Chapter 6
Lyra and I sat expectantly on my couch, watching the new episode for the week. I was too tired to watch it the night it was aired so we’d opted to watch the recording in the morning. The tabloids had come in waves about Hugo and I’s mysterious conversation.
“Jesus, it didn’t even look that bad,” I huffed.
“You looked annoyed.”
“That’s what the tabloids say.”
“THEY TOOK PICTURES!” Lyra hissed, “AND THERE ARE VIDEOS!”
I rolled my eyes and took another look at the article.
New York based billionaire matchmaker Lilith Mendez and hotshot matchmaker from London, Hugo Evans, are already under the spotlight, more so than their own clients on the reality TV show Cupid Covens. The two had a brief interaction before they set onto their mission to narrow down the list of potential suitors for their clients. It didn’t seem to be the friendliest conversation, but Hugo’s response at the end suggested otherwise. While competition is rampant, given Lilith Mendez’s stellar reputation as a matchmaker and an even tougher personality, there seems to be some untold history between the two that leaves us excited for more.
But can we talk about the hilarious ending to tonight’s episode? It’s clear there are secrets to surface. Will the last two episodes be enough time to reveal them? Find out next week on the 3rd episode of Cupid Covens.
“Wait, what ending?” I asked in panic as the last paragraph finally clicked in my head. Lyra gave me a pointed look, lower lip pulled into her mouth so hard I thought her skin would rip.
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
I looked at the screen, sitting anxiously through an hour’s worth of content until it finally happened… The credits. They were rolling as the video of my personal interview minimized to the side.
“So, what do you think of Hugo Evans?” came the director’s voice.
“Well, he has a rather…unconventional approach which works for him, I guess. I can’t say much against it.”
“In most cases one would try to blend in rather than stand out.” She stated understandingly.
“I believe he just uses the logic of how it’s easier to open up to a stranger rather than someone you know.” I replied maturely. See? I could be civil. Hugo popped up on the screen right after.
“Lilith isn’t exactly conventional herself, but certainly not as strange as I am when it comes to this,” he laughed. “But I do believe our priorities are different when it comes to measuring compatibility between potential partners?”
“How so?”
“Well, if I’m going to be honest.” He smiled mischievously. “Lilith cares more about the external and material factors that keep the family bound together. It’s well intended, but some marriages can end up feeling like they’re friendships with some added contracts in the mix.”
I scoffed at his words, “That is not true!”
“I mean…” Lyra said quietly, “you just do what you’re told…”
“People in Europe.” he started with a softness to his voice. “They want to fall in love, you know? It’s how Europeans are different from Americans. I work to blossom love between people. She makes sure a couple can tolerate each other enough to preserve wealth and status. I guess both are valid priorities. Or maybe our economy isn’t as terrible as yours.”
There’s laughter behind the screen as my jaw drops at the brutal but honest remark. It was true, the American economy was terrible which is why people were more obsessed with keeping money in one place. My work revolved around the culture of each place, though. I worked differently everywhere so it really wasn’t fair the way he was assessing me.
“You know what to do in the next episode now.” Lyra breathed deeply, seemingly just as annoyed as I was. I nodded. Hugo and the world needed to be reminded that I was one of the most culturally sensitive people in the field at all.
I pop back onto the screen again, and dread fills my stomach. I knew exactly what was going to happen.
“So what were you two talking about before the party started?”
Hugo’s screen appears next to mine, and our faces are frozen in confusion. I look like a deer caught in headlights while Hugo just laughs nervously and leans back in his seat.
“He was telling me about his questionable taste in…food.” I stated, my voice an octave higher than normal. “Respectfully, black pudding doesn’t sound very appealing to me.”
“She thinks Hawaiian shirts don’t look good on me.” He shrugged in the next scene.
Our screens go blank with the credits still rolling, the director’s and the crew’s voices and laughter in the background poking at us humorously, “Like that was believable at all.”
My jaw dropped.
We looked like absolute liars. Because we were. While this looked pretty funny to the rest of the world, I felt absolutely embarrassed.
Hugo and I were fools. Fools!
I’m never facing the world ever again.
Lyra’s phone rang and she picked it up quickly on speaker phone. “Hello?”
“Hi, this is Rinka,” came her desolate voice. “You left a message before the party to contact you later.”
I crawled over to Lyra’s phone immediately, “Rinka, hi, you might want to drop by my office today.”
“Why? Is everything alright?”
“It will be if you talk to us…” I said, although it sounded more like a question. “Are you free anytime soon?”
Later that evening, Rinka sat before me in my office looking calm and collected. Too calm and collected. I knew a liar when I saw one.
“Now, Rinka.” I started off gently with a clasp of my hands. “I’m aware of how some cultures work. Your family’s, at least. Is there something you think I should know?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” She shrugged in denial. “You know everything you need to and you have my list of preferences. I didn’t think you would need anything else besides this.”
I sighed and tapped my thumbs together. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
“Are you aware that twenty percent of my clients call off their engagements in the first year?”
Rinka’s eyes widened, but only for a split second before her face went blank again. “This is the first time I’m hearing it.”
“Five percent of the marriages in my case end up divorced.”
“Okay…”
“Also, ninety six percent of the people actually end up with who they want.” I clarified carefully, hoping she would get the hint. “That is…if they tell me who it is that they want.”
Rinka bit her bottom lip lightly before pulling her lips into a thin line. Her calm demeanor was starting to break down, and I could tell the truth was going to come out soon.
“I’m fine with whoever you choose for me.”
“Your heart has already chosen someone else, Rinka.” I leaned forward with a gentle voice. “It’s unfair to steer you any other way.”
“That’s not a priority.”
“You are a priority to me, Rinka.” I reminded her. “Not your parents or grandparents, nor anyone else. You are the one who is going to get married.”
Unsurprisingly, the young woman’s eyes started to water. She blinked quickly and looked away, but her red nose was a bigger giveaway. My heart went out to her, it really did. Being forced to be with someone who they didn’t want, or who wouldn’t treat them the way they deserved…I knew that feeling all too well. And there was so much damage to protect her from.
“I’ve worked very hard for those who choose their own happiness. If they’re brave enough for it, then I try my best. I’ve yet to fail.”
“Ms. Mendez, I’m not sure you really understand the situation,” she rasped sharply. “Our families are everything to us in our culture. If I don’t have my family’s approval, I’m as good as an orphan in this world.”
“Hispanic families can be the same.” I explained softly. “It took me a long time to put myself first as an individual, you know? I want you to think of your importance in people’s lives if they would drop you so easily out of anger, instead of celebrating your happiness.”
She remained silent, unable to look at me.
“Rinka, you’re already a lot more alone than you fear.” I concluded. “Especially since you’ve clearly abandoned yourself for everyone else.”
Lyra stood behind Rinka, giving me a look of alarm as she realized what was going on in my mind. She knew my protocol, and I wasn’t going to put the girl through any more heartache until she figured herself out.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Nakamura.” I said softly. “You’re currently not a fit client to profile.”
Rinka’s and Lyra’s eyes practically popped out of their eyes as they looked at me. Rinka’s jaw was on the floor, looking confused and panicked.
Lyra snapped at me, “Lilith!”
“Ms. Mendez!” she gasped and shot up from her seat. “I don’t understand what you mean. How will I explain this to my parents? W-what about the show? You’ll lose positive ratings!”
“This business was never about me,” I tell her softly. “I wouldn’t have to do so much just to get you the right match. My priority is your happiness in the matrimony, otherwise this is a failed case from the get-go.”
“Please!” she begged and stepped closer. “What do you want me to do? There must be a way around all this, I’m begging you. How will I face my family? The world? What will we tell the producers?”
“There are plenty of excuses to be made.” I shrugged casually. “It’s up to you whether you let me help you out, but I won’t partake in sabotaging your mental health and future marriage.”
The young woman froze in place, looking conflicted with tears streaming down her face. Slowly but surely, she found her way back to the seat and faced me with a shaky conviction. “Fine. But this stays between us.”
“I promise.”
My eyes darted to Lyra, who slowly started to gather her wits and breathe deeply in relief. I needed to take her aside and talk about her behavior thoroughly. It was obvious her priorities no longer aligned with mine, and it was going to create conflicts that I didn’t need this early in my so called “break”. I didn’t understand what kind of break this was, considering I was still doing my job, just in front of the whole world. That was far more pressure than what I normally tackled on a daily basis.
My problems seemed to be growing, and they didn’t revolve around Cristo this time. Honestly, I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or upset about that.
I hoped he was doing all right.