Chapter 11

I sat at my booth, smiling at people and taking quick interviews with them, pointing them to their respective tables with potential partners. They all seemed so excited. After an hour, when everyone was situated in their seats, the event began. While the people talked and switched partners at intervals, I was assigned three couples to counsel.
“So, Josh and I are going to be married by next year, hopefully.” The brunette, Miranda, said cheerfully.
I smiled at them, “Congratulations! How long have you been dating?”
“It’s been a year,” Josh said, “but it was love at first sight.” He looked over at her with softness in his eyes, “I just knew I wanted her.”
Lilith, do not gag, I warned myself.
“So, I’ve got your profiles in front of me.” I said and brought out their files, “and I’ll be doing an on-the-spot analysis of your relationship. Bear in mind, I’m quite transparent with my opinions.”
“We’re ready.” Miranda giggled and took Josh’s hand. I looked over their profile and worked out their stats as I explained what each section meant. The two seemed very good for each other with an 85% compatibility.
“Only eighty-five?” Miranda chuckled nervously, “I thought it would be more than that.”
“Our lowest and most acceptable is sixty percent,” I explained, “but this is all just logistics on paper and is only about seventy percent accurate in describing relationships. What counts is how you navigate each other because, frankly, I don’t know you two well enough or have any personal insight into your lives to determine anything. But eighty-five is as good as it gets.”
“Any advice you’d like to give us?” Josh intervened. We both could sense his fiancé was getting a little worked up.
“Well, I’ve assessed your attachment styles and Miranda, yours falls under Anxious Preoccupied. This means that you may have moments where you feel that your loved one may pull away from you.”
“But it really isn’t like that.” Josh assured her with a good grip on her hands.
“Not at all.” I seconded him, “But there needs to be better communication about space between you too because Josh does like his alone time. It doesn’t mean he’s ignoring you. Being alone gives him the opportunity to mentally recuperate, emotionally balance himself out, and find the energy to cater to your needs and ensure your mental security in the relationship. Josh falls under the Secure category where he is well aware of his needs and desires. And if someone like that is with you, then you don’t have much to worry about.”
“Really?” Miranda said happily while looking at Josh, “You want me?”
“Sweetheart, I’m literally engaged to you.” he responded incredulously.
I couldn’t help the small laugh that slipped from between my lips. “I’m sorry, that was just–”
“It’s fine.” Josh chuckled, “She needs reassurance every now and then.”
“I think you two will be married for a very long time.” I concluded. They thanked me as the timer for their session rang and got up.
As I dealt with the second couple, I saw Blair and Cristo in the distance on the raised platform by the podium. I tried to focus on my clients, but I was only half present, while the other half drifted to Cristo, who stood there with his hand on Blair’s hip. He looked good and professional. Black pants, white button up, and a long dark overcoat. Blair stood next to him in a beige cashmere sweater dress with a chic belt around her waist, paired with brown heels that clicked against the floor.
“Attention, please.” Her voice rang through the speakers, “Lunch will be served in the cafeteria in ten minutes. We’ll take a half hour break and resume right after. I hope you’re all having a wonderful afternoon so far.”
I knew that was my only chance to corner Cristo and break it to him. That he was dating someone malicious.
Is it your job, though? My mind interjected, and I almost groaned in annoyance because it was true. Who was I to say anything? Cristo and I weren’t friends anymore so I should just let it be.
But I could confront Blair, though. I just had to. She wasn’t as cunning as she thought she was, and I could corner her. As lunch time came around, I stuck to Lyra in the cafeteria and we took to a corner away from the crowds so I could relay my plan to her.
Lyra looked unconvinced, “Are you sure she won’t sniff you out on it?”
I shook my head, “All I’m going to do is invite her in person to a thank you party held by all the other matchmakers that attended here. The only thing you’ll do is create a diversion within whatever project she has at the time to distract her.”
“She won’t have cameras in her office, will she?” she whispered, “You can’t afford to get caught snooping.”
“With how she was being with Cristo on the day I was there, I don’t think she can afford to have other people looking at her.”
“Fine.” She breathed deeply and clasped her hands, “When are we doing this?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Too soon?”
“You know what?” her voice was determined, “It’s perfect. Everyone is here so I might as well talk to them about it.”
Blair’s voice came over the speakers again signaling the event’s resumption. Other matchmakers part of the event walked past me, some patting my shoulder in comfort as they walked by and others giving me assuring smiles.
You know what? Maybe I wasn’t as alone as I thought.

I found myself cornered at the end of a pristine hallway of the university. What does a girl have to do for a damn bathroom break?
“You’re avoiding me.”
“No I wasn’t.” I snapped.
“Lilith, you started running when you saw me.” He laughed, but I could hear the hurt behind it. His voice clenched around my heart, squeezing the guilt out of it. For a moment, I wanted to reach out to him and hold his arm. Apologize. Tell him about how off-putting Blair was.
His eyes held mine as electricity sparkled in the air around my neck, remembering his hands on my skin from our night in Korea. I was cornered in this hallway the same way I was on the bed that night.
I wanted him.
No.
“A silly thing to do for someone who has a girlfriend.”
Cristo rolled his eyes and turned away from me for only a moment, jabbing his hands into his pockets and looking at me intensely.
“Look,” he breathed deeply, “Mrs. Beaumont’s been worried about you. She sent me to ask how you’re doing.”
“She could ask me herself.”
Cristo pulled a letter out of his pocket. A beautiful, bronzed gold envelope seal shut with a gorgeous wax imprint. Mrs. Beaumont’s cursive handwriting at the back spelled out my name.
‘With Love,
To Lilith Mendez, my protégé’
“She’s the only reason I’m talking to you right now, I promise.” He sighed, handing me the letter. I took it from him carefully, staring as the light glimmered around it. It had been so long since I heard her call me her protégé. And it meant a lot to me, especially after the fiasco Blair caused. “Read it when you’re home.”
I nodded. A cough sounded down the hallway. Cristo and I looked ahead to see Blair standing at the end, arms crossed, with one foot in front of the other. For a moment, she reminded me of a female antagonist from an old-school movie. Prim, proper, and pressed. Pressed, as in upset.
“I’m gonna go now.” He sighed.
I crossed my arms with a cold look in my eyes, “Sure.”
He looked at me briefly, opening his mouth to say something but deciding better of it. Then he was gone.
Was I a horrible person? I wasn’t sure anymore.