Chapter 11

ELEVEN

T he 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.

I'll have you know I can be very charming when I want to be. Now mind your own business.

Baxter's response was immediate and predictable – a string of laughing emojis.

The ride to the restaurant passed in a blur of anticipation. As the car pulled up to the curb, Chaos took a deep breath. He could face down boardrooms full of cutthroat executives and negotiate multi-billion dollar deals without breaking a sweat. Surely he could handle one dinner with a beautiful woman.

But as he stepped out of the car and saw Olive waiting outside the restaurant, all of Chaos's carefully cultivated composure threatened to crumble.

She looked stunning in a deep green wrap dress that hugged her curves and made her blue eyes pop. Her honey-blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore a pair of delicate gold earrings that caught the light when she moved.

As their eyes met, Olive's face lit up with a smile that made Chaos's heart skip a beat. His lion rumbled with satisfaction within him. Yes, this was their mate. This was the woman they'd been waiting for all their life.

"Hello, Chaos," Olive said as he approached, her voice warm and slightly breathless. "I hope I'm not late."

"Not at all," Chaos replied, unable to keep the admiration from his voice. "You look beautiful, Olive."