Chapter 2
“Shit!I gotta get out of here. You got the last one?” I asked my assistant.
“Yeah, I got it. Get out of here.”
I still had to run home and shower. There was no way I could go to the interview smelling like dog shit. I’d been super busy today and had seen at least ten dogs. One was severely injured, her organs practically hanging out of her. I had to take my time to save her. Her owner was a mess. Her little poodle had been attacked by a rottweiler and was barely hanging on.
A veterinarian was something I always saw myself being. I’d been loving animals for as long as I could remember. My maternal grandparents had a farm, and I was able to spend a lot of time there. My dad was a gynecologist and was always at work, whether he was in his office or at the hospital. I spent more time with my mama since she was a homemaker. More often than not, we ended up at her parents’ house.
Those visits shaped my future… my career, anyway. It seemed because I was so dedicated to it, I didn’t have time for much else. That was the reason I paid to have Arranged Hearts find a woman that would be compatible with me. I went out from time to time, but the pickings were slim. I was always running into ghetto, ratchet ass women, thanks to my boys always wanting to go to some club they frequented or a party.
They liked that shit. Hell, I used to like it too. After all those years in school, it taught me responsibility and made me grow up hella fast. I wasn’t mad about that. I was thirty-three years old and ready for something real. I’d been ready. After starting my own clinic two years ago, I knew I was ready. My parents had baby fever and were pressing me at every turn to find a woman to marry. So when I brought up Arranged Hearts to them, initially, they were excited.
After more thought, they were questioning whether I knew what I was doing. Hell, I was questioning that shit too. This entire thing could be risky, but at this point, I didn’t have anything to lose, other than the money I used to pay for the service. I had a prenup agreement ready for just in case, but I wanted to believe that the company vetted people thoroughly. The questionnaire I filled out last week covered all the bases as far as to what type of woman I wanted, so I could only hope they were just as detailed with their background checks.
Since this was a paid service, it would greatly benefit them if they made sure no one could complain about the process. This was very unorthodox, but I knew as time went on, it would gain popularity simply because of their success rate. That was what gave me the courage to inquire about their services, hoping I could have my own success story.
Once I got home, I hurriedly hopped in the shower and handled my hygiene then got back into my ride, all in a matter of thirty minutes. My interview was in twenty minutes, and I lived fifteen minutes away. Talk about pushing it to the limit. It seemed I was always late for shit. People used to think I was late because I was a metrosexual. I always strived to look my best, like I’d taken hours to put together the perfect ensemble, but that was never the reason I was late.
Working magic.
Taking care of animals.
Repairing what was once broken.
Maintaining health.
I loved what I did, but I was hoping I would be able to be matched with a woman who could make me lose myself simply from her aura. However, I was doing my best not to get my hopes up. I would be marrying a woman at first sight… literally meeting her at the altar. I had to accept that sparks may not fly immediately. It could be a slow burn.
The dominant side of me was hoping she was a freak, though, who just went with the flow. I wanted to fuck her whole life up at first sight. I was a nasty ass Scorpio and a Q-Dawg. My ideal woman was just as much of a freak as I was. I wanted her to fuck my life up as well. Just from her stare… I wanted that shit to be so powerful until it had me diving between her legs headfirst. I wanted an angel with a hint of Satan in her.
The freak in me had been subdued for two years. I wasn’t celibate, but no woman had been getting everything I had to offer. I wanted to reserve that for the woman I would marry. Whoever she was, I hoped she was ready for a nigga like me.
When I parked in the parking lot at Arranged Hearts, I had exactly six minutes until my interview. Shit. It was a good thing I’d filled out the questionnaire online. Had I not, I would have definitely been giving off a horrible first impression. I walked in and glanced around. The fountain in the middle was a nice touch. It put off a relaxing ambiance.
As I got to the desk, my phone was vibrating in my pocket. That was either one of my parents or my office. Both could wait for me to check in. “Good evening! How can I help you?”
“My name is Gentry Fleming, and I have an interview with Kerri.”
“Perfect. Did you fill out the questionnaire online?”
“Yes, ma’am. Good thing, since I was almost late.”
She chuckled. “Yes, good thing. Follow me.”
I pulled my phone from my suit pants pocket to see a missed call from my mom and a text. Opening it quickly, I saw she’d sent, Good luck on your interview today. Although I’m still skeptical about it, I hope for the best.
I sent a quick reply, thanking her, then entered the room I was led to. When I walked inside, a beautiful curvaceous woman was standing there with a smile. Damn. She was fine as fuck. I glanced down at her hand to see she was already married. “Good evening, Mr. Fleming. I’m Kerri,” she said, extending her hand.
“Hello, Kerri. It’s nice to meet you.”
She smiled again and said, “Have a seat. We’ll get right to it. From what I could comprehend from your questionnaire, your time is usually limited. I’ll make this as quick as possible.”
“Naw. Take your time. This is important, and I want to make sure my desires are completely understood. I have an assistant and an intern. They can handle any call-ins.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Fleming.”
“Call me Gentry.”
She nodded politely then averted her attention to her screen. “So the first question was what are the most important values you look for in a partner. You answered honesty, consideration, and loyalty. I know we said three, but are there any more you’d like to list?”
I thought for a millisecond, then responded, “Kindness. I need a woman with a kind spirit, because there are times I can be downright rude and petty. I mean… I don’t want her to be a pushover, but I do want her to be able to calm me simply by me being in her presence.”
She smiled slightly. “That’s beautiful. She should be a source of peace. Which three qualities are absolute must-haves in your ideal match? You responded that she should have a sense of humor, be stubbornly confident, and considerate slash unselfish. Do you care to elaborate on your response of stubbornly confident?”
“Yeah, sure. What I mean by that is when she’s taken all the facts of a situation into consideration and have drawn a conclusion that she believes in, she should stick to her guns. But that’s only after she’s well-informed. I don’t want a woman that will sway whichever way the wind blows.”
“Okay. I understand that a lot better.”
The way she smirked made me feel good. It was like her wheels were already turning. I liked that. She’d probably interviewed someone already that she had in mind to match me with. She made a few notes on her computer then looked up at me again, displaying a beautiful smile.
“Do you have a preference for your partner”s education level or career path?” She looked up at me and smiled. “I loved your response. You said no. As long as she isn’t a dummy.” She chuckled then continued. “You continued by saying that you didn’t mind taking on the role of provider, if necessary. That you were open to love, regardless of if they furthered their education or not.”
I nodded. There was no further explanation needed. I was old school in a sense when it came to that. It was my job as a man to provide for and take care of my woman. I didn’t mind doing that, especially if she took care of me in return. If she was career driven, that was fine too. We would make the perfect power couple.
When my phone vibrated again, I slightly rolled my eyes. Everyone knew where the hell I was. I didn’t understand why they thought it was cool to keep trying to reach out. I should have powered my phone down before coming in. “I’m sorry. This is so distracting.”
She smiled as I took my phone from my pocket and saw the text from my mama. I powered it down without reading it then gave my attention back to Kerri. She gave me a slight smile and read the next question and response.
“What are your top two interests and hobbies that you enjoy most? You said you loved music, which included going to concerts and live shows, and spending time with family. Do you have siblings and or kids?”
“I have two sisters and a brother, but I don’t have kids. My oldest sister lives in Miami, and my baby sister lives in DC. My brother moved to Texas. So I’m the only one here with my parents. I’m the third one of the bunch. I take spending time with them seriously, especially since I’m the only one here to see about them and make sure they’re good.”
“Understood. How would you describe your ideal first date together?” She smiled then read my response. “Cooking together and just spending time alone, getting to know more about one another. If we’re on a first date, I’m interested in the physical already, so I need to get to know her mind.”
She looked up at me with googly eyes and shit. I chuckled and slid my hand over my beard. She had my face all hot and shit. My last girlfriend said it was so attractive to see a dark-skinned man blush. I could only shake my head. Kerri giggled like she knew something I didn’t then went to the next question.
“What personality traits do you find most appealing in a potential partner? Someone who is somewhat cautious but free enough not to limit herself. If she’s taking this risk, then that fulfills that requirement. Confidence is another thing. I want a woman who is confident in her sex appeal, no matter her size.”
I nodded as she looked up at me. “The next question doesn’t necessarily go into detail, so I will ask a follow-up question afterward.”
“Okay.”
“How important is physical attraction and chemistry to you in a relationship? You answered that it’s extremely important. You refused to set yourself up for failure.” She laughed loudly then slowly shook her head. “You want to be able to stare into her eyes, and you can’t do that if you aren’t physically attracted to her.”
She laughed for a reason. I frowned slightly, then it eased into a smile. I was a smart nigga. She had someone in mind already.
“The follow-up question is do you have a preference or rather specifics about what physical attributes attract you to a woman?”
“Oh yeah. Curvaceous for sure. That’s my weakness. Thick thighs and, excuse my language, ass for days.” I slowly shook my head. “It’s not a requirement, but I would be all in at sight.” I chuckled. “I like thick lips and expressive eyes. Skin tone doesn’t matter as long as she’s black. I love my sistahs. I want her to be attractive in her natural state without all the additives. I don’t mind all that, but again, when we’re at home, I will be seeing the real her.”
She nodded as she made notes and tried to subdue a smile. I couldn’t help but ask, so I did. “You have someone in mind, don’t you?”
“Normally, I would ignore that question, but yes. That’s all I can and will say.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that broke out on my face. After she finished typing, she went to the next question. “What is your preference regarding having children someday? You said you definitely want kids one day. The woman you’re paired with would have to want kids too. So how do you feel about a woman that already has kids?”
“I’m cool with it as long as the father ain’t on no bullshit and she’s teaching her kids to be respectful. They would be living with us primarily, so I would be with them just as much as their biological father, if not more.”
I realized I’d engaged my hood voice when I answered that question. “I’m sorry, Missus Kerri. I didn’t mean to be so unprofessional.”
“It’s okay. It gives me glimpses into your relaxed personality. What is your idea of the perfect way to spend a weekend? You said chilling out around the house. You want a woman that you can be up under all day without getting bored or tired of her presence. That goes back to her being your peace.”
She slowly shook her head as I nodded. I assumed that the woman she had in mind had answered similarly to how I did. She continued with the rest of my answer. “Another perfect moment would be taking her out on the town to a nice dinner, flaunting her beauty, and being the envy of everyone watching. Flowers, intimacy, and music. Any time spent with her should be perfect. I understand we won’t always agree, but when we don’t, I want my heart to ache until we make it right.”
She slowly shook her head again as a slight smile made its way to her lips. “On paper, you’re perfect so far. If what she will need to know isn’t addressed, I’ll ask follow-up questions.”
I chuckled. “Okay.”
“How important is sharing core beliefs or interests with your partner? You responded that it was very important, because it would be one less thing you have to argue about.” She laughed. “I’m glad you’re going into this with a sense of reality. It may not be easy trying to get to know someone after you’re already married and living together. I can attest to that.”
“You came through the services provided as well?”
“I did. I have no regrets. Our marriage had its struggles in the beginning, but we made it through, and now it’s beautiful. You know the owners met this way as well.”
“Yes. I read that.”
She nodded and continued. “How would your closest friends describe your personality? Honestly, I don’t have many close friends. However, they would probably say that I’m arrogant, a control freak, and bossy. I don’t think it’s as bad as they say.”
She stared up at me as she chuckled. “We never think it’s as bad as they say, but most times, they’re right.”
“Yeah, probably so. I can definitely agree with control freak, especially when it comes to my clinic. I’m not arrogant. I’m extremely confident.”
She chuckled, and I did as well. “What is one quirky or unique quality about yourself you embrace? Nothing, really. I’m as normal as they come. I don’t think I have any quirks. I’m extremely organized if that counts. I color code almost everything… even candy when I have it.” She glanced up and asked, “Candy?”
I chuckled. “Yeah. I like Starburst Jellybeans. They have six colors. When I eat them, I choose one of each color to eat at once. If I can’t get one of each color, it slightly irritates me.”
She displayed a playful frown. “That is indeed quirky.”
I chuckled. “It’s imperative to experience the perfect mix of flavors.”
She laughed as she slowly shook her head. “If you say so, Gentry.” She chuckled once more and continued. “What are your love languages, and how do you prefer receiving love? Physical touch and words of affirmation. I feel like those are every man’s love languages. Honestly, I’ll take it any way she’s comfortable, except gifts. I don’t mind occasional gifts, but if it happens too often, it may piss me off. I have no desire to be a ‘kept man’.”
She nodded repeatedly then went on to the next item of discussion. “How much time do you ideally like to spend with your partner versus alone? I need at least an hour of alone time. I think it’s simply because I’m around people and animals all day long. It’s the people that make me need alone time though. I could be around animals all day, every day. The right woman may eliminate my need for that though. I may just wanna be around her all the time.”
She closed her eyes after reading my response and smiled. “The last question on the questionnaire. What three adjectives would you use to describe your ideal partner? You said soft, kind, loving, and a couple of bonus items… somewhat stubborn, like stated above, freaky, and spiritual.”
She glanced up and asked, “What do you mean by soft?”
“I don’t need her to be hard. That’s my job. I should be rough around the edges, especially in a protective stance. I can understand her being that way from time to time when it concerns kids, but primarily, that’s my role. Let me be the man in our relationship. As far as the spiritual part goes, I don’t mean a holy roller. I just want a woman that loves me enough to pray for me. I need prayer daily. I’m in the throes of personal progress. If she’s nasty and spiritual, she’ll have me eating out the palms of her hands.”
I chuckled. “Every man wants a freak between the sheets and a lady in the streets. I need a woman that will respect me and the sanctity of our relationship. She will consider my feelings about things before she engages in them… even when it comes to what she wears. I’m going to do the same, so I just want her to reciprocate.”
She nodded and made some notes then looked up at me and smiled. “Honestly, you should expect a call soon. I already know who she is.” She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. “This is so perfect. Just remember what I said. Between me and you, she’s so perfect for you I couldn’t hide it. We will be in touch soon, so get ready.”
“I’m beyond ready. You can tell me to go get a tux today.”
She chuckled. “Good. It’s been a pleasure, Gentry. See you at the wedding.”
“Thanks, Kerri.”
I shook her hand and left the office. When I got to my car, I got inside and just sat there. This was really happening. I pulled my phone from my pocket and as soon as I powered it on, I saw a message from my mother. Well, how did it go?
There were a couple of messages about the interview process before that one that I chose not to address. There was also a voicemail from the clinic. Instead of returning the call, I would just head there. I would need to get them ready for the upcoming weeks. There was no way I would miss taking my bride on a honeymoon. Hopefully, she had a passport. That was probably a question I should have asked. I would just send the information for them to book the honeymoon for Hawaii if I couldn’t find out before then.
Going to my mother’s contact, I called her back, since she’d called before she sent the text messages and before the interview actually started. I knew she would rather talk than text anyway. She didn’t say hello when she answered. “Well? How was it?”
I chuckled as I pulled off the parking lot. “It was perfect. I’m going to be married soon, so you and Dad need to be shopping for something to wear.”
She giggled, and I could hear the excitement in it. I was about to meet my forever at the altar. I couldn’t wait to learn more about the plans.