Chapter 30
DANE
Iran. And ran. And got nowhere.
Duh. I was on a treadmill.
But I couldn’t outrun the thoughts plaguing me. Thoughts about how wrong things were. It was poison. My body demanded more of that sweet toxin.
I didn’t want to spend another Saturday cooped up in my home office or my office in the building. Last night I had told Ina my entire world was work. I didn’t miss the look on her face. She seemed horrified and maybe even a little disgusted.
I was the writer of my own destiny. I didn’t have to work seven days a week. There was nothing stopping me from living a little. I was already thirty-five and it felt like I had never truly lived. Yes, I had money and I traveled and ate at the best restaurants, but that wasn’t living.
I hopped off the treadmill with my legs tingling and muscles jerking. I grabbed my phone and walked to the kitchen for my usual protein shake.
While the blender worked its magic, I texted Ina.
Me: Market day? I’ll make coffee and we can walk from my place.
Ina: Can’t, sorry. Promised Abby I’d have breakfast with her this morning. She’s been complaining we never see each other anymore.
I didn’t get rich by backing down.
Me: Tell Abby I’m monopolizing your time and I’m not sorry about it.
Ina: I’ll do no such thing. She already gives me enough grief about you.
I was disappointed. I started typing and then erased it. She had a life. I couldn’t expect her to drop everything for me.
Ina: I’ll text you when I’m done with breakfast. Maybe early afternoon?
I smiled. All was not lost.
Me: I’ll be here. Maybe in the pool downstairs. Come find me.
I set my phone down and got up, going through my morning routine on autopilot. Coffee. Shower.
I opened my laptop and pulled up my personal email account. I tried to check it once a week. Usually it was filled with spam, but sometimes I’d get an email from my mother asking when I was going to visit Ireland. Or telling me about something one of my brothers did.
Instead, I had an email from Cupid’s Arrow. The subject line let me know I had a match.
I stared at it for a long moment, confused. Then I remembered.
The profile. The fake profile I’d created in a moment of temporary insanity, trying to prove something to myself about data and love and whether the algorithm I helped design could actually work for me.
I’d completely forgotten about it.
I clicked on the email, my heart rate picking up.
Congratulations! Our matchmakers have found your perfect match. Based on your responses and our proprietary algorithm, we’ve identified one candidate with exceptional compatibility.
One.
Most users got multiple matches. We promised at least three to five on average, sometimes more depending on their parameters. The algorithm was designed to give options and account for the fact that compatibility could manifest in different ways.
But I had one match.
Shocker.
I clicked through to see the profile, and my breath caught.
It was Ina.
Her fake profile. The one that was supposed to be deactivated but apparently was still in the system.
Except it wasn’t fake, I realized as I read through her answers. These were real. These were Ina’s actual thoughts about love and relationships and what she wanted.
I read through the entire profile twice, seeing myself reflected in her answers. Seeing us.
The algorithm had matched us with almost a hundred percent compatibility rating.
I’d never seen a rating that high. The algorithm usually accounted for the fact that perfect compatibility was a myth.
But somehow, Ina and I had almost achieved a perfect score.
For the first time in my life, I felt a sweeping sense of clarity. Like everything was finally making sense.
The data stood correct.
The algorithm worked.
We were compatible. Mathematically, objectively, provably compatible.
Which meant this wasn’t just chemistry or physical attraction or the novelty of breaking rules. This was real. This was backed by science and data and the same system that had successfully matched thousands of couples.
I could trust this. I could believe in this.
Because it wasn’t just magic or feelings or that intangible thing Ina kept talking about. It was data. And data didn’t lie.
I needed to tell her. I wanted to show her the match and explain what it meant. Magic was great and all, but I operated on facts and now I had them.
I grabbed my phone to text her, but before I could, the buzzer from the lobby echoed through the quiet living space.
I grinned.
She must have finished breakfast early.
I didn’t even bother asking who it was. I pushed the button to allow the guest up. I wasn’t sure why security was buzzing me. I told them Ina had a standing invitation. She was welcome anytime.
That alone was a huge step for me.
I opened the door and waited in the foyer, giving myself a lecture about not grabbing her and fucking her right there in the foyer.
I was going to be a gentleman.
When the doors opened, I pounced and nearly had a very embarrassing mishap when I spotted Keith standing there.
“We need to talk,” he said, and pushed past me into my apartment before I could stop him.
“Keith, what the hell?”
“Are you sleeping with Ina?”
I followed him in and closed the door behind us. “That’s none of your business.”
“It’s absolutely my business. I’m the CFO of this company. I’m on the board. And if you’re violating your own policies, it’s a big fucking deal.”
“I’m not doing anything wrong.”
That wasn’t exactly a denial, but whatever.
“Bullshit.” He rounded on me. “Last night you two showed up together, clearly on a date that got interrupted. She lied to me about the campaign, then you immediately contradicted her lie. And the way you look at her, Dane? You’re not that good of an actor.”
My jaw clenched. “Even if something was happening, which I’m not confirming, it would be between Ina and me. Not you.”
“You need to be careful.” Keith’s voice took on an edge I didn’t like. “If the board finds out you’re sleeping with your secretary, it’s going to be a problem.”
“Don’t call her that.”
“What, your secretary? That’s literally what she is.”
“She’s my executive assistant and a lot more than that.”
“Exactly my point!” Keith threw his hands up. “You’re compromised. You’re making decisions based on what’s good for your love life instead of what’s good for the company.”
“Everything I do is for the good of the company.”
“Don’t be so sure,” he said. “You shut down Heidi’s extended commercial idea—which would have made us millions—because you didn’t want Ina’s face out there. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the raise she got last month.”
“First of all, that’s none of your business. Secondly, fuck you. I don’t have to ask your permission.”
“I’m saying this as your friend,” Keith continued, his voice softening slightly. “You need to end this. Whatever is happening between you and Ina, it needs to stop. For both your sakes.”
“No.”
“Dane.”
“I said no.” I moved toward the door, opening it. “Get out.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Then it’s my mistake to make.”
Keith walked toward the door but paused in the threshold. “I’m trying to protect you. Both of you. The board is going to destroy you over this. And Ina? She’ll be collateral damage.”
“Get. Out.”
He didn’t move. I stared at him, making it clear I wasn’t backing down.
“You’re here because you’re pissed about the no-dating policy,” I said.
“Because you can’t sleep with every woman in the office anymore.
This has nothing to do with protecting me or Ina.
This is about you being a petulant child who can’t have what he wants.
You’re mad because we had to institute that policy because you’re like a rooster in a henhouse.
You think every female is up for grabs. You like to fuck around, Keith.
You and I both know that, and you’ve made inappropriate remarks in front of the staff. ”
“That’s rich, coming from the guy who’s currently fucking his secretary.”
“Nothing is going on with Ina. The dates were fake. The relationship is fake. My feelings are strictly professional, and Ina knows that. She agreed to this arrangement knowing exactly what it was.”
Even as I said it, I felt sick. Felt the lie burning in my throat.
But I needed Keith to believe it. Needed him to back off so I could figure out how to handle this properly.
“Love isn’t real anyway,” I continued, the words coming automatically.
It was the same script I’d been using for years.
“It’s just chemistry and compatibility and transaction.
It can be bought, packaged, and sold at a premium.
That’s what Cupid’s Arrow is built on. You think I’d be stupid enough to fall for my own assistant when I don’t even believe in the product I’m selling? ”
Keith stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head. “You’re lying.”
“Believe whatever you want.”
“I will. And I’m going to Norma and the board on Monday. You both better be ready.”
“Are you doing that as my friend as well?”
He pushed past me, bumping my shoulder. “Good luck.
I spun around to ask what that meant and that’s when I saw her.
Her face was pale, her eyes wide, hurt and devastated.
Ina had heard everything.
Every lie I just spewed.
I started toward her. “Ina.”
She moved her hand off the door and let the doors close. I tried to reach out and stop them, but Keith stopped me.
“Ina, wait!”
“Don’t.” Her voice cracked. “Just don’t.”
The doors closed and she was gone.
I shoved Keith. “You fucking asshole! You knew she was there.”
He shrugged. “It was best she hear the truth straight from the horse’s ass, don’t you think?”
“This is your fault,” I said.
“I’ll give you until Monday morning. Report this to Norma yourself, or I will. And Dane?” He paused. “For what it’s worth, I actually liked her. She deserved better than whatever game you’re playing.”
I walked back into my apartment and slammed the door. I could chase her, but what would I say to make her believe me?
The data said we were perfect for each other. But I just destroyed any chance of that actually meaning anything.
She thought I’d been lying to her all along.