Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
W e all gathered around Dom while he started to explain how the Single Mingle evening was going to work.
‘So, lovely ladies and gorgeous gentlemen’—there were a few appreciative wolf-whistles of varying pitches from across the bar—‘it’s nearly time to introduce yourselves to each other. But, before we get started, let me explain the rules.’
He paused and looked around, his gaze travelling to every single person in the room, making sure he had everyone’s full attention.
‘The rules are: there are no rules,’ he shouted, to the obvious delight of the crowd.
‘Unless I make them up on the spot, of course, organiser’s prerogative.
Gents, settle yourselves at a table. Ladies you will make your way round the tables in any order you fancy. No fighting over the hotties, girls.’
I sighed inwardly. Wasn’t it equally as likely that the guys would argue among themselves about the women?
‘I’m afraid we had some last-minute cancellations so there are a few more of you ladies than there are men,’ continued Dom.
‘But fear not, look upon it as a chance to enjoy a free drink, which you will receive courtesy of SO Ox, and to compare notes on your dates so far. Speaking of which, each date will last five minutes, after which time I will ring my bell. Yup, I could have gone for a fancy timer on my even fancier electronic devices, but we’re going old school tonight.
It means the power is in my hands. If I spot some chemistry starting to sizzle, I might feel inclined to stretch out those five minutes.
It’s the personal touch that makes SO Ox the exclusive experience it is.
’ He paused and examined the crowd again.
Was it my imagination, or did his gaze linger on me?
I self-consciously tucked a loose lock of hair behind my ear and tried not to stand so awkwardly.
There was no way he could know why I was really here. I was being paranoid.
‘Seeing all the uniquely beautiful and fascinating people who’ve assembled, I have great hopes for the matches that will happen this evening.
’ Dom carried on with his pep talk. ‘And if you do meet the love of your life sitting across from you at one of these small tables, you have my blessing to declare yourself then and there. We don’t stand on ceremony here.
What’s the point of waiting until the end of the night and filling out some form requesting another date when you could instead join us straight away for the Single Mingle after-party– otherwise known as the “Now you’ve matched, let’s get smashed” event– which will be happening later in the exclusive basement bar.
There’s an extra charge, but then it’s an all-you-can-drink job, so it’s definitely worth it. Grab me during the evening to sign up.’
There was a smattering of appreciative applause, although I did hear a few people grumbling about having to pay more to attend the after-party.
Dom glanced down at his iPad. ‘Right, was there anything else I had to say? Probably something about where the nearest fire exit is, but you’re all grown-ups; I’m sure you can spot the neon “Emergency Exit” signs.
Although please don’t use them if you decide you want to make a speedy departure with your new beau, as the doors will set off an alarm and we could do without that kind of drama.
Everyone happy? Then take a seat at the tables of destiny, boys, and we can get the evening started. ’
The dozen or so blokes did as they were directed.
I watched carefully as they moved into place, but quickly concluded that I wasn’t going to learn much from studying their body language.
Over-confident swaggers and nervous shuffles alike could be explained away by the nature of the evening itself and the adrenalin-inducing speech which Dom had delivered.
Meanwhile, I was fighting the urge to shrink back in my corner, or even better, leave the bar and forget the whole plan.
Now I was faced with the reality of trying to get useful information out of these people, I realised how totally ill-equipped I was to do it.
And all the while pretending to be the kind of person who enjoyed going to speed-dating events.
I pressed each fingertip in turn against the pads of my thumbs, wishing that I hadn’t already finished my drink.
I could have done with it as a prop, because now I didn’t know what to do with my hands, and, although I knew I was signalling my nerves to everyone around me with the anxious tapping, somehow I couldn’t stop.
‘Looking good, gents, looking good,’ Dom said, as the men settled themselves behind their tables.
Then he turned to the rest of us. ‘Now then, ladies, get ready to meet your match. I will ring the bell to signal it’s time to take a seat, then I’ll ring it again to start what could be the most significant five minutes of your lives. ’
I gave myself a stern lecture. This was my time to step up and potentially make a difference.
I deliberately thought about that moment in the library when I’d had the shock realisation that Brian was a figment of someone’s imagination, and that my modest dream of a happy relationship had been used as a weapon to manipulate me.
The person behind the fraud shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it, and if putting myself through the stress of speed-dating in some way helped that cause, then I would need to woman up and get on with it.
While I was still shrinking into the shadows, a few people had started subtly shuffling towards the tables, eyeing up their preferred first dates.
The room had quietened now, and the anticipation in the air was almost palpable, everyone pumped up by Dom’s exuberant style.
My stomach turned over once again. Could I be about to meet Scammer Brian?
Leo reckoned it was highly unlikely, but there was a chance the man was arrogant enough to hunt his victims in person as well as from behind the safety of his computer screen.
I scanned the faces of the men in front of me, trying to commit them to memory in case I needed to identify one of them from a line-up.
Actually, did the police still do line-ups? I’d have to ask Leo.
I risked a brief glance across at him. He looked totally at ease, leaning back on his chair, long legs stretched out as he surveyed the women queuing up to speak to him.
I supposed I should be grateful he wasn’t putting his feet up, as he did in the library.
Suddenly he looked directly at me and winked.
I jumped as if someone had tapped me on the shoulder.
The urgent ringing of the bell was less of a surprise than the wink.
After a moment of hesitation, the girls surged forward to get a space at one of the tables, at least two of them good-naturedly jostling each other to get to Leo’s place first, laughter in their expressions.
I hung back, telling myself it would be sensible to play the role of observer a little longer so I could be more strategic about who I targeted.
I angled myself so I couldn’t see Leo and the red head in the bodycon dress who’d come out as the victor.
But, despite the general hubbub, I was sure I could hear his rumbling laughter as the introductions were made.
I hoped he didn’t allow himself to get distracted from the real purpose of being here.
‘Oh no, you don’t. There’s no hiding around here,’ said Dom, sliding up to me and putting his arm around my shoulders. ‘We don’t allow any wallflowers at SO Ox.’
‘But all the tables are occupied,’ I said. ‘It’s fine, I’ll join the other girls at the bar and wait until the next round.’
I took a step to the side, subtly extricating myself from his somewhat overly friendly embrace.
He completely ignored me and raised his voice to address the room again.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, forgive me, but there’s a twist. Here at SO Ox, it’s not about those who get there first, but those who graciously step back and allow others to go in front of them. I find it’s always good to shake things up a bit.’
He took my hand and marched me over to Leo’s table. If ever there was a time for the earth to swallow me up, this was it.
‘Excuse me, but we’re going to swap the ladies over for this first round. Don’t worry, there’s an extra-large cocktail as compensation.’
The red head pouted prettily, then sent a devastating smile at Leo.
‘No hard feelings. Good things come to those who wait, after all,’ she said. ‘I’ll see you later, Leo.’
‘Looking forward to it,’ he replied.
She sashayed back to the bar while I stared at the floor. I didn’t need the extra humiliation of seeing the disappointment which I assumed would be on Leo’s face as he watched her departing form.
Dom held the chair back with exaggerated politeness and gestured for me to sit down, which I did with great reluctance.
This was totally defeating the object of the evening.
Then he bounced away to repeat the move with the other women who hadn’t got seats at the tables in the initial dash.
Before I knew it, the bell had rung again, and my first five-minute date had started.
‘What a waste of time, I’m sorry, Le?—’
‘Hi, I’m Leo,’ he interrupted me before I could finish my apology. He reached out and shook my hand, subtly squeezing it in warning. ‘I like travel and eating good food, but my favourite thing is good company. How about you?’