I closed the door behind me and took a chair, offering her one next to me and Harriet, our legal counsel.
"You walked out on the job yesterday. In the middle of testing," I said.
Elizabeth's eyes went wide. She looked suddenly panicked. All smugness and glow from the night had been replaced by dread.
"You were on the clock," I said.
"But—"
"Do you make a habit of leaving in the middle of assignment at your regular job?" I said. "I realize we aren't paying you by the hour. But you signed an agreement stating that you would participate in the beta in exchange for room, job opportunity placement, matchmaking services, and the generous stipend we're providing."
"I'm sorry." The cup shook in her hand. "I won't do it again."
I nodded. "You won't. That is certainly true." I paused and gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, but this is a different situation than when you were a simply a client of mine and were paying me. I can't keep you on as a client in this situation if you aren't willing to follow my advice and aren't completely serious about finding a husband. And we need full attention on the app beta, too. We're going to have to let you go—"
Her eyes flew wide open. "Ashley, seriously. I'm sorry. I didn't realize the rules were so strict." She launched into a tirade of excuses.
"I'm sorry, too." I was. This wasn't the way I'd imagined things turning out. "But our expectations were clear from the beginning. Pair Us is a startup. We need people who are dedicated to its success. I don't think you're the right fit for us now."
I gave her the details of the generous severance we were offering and turned her over to the lawyer. "Your flight back to Manhattan leaves tonight. Don't forget—you signed a nondisclosure and your severance is dependent on complying with the terms of our agreement. Harriet will go over it all with you."
I left to repeat the process with the other two offenders and was met with similar pleas.
Afterward, I called all the remaining women to a meeting to explain what happened and reiterate our expectations. "If anyone else would like to leave—"
I didn't get any takers. "Good." I smiled at them. "I have a special surprise. This…incident…brought home to me that we could all use a little schooling on how to handle the Seattle dating scene. And a little restyling so we don't stand out so much as New Yorkers.
"We've booked the Lipstick Spy School to make us over and guide us on how to win a Seattle man's heart…"
Now if only someone would coach me on how to win Lazer's.
I called him after the meeting. "It's done."
"You sound like you're delivering news of an execution." He sounded amused and sympathetic. "Cheer up. Letting people go is never easy. But it's over now."
"Hmmmm," I said, agreeing with him, sort of. "You don't think we were too harsh? Were they really so derelict in their duties?"
"They were totally self-centered, self-absorbed, and selfish. Not to mention irresponsible. We had a team of people working late and depending on them. Are those the kind of women you want on our team?"
"When you put it like that, you're right," I said.
"Of course I'm right. Have fun at the spy school."
Lazer
The Space Needle is a place tourists go and kids take their prom dates. Which was why I'd chosen it. It had that touristy vibe with a note of feeling special. Every visitor should try it once. The view from the top is spectacular, and the restaurant rotates one full revolution every hour so you get a 360-degree view of the city.
I took Vanessa's elbow as the hostess showed us to our table.
"Watch your step," the hostess said as we stepped away from the reservation desk. "You're about to step on the rotating part of the restaurant."
The center of the restaurant didn't rotate, just the outer disc with seating.
The hostess showed us to a table next to the windows. I held Vanessa's chair for her.
Vanessa shook her head. "Not that side. I'd like to sit on the other side so I'm not spinning backward while I eat."
I nodded and moved to the other side of the table. Fine. I'd spin backward. We weren't exactly moving at the speed of light here. I helped her scoot in.
As usual, heads had turned when I walked in. They continued to follow us to our table. People recognized me—the latest PR push helped—and murmured behind my back. Is that Lazer Grayson? Have we just spotted a billionaire in the wild?
In this case, I imagined they were saying, What is he doing at the Space Needle? Hasn't he been here before?
Well, yes, I have. I grew up in Seattle.
This was part of our latest PR campaign, to be seen. It was easy at Seattle Center and up in the Space Needle.
Vanessa was a beautiful woman. She turned heads on her own. People who knew me would say she was my type. Ashley had been right about that. I had to give her mental Brownie points for that. Personally, I had no idea how she'd dispassionately picked out women for me to date. Hot women that I should be interested in. I couldn't have reciprocated. Deep down I was too damned jealous of the thought of her with someone else, even though I had no right to feel possessive. Her ability to set me up, even if it was professional, worried me. She'd business-zoned me, like friend-zoned but for business partners and colleagues. I had no experience in this realm. Once you'd been friend-zoned, you usually didn't get out of the zone. Was it possible to get out of business-zone hell? Damn, Ashley and her insistence I date for business and profit. I tried to focus on Vanessa as she studied the menu.
Since the women's day at the spy school, I'd noticed they'd had all toned down their makeup and attire and had morphed into a more casual, Northwest style with an East Coast edge. The softer makeup and more casual style, in my opinion, did nothing to dim Vanessa's beauty. Instead, it only enhanced it. Yes, she was striking.
She also never shut up or failed to let me know her opinion. I'd been hearing them since I picked her up.
The waiter appeared. Before I could open my mouth, Vanessa ordered a bottle of wine for the two of us.
"I'm something of an expert," she said without a hint of apology.
Yes, but I was footing the bill. It would have been nice to have a say.
"This is lovely," she said.
I smiled. "It's a great view." I started to point out some of the sights.
Vanessa responded by looking tolerant of my folly, but bored. The conversation got no better. She had an almost genetic lack of curiosity. I couldn't find a topic that elicited the tiniest spark of desire to learn more.
And she wasn't shy about letting me know when it was time to change the subject. The only subjects she liked were those she brought up. Then she talked at length.
I quickly realized I was in the company of a dominator, one of those people who has to dominate every conversation and every personal relationship. No wonder the beautiful Vanessa hadn't found a husband yet. Was there a man on the planet who was submissive enough for her?
As she grilled the waiter about every ingredient in the salad she wanted to order, I glanced at my watch and wondered how quickly I could get out of this date.
Ashley
Friday nights for a matchmaker can be some of our busiest times. Like a lineman on call for an approaching storm, I had to have my phone ready for any dating emergency that came up.
I had sent all four of the men out on their first match dates with my Manhattan women. I'd coached and prepped them, both the men and the women. And given them, for this trial run, kindly, non-threatening matches. I had tried holding off, but both groups were eager. And I was being paid to match the men. If these matches didn't work, there were plenty more to be had since our appearances on the local shows.
I needed a win. Or rather, Pair Us needed a win. The more romances that wound up in the mate category, the better we looked. But matching took time. I didn't even recommend that couples go exclusive until several months in.
Five of the other women were out on dates I'd matched them on with Seat
tle men who'd signed up for our service. And, of course, Lazer was out with Vanessa. But I didn't worry about him. He was going to have a fantastic time with her. I scowled to myself, green with jealousy.
I'd been a busy matchmaking bee. So, anyway, yes, this had the potential to be an incredibly busy night. I settled down with my laptop and a glass of wine as I looked over another batch of new signups.
My phone rang, startling me so badly that I jumped. I glanced at the screen. "Lazer?"
"You matched me with a dominator."
"What? A dominatrix?" I hadn't known that about Vanessa. And how would Lazer know? I had a white-hot flash of righteous, and yet totally jealous, anger. He was supposed to be staying out of the bedroom. I glanced at the time. It wasn't even eight yet. He should still be at dinner, not relaxing post-coital and calling me.
"Dominatrix!" He snorted. "I wish. You matched me with a completely incurious dominator. Vanessa. She's insufferable. She has to control everything from the conversation to what's in her salad. I'm already contemplating suicide just so I can get out of this date. Even then, she'll probably try to take center stage at my funeral and ace Mom out of planning it."
I grinned. I couldn't help it. "Calm down. It can't be that bad—"
"No? True. It could be worse. Whatever guy ends up in bed with her is going to be Mr. Mellow, because it's her way or the highway." He made that snorting sound again. "Why the hell are you holding out on my perfect match on me? Why torment me like this?"
I laughed. "All will be revealed one day. But you're not ready, love." I really wanted to caress that last word. And dance with joy. I thought I heard a toilet flush. "Where are you?"
"The men's room." He sighed. "I needed a moment's peace and some time to be able to think for myself."
"Vanessa is that overbearing and bossy?" I was stunned.
"Bossy? That's an understatement. She has an insatiable need to dominate everything." He paused. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I need you to rescue me." He was clearly teasing.
Or maybe only half teasing.
"Well, darling, that's not my job. Not unless you're in immediate physical danger. I can coach you on how to make the date more enjoyable—"
"That's a lost cause."
"But you're the dating expert," I said. "You can figure this one out. She can't be that different from the other bimbos you've dated."
"Slandering my past girlfriends now? We've resorted to that? FYI, none of them were bimbos. I've never gone for that kind of woman."
"Would you like me to Google some of the stellar quotes of some the women you've dated?"
"Go right ahead. It gives me an excuse to stay put and avoid my date."
I laughed again, not wanting to hang up, but knowing I had to shoo him back to his date. And relishing the thought that although I hadn't intended for him to be quite so miserable, he deserved it.
"Hey, I'm sorry. Vanessa can be a little controlling. But I've never had any feedback about her being overwhelmingly so. And New York men can be quite picky and direct." Why hadn't any of them complained?
"She matched you so well in so many ways, it would have been foolish not to give you two a try. She's exactly your physical type…"
"Damn physical types," he said in almost a growl. I pictured him sneering. "I need a woman who has a mind of her own, but is willing to let someone else in once in a while."
I smiled. "Call me tomorrow morning and we'll go over your date postmortem."
"Call?" he said. "No way. Meet me for breakfast at the Blackberry Bakery. You're buying. You owe me for this mistake."
I laughed. "I'll be on the clock. I'll expense it. See you tomorrow. Nine?"
Chapter 10
Ashley
Lazer was waiting for me when I arrived. He looked up and smiled when I walked in. He made my heart sing and my spirits soar. At the sight of him, I wasn't lonely anymore. Damn, I had to temper this insatiable desire to see him.
He rose to greet me and hugged me like an old friend. He smelled his usual—deliciously of Arrogance and freshly scrubbed skin. I could even smell his shampoo. He was dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt. It looked good on him.
He'd been drinking a cup of coffee. He picked it up as we sat. "I put this on your tab."
I laughed. "Cheapskate."
I ordered an apple-cinnamon brioche pull-apart and a coffee. He ordered a full breakfast—eggs, sausage, hash browns, and toast.
My coffee came right away. I stirred in some cream and sugar, blew on it, and looked at him over my cup as I took a sip. "I think we covered through dinner last night. What happened after? Did Vanessa calm down any?" I blew again. "I was thinking about it after you called. She was probably nervous and working too hard to impress you. Seriously, I've never had another complaint about her being quite so domineering."
Lazer shook his head. "Stop apologizing. Can I answer the question now?"
I laughed. "Sorry. Go ahead."
"The date got worse. I was never so glad to sit through a bad play as I was last night. At least she couldn't talk over me there. Or tell me where to sit. She tried to tell me exactly how to hold her hand." He shook his head and leaned forward. "I wasn't trying to hold her hand. She grabbed mine." He sighed, looking adorably put out and perplexed by Vanessa. "There are five hours of my life I'll never get back."
"I take it this means you won't be asking for a second date?"
I thought he was going to spew his coffee as he made a disgruntled noise.
I frowned. Our breakfasts arrived.
"What's wrong?" he said as he salted his eggs.
"Your account is so incredibly at odds with Vanessa's."
"You've talked to her already?" He looked surprised.
"First thing this morning. She called me at the crack of dawn to gush over you and regale me with tales from your date." I broke a piece of my pull-apart off. "She's going to be devastated when you don't call." I took a bite. "This is delicious."
He leaned toward me. "It's going to make it awkward at team meetings, isn't it?"
I shrugged. More complications we should have thought of before. "Don't worry. I'll handle it. That's what you're paying me for." I winked at him.
"How are you going to handle it?" He looked genuinely curious.
You know, curiosity can be sexy, too. Especially on the face of an incredibly handsome man. Lazer was right. A totally incurious person would be a deal breaker for me, too.
"I'm going to explain that all of the women are expecting to have a date with you." I handed him a piece of roll. "Try this." It seemed so natural to offer it to him.
Our fingers brushed. There was that electricity again. It leaped between us and gave me thoughts I knew I shouldn't act on. I shouldn't even think them.
He grabbed my hand, lifted it to his mouth, and ate the morsel out of it, licking my sticky fingers as he did, sticking his tongue between my thumb and forefinger. The innuendo was clear.
I stared at him. "If things were different, I would so dare you to do that again."
He raised one eyebrow. "So do it."
I laughed and wiped my fingers on a napkin. "Nice try. I was saying that no matter how angry and upset Vanessa is at not getting another shot with you, she'll play nice hoping her turn will come back around."
"Devious."
"Smart," I said. My phone rang. I pulled it from my purse. "Excuse me a minute. It's Austin. I want to hear about his date." I grabbed the call, stood, and held up a finger to Lazer. "Hey! How did it go?" I covered the phone and whispered to Lazer, "I'll be right back."
"We had a lot of fun," Austin said, sounding mildly amused. "We hit it off. I thought. Until…well, there was the dinosaur in the room."
"What? Who?" I was in shock now. My professional reputation was taking a beating. "What happened? I thought you two would be great together."
"Lazer," he said. "I was being Mr. Suave. Using all my flirting skills that you and Milia drilled into me. At the end of the evening
, she came right out with it. Before she'll go out with me again, she wants her turn with Lazer."
My heart sank. We'd made another tactical error. Fortunately, Austin sounded good-natured about it.
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't be." He laughed. "The guys and I are used to being overshadowed by him."
"That's no excuse for her being rude. Obviously she's not the one. Or maybe the timing isn't right—"
"I have my pride. I'm not going to play second to Lazer," Austin said. "If she wants a chance with him, that's fine. It's her right. But I'm out. With her, anyway."
"We'll find someone better," I said. "Another match. It's not uncommon for the first one, the first many, even, not to take. In fact, it's very rare for the first one to be the one. It's a process. A process of fine-tuning and readjusting…"
By the time I finished the call and returned to the table, Lazer had finished his breakfast. I shook my head at him.
He looked at his empty plate. "What? Did I execute a perfect faux pas? Should I have waited for you?"
I laughed. "And let your eggs get cold?" I shivered to underline my point. "Absolutely not. The problem is you. You ruined Austin's date."
"There's a feat," he said, looking adorable. "I wasn't even there."
"But the idea of you was." I fell into my chair. There was a reason I ordered cold breakfasts on Saturdays. I usually barely had a chance to eat them. "His date, Jeremy's, Dylan's, I haven't heard from Cam or his, but the rest of the women are holding out hopes of catching you. They want their turn."
"The curse of popularity."
"Shut up," I said as my phone rang again. "We should have foreseen this." I glanced at my phone. It was one of the women. "I thought about it. But I didn't think it would be this blatant." I sighed. "Hang on, again? I have to get this."
He nodded. I got up and found my quiet spot by the window again. When I returned to the table, Lazer had already paid the bill.
"I thought breakfast was on me?" I said with a smile.
"We share the same expense account." The way he flirted was pure mastery. "Are your Saturdays always like this?"
Dating Lazer: A Jet City Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Matchmaker Series Book 4) Page 10
