Meeting His Match

Chapter 2-2

Natalie spent the next few days revising her résumé and looking for a new job while Jillian handled negotiating the TV contract. Jillian had consulted an entertainment attorney and thankfully thought of things Natalie hadn’t considered. Like having cameras in her face all the time. Jillian made them limit that to studio work and in the field with the clients, like on dates, but they wouldn’t be allowed to follow her home.

What a laugh everyone would have. Gem, dating expert at home. Wouldn’t they all be surprised to learn how quiet her real life was? It would probably ruin her chances of winning if the audience learned she was a fraud.

In between stressing over her résumé and combing through job listings, Natalie read up on Everyday Love, the matchmaking company that would be her competition. That was another piece of information Jillian had gotten for her.

Everyday Love’s web site was woefully out of date. Actually, it was dated. The information was current, including services and what a client could expect, but the site itself wasn’t very fresh or welcoming. She found Gail Sterling, however, to be a fascinating woman. On the web site, she appeared distant and almost snooty, as if everyone was beneath her. Natalie had no idea how a headshot could convey that, but hers did.

But when Natalie Googled her to read more, she found troves of articles on the woman. The journalists and bloggers did her justice in a way her own web site hadn’t. After reading about Gail and her experience, Natalie knew she didn’t have a chance at winning the competition. Natalie didn’t have anywhere near the experience Gail had. The woman had been matchmaking for almost as long as Natalie had been alive.

Jillian came through the front door looking beat. Sad that was the norm for her friend, but at least she was employed. She plopped on the chair across from where Natalie worked on the laptop.

“What’s up?” Natalie asked.

Jillian dropped a pile of papers in front of her. “Your contract is done. Look it over and if it’s good, sign both copies. They want to meet later this week to get things moving.”

“Wow. That happened fast.”

“Well, there wasn’t much to negotiate. I asked for more money, but since you have no experience, that argument didn’t really have legs. They gave me your name and your privacy, so I figure that’s a win. There’s also a non-compete and NDA, so no writing or vlogging about this until it’s over.”

“I’m supposed to abandon my blog and YouTube channel?”

“No. You can do what you normally do and promote the show. You just can’t talk about specifics. You know, you can’t give away what hasn’t aired.”

Natalie picked up the contract and flipped through it. “Is it good?”

“You have to decide, Nat. If you want to do the show, this is probably as good as it’s gonna get.” Jillian kicked off her heels and wiggled her toes.

“Okay, then. I guess I’m doing TV.” She looked at her exhausted friend. “If by some miracle I win this, I’m taking you on vacation.”

Jillian laughed. “As if I have time for a vacation. I’d settle for a weekend in bed.”

“I’m going to be a matchmaker soon, so I bet I can arrange that.”

They laughed and Natalie got up to get the wine. As she poured a glass for each of them, they talked about Everyday Love and what Natalie had learned.

“I still don’t get why they want me,” she said. “Is their goal to show young versus old? Expert versus newbie?”

Jillian sipped her wine. “Whatever their expectation, they’re not going to say. It would ruin the reality feel of the show. But watch your back. You know they’re going to set up drama.”

“How? We’re setting women up on dates, teaching them techniques, helping them find love.”

“What if they put the same guy in the path of all the clients? Drama.”

Natalie froze with her wine at her lips. She hadn’t thought about such a possibility. “You think they’d do that?”

“And have the chance to catch a catfight on TV? Hell, yeah, they would.” Jillian drank again and closed her eyes.

Natalie had never been a fan of reality TV, so she never thought about how real or scripted anything was. “Okay. I’m going to sign this and then you’re going to help me develop a list of possible things to look for and avoid. You’ve watched a gazillion episodes of reality TV. I bet you have it all catalogued in your head.”

Jillian laughed again. “Not much to figure out. Imagine the worst possible scenario and they’ll try to make it happen. Every. Week.”

Natalie’s stomach sank a little. She wanted this. She hadn’t realized how much until talking with Jillian right now. She bit her lip.

Jillian patted her hand. “You’ll be fine. You’re not a drama queen and you’re not rattled easily. You’re a smart girl. It works to your advantage that they’ve totally underestimated you.”

Natalie gulped her wine and prayed Jillian was right.