Chapter 4
Hugo looked surprised to see me.
“What’s with that look on your face?” I said as I hopped onto the bar stool. “You didn’t think I would show up?”
“Um, kind of.” He gave me a sheepish smile.
I quickly looked away and ordered a margarita. Sliding my hand inside my brown sling bag, I fetched my tablet and got down to business.
“So, the billionaire matchmaking club,” I said as I scrolled through the files till I found what I was looking for. “I have been…”
“Lily…”
“Lilith!” I quickly corrected him. “It’s Lilith. Do you want me to tattoo it on my forehead?”
Hugo blinked. “Sorry.”
“You were saying?”
“You haven’t answered any of my calls for the last two weeks?” He shook his head disbelievingly. “And when we finally meet you want to dive straight to business? I thought we were better than that.”
My drink arrived and I murmured a quiet thank you to the waiter for being swift. I had never been so grateful for a distraction before. To avoid Hugo’s watchful eyes, I busied myself with swirling my glass and occasionally taking tiny sips. This went on for a minute or two and I stubbornly refused to fill the silence. It was immature but I figured if I didn’t address the issue, he would drop it.
“What did I do?” Hugo said, breaking the ice. “You don’t just cut ties with people without any explanation.”
I kept swirling my glass.
“So, you are just going to sit there and pretend I’m talking to myself?” He let out a humorless laugh.
“Well, I could try.”
I could even walk out of the bar if he kept poking at my pressure points. The only reason I was still listening to him lecture me on good manners was because I needed him. Whilst I was apprehensive about the idea at first, I had done some thinking and concluded that the billionaire matchmaking club wasn’t the worst idea in the world. Hugo Evans’ strategies towards helping people find love were vastly different from mine but at the end of the day, we got the job done and that’s what mattered. Besides, he was deeply insightful and he could open my eyes to new perspectives. If we were being honest, he was perfectly fine implementing the idea on his own but for some reason, he felt the need to involve me.
I was, of course, grateful for his thoughtfulness but I didn’t like the added complications that came with it. The memories. Guilt. Or simply, attachments in general. I was old enough to know getting too close to people comes with a price. The last time I allowed myself to hang out with Hugo as friends rather than colleagues, I had opened a door and let in temptation. Needless to say, it had cost me Cristo. I’d learned my lesson the hard way and if Hugo thought we could have a heart-to-heart, he was wrong. I didn’t have the time to discuss trivial matters like why I didn’t answer his calls after the stupid party.
He didn’t know me. A lot had changed in six years, including us. We weren’t the same young, naive and hopeful interns we once were. I had met a man, loved him and lost a bit of myself in the process. My scars defined me now and I came back with a thicker skin. For crying out loud, I was estranged from my own mother. If I could cut ties with the person who gave birth to me, then what wouldn’t I do to anyone else?
He sighed. “That’s the thing about you, Lilith. You have crafted this tough persona to convince everyone that you are heartless and devoid of human emotion but I’m telling you, there is no harm in peeling that mask off. Isn’t that what you tell your clients? That getting hurt is not always a loss? That part of getting to know yourself is exploring something that’s out of your comfort zone?”
“Wow, why do I have to pay a shrink when I can just ask you to psychoanalyse me for free?” I said, injecting an impressive amount of indifference in my tone. “Should we schedule our therapy sessions for Sunday evenings?”
I looked up and instantly regretted choosing that moment to do so. A twinge of hurt dulled his green eyes and he took angry sips of his drink.
“Is it about the guy who came to your apartment? Cristo Caron?” He asked in a low voice, not meeting my eyes. Like he was embarrassed to say so.
Wait, how did he know about me and Cristo? He must have done his research. And why would Hugo…? No. He couldn’t be jealous. Hugo wasn’t allowed to have serious feelings for me. What did he even see in me? I was mean to him and never laughed at his jokes. Why would he want someone like me? Why would anyone? I didn’t have room for anyone in my heart, not even my own damn self.
Shit. I need to put a stop to this.
“Why do you care?” I barked. “Look, I just didn’t feel talking to you. Are you trying to say I’m not allowed to feel that way?”
That did it.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to put you in a worse mood.”
“Can we please discuss what really brought us here?” I said impatiently. “We are wasting precious time.”
Hugo gave me a long pitiful look. I pretended not to recognize what his eyes were communicating. I didn’t need pity. I was Lilith Mendez, not a fragile little doll.
“Of course,” he said at last. “What did you come up with?”
I typed the password and passed him the tablet.
“This is really good,” he said as he skimmed the document displayed on the screen. “How did you find time to gather all this information?”
Lyra had done most of the work but I couldn’t resist bragging. “You asked and I delivered.”
“Don’t let this go to your head but this is brilliant, Lilith.” He gave me a small smile. “I assume most of our members will subscribe to the Platinum package?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I don’t think spending money is a problem to the elite.”
“True,” Hugo agreed. He skimmed the document again. “I’m curious, why don’t you want them to be specific in their public profile? I mean, if someone says he works in the medical field, shouldn’t the potential match know what he does exactly? For instance, a nutritionist doesn’t work arduous hours like a neurosurgeon. Quality time is important in a relationship.”
“I agree,” I said. “But that’s where you and I differ. You believe in presenting the potential match with all facts so she either takes it or not. You think it’s being realistic but love, like life, is hardly black and white.”
“Meaning?”
I knew he was messing with me but I answered anyway. “Meaning she won’t give him a chance. That’s what happens in dating apps. People complain that they can’t find a partner. The truth is, it will never happen if they don’t change their style of approach to relationships. And the matchmaking club will break the rules of modern dating.”
“You make a compelling argument,” he admitted. “So what happens at social events?”
“The Silver members will mingle during the event. But that’s all.” I said. “If they meet someone and need our approval, they pay the consultation fee.”
“It says we charge $300 per session. If a couple has to see us four times…” He trailed off as he typed on the tablet. Showing me the math he did on the calculator, he said, “That’s twice what we charge for a Platinum package.”
“That’s the idea.” I wasn’t aware I was smiling until I saw my reflection on the screen of the tablet. Quickly, I pulled my lips together and made my expression neutral.
“I like this,” he commented.
“All that’s remaining is the web page design,” I said. “But that’s not our priority at the moment.”
“Terms and conditions?”
“Not really. Exclusivity. It was my prerequisite, remember?”
He laughed. “Yeah. How could I forget?”
“We will cover that in our next meeting,” I answered. Sliding off my stool, I drained my glass and grabbed my bag. “Goodnight, Hugo.”
“You too, Lily.”
He never learns, I shook my head, fighting a smile.
“Is Blair Halls in her office?” I asked the assistant. Her acrylic nails were typing furiously on the computer keyboard. At that rate, she was going to need a new one in the next two weeks.
“Yes,” she answered then lifted her eyes. The frown that immediately creased her face was an indication that she recognized me. One would assume that because she remembered me from my last time, she would accord me with more respect but she was just as arrogant as the people she worked for.
“Um, what I mean is, she was here but left the office. I don’t know if she will be back.”
That’s all I needed to know. The bitch didn’t even know how to lie. My lips trembling with a satisfied smile, I walked past her.
“Excuse me ma’am,” she called out. “You can’t go in there.”
“Why not?” I challenged, not stopping to argue with her. Judging from the irritating sound of her heels clicking against the tiles, I could guess she was trying to match my pace.
“I’m sorry but Miss Halls specifically said you are not allowed to see her,” she said.
I snorted. “Yeah right.”
I was now at Blair’s door. Ignoring the assistant’s pleas, I pushed it open.
Blair was speaking on the phone but as soon as she saw me, she slammed down the receiver and rose from her seat.
“What the hell?” Blair shouted.
“Hello to you too, Blair. I missed you.” I had to admit it was fun watching her get all riled up.
She wrinkled her nose. “Who even let you in here?”
“Trust me, I didn’t want to see your face today either.”
“Lilith Mendez, you have three seconds to walk out of that door and three minutes to exit the building or I will have security escort you,” she threatened through gritted teeth.
“Not until you listen to what I have to say!” I demanded.
Blair scoffed, “Let me see if I have this right. You had the FBI arrest me and in the process, Cristo dumped me. Have you come to gloat?”
“Oh, Blair. You are always assuming the worst about people,” I said sweetly. “I’m actually a benevolent person and that is why I have come to tell you in person that I’m actively looking for a fiancee for Cristo.”
She blinked. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me.” I shrugged. “I’m finding Cristo a new girlfriend.”
“Do you honestly expect me to believe that Cristo asked you to do that, matchmaker?” Her voice dripped with venom.
“Honestly, no?” I shook my head. “But I know you will believe me when I say it was Selene who specifically put in the request.”
Blair’s pupils dilated at that and she bit her bottom lip so hard that it smeared red lipstick on her front teeth. “Why?”
The surprise looked genuine. Blair was a talented schemer but a terrible liar. Well, as far as I was concerned. She was easy to read and it still baffled me how Cristo wasn’t able to see through her lies when they were together. Or maybe I just happened to be highly intuitive. My training after all, covered body language and interpreting it had become my specialty.
If Selene wasn’t working with Blair, then why had she nominated her? Blair was a vengeful person and her antics could cost the Carons their reputation. Perhaps Selene had no knowledge of who the real Blair Halls was. I wouldn’t put it past Cristo to protect Blair’s secrets.
“I don’t question my clients’ choices,” I lied. “Although, people don’t really need a reason to find love, do they?”
“Why didn’t you nominate yourself?” She mocked. “Since you don’t ever seem to leave him alone?”
“Because I’m the matchmaker? I can’t set myself up with a client, can I?” Was she dumb or just testing my patience?
“No,” she sneered. “It’s because deep down, you know that you and Cristo can never happen. You are a nobody. Perhaps you are famous because of your business but you and I know in this world, people respect power and social status. You will never fit in and Cristo knows that too.”
“Oh please.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not ashamed of my family. It’s you who feels the need to bring it up because you suffer from a terminal superiority complex.”
A deep frown cracked her face. “Why did you come here again? I have things to do and I don’t appreciate interruptions. ”
“For some reason, Selene thinks you might make a good daughter-in-law.” I sat down. “Well, we both know you are a bully but like I said, it’s not my place to ask questions.”
The frown was replaced by a smile and a sparkle in her eyes.
“And Cristo knows about this? I mean, me?” She asked carefully.
I laughed. For someone so bright, she could be so dense sometimes. She was born into this world and she still hadn’t learnt a thing about families coming together though their children’s matrimony to combine powers? Did she think love was ever a factor?
“I haven’t told him yet,” I answered truthfully. “But I will. As your matchmaker, I suggest that you don’t speak to him until he does. We don’t want him to think this is one of your schemes, do we?”
Blair glared at me.
“There are some ground rules,” I said. “First, I’m the matchmaker so you do everything I tell you. Not the other way round. Second, you don’t get to decide who Cristo ends up with so I suggest you find other hobbies that don’t involve screwing up the process. The future of my business is on the line.”
“Whatever,” she said wearily.
“Thank you.” I smiled. “I knew you would cooperate.”
“You are having fun with this, aren’t you?” She said.
“Matchmaking is fun, Blair. Watching the people you introduced fall in love is pure bliss,” I said dreamily. “Oh, I can’t wait to see who Cristo picks.”
“You made your point,” she seethed. “Now leave.”
“I’m leaving,” I stood up. “And Blair? I shouldn’t be telling you this but Suzan Abrams is one of the matches we are considering. I thought you might want to know who you are up against.”
The color drained from her face and her eyes widened.
“Suzan Abrams?” Her voice was barely audible. Was that fear I detected? Ha! I never thought there would come a day when I would make Blair freeze in her seat. And I had to confess it was exhilarating.
My fingers resting on the knob, I turned to shoot her a smirk. “May the best woman win.”