#3

[MARIANNE]

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I hate this. I hate it when I don’t have money, because then I can’t refuse or act all high and mighty in front of my parents.

I knew they were telling me to meet Mr. Vance because they wanted to set me up again, and this time I couldn’t refuse because all my money was gone from treating a wild wolf and replacing the clinic window.

So, I guess going on two or three dates with Mr. Vance wouldn’t hurt as long as Dad was willing to give me money. Okay, this time, let’s lower our pride.

At exactly twelve o’clock, I arrived at a five-star restaurant lounge for lunch. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I walked confidently toward a table. I approached a man sitting alone in a black pinstripe suit. His black hair was neatly slicked back, with a few strands falling across his forehead.

“Mr. Vance?” I asked firmly.

He looked up from his phone. I found myself staring into olive-hazel eyes with a molten gold ring around the pupil.

“Yes,” he replied shortly.

“Marianne Sinclair.”

I sat in the chair across from him, one leg resting over the other, my back straight as I spoke to him.

“I’m sure you don’t have much time, so let’s make this quick. Just two or three dates, preferably Saturday at four in the afternoon. Sunday is my me-time, and it cannot be disturbed. Going to the movies, playing golf, whatever.”

Mr. Vance stared at me without blinking.

Good. He was listening.

“No clubs, bars, or hotels. No drinking, no skinship, and don’t touch me unless I give you permission.”

“Are you a nun?” His flat tone caught me off guard.

“Pardon?”

“Good that you’re not. No wonder you made a mistake.”

I frowned, confused by his reaction. This time, it was his turn to speak. “Nikolai Vance. I’m meeting Miss Sinclair not for a blind date, but to invest in the Sinclair family’s fintech company, or perhaps in some properties, such as the clinic.”

One of my eyes twitched.

Investment? Not a blind date? Not even an arranged match?!

God! I wanted to have the ability to disappear right then and there!

Whenever I remembered what happened, my cheeks immediately turned red and hot.

That afternoon, I had really looked like an arrogant idiot. Luckily, Mr. Vance didn’t make fun of me. We eventually discussed the company, although I admit I couldn’t present the pitch deck very well because everything was so last-minute and based on a misunderstanding.

Juan and Dr. Greyson burst out laughing when I told them about it, but whatever. At least I managed to get Mr. Vance interested in investing in both the fintech company and the clinic, even though the MOU hadn’t been officially signed yet.

“But do you regret it now that Nikolai didn’t actually come to ask you out? Come on, he’s 6'3", handsome, comes from a good family, and has a good educational and career background. He’s led Vance Group for a decade, and the company has become better under his leadership than it was under his father, Mr. Edmund.”

I fell silent as I listened to Juan ramble. Dr. Greyson responded to the part about the investment opportunity for the clinic. That meant we could provide more opportunities to care for animals.

As it grew dark, Juan and Dr. Greyson went home.

I took the night shift again because I had spent the whole day out meeting Nikolai. And once again, when I was alone, I was startled by a wolf that seemed to be deliberately waiting for me at the clinic door.

“You again? You came back after breaking the window? Look, that window was replaced with my money.”

I knew it was the same wolf as yesterday. The color of its fur, the size of its body, the color of its eyes. I knew it well.

The wolf lowered its head, making a small sound as if it were apologizing, if I wasn’t misinterpreting it.

I let out a breath and nodded.

“As long as you’re okay.”

I went back into the clinic. The wolf stood motionless in front of the door as if guarding it. The snow was falling quite heavily, and I was worried about the wolf even though I knew it could survive because of its fur. But hadn’t it just been seriously injured yesterday?

So I opened the door.

“Hey, boy, come in!”

That night, once again, the animals in the clinic became quiet when the wolf entered.

I tried examining him again, and I was amazed at how quickly he had recovered.

“Good. You can stay here. If you want to leave tomorrow, wait until I wake up. Don’t break the window, or I’ll really get angry!”

I warned him.

I gave him my coat again, even though he had run off with my previous one.

I stayed up until late at night and eventually fell asleep at the administration desk.

The only thing that distracted me was the sound of someone opening the door with a key.

Who was that? Dr. Greyson? Was it already morning? That was fast.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes.

“Dr. Greyson, good mor— Huaahh!!”

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw a naked man standing in front of the door.

I fell right out of my chair, my body going limp as I collapsed onto the floor.

Okay, he was naked, but his waist was covered by a brown cloth that concealed his sensitive area, and the man was inside the clinic, opening the exit door.

Was he a thief? Why wasn’t he wearing a mask?

But I hadn’t even gotten a good look at his face! All I had seen were his muscular arms and his broad back!

I hurriedly grabbed the baseball bat and stood up, pointing it at him.

“I’ve got a bat!” I threatened.

But he was already gone, leaving only the clinic door wide open, allowing the cold breeze to drift inside.

Where had he disappeared to?