Chapter 0005

Poppy has finished applying my makeup and is scouring my closet for an appropriate attire 45 minutes later.

"So, she didn't give you any hint about who your match is?" Poppy asks, holding a blouse on my chest before shaking her head and returning it to the wardrobe.

"No, no idea." "All she said was that she had the 'perfect man' for me," I repeat to myself as I go through my drawers.

"Perfect, huh? "I'm curious what he's like." She responds with a dreamy tone. I'm pretty sure Lory hasn't found 'the one' for me, but if she thinks he's a good match, I'm curious why.

"How're you feeling?" Poppy interjects my thoughts as she arranges a black summer outfit on my bed for my approval.

The skirt is beautiful and flowy, and the top half fits snugly against my chest, giving me a nice shape; not too revealing, but displaying a little skin, I nod my head appreciatively.

"I'm really nervous, I know I'm probably not going to meet him today, but Lory is kind of intimidating," I confess sheepishly as I pull the dress over my head and slip it down my body.

"No way! Lory is fantastic; you simply don't know her well enough yet. "Don't worry about trying to impress her; you did that yesterday." I raise an eyebrow at her in the mirror as she stands behind me smoothing down the back of my dress.

"You think so?" I inquire.

"Of course!" says the speaker. She's looking out for you and will find you someone wonderful. If you don't like him, tell her; she works for you when she finds you a match. "What shall we do with your hair now?" After some deliberation, we decide to give it some loose curls to really lean into the'summer look' we've chosen.

Poppy has left me off to the offices with 15 minutes to spare, and I ascend in the elevator alone. Poppy was meeting some friends later, and I didn't want to ruin her day, so I'll find a bus home when I meet with Grace. I quietly announce my arrival to the receptionist and sit down when I hear the familiar sound of high heels coming down the corridor.

"Amelia, how lovely to see you. "Thank you for coming on such short notice," I say as I stand up to welcome her, and she smiles as she kisses me on both cheeks and leads me down the hall to her office.

"That's a wonderful outfit, so effortlessly chic" I'm about to tell her that I'm feeling quite undignified and unchic when I realize that would make me sound silly, so I murmur my thanks and sit in one of the recliners across from her, the same one I was in the day before.

"Okay then, let's just get straight into it then shall we?" Lory inquires as she approaches her side of the desk.

"I'm very excited about this, but please let me know if you disagree." So many girls say yes to the first man I place in front of them, only to become enraged when things go wrong. As hard as I try, it's not a flawless system, but I strive very hard to ensure that everyone involved is happy and comfortable. So, here:" She hands me a slim black folder and I flip it open as she talks. "Rhodes Whitlock is his name; he's thirty-three, has never been married, and is pretty attractive; there's a photo in the inside pocket."

I take out the polaroid photo and carefully examine it. There's a close-up of him against the same white background, using the same photo setup as yesterday. A perfectly coiffed mess of thick brown curls sits atop his head, and his dark green eyes sear into the image as if he's peering deep into my soul. He's clean-shaven, with clear tEloised skin and a full set of lips bent into a half-smirk that reveals the faint imprint of a dimple in his cheek. My stomach churns and I feel myself getting warm; he really is something.

"He runs the Arcadia Hotel company, which has over a dozen locations throughout the world and offers "quite nice and luxurious places to stay." Lory goes on. "Work keeps him busy, and he travels frequently, so he prefers to have someone available to him when he returns to London." He's ambitious, industrious, and understands exactly what he wants and how to get it. Some could describe him as intense, but that's only one side of him, and I'm sure that's kept for business. You're not precisely his type." She takes a breather.

I raise an eyebrow at her and ask, "Well, why the hell am I even here?

"He usually prefers girls who are a little more out there, a little more adventurous. A man like him attends a lot of parties and events and is looking for someone who can keep up socially. But I think you two may be rather nice together; you will balance each other out. I want him to have a kind, caring, attractive girl like you to soften him up a little and bring him some lightness. He's been all about work for so long, it's time he relaxed a bit."

I nod along as I listen to her, knowing that this is a waste of time. I'm not his type; this guy's typical type is probably model skinny and celebrity lovely, which I am not.

"I showed him your profile and photo. He is quite interested in meeting you, if you wish to meet him." Lory inquires as I peruse the forms he has completed. He's mentioned having tattoos; I'm curious where and what they are. My gaze returns to the Polaroid, and he returns mine with an almost unpleasant intensity.

"W-what would that imply if we met?" "Like, where and when would it happen?" Grace's lips smirk as she misinterprets my anxieties for excitement.

"Are you excited? Isn't he quite the looker? He's in town now and will very definitely have to visit one of his other hotels soon. Should I phone him and check when he's available?" She doesn't wait for a response before picking up the phone and dialing, checking her computer screen to confirm she's dialed the correct number.

"Are you Mr Whitlock?"... Hello, my name is Lory from the London Angel Club, and how are you?... I'm fine, thank you. I'm sitting here with Amelia, and she's eager to meet you; when and where are you available in the near future?" She stops and nods before taking the phone out of her ear.

"He can meet you tonight at his hotel" She laughs and shakes her head at my surprised expression. "Not like that, sweetie; they have a bar where you and I can meet for a drink." After you've signed your contracts, you two can get up to whatever." She winks at me, and I swallow a massive knot in my throat before nodding.

"Tonight is ideal...Thank you, Mr Whitlock, and have a nice remainder of your day...Goodbye" She smiles and exhales as she puts the phone down. "Everything is in place. You're supposed to meet him in the lobby of his hotel at 7 p.m., but he'll send a car to your house at 6:45 a.m. to pick you up and take you there. Don't be late; he's a busy man, and being late will make a negative first impression. And what about wearing something young and sweet, perhaps with a tinge of sex appeal? You'll do fantastic." Her grin doesn't persuade me; why can't she play this part for me?

I nod and thank her as she leads me out of the room. In the elevator, I fight the urge to slide down the wall and collapse into a ball on the cold, hard ground; this is not going to end well.