Chapter 2
2
MAX
‘Damn. This is adorable.’ As I looked at the colourful painting my best friend Colton put on my desk, my heart squeezed.
‘What can I say?’ he beamed. ‘My daughter is talented.’
‘And she really painted this for me?’
‘She did.’
Well, fuck. What was it about children? They knew how to get you right in the feels.
Colton took off his dark grey suit jacket then sat down. His short Afro hair looked like it’d been shaved at the sides since I last saw him. Wouldn’t surprise me. He always looked sharp.
‘So, obviously I can see this is the sky.’ I pointed to the blue brushstrokes at the top which had a ginormous yellow circle that I knew must be the sun. ‘And I’m guessing I’m the white guy with the dark brown hair and big muscles.’
‘ Obviously ,’ he chuckled.
‘Nice to know someone recognises all the hard work I put in at the gym!’ I laughed. ‘But why am I with your wife and kid? Where are you? Did you send Betty to bed with no ice cream or do something to piss her off so she deliberately left you out? ’
‘No. That’s not Natalie and Betty standing in the photo. That’s your wife and kid.’
‘Wow. You and Natalie got your sweet, innocent daughter to draw a fake family painting just to convince me to join some dating apps? Wasn’t using her to make me sign up to that other stupid thing bad enough? That’s low, man. Even for you!’
‘Nope. She did that all by herself. When you didn’t come round for breakfast on Sunday, she asked why. And when we told her you were away, she asked if she could make a painting for you and voilà – here it is.’
‘Well, tell her I said thanks. Here.’ I reached beside my desk and handed him a large bag. ‘Got these for you guys.’
Colton took the bag and when he opened it a big smile spread across his face.
‘Olive oil, Ibérico ham and two bottles of our favourite Rioja? You should visit our factory in Spain more often if you’re going to bring back gifts like this! Thanks!’
‘You’re welcome. It was worth the trip. I think the new olive oil body cream will be a big hit.’
I was the Managing Director of Olibella, a natural skincare company. It was the polar opposite of the career I’d always imagined I’d have, but as Colton always said, I had to make the most of the cards life had dealt me.
‘Sounds like it’ll give a nice boost to Q4 profits when it launches.’
‘Should do,’ I nodded. As well as being my best friend, Colton was our Financial Director, so success for him was always measured in numbers and the bottom line. ‘Oh and there’s some souvenirs in the bag for Betty too. Couldn’t forget my goddaughter.’
‘She’ll be so happy when she sees this!’ He pulled out the pink T-shirt. ‘You could be happy too if you stopped being such a workaholic.’
‘I’m not a workaholic!’
‘What time did you leave the office last night?’
‘Can’t remember,’ I lied.
‘Bet it wasn’t before ten.’
I definitely wasn’t gonna tell him it was just before midnight.
‘I had stuff to catch up on. That’s what happens when I’m away from the office. The work piles up and it’s not gonna get done by itself.’
‘That’s why you have staff. Like I keep saying, you need to delegate more. Then you’d have time to get a hobby. And a life. All this working isn’t healthy.’
‘I am healthy. And I already have a hobby: I go to the gym.’
‘Yeah, the one you had built here in this office building. I’m talking about a hobby outside of these four walls. Apart from coming to my place, I can’t remember you going somewhere that wasn’t work-related. When was the last time you had fun, took a holiday or dated ?’
‘Not this again,’ I sighed and undid the top button of my crisp white shirt. It had suddenly got hot in here. ‘I don’t have time.’
‘You do and you know it.’
‘I’m running a business. I owe it to Mum to make it a success.’
‘It already is. She would’ve been so proud of what you’ve achieved. Everything’s running well here. You don’t have to work twenty-four seven any more. Take a break. You haven’t had a proper holiday in years.’
‘Er, hello ! I was in Spain just last week! That’s how I brought you the stuff you’re holding right now.’
‘That was for business . I’m talking about a holiday for pleasure . Remember that word? ’
‘Course I do.’
I didn’t. He was right. It’d been a while.
‘Come on! Just one dating app. That’s all I’m suggesting. Or I can ask Natalie to set you up with one of her single friends. Just do something !’
‘I already signed up to that stupid hotel thing after you blackmailed me. And look how that turned out. Waste of money.’
‘It’s only been two months. There’s still time.’
‘ Yeah, right .’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Not everyone wants the whole marriage and kids thing. I’m happy that works for you, but that life isn’t for me.’
Colton and I had been friends since we were teenagers and for as long as I remembered, he’d always wanted that lifestyle. It suited him too.
One Sunday morning he’d invited me around to his place for breakfast. When I arrived, he was sitting around the table with Natalie and Betty, laughing and joking. They looked like they were starring in a TV commercial advertising the perfect family life. And I told them so.
He’d wrongly assumed that my comment meant I wanted the same thing and before I knew it, Natalie had whipped out an article from one of the Sunday newspaper supplements, gushing about some place called The Love Hotel. Minutes later, the website was on their iPad and they were signing me up.
There was still a chance I could’ve backed out, but then they used the ultimate low blow tactic: their adorable six-year-old daughter, Betty.
They asked her if she thought I’d make a good dad and she said in her cute voice, ‘Uncle Max would be the best daddy!’
‘So do you think he should go to the lovely hotel in the sunshine and find a nice lady to marry so he can be happy and make babies?’ they’d asked her .
I immediately wanted to object and remind them that this wasn’t the dark ages and people didn’t have to get married and have kids to be happy. I wanted to say that joy came in many forms and that I was just fine with my bachelor life, but I didn’t get the chance.
‘Yes!’ Betty had cheered, flashing her toothy grin then throwing her arms around me.
I was only human. How was I supposed to say no to that?
Less than thirty seconds later, I was handing over my credit card and it was too late to go back.
But that was months ago and we hadn’t heard a bean. Other than the automated email to say they’d got my details and would be in touch.
If it meant I got Colton off my back about finding a girlfriend, it almost would’ve been worth paying the hefty one thousand pounds deposit, but that was wishful thinking because here we were again, having the same conversation about my non-existent love life.
‘It’s still early days. They keep your details on file indefinitely until they find you a match that they know you’ll be perfect for.’
‘ Sure ,’ I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
‘I think it’s good that they do it that way instead of taking the full amount, inviting you to the hotel, pairing you up with someone incompatible, and then when it doesn’t work, just shrugging their shoulders and sending you home. At least you know that when you hear back from them, it’s going to be worth making the trip.’
‘If you say so.’
‘Just picture it: two weeks away from the office, switching off completely from work. Relaxing in paradise. Enjoying some sun, sea, sangria… and if you just happened to meet your perfect match there too, that’d be the cherry on top. ’
‘Anyway,’ I said, eager to change the subject, ‘has the new shipment of body oils come in yet?’
‘Yep. Arrived last night. The warehouse are going through the delivery right now.’
‘Great. I’ve got a meeting now with marketing about the beauty show in Dubai and the branding for the new range.’
‘I know marketing isn’t my forte, but I didn’t like those designs that company sent over.’
‘Me neither. Too dated. They’ve got complacent. Maybe it’s time to switch things up a bit. Start looking for someone else to do our branding.’
‘Yeah. What you got planned for the weekend? A few of us are going to the Liverpool vs Arsenal game. I’ve got a spare ticket if you…’
‘Can’t,’ I jumped in. ‘Got plans.’
‘Really? What?’
‘Doesn’t matter.’
‘Come on. I know it’s not easy, but I really think if you try, it’ll be good for you.’
‘Drop it, okay?’ I snapped. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to…’
‘No worries. I know it’s still a sensitive subject. Even after all these years. I’m just trying to help.’
‘I know.’
‘Same goes for the whole travelling and dating thing. Maybe I’ll call The Love Hotel people to see if there’s any news. You’re my best mate. I want you to be happy. There’s more to life than just work. If you just…’
‘Bye, Colton!’ I picked up my phone and headed towards the door. I loved him like a brother, but I couldn’t listen to him repeat the same you need to get a life spiel again.
‘See you at lunch?’ he called out.
‘Okay. ’
All through the meeting I was distracted. That conversation with Colton had stirred up a whole hornets’ nest of thoughts I didn’t want to discuss. He’d picked my least favourite topics of conversation. Dating and football. Even now, I hated talking about them.
Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been with a woman in years. When I needed to let off steam and the gym wasn’t cutting it, I’d hook up. It’d only ever last one night though. Usually I preferred to do it when I was travelling, because there was an understanding that it was temporary. I was just passing through town on business, so it could only ever be a one-off. And that was how I liked it.
After the way my one and only serious relationship ended, it was clear I wasn’t cut out to have them. I didn’t deserve to. I always screwed things up. I couldn’t hurt anyone else.
And like I said, I was busy running a business. I had big plans to expand overseas, which would take up more of my time.
A lot of people depended on me for their salaries. If I was off my game and the company failed, my employees wouldn’t be able to pay their rent or take care of their families, which was something I took seriously.
And as for the whole football thing, I couldn’t even think about that. Football used to be my whole world. My everything. But not any more.
When I returned to my office, Colton was sitting on my black leather sofa with a smile the size of Asia across his face.
‘Someone’s happy!’ I said. ‘Did we get a big order?’
‘Nope. I’ve got great news!’
‘Come on – spit it out!’
‘You know I said I was going to call The Love Hotel, to follow up?’
‘Yeah,’ I groaned .
‘I didn’t need to. Because look at this!’ He jumped up and flashed his phone in my face. ‘Natalie just forwarded it to me!’
I grabbed the phone and looked at the screen.
Congratulations! We’ve found your perfect match!
You are cordially invited to join us at The Love Hotel to meet the woman of your dreams…
‘Wait, what?’
‘They’ve found your soulmate! It’s on, baby ! You’re going to The Love Hotel. Next week! It’s finally happening.’
Shit.