He let the alien reference pass. “Now that we’ve clarified that, I’m on an important mission. For some time now, the warriors of Xaanda have been visiting your world to locate compatible mates.”
“And now it’s your turn to abduct a wife?”
“Me? Oh no, I’m not seeking a bond mate,” he hastily corrected. “My task is to facilitate the transfer of eligible brides to my home world. According to our Oracle, you can help with that.”
Once more, she took a sip and stared before replying, “You want to use me to set up single aliens from Xanadu?—”
“Xaanda.”
“—with some human chicks.”
The word chicks had him frowning, as it translated to a young bird. “We are not compatible with egg-laying species. We seek human females only, as they are physiologically capable of intercourse with my kind and bearing viable progeny.”
“You’re looking for baby-makers?” For some reason she found this extremely humorous and didn’t stop laughing as she poured amber liquid into her empty glass.
“You do not appear to be taking me seriously.”
“Because I’m waiting for the hidden camera to pop out. Let me tell you right now, any recording of this meeting will not be going public. I don’t care what podcast or social media channel you work for. I don’t give consent to any of this, and just so you know, I will be suing your ass. Hope your prank was worth the money you’ll need to fight the trespassing and harassment charge.”
“How am I harassing?” He couldn’t help but sound baffled and worried. Once more, he appeared to have mishandled the target, meaning Jaspar would gloat and once more harangue.
“You accosted me at a holiday party to which you weren’t invited. After being asked to leave, you then proceeded to stalk and confront me in my private office.”
“That we might discuss our partnership.”
“There is no partnership.”
“Yet,” he felt prompted to say. “Would it help to know I am authorized to compensate you for your time?”
“In what? Asteroid dust?” she snickered.
“Your planet puts great value in an element you call gold.” A useless soft metal that his world had no use for, but apparently Earth coveted it. “What if I could give you large amounts of it in exchange for your cooperation?”
“And how would I explain to the bank where I got the gold?”
“Why would you need to explain anything?”
Colette sighed as she leaned back in her chair. “Are you done with the joke yet? Because I’m tired and want to go home. If I were you, I’d scram, before I decide to switch to espresso, call security, and fill out the paperwork for your arrest.”
“You are failing,” Beta 690 advised, as if he’d not noticed.
“What will it take to convince you what I say is true?”
“A lot more than a guy dipped in blue dye claiming to be an alien.”
“It’s not dye,” Cade muttered as he stepped around her desk.
“I have to ask, why blue and not the traditional green or gray?”
“Because of our sun’s rays, of course.”
“You really practiced for this, didn’t you?”
“She doesn’t believe anything you say.”
Cade had noticed, and he was tired of it. “Please stand.”
“Why?”
