Claiming Caden Hart

Caden Hart was not a fan of blind dates. All his friends thought they were doing him a favour. They were always setting him up time and time again with women. On paper or on dating apps, these women were nothing but perfect. It just never worked. He was grateful for his friends though. But, after years of having relationships that didn't last longer than two weeks, he had learnt not to expect much from these women. The truth was the problem wasn’t even the women. It was him. His job, specifically. Caden was a gynecology and obstetrics nurse. Not many women fancied that. In this age where they wanted a man in tech, finance, trust fund or simply a CEO, he didn't have a chance in the romance department. Especially when they found out that he was an ex-soldier. They couldn't picture how he had gone from serving the country with a gun to taking care of women. The way the whole date would become awkward had stopped amazing Caden. The women always found a way to end things before they even begin. But here he was again, going into a little cafe to meet another woman. He thought he looked good and ready for another dating attempt. He looked around the cafe. His date was supposed to be wearing a white dress. Sure enough, he spotted her near the windows. She was a stunning woman. The sunlight coming from the window made her look unreal and like a goddess. She was beautiful. Her brown hair fell down her shoulders. There was something sophisticated about her. Caden looked down at what he wore. He was wearing a simple shirt and trousers. He suddenly felt like he was underdressed. She was on the phone, speaking in a low voice. Caden hesitated thinking about waiting for her to finish her call but he found himself walking towards her. He stopped at her table and cleared his throat lightly to get her attention. “Hi, I’m Caden. I think we’re supposed to meet?” The woman's beautiful brown eyes found his. Her perfect eyebrows furrowed and she muted her phone before speaking, “Excuse me?” she asked politely. Was she not the one he was supposed to meet? “Aren’t you here for the blind date?” he asked. He suddenly felt foolish after asking those words. Her eyes widened slightly. “I’m afraid, no. I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I’m not here for a date.” Caden's eyes widened and he flushed, embarrassed. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. It’s just that your dress, you're wearing the white dress and I was told she was going to be wearing a white dress.” He rattled. He rubbed the back of his neck, not feeling confident. “I'm so so sorry. I must have the wrong person.” He agreed with her. The woman was amused but she gave him a small nod. “There’s no harm done.” She said, she was about to return to her call when she looked at him again. “I'm Anna, by the way.” “Anna,” he repeated. He hadn't expected her to introduce herself. The name suited her. “I'm sorry again for the confusion. I'll let you get back to your call.” He took a step back, already scolding himself for being so careless. But as he turned to leave, he overheard her say something. “Look, Grandfather, I understand what’s at stake but I need more time. The idea of marrying a stranger just to secure the family fortune isn’t ideal.” She said into the phone. Caden couldn't hear anything else as he walked away. He didn't want her to think he was eavesdropping. But he was curious. What did she mean marrying for a family fortune? Caden decided to order coffee from the counter. He could still hear Anna but she was talking very quietly. Who exactly was this woman? He heard her say something about preserving the family name and stabilising the industry. He shook his head. A beautiful woman like her shouldn’t have to deal with things like arranged marriage or family obligations. Caden sighed. What exactly did he know about the world of wealthy people? He was just a nurse after all. He had spent so many years in the military and now, he helped bring new life into the world. He waited patiently for his coffee. He hadn't noticed that she had come up behind him to order something. The barista gave him his order and that was when he heard her say, “Can I have an iced americano with two sugars, no milk?” That was the exact same thing he had ordered. Before he could stop himself, he turned to her. “That's the same thing I got. Two sugars, no milk. Here, you can have mine.” She seemed surprised by his gesture but she accepted the cup. “Thank you. Caden, right?” She asked. She was still holding her phone but he didn't think she was talking to anyone again. He nodded, “Yeah.” “Well, it seems that your date isn't here yet and I need a bit of company. Would you like to join me?” Anna asked, gesturing at her table. Caden nodded. The both of them walked back and took a seat, waiting for the barista to make the second cup of coffee. Anna spoke up, “So, what is it that you do?” she asked. Judging from the way she spoke and carried herself, he was sure that she was a very improtant person. Obviously, she wanted to know what kind of job he did. “I’m a nurse. I work in gynecology and obstetrics,” he said. He waited for the look of surprise or discomfort that he usually got from his dates. But to his surprise, Anna didn’t even react. ‘’i didn't expect that. I honestly didn't think that would be your profession. I thought maybe you worked in accounting or you were an artist.” Caden chuckled. “Yeah, It's something I hear a lot. People don't expect that from me since I used to be a soldier.” He said. “You used to be in military?” She asked. He had her attention now. “How does someone go from the battlefield to the delivery room?” Caden shrugged. “I guess I just wanted a change from all that dying and violence. I figured that I wanted to help bring life into the world rather than take it away..Plus, it’s more rewarding than I expected.” Anna looked at him, nodding. “Well, you seem like a decent guy. Aside from mistaking who I am, you're good.” “Again I'm so sorry for that. I should really get out of your hair.” He said, ready to leave. Suddenly, she laughed. It was a rich sound that echoed in Caden's head. “Relax, I'm just joking.” She said. “It's just funny how I came here to make an important decision about my future. And instead, I end up meeting someone like you.” Caden blinked. He didn't know what that meant. Was she being nice or mean? “Don’t read too much into it. I’m just saying it’s been an unusual day for me.” Anna said. Caden noticed the sadness in her eyes before she hid it. “Tell me about it,” he agreed but he was smiling now. Before they could say anything, Anna's phone vibrated and she picked it up “I have to take this. It was nice meeting you, Caden.” She stood to her feet, taking her bag and coffee. Then, she walked away. He might not see her again, but he was sure he would never forget this stunning woman. Caden didn't know but Anna's grandfather had listened to the entire conversation. He had put her on hold. She didn't know when he had come back on the call. He had chosen to listen to the conversation because he'd never heard his granddaughter talk to another man that way. She was always so cold and professional. “Interesting,” the old man said to himself as he smiled. “Very interesting.”