Our Little Matchmaker

CHAPTER 1: THE WOMAN WHO REMEMBERS NAMES

Some people measured success by the size of their fortune.

Isabella Laurent measured it by the number of names she could still remember.

The revolving doors of Maison Laurent's global headquarters hadn't officially opened for another twenty minutes when she stepped inside with a paper cup of coffee warming one hand and a slim leather folder tucked beneath the other arm.

The vast lobby was unusually quiet.

Without the usual flow of employees and visitors, it felt more like an art gallery than the entrance to one of the world's most admired luxury companies. Morning light filtered through the towering glass walls, casting long ribbons of gold across polished white marble. Fresh lilies stood in oversized crystal vases, their faint fragrance lingering in the cool air.

A ladder stood near the reception desk where a florist was carefully replacing yesterday's arrangement.

"Good morning, Mrs. Alvarez."

The elderly woman looked down, surprise blooming into a smile.

"Miss Laurent."

"You've changed the lilies."

"I thought the white ones suited today's light better."

Isabella tilted her head, studying the display.

"They do."

Mrs. Alvarez beamed.

"You always notice."

"I have the easiest job."

The florist laughed softly.

"No, dear."

"I think I do."

Isabella continued across the lobby, her heels making little more than a whisper against the marble floor.

Near the security desk, a familiar face looked up from a computer monitor.

"Morning, Samuel."

The broad-shouldered security manager straightened instinctively.

"Morning, Miss Laurent."

"How's your granddaughter?"

His expression softened.

"She's finally sleeping through the night."

"Then congratulations."

He chuckled.

"I've never been so excited to hear absolutely nothing."

"I'll take your word for it."

She smiled before continuing toward the elevators.

She had almost reached them when a metallic clatter echoed through the lobby.

One of the cleaning carts had stopped abruptly.

A front wheel had twisted sideways, spilling folded towels and bottles of glass cleaner across the floor.

"Oh, no..."

The young cleaner immediately knelt to gather everything.

"I'm so sorry..."

Without hesitation, Isabella set her coffee on a nearby table and crouched beside her.

"It's all right."

The woman looked up, clearly embarrassed.

"I should've checked the wheel."

"It was already loose yesterday."

The cleaner blinked.

"You noticed?"

"I notice a lot of things."

Together they gathered the scattered supplies.

Isabella tested the damaged wheel before giving it a gentle push.

"It'll keep locking."

"I'll ask maintenance to replace it."

"You don't have to trouble yourself."

"It's no trouble."

The cleaner hesitated.

"...Thank you."

Isabella picked up her coffee again and headed toward the elevators just as another set of glass doors slid open.

A young woman hurried inside, clutching a laptop bag that looked far too heavy for her shoulder.

She couldn't have been older than twenty-two.

Her eyes darted frantically between the reception desk and the directory mounted on the wall.

She checked her watch.

Checked the directory again.

Then sighed.

"You look lost."

The young woman turned so quickly she nearly dropped her bag.

"Oh."

"I'm sorry."

"I am."

"I mean—"

She stopped herself and laughed nervously.

"I've only been here for three minutes and I'm already making a fool of myself."

"It happens."

"I'm looking for the design division."

"The orientation email said Level Twenty-One, but I can't figure out which elevators go there."

"First day?"

The young woman nodded.

"Intern."

"What department?"

"Textile design."

Isabella smiled.

"Come on."

"They're this way."

"Oh."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all."

They walked toward a bank of private elevators.

The intern frowned.

"I thought these were for executives."

"They are."

She immediately stepped back.

"Oh!"

"I'm sorry."

"I'll use the other ones."

Isabella laughed.

"They all reach the same floors."

"Besides..."

She held the elevator door open.

"It'll save you ten minutes."

The intern stepped inside cautiously.

"Thank you."

"I'm Chloe, by the way."

"Isabella."

"Nice to meet you."

The elevator doors closed.

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Then Chloe glanced sideways.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How long have you worked here?"

Isabella hid a smile.

"A while."

"I knew it."

"You seem like you know everybody."

"I try."

"I hope I remember names like that one day."

"You will."

Chloe shifted her bag onto the other shoulder.

"I still can't believe I'm here."

"I've admired Maison Laurent since I was sixteen."

"My mum used to cut pictures from fashion magazines and pin them above our dining table."

"We couldn't afford any of the products..."

She laughed awkwardly.

"...But she always said beautiful things could inspire people, even if they couldn't buy them."

For a brief moment, Isabella said nothing.

When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter.

"She sounds like a wise woman."

"She is."

The elevator chimed.

Level Twenty-One.

"This is your stop."

Chloe hurried out before turning back.

"Thank you, Isabella."

"I owe you one."

"You don't owe me anything."

The doors slid shut.

The elevator continued upward.

—

By eight o'clock, Maison Laurent no longer felt quiet.

Design teams hurried through hallways carrying fabric samples.

Executives discussed presentations over fresh coffee.

Assistants moved briskly between offices with tablets in hand.

The building had come alive.

As the elevator doors opened on the executive floor, Olivia Bennett was already waiting.

"You helped another lost employee, didn't you?"

Isabella blinked.

"How do you know?"

"Because Security called."

"They've started taking bets."

"Bets?"

"On how long it'll take before someone realizes the woman helping carry boxes or giving directions is actually the founder."

Isabella laughed.

"I was carrying towels, not saving the company."

"You say that now."

Olivia handed her a digital tablet.

"Your board meeting starts in five minutes."

"Richard's already here?"

"And everyone else."

They walked together toward the boardroom.

Halfway there, Olivia glanced sideways.

"One of the interns asked Human Resources who the nice lady named Isabella was."

"Oh?"

"They told her."

"And?"

Olivia grinned.

"I believe her exact words were..."

She cleared her throat dramatically.

"'Wait... THE Isabella Laurent?'"

A laugh escaped Isabella before she could stop it.

"I hope she survives the embarrassment."

"I'm sure she will."

They reached the double walnut doors leading into the boardroom.

Olivia stopped.

"Ready?"

Isabella nodded once.

"Always."

The doors opened.

Conversation stopped almost instantly.

Twelve board members rose from their seats.

"So did the chairman.

"Good morning, Isabella."

"Good morning, everyone."

She acknowledged each person with a warm smile before taking the seat at the head of the long table.

Outside the closed doors, Chloe walked past with her orientation group.

The boardroom walls were made of glass.

She glanced inside only for a second.

Then stopped walking.

"...That's her."

Another intern looked over.

"Who?"

"The lady who helped me."

Inside the room, the largest screen came to life, displaying the Maison Laurent emblem.

Richard Whitmore smiled at the woman seated opposite him.

"Shall we begin?"

Isabella folded her hands neatly on the table.

"Let's."

Outside, Chloe stared through the glass in stunned silence.

She hadn't just met a helpful employee that morning.

She had spent the elevator ride talking to the woman the business world called the founder of a global empire.

And inside the boardroom, as the first presentation appeared on the screen, Isabella had no idea that before the day was over, something far more important than quarterly reports would be waiting for her.