Chapter 10 Moyo
Moyo
EVERYTHING IS SO…PINK.
I mean, yes, it is a dating app called Cupid’s Bow, but I didn’t expect the boardroom to look straight out of Barbie Land.
This time—dressed in a pair of simple black slacks and a soft baby-blue turtleneck with my leather, shearling jacket—I’m prepared to enter the app’s workspace. No scrubs, no rushing out of work. Ready to sign this agreement and get to work finding my life partner.
And see Niyi.
The thought is intrusive, making my heart flutter like a butterfly testing out its wings. My inner, secondary schoolteacher emerges, echoing a familiar refrain: “I will clip those wings.”
This is not the time nor the place for a schoolgirl crush. I’m too old for it, especially over someone I have met less than a handful of times. Trusted methodology only. No experimentation.
As I prep my wing-cutting scissors, the double doors open and my efforts are sullied.
Mercury walks in first. Their locs bounce with their steps.
They are effortless and chic in a monochrome, forest-green ensemble with gold jewelry to accentuate.
Behind them holding a packet is Niyi, and damn, does he look good in navy pants and a light-blue crew neck, a few shades darker than my baby blue.
“Moyo.” Mercury outstretches their hand. I take it and they pull me into a quick hug. “Thank you for giving us another chance.”
“Thank your convincing clients,” I say.
Mercury responds, “And you’ll soon be one of them.”
“That’s the plan.”
Mercury’s bubbly demeanor switches to a more serious one in the blink of an eye.
“I know we messed up last time, but like the couples you saw at the mixer, your matches will be handled by our most experienced matchmaker. In addition, Niyi here will be listening to your post-date feedback and informing the process, so I am more than confident we can lead you to the love you desire.”
Mercury’s calm and collected expression is in stark contrast to Niyi’s blank face.
“Now, I’ll leave you to your introductory meeting. As always, feel free to contact me, but you’re in great hands.” Mercury flashes a smile in Niyi’s direction, and the man in blue only shifts his eyes to acknowledge their words.
Soon it’s just Niyi and me. Neither of us move for a second and then we move simultaneously.
“Sorry,” we say in unison.
“No, you’re fine.” Also in unison.
I take a deep breath and gesture for him to go.
“Let’s sit,” Niyi says as he pulls out one of the office chairs. I move to his right, about to pull out my own chair, but his throat-clearing stops me in my tracks. “This chair is for you,” he says.
“Oh.”
As I take the seat, a wall of incense, cedar, and pepper hit me, mixed with some sweet elements that I desperately want to identify. I thought Cole had an impressive cologne taste, but Niyi’s mix of woody tones with lighter aromatic and fruity ones is much more complex.
It’s not until he speaks that I notice he has taken the seat to my right. His captivating scent still lingers, and it takes everything in me to focus on why we’re here.
“Ready to begin?” Niyi asks, not bothering to smile like Merc did during their introduction. Straight to business, I see.
“Yes.” I follow suit.
“As much as our system works, there’s nothing better than meeting the person involved; hence this meeting. I want to get to know you…to serve you, of course.”
Before I can respond, Niyi opens up the packet he’s been carrying. He takes out a document with an embossed Cupid’s Bow logo on the side. “Take your time.” He hands it over with a sophisticated, deep-purple fountain pen.
Years of scanning medical journals and patient charts make the contract a quick read. In my brief once-over, I note the details Niyi and I previously outlined.
Three dates. Three debrief sessions. A fat check. My personal coach—Niyi. A dedicated matchmaker, only written here as Saturn.
I imagine another Merc-like figure. The higher-ups must use astrological names to maintain business identity—I respect it. Plus, the Saturn individual being my matchmaker makes the most sense. My heart aches as I remember this Saturn person had the misfortune of reading Drunk Moyo’s complaint.
Everything else looks good, so I sign and slide the contract back to Niyi. He extends his hand, sending another whiff my way. It takes me a second to register the appropriate response. Once I do, it’s a firm handshake. Firm, but comfortable.
“Welcome to the Cupid’s Bow coaching program.” I expect a smile but his face remains straight. “Now, tell me a bit about yourself. How was your day? How was work?”
“Good. Long, busy day today, but that’s normal.” I repeat the typical polite reply I’m used to giving for small talk. My mind gives a little highlight reel of the day, and in the absence of doing a full shoulder roll to relieve tension—too conspicuous—I methodically pick at my nail beds.
Something flickers in Niyi’s eyes. “Would you like to talk about it?”
Don’t know if it’s the ornate pink surroundings, but instead of brushing him off, I loosen up. First, with my preferred shoulder roll. And then with my words.
“Back-to-back sessions. I successfully got management to see one client pro bono, and it went great. Lovely kid, great family. I’m happy it all worked out.
Now I’m trying to see another family, and management is giving me even more shit—” The words keep tumbling out.
“It’s like, despite everything I’ve done, and how successful the last pro bono work went, they still don’t care.
It’s almost comical because in a few months, at the Foundation Gala, the CEO will rave about my work because it brings in good publicity.
If only some of that money went into the pro bono work, instead of making me beg… ”
Niyi nods slowly as I carry on, laying my frustration about hospital politics and red tape at his feet.
It’s not how I expected our first meeting to start, but he’s a good listener.
I’m comfortable sharing under his watchful eye and stoic expression, which is a good thing, seeing as he’s my dating coach and all.
Soon I’m doing the thing the girls always jokingly chastise me for: responding to my own questions or dilemmas before my listener can answer. But somehow, Niyi remains calm. Nodding appropriately and littering well-fitting hmms as needed.
Once I’m done, I let out a weary sigh. Half-shy that I spoke uninterrupted for almost twenty minutes but also relieved to get things off my chest. “Sorry for the rambling. It’s been a long day, and I haven’t had time to talk to my girls.”
“No problem at all,” Niyi says. “Having a clear head before we dive in is best. And, Moyo,” he pauses, and I’m forced to look into his warm brown eyes. “I asked you to share. Don’t apologize.”
Sheepishly, I say, “Thanks.”
The air is thick for a moment, like right before heavy rain showers. Gloomy with a cooling quality that promotes watching a movie in bed.
I could bask in this, if this were a date and my relationship with Niyi weren’t professional.
“Enough about me,” I say, dispersing the rain clouds. “Tell me about your day.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. We’re here for you.”
Niyi attempts to keep it moving, reopening the folder with numerous papers, but I stop his hurried movements by laying my fingers on the back of his palm.
His skin is quite smooth. My thoughts begin to wander, but Niyi’s look of disbelief at the contact banishes them.
I withdraw my fingers. “One thing you’ll quickly learn is I don’t do well with solo vulnerability. I shared about my day, it’s your turn.” His brows furrow and before he can interject, I speak again. “Then we can get to work.”
“Cupid’s Bow work. Meetings,” he says, giving in. “Just work. My life revolves around the company, so there’s not much to say.”
“Life revolving around work isn’t great. There must be something or someone else.”
“No one else. Just me.”
“Nice,” I say, and a second later my eyes widen, realizing how that must sound. “I don’t mean it like that. I mean thanks for sharing.” The words come out so fast. I must look like a deer in headlights.
“What about you? Any other things aside from work?” Niyi asks.
“Shouldn’t we be getting back to work?” I raise a brow.
“Touché, mademoiselle. Rain check for our next meeting. Getting to know you will have to happen gradually.” He speaks with an increasingly serene tone. I could listen to him on repeat.
Niyi picks up a page that looks like a printout of my current Cupid’s Bow profile.
“First, we’re going to review your profile.
And then”—he pulls out another piece of paper that reads Cupid’s Bow Questionnaire—“we’ll discuss your dating preferences in detail, I’ll give you some time to fill out this questionnaire, and that’ll be all for today. ”
My brows scrunch. “You have my profile right there. What more is there to know?”
“Just expanding on what you have. Some of the details are vague—”
“Like what?” I snap.
“Moving beyond the cliché mainly. For example, when describing your ideal man, you’ve primarily listed physical attributes. Which isn’t inherently bad, but that doesn’t give us much to work with when setting up a match.”
“It wasn’t a problem the last time I filled this out.”
“I just want to make things better. How are we supposed to know what you want when you don’t articulate it?”
I’m not sure if it’s his words or how smoothly he says them, but I’m taken aback.
I did articulate it. I know what I want, and I’ve expressed that.
I took my time researching and filling out the app to maximize the potential of ending up with a good match.
Who is he to tell me I don’t know what I want?
“It’s articulated. I know how to articulate—”
“I didn’t mean it like tha—”
“Don’t interrupt me.” My sharp words act as a shield. “I spent a long time filling out the already extensive profile. And now you want me to repeat everything?”
“I believe it’ll help.”
“How about y’all do your job and we’ll see after the first match? Does that work?”
Niyi nods, his stonewall of a face unchanged. I all but bolt out of Cupid’s Bow HQ, my chest heaving with the ferocity of a dragon. Once I’m in my car, cooled down by air conditioning, I regret my childish outburst.
“You can’t lash out because a guy questioned you, Moyo.” I bury my head in my hands. God, what is wrong with me? If I can’t even accept pushback from my dating coach, where does that leave me?
Why didn’t this ever happen with Cole? It was easy, because he gave in to everything. I thought no conflict was a good thing, but maybe there were no clashes because we were hiding our true selves. Cole definitely was.
Did I do that too? No…at least I don’t think so.
Ugh!
Thinking in circles will do me no good. I’ve signed the contract, and I promised my dad and my girls that I’d try dating again. I chose Cupid’s Bow again, so I have to see it through. I also need to apologize to Niyi.
It’s only three dates. And three meetings. I can handle that.