Chapter 5

• Lucian's POV
• Settling into my executive chair that perfectly matched my office decor, I drew a line through each resume with a fountain pen, enjoying the sight of my best friend's growing frustration.
• "Are all the candidates female?" Lucian asked, his tone sharp.
• "Do you always have to be so picky?" he retorted. "I see you're still holding on to your issues with women."
• "I don't hate women, Lucian. But don't you think I should be careful with my selection?"
• "I thought you'd moved past your last experience. Why are you so determined not to hire a woman as a secretary?"
• Years of practice had given me an unshakable calmness, something my best friend Mark detested. I glanced at my son's picture in a small frame instead of engaging in the argument.
• "Thanks, but I'll pass. I can't afford to make the same mistake again."
• Mark groaned. "You can't judge all women based on one bad experience with your ex. Women make excellent secretaries."
• "And some are gold diggers," I reminded him, sinking my feet into the plush rug. "Last I checked, I own this place."
• "Whatever," he mumbled, pointing at a resume on top of the pile. "You might want to look at this one. I think she'll be a good fit."
• I looked at the name scrawled across the top. "Aurora? Is it a coincidence that the same redhead you saved last weekend has the same name?"
• Mark smiled. "You're smart, and yes, that's her. She's very intelligent."
• I scoffed. "Mark, I don't mix business with pleasure. If you want to date her, do it outside the office."
• "Ew," he scrunched his nose, and I laughed. "Don't ever say that to me."
• "Why not? Are you allergic to women?" I said, glancing through the document. My laughter faded, and I glared at Mark. "She doesn't have a degree, you fool."
• Mark's smile returned. "True, but look beyond academic qualifications. She passed my screening process and is quite intelligent. How many degree holders can speak good English?"
• I rose and headed to the bookshelf lining my wall. "Mark, show yourself to the door."
• "I'll send her in," he laughed and left while I wondered what had come over him. Perhaps he fancied the girl and wanted to be with her. If that was the case, maybe I needed to be lenient since Mark hadn't been in a relationship for years.
• **Aurora's POV**
• Mark motioned for me to follow him to the next office, and I hoped this would go well. He wished me luck and headed back to his office.
• The next office was spacious, with a large window overlooking the city and a shiny, walnut desk. My heart pounded. My mate was here, and I was acting like a lovesick puppy. He looked even better than I remembered.
• "Are you going to keep staring?" he asked, his voice deep and smooth.
• "I'm sorry," I said, clearing my throat, trying to compose myself. The door burst open, and a handsome little boy rushed in, tears streaming down his face.
• "Daddy. Daddy. I want my daddy," he sobbed, running into my mate's arms.
• No way! Out of all the men in the world, the moon goddess paired me with a married human. What a sick joke. My throat tightened, unsure how to react.
• Finding a mate in the human world was the last thing I expected, much less one with a son. My heart clenched with envy as I wondered about his wife. She must be a high-class socialite.
• Shaking off the thoughts, I tried to focus. The Moon Goddess must love to torment lives with this mating bond. The boy, a spitting image of his dad, except for his dirty blonde hair, continued to cry.
• "Dad, why don't I have a mommy? Did she leave because she doesn't love me?"
• Holy... As much as I pitied the poor kid, my heart loosened with relief. There was no woman in the picture.
• "Don't say that, Lucas," my mate comforted his son, pulling him close. "Your mommy loves you very much. She just can't be with us."
• The boy spoke of his classmates' teasing, and his father wiped his tears, telling him crying was not for big boys. I noticed a photo of my mate and his son, but none of a woman.
• "I can't go to school unless you get me a new mommy," the boy insisted.
• An elderly woman in an expensive dress entered, apologizing for being late. "I'm sorry, sir. This arthritis makes my movement slower. I tried to stop Lucas from bothering you."
• "It's fine. What happened?"
• "The school called, concerned that Lucas was throwing tantrums and wanted to see you. So I picked him up."
• "I see," he said. "Take him home and give him whatever he wants."
• "No, I want to stay," the boy resisted, but his father shook his head firmly.
• "Go home, son. I'll be back early. I promise."
• "No arguing, young man," he cut off the boy while the nanny nudged him.
• "Come on, Lucas. Daddy is busy. I promise you can play video games for two hours."
• Reluctantly, the boy left with his nanny. Alone with my mate, the mating scent thickened the air. He blinked, realizing I was still there. The former coldness returned to his eyes.
• "Sit."
• I obeyed, adjusting myself in the chair, looking anywhere but at him. In the lycan pack, male Lycans begged for my attention, but now I was lusting after a human.
• "You're a fool," I scolded my wolf. "He'll reject us if he knows I'm different. I'm here for the interview and nothing more."
• "The interview could be your way into his life," she whined, but I ignored her.
• "Tell me about yourself," Lucian said. I gave my rehearsed lie about being a high school dropout but shared my real work experience.
• He didn't look satisfied. "You don't have a degree. And you expect me to hire you? Even our janitors have better qualifications."
• "I have a lot of work experience. I've worked as a self-representative and a cashier..."
• "Spare me the details."
• His cold tone or the cool office gave me goosebumps. The man was a brat.
• "Are you married?" he asked, detached.
• "My marital status is in my resume."
• "I'm not blind. But I need to hear it. Do you have a boyfriend? Aren't you the one Mark saved from your psycho ex?"
• "He's not my boyfriend," I snapped, wondering why he was acting like an asshole. His mouth curved into a smirk.
• "Watch your tone, young lady."
• "I'm sorry."
• He relaxed, staring at me with that coolness. If only he felt the mating bond. Silence settled until he spoke.
• "Okay, let's keep this brief. You don't meet the requirements, and I can't hire you."