Alien Dating Hotline

Chapter 6

Amara - Royal Galactica Space Cruiser

Even though the sofa looked inviting and any other day she would have plopped down headfirst, today she felt rather reluctant to sit down. If the ominous words and strange behavior of her date were any indication, she had a feeling that she might have bitten off more than she could chew. She didn't want to talk to him, however gorgeous he might be. She wanted to get back into the lift and go straight home where she was safe from his intense eyes. But alas, this wasn't her day or week and if she was being truly honest with herself, not her year either.

"Sit." One command from him and she was scrambling towards an empty seat on the sofa as far away from him as possible.

"We don't have much time and, frankly, I'm quite tired, so I'll make this simple and brief. I want to offer you a deal. I am the Crown prince of Arion and I intend to court you for a year. Of course, it will not be a real courtship. We will act as lovers in public and we will have to be very convincing. My citizens are no fools. As my consort, you'll have to assume all the official responsibilities, including public appearances. But in private, we will have a strictly transactional relationship. I would advise you against keeping any unrealistic expectations of romance or friendship between us. We will merely be acquaintances and keep our distance. You will do whatever I ask of you, no questions asked. I acknowledge I cannot simply ask you to give up your life here and come with me without anything in return. So, in exchange for a year of your life acting as my consort, I will give you as many space credits as you may require throughout your life. You will also be the first human to be invited to our planet. You will have all the luxuries and privileges granted to a member of the royal family of Arion for the duration of your stay. I assure you, it is one of the highest honours that can be bestowed on anyone in this universe. I think the deal I have proposed is very fair and equally beneficial to us both. I would strongly suggest you take it."

Silence. No one utters a word for some time.

I was gobsmacked. Arkas's words left me speechless. I can't for the life of me figure out if what I heard was true or it was just a figment of my imagination. Cause surely, an alien prince didn't just ask me, a human peasant, to be his consort, my apologies, fake consort. The more I think about it, the more I become certain that this is just a dream. My alcohol-induced brain has short circuited and conjured up these insane turn of events. That could be the only possible explanation. No way this is real. It cannot be. I pinch myself hard, willing my body to wake up from this strange dream. But as I said, this hasn't been my day. Because not only didn't I wake up, I now sport a fresh bruise on my arm and also receive judgemental looks from my company.

What annoys me the most is not how he sprang up this absurd idea on me but how he appears to be so calm and unbothered. Like we're merely discussing the weather. On the other hand, I'm about to hyperventilate. How dare he propose something so preposterous? I agree my life isn't going that great recently, but that doesn't mean I'll just give up my life here, leave behind my family and friends and blindly follow this stranger to his planet like a love-sick puppy. I don't give a damn if he's royalty of an insanely powerful species. I absolutely refuse to play any part in this. He can recruit any other female naive enough to willingly participate in his crazy schemes.

"No." I speak confidently. I hope it gets through his thick skull that I will never, ever do something like this, not even in a million years.

"No?" He arches his perfectly shaped right eyebrow. "And why not? You have no job. No mate or, in human terms, no boyfriend or husband. Not even a casual lover. No prospects of either work or relationships. No close connection with family and barely any friends. You are in dire need of financial help and have no commitments requiring your presence on earth. Honestly, this deal will be very good for you. You will be able to travel and explore the universe. You will never be able to do that in your lifetime if you remain here. In exchange of just one year, you will be set for life. You will never have to worry about money. And it's not like I'm asking for much in return, you only have to pretend to be my lover in public. I don't expect anything else. If you're worried I will ask for s****l favors, rest assured, there will be none of that. I am not attracted to you. You are nothing like our females. Even if I was attracted to you, I simply don't have the time to act on it. Just think of this year as a vacation, I'm sure you never had the time or finances for one before."

His arrogance is stifling and his condescending words make me want to choke him and see the light slowly vanishing from his eyes.

"My answer is still no. I want no part in your deceit. You can try your luck with the next unsuspecting date, but I'm out." I say as I stand up and start walking towards the lift. I'm going home, with or without his help.

"Ragnark will take you back to the space station. He will also give you a communication device. I advise you to reconsider. We leave in 48 earth hours. I expect your final decision before that. Farewell human."

I look back at him for one last time before the doors close on me. He is beautiful. Too bad he's an asshole. There's no way I will ever consider his insane proposal.

Never say never.