Why the hell I expected him to be dependable or know anything about the topic that fell from his lips was beyond me. I took a few steps through the slush, and my six-inch heels wobbled in protest. Not willing to risk a fall, I lifted my hand and waved, jumping into the first taxi that stopped. I sat in the back of the car as it crawled through the chaos of New York traffic, and the city vibrated with noise and movement. Inside the warm car, I took a deep breath and marveled at how far Amoré Nights had come.
When I originally announced I planned to create a dating app, everyone asked why. The market was saturated, and nobody truly found love on them. That was mostly because the majority of men lied on the apps. However, instead of stating the obvious, I pretended love wasn't a myth used to manipulate women and blamed low lifetime matches from dating apps on what my competitors lacked.
Amoré Nights offered two key things the other apps didn't: background checks and reviews from others who had dated their potential soulmate. No longer did you have to take a man's word before any woman placed her delicate heart in his care.
TWO
I Hoped You Were Dead
Just as the taxi stopped in traffic, my phone rang. Only my bored mom would think I was free to chat in the middle of the day. I took a deep breath and lifted the phone to my ear.
"What is it now, Madre?"
"Oh. Such manners. This is how you speak to your own mother? When I was a child, we had respect."
Annoyed that my cab might not move anytime soon, I spoke firmly. "If you called for no reason, I'm hanging up."
"No. Wait. Your father wants to know what you're doing in America these days."
Why she sounded uncertain, I wasn't sure. I'd already told them about launching the dating app. Of course, my parents gave me their typical response: unimpressed.
"The app will officially launch next month."
"Oh right. Your sex app," she said, but then her voice softened. "I just…don't understand."
Frustrated, I took two deep breaths. "How adults choose to use it is their business, but I'm offering them a chance at real love."
Even I heard myself repeating an Amoré Nights advertisement. Selling love like it wasn't a scam.
"You? Love? Go ahead and tell me another lie."
After the quickie during lunch, I was semi-relaxed, but now, thanks to Mother, all of that was gone. This was why I never called, as she often pointed out. Sure, no one saw me ending up selling love, not after the train wreck of a breakup I had in college.
"Alexandra, are you still there?"
Her earlier words replayed in my mind, and then it clicked. I had used the app for exactly what Madre said it was meant for—to get sex.
"What is it?" I asked, annoyed that she hit the nail on the head.
"Anything new happening in your life?"
In the back of a taxi wasn't the place I wanted to have this conversation. "I'm at the office. I'll call you back later when I'm free."
"Wait."
I didn't bother listening. If something important had happened, she would've told me right away. By now, hanging up on my mother felt as routine as brushing my teeth. Still, it spoiled the decent mood I was in just minutes ago.
After exiting the car, I handed the driver some cash.
Around me, sirens wailed, joining the constant honking of cars and the murmur of voices. The noise did not bother me anymore; I was a real New Yorker now, so I walked into the high-rise where my company, Amoré Nights, rented office space. The day wasn't turning out at all how I planned. From Pedro's faulty equipment to my mother, if it wasn't for the fact my app was ready to go live after months of testing, I might still be wearing a sour expression. Screw that. I refused to let anyone determinethe sort of day I'd be having. I was the only one responsible for my mood.
Determined, I lifted my chin and clicked my heels against the polished floor, pretending the sound they made was a battle drum. I could handle anything that came my way. After going through security, I made my way to the elevator and stabbed the button. I had to wait a short while for the damn thing to arrive, so I used the time to return a few messages. Once inside, I tapped the twenty-third floor, and as soon as the elevator closed, a familiar cologne filled the space. I froze. No fucking way, it couldn't be him. As the metal box began its climb, I tried to think rationally. The brand might've been used by him, but it wasn't made only for lying, cheating bastards. With my head still straight ahead toward the buttons in front of me, I took a breath and returned my gaze to the phone screen.
"Hi, Alex."
My skin crawled the second I heard that voice. It was too familiar, and I didn't waste a second hoping it wasn't him. That low and smooth, mostly smug tone belonged to no one else. Slowly, I turned, every muscle tight, not eager to see this man. Yet, there he was, exactly how I remembered.
Fuck it, I gave up. My day was officially down the toilet. Forget trying to shape it into anything decent. If this pig was here, the battle was already lost. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
