Beautiful Dreamer

62. I Did This For You

"I've been trying to reach you, but you've been offline. Your secretary informed me you'd been preoccupied enough not to charge your phone."

"Busy day," Ari replied, pushing her swivel chair back to stand up. Unlike last time, she hadn't expected to meet Ned today; however, he was a guest she couldn't turn down. "How have you been, really? Despite exchanging greetings with automated responses, I'd say you look frail from the last time I saw you. Busy much?"

"The usual. But you are not entirely wrong; travelling back and forth is overwhelming. Nevertheless, what put me in my current state is rather a fault of your own."

"Pardon?"

"Ari, you packed out of our apartment as if someone was chasing you. This morning, I got the urge to reminisce on our romance only to find the little left of your belongings nonexistent. Even the lingering fragrance of your scent was gone." Strolling towards Ari, he added, "You could have at least left me something to remember you by."

'Stil as flirty as ever.' "I tried to reach you several times to inform you, but my messages were left unanswered." Seeking to make a point, Ari added, "I figured you were preoccupied, as you've confirmed."

"I informed my secretaries to reject any contact from you lest I find myself on the first flight back." Closing the gap between them, Ned's voice was heavy as he spoke. "I needed to heal, and I did enough to get me a new catch, but I fear seeing you now again, smelling your scent, has put my efforts to nought."

Taking a step back, Ari offered an apology. A part of her still sympathized with how things ended between her and Ned; however, after Rey acted so calmly over the mishappenings of the past, she didn't want to encourage the flirting to go on. Besides, they were in her office, and Ari felt the need to emphasize cordiality.

"I must be a fool. Even your apology soothes my broken heart. I can never get mad at you, Ari." Ned raised his hand to touch her cheek affectionately. "But I understand how you feel and why it has to be Rey. My current lover is a beta too.

"I would love to meet your her, Ms Todo, was it?"

"I call her Tod, though she detests the name. A fine woman she is. Just my type but a bit spoiled." Moving away from an instead stiffened Ari, Ned added, "I finally have someone who has use for my money."

"I fear you are on your way to another heartache."

"She is far more influenced than me." Ned took a seat just opposite Ari. "In actuality, she reminds me a lot of you. Meticulous at work, kind, a bit on the shy side..."

"I'm not shy."

Ned chuckled. "A shy dominant? Never."

'Why does it feel like he's being sarcastic?' Ari wondered. She returned to her seat and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her desk. "Tell me more about her."

"She is tall for a beta, and quite musculine like yourself. At first, I confused her for a dominant, until I realized I wasn't perceiving a strong feminine scent. She also doesn't linger after a meeting, but was kind enough to remain behind upon my request."

"I thought she was the one who approached you?"

"As I informed you, she is quite shy. I noticed she was distracted, staring with longing at her very pleasant apprentice, and in an instant, I realized she was just like me, longing to have what she can not have." Ned let out a cheeky smile. "You know me well enough never to miss an opportunity. Afterwards, one conversation led to another, and within a few days, she agreed to give us a try."

"How did she agree so fast if she is as timid as you claim?"

"Tod is not timid at all. When I called her out on her unrequited affection towards her apprentice, she only smiled but didn't deny it. I've met them both on multiple occasions, her apprentice always by her side until a very obnoxious creature I used to know as a toddler showed up. The three appeared to have a somewhat unique relationship, her apprentice and his partner also had a daughter together, but my Todo was stuck in the middle. Yet, she didn't seem to mind it. In fact, Todo mentioned she loved it."