kitchen table and opened my laptop, curious to see which Fate's Choice customers had contracts expiring the soonest.

"Do you think you’ll find good matches for them?"

"I don’t know, but I’ll give it a shot. My gut’s usually pretty spot-on. I’m really curious to see who these clients are, though. I mean, when I worked as a matchmaker before, contracts almostnever expired without matches. Fate’s Choice is seriously in trouble."

Damien hesitated for a second before asking, "Can you show me their photos?"

I smiled a little nervously. Sharing client profiles could land me in hot water if anyone found out, but honestly, this felt like a great way to bond with Damien. Natural and just… a normal way to get to know each other.

And let’s face it, if my gut feeling were right, it’d be worth the risk. Even if I lost this job, I could gain something much more valuable.

"Okay, but you have to promise me you’ll keep this to yourself. These files are confidential, and the clients are trusting us to protect their personal info."

"Of course!" Damien looked genuinely excited as he pulled up a chair next to me. He still hadn’t showered, and the mix of our scents—raw, intimate, and utterly distracting—hung in the air. I swallowed hard.Focus, Storm.

The first client file popped up: Star Daniels.

"Wow," Damien muttered, his eyes wide. "This guy has trouble finding a match? Seriously? Look at him—he’s stunning!"

He wasn’t wrong. The omega in the picture looked flawless—young, with perfect features, full lips, and long hair dyed platinum blond. His eyes were such a dark navy blue they almost looked black.

"Yeah, omegas like him usually don’t struggle with matchmaking. Their contracts go for huge amounts. But there’s always a catch."

I clicked through the tabs, and my stomach sank when I found it. I sighed, pointing it out to Damien.

"Oh, there it is. Damn. He’s a former sex worker. Worked as an escort for a year, then spent another year stripping.He left the club last year to finish a degree in public health, and now he’s a phone consultant for Malden Pharmaceuticals. So yeah, basically working for your uncle." I chuckled, finding the connection mildly amusing. "Anyway, Star’s looking for a husband now, but—"

"But what? Someone’s gotta want him," Damien said, frowning. "People go through stuff—it doesn’t mean they’re not worth loving."

"True, but you know how alpha clients can be—total hypocrites. If they pay a fortune, they expect a ‘perfect’ partner. Preferably a virgin. And then there’s the data. Relationships like this don’t have the best stats. A lot of them end in early contract terminations."

"What stats?"

"Fate’s Choice collects this kind of info. Matches where one partner has a history of sex work tend to be shorter and more likely to fall apart. It’s just the way things go."

"Why?"

"I don't know. On the buyer side: trust issues and a lot of 'accepting the past' failures."

"That’s so messed up. I mean, some people get forced into sex work. What are they supposed to do?"

I sighed. "I know. But honestly, most agencies discourage people like Star from even trying to enter contract fairs because it’s just… tough. High chance of being disappointed, or mistreated. Of course, Fate's Choice being greedy, probably saw a chance to make some quick money from the brokerage fees—"

"And now they’re in trouble."

"Yeah, pretty much. Let’s look at the next file."

The second profile popped up on my screen, and Damien leaned closer, his excitement palpable. His cheeks were flushed, making him look ridiculously adorable.

"Darien Ferro," I read aloud.

"This guy’s forty-two, but damn, he’s still so good-looking," Damien murmured.

I nodded, studying the photo. The omega had striking green eyes, jet-black long hair, and a complexion that still looked fresh despite his age. His features were flawless—elegant, almost timeless. A weird chill ran down my spine as I stared at the picture. It was so intense I actually gasped. For a moment, a crazy thought flickered in my mind, like I somehow knew who his True Mate was. But I quickly shoved the thought aside. That’d be too much of a miracle.

"Yeah, but for some reason, his contract hasn’t been finalized either."

Damien tilted his head. "Did he also work in the sex industry?"

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