Meeting His Match

Chapter 2-4

Natalie was having a hard time keeping up her Gem persona. After rushing to the studio, flirting with Malcolm had seemed a natural way to play her part. Too bad he wasn’t just some sexy stranger for her to hit on. But now, listening to Brad talk about the expectations for the show, she began to think Jillian had been right.

The fire in her belly wouldn’t settle, but she hoped to keep it contained. “So you want us to fabricate criticism to liven up your show?”

Malcolm shifted next to her. “I didn’t sign on to have someone make fun of my company or my methods. I thought this was about helping people find love.”

Like he was the one with something to worry about. Malcolm’s gaze swung to her as if she’d said it out loud. She hadn’t, had she?

Brad held up a hand. “It is. However, I think we all know if everything goes smoothly, no one will watch. Viewers want drama. Our hope is that because your approaches are so different, there will be disagreements. That’s the reason cameras will be with you as well as with the clients. Your up-front shots will be like a video diary of the process. You can discuss the clients or each other. Whatever works.”

“No, not whatever works,” Natalie said. “My…” she searched for the right word, “colleague here, obviously knew who I was before my arrival. If he spent any time on the Internet, he’d know how I operate, what I do. I know nothing about him. In addition, this competition is hardly fair given that Malcolm has a company behind him with thirty years’ experience.”

“She didn’t know what she was getting into?” Malcolm asked Brad.

How she hated when people talked about her as if she didn’t exist, sitting right in front of them. “In my original meeting I was told there would be a professional matchmaker, which as I’m sure you’re aware, could mean any number of things. I just found out about Everyday Love a couple of days ago.”

“She’s right, Brad. It’s not a fair competition. She doesn’t have a chance.” Malcolm leaned back in his chair and crossed an ankle over a knee.

Natalie’s hackles rose again, so she clamped her jaw tight.

Brad looked at them.

Before he could say anything, Malcolm spoke up again. “To even things out, you can have access to my mother. Gail Sterling founded Everyday Love. She’s been a matchmaker for almost thirty years. I’ll set up a meeting right now.” He pulled his phone from his suit coat.

“Why the hell would your mother help me?”

His steely blue eyes met hers with a smile. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. She won’t help you win. But she can answer any questions you have about matchmaking, her process, whatever you think I know that would give me an unfair advantage.”

“Why would you attempt to even the field?” Her suspicions multiplied.

Malcolm leaned over, putting his face within touching distance. It was a mighty fine face: his blue eyes had the slightest lines fanning out from them, his mouth surrounded by a trim mustache and beard—one that begged to be touched, lips curved between a friendly smile and a taunting smirk.

“Because when I beat you—and make no mistake, I will win—I won’t have you cry foul. I play fairly.”

Natalie opened her mouth with no clue what she planned to say.

Brad pounded on the table. “This. This is it exactly. I wish I had a camera in here right now.”

Both Natalie and Malcolm swung to face Brad. Natalie had almost forgotten he was there. Where the hell was her head? Her argument with Malcolm had taken on a life of its own. In that brief conversation, she learned one very clear lesson. She needed to keep her wits about her. Malcolm was every bit the worthy adversary.

She settled back in her chair, pulling away from Malcolm’s orbit. “I’ll take the meeting with your mother.” She turned back to Brad. “What’s next?”

Brad pointed to the folders. “Here’s the schedule.”

They all flipped open the folders and took a few minutes to scan the calendar. Natalie was surprised to see they planned to start filming within the week. In two days, they were to meet again to go over the selected clients. Then two days later, she and Malcolm would meet with the first woman.

“We get to meet the clients alone, right?”

“Cameras will accompany you, as I said.”

Natalie shook her head. “No, I mean, I meet with them and then he meets with them separately.”

“For the initial meeting, yes. The rest, we’re playing by ear.”

She nodded and waited for Malcolm’s input. Nothing. Maybe none of it mattered to him. He was so cocksure he’d win. Well, she’d show him. Although she’d started this for the paycheck, now she wanted to do well. She didn’t know if she could win, but she would definitely try.

The one thing she had going for her was that as much as Malcolm thought he knew about her, he didn’t know Natalie. The librarian, the researcher, the student in her would suss out every bit of information about Malcolm Sterling, the matchmaker.