A waiter came at that moment to take their orders, and Charlotte was relieved to have the chance to change the subject afterwards. "So..." She pinned a professional smile on her lips as she looked at Heart's Match newest client. "The way I usually start these things—-"
Lukas' humorless smile made her stop speaking.
"My case is likely different from your usual ones."
"In what way?"
Instead of answering, Lukas ordered a bottle of wine, and Charlotte politely declined when he offered to pour her a glass. She expected him to take only a sip or two, but when Lukas downed everything in one gulp, it was only then Charlotte realized that something might be truly wrong.
"The contract I had you sign before this includes a confidentiality cause," she reminded him gently. "So whatever you have to say—-"
"I'm infertile."
The abrupt admission left Charlotte speechless. She knew this wasn't logical of her, but it seemed almost impossible that someone as seemingly...virile as Lukas Tsaldaris could be that.
"Is there any possibility of a misdiagnosis?" she asked finally.
"None."
Charlotte looked at him helplessly. "I'm sorry, Lukas."
"It is what it is," was all Lukas said, and although Charlotte felt bad for him, she knew it was best to simply keep silent.
For a man like Lukas, sympathy would be no different from pity, and Charlotte was privately relieved when their waiter came back with their appetizers. They spoke mostly of trivial things after that, and it was only as they were having coffee with their dessert that the billionaire finally returned to their conversation from earlier.
"Now that you're aware of my situation, I'm sure you'd understand why I require a certain kind of woman to be my wife."
Charlotte could only nod, with her mind already busy going through the list of prospective candidates she had in her agency's database. Women who were past childbearing age were obviously one option, but she had a feeling such women would be too proud to knock repeatedly on Lukas' heart until it finally started cracking open.
From what she could remember about Lukas, she had a feeling the Greek billionaire was suitable for someone younger. Someone who still had stars in her eyes in spite of having life knock her down—-
"What if you were placed in such a position, Charlotte?"
The sudden question made her blink. "What position?"
“What if the man you wish to marry is incapable of giving you a child?”
"That would never happen," Charlotte answered without hesitation.
Lukas' brows shot up. "Are you saying you'd have a man take a fertility test before you consider dating—-"
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Of course not. What I meant was that I don't want to have a child with any other man but Land. I never will. That's why I know it's never going to happen—-"
"Good."
Good?
"If that is how you feel about having children, then would you do me the honor of marrying me?"
Charlotte started to laugh, but then she realized Lukas was being completely serious, and she ended up choking instead.
"At least give it some thought," Lukas cajoled, "before rejecting my proposal outright."
She shook her head. "I don't need to give this any thought. I'm still in love with Land—-"
"That's fine," Lukas dismissed. "I didn't ask you to fall in love with me, did I? All I wish is for you to marry me—-"
Her brows furrowed. "Are you saying you're interested in a platonic marriage?"
"Given enough time and opportunity, I believe I'll be able to change your mind about that."
"Uh...no. You won't."
"Don't turn this into a challenge, Charlotte."
"I'm not," Charlotte protested.
"And yet it feels like you are."
The purr in Lukas' tone made Charlotte feel like she had suddenly turned into some kind of prey in the billionaire's eyes, and it nearly had her throwing her hands up in frustration.
"I'm really not trying to challenge you," she insisted. "I swear it on my honor. I know you're gorgeous and sexy and—-and all the other stuff that women want, but you know how I am, Lukas. Land is it for me—-"
"And like I said earlier," Lukas drawled, "I don't mind that your heart will always belong to your first husband. All I want is the right woman in my life, and that's you."
Chapter Nine
Charlotte's memories were proving to have the worst timing ever. As Sano wordlessly lifted her off his lap, Charlotte was reminded of the time Lukas first asked her to marry him, and the memory had her wincing...just as Sano set her back on her feet.
Blue eyes immediately narrowed on her expression, and Charlotte held her breath. In all the times she and Land would have a misunderstanding, he would always be the first one to ask for an explanation. And in the times when she was clearly in the wrong, Land had never asked that she apologized. It had always been Charlotte's failing, with her pride making it hard for her to apologize to Amelia, and later on to Landon, because they were the ones who had mattered the most. And because her husband knew this, he would always give her the same set of choices.