Luca
“You wanna know the difference between people who are in favor of online dating and the people criticizing it? The nay-sayers have to check their notifications in private. In other words, they’re lying,” Matt says as he takes the conversational lead at the Monday morning stats meeting.
Like any other industry, we have a meeting every Monday. But the difference between us and other industries is that they are talking about the week ahead. We are focused on the weekend behind us. Because that’s when people are free. That’s when they go on dates. And that’s when our numbers change.
“Either that or they’re miserably single,” a blonde at the end of the table adds, and I shoot her a glance. She takes it as attention. My intention was to point out that I don’t know who she is, and if I don’t know who she is, she shouldn’t be talking at a board meeting about numbers.
“Peyton is right,” Matt says, pointing at her and earning himself a smile and an eyelash flutter.
Peyton?
“So I don’t think we need to say any of this,” he goes on. “You can all read. You all follow our numbers. And you know they’re up. And we mean up,” he says as he glances at me.
“Matt is right,” I say as I take over. Despite being the CEO, I actually prefer Matt doing a lot of the talking.
He has the personality for it. And despite the fact that my work-brain never turns off, I don’t exactly come to work bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
I am ready to tackle the day and all its problems, but entertaining a table of people is not one of my problems. That’s what Matt is for, thank God.
“Real Talk is going viral,” I go on. “It’s the first messaging app of its type.
Unlike text, it isn’t linked to personal information like address, area code, or search data.
There is also no disappearing text. Any messages that make women or men feel unsafe will be flagged, and the accounts they come from will be frozen.
But it’s more private than messaging directly on the app.
Photos can be sent, but only when solicited.
People feel safer and freer at the same time. ”
“And we make more money,” Matt adds. “Because Real Talk is an in-app purchase.”
Everyone is impressed with that, and they should be.
“I think we need a round of applause for the King of Love, don’t you?” The Peyton chick says, and everyone goes along with it. Meanwhile, I cringe and talk over the crowd.
“We also hold the record for most second dates out of any dating app to date,” I say, and everyone cheers more.
“I think a celebration is in order,” Matt says, and the room gets wild. But I stand.
“Not yet,” I say. “While the stats are good, it’s not time to pop the champagne just yet.”
“First place isn’t good enough?” Matt asks, but the smirk on his face tells me he knows how I feel about it.
“No,” I say, and it deflates the energy in the room like helium from a balloon.
“So we have the record for the most second dates. Big deal. Third dates are common even when there is no commitment. And that’s what Realr is striving for–commitment.
Commitment that leads to monogamy. Monogamy that leads to a ring.
Rings that lead to forever. That is what we are striving for here at Realr.
The real forever. And we will celebrate when those stats are met.
Every one of you has a job to do. A reason why you are here. So let’s get to it.”
With that, I watch as everyone files out other than Matt and me. The blonde is the last to leave, tossing Matt a smile and me a salute and a tongue click as she goes in her too-tight pencil skirt.
“Who the hell is that?” I ask before she is even out of earshot.
“That’s Peyton,” Matt says.
“Peyton who?”
“Hell if I know her last name,”
“Who hired her?” I ask.
“You did,” he answers. “To replace Sadie in the design department.”
My eyes narrow. “Right.”
“That was a good speech,” he says, crossing his arms. “Very empowering.”
“If you’re feeling empowered, maybe you can go do your job,” I say, heading towards my office. But as predicted, Matt is hot on my heels.
“Not until you tell me about your date,” he says.
“I don’t see how my dating life is relevant to the work that needs to be done around here,” I say as I round a corner.
“By the way, that speech wasn’t all hot air.
I really do want those stats. Holding the record for most second dates isn’t something to go off the rails about.
For one, we can’t even prove we hold that record.
Not technically. It just looks good on paper. ”
“We are the most popular dating app on the web. Those numbers are real,” he says. “And as the CEO of the most popular dating app ever made, your dating life is kind of everyone’s business if you look at it that way.”
“I don’t look at it that way,” I say as I finally reach my office.
I am half tempted to slam the door in his face, but I know that’s probably not going to fly and he’ll just come in anyways.
I tell him to close the door behind him.
If we are going to have this conversation, it’s going to be private.
“Alright,” I breathe out. “Things have gotten…intense.”
“Is the sex that good?” he asks with a grin, and I shoot him a glare in response.
“We haven’t had sex since the first date,” I admit, immediately wishing I could swallow my words.
“You haven’t had sex again? What have you been doing then?” He asks with the enthusiasm of a teenage girl.
“I am not in the mood to have this conversation right now,” I say.
“Too late,” he says and I know he isn’t going to drop it.
“Look. That’s what I’m talking about. We’ve been going out; that was the plan, right? To take her out and prove to her that I’m not who she and her friend and half the women on the internet seem to think I am?”
“You mean that you’re not a rich man whore who just sleeps with women then ghosts them?” he asks.
“Exactly,” I say. “So I’ve taken her on dates. Nice dates. Fucking expensive dates. And I was a gentleman. I ate s’mores and danced with her and kissed her. Really kissed her. I am doing everything I am supposed to do, and it’s just…a lot.”
“Wait,” Matt shakes his head. “S’mores?”
“Yeah,” I sigh, sitting down at my desk. “At the bonfire.”
“Bonfi–fucking hell, boss. You are…” he says, sitting down across from me.
“I know,” I growl. “I fucking know. It’s like…” I trail off, looking for the words. And when I find the right ones, I don’t want to say them. So I lower my voice. “It’s like we are actually dating.”
“Got it,” he nods, biting his lips for a second. “So…just hypothetically speaking…would that be a bad thing?”
“Would what be a bad thing?” I snap.
“If you were really dating…or at least if that was the way it appeared to her and anyone else who might be paying attention,” he says.
“Where are you going with this?” I ask. “Because the plan was just to make sure she didn’t pull one over on me. Not to be her boyfriend.”
“And you wouldn’t be. Not really. You just need her to think that’s what’s happening,” he says.
“And why exactly should I do that?” I ask.
“Because if you ‘date’ her and not just fuck her and drop her, you prove all her accusations wrong. But if you break it off before anything gets serious, you prove her point, and she wins. I hate to say it, but you’re in deep, Luca,” he says.
“It’s only been three dates,” I argue.
“You made s’mores,” he says flatly.
I take in a breath and let it out. I hate to admit it, but Matt isn’t wrong. My reputation is on the line. And unfortunately, whether I like it or not (and believe me, I do not), my dating life directly affects my reputation. And my reputation affects my job.
“You’re the King of Love, remember?” Matt asks as if he can hear my internal monologue.
“Don’t ever say that again. Also, I want to see Hayden’s work,” I say.
“Peyton,” he corrects me.
“Whatever. I didn’t hire her. HR did. And if her work isn’t solid, I want her gone. I don’t need another Sadie muddying up the water around here,” I mutter, but Matt just laughs.
“I think it’s a little late for that,” I say. “But seriously. I can’t deal with more drama. I don’t want any drama.”
“So date Olivia. Just until you can prove to everyone that you aren’t who people think you are.”
Matt’s phone rings, and he makes his way out of my office, leaving me with his words and a million other annoyingly invasive thoughts.
He’s right about one thing. I need to be careful.
But that’s not the only thing sticking with me.
I haven’t been in a relationship in a very long time.
And even if this isn’t real, even if I am just playing along with it to prove her wrong and protect my relationship, it feels dangerous. Vulnerable.
Like I won’t be able to protect myself.
And I don’t know how to feel about that.
I’m also not so sure I’m not as bad as everyone thinks I am. And as much as it angers me that she might be using me for her work or revenge or whatever it is Olivia is doing, the idea of using her doesn’t sit well with me either.