‘Well, do you want me to at least carry it for you?’ he asks.
The girls from marketing are watching us like they’re not sure what’s happening. To be honest, neither am I. I don’t understand what he’s getting from this nice-guy act. Because that’s what it has to be, right? An act.
‘I’m good,’ I bite back, somehow managing to refrain from lunging at him out of sheer annoyance.
Instead, I walk away, leaving him behind. He can carry on charming those girls if he likes – I’ll get on with the work and prove I’m the better employee.
When I’m at Sadia’s office door, I knock gently before stepping inside. ‘Hope it’s to your liking,’ I whisper to her as I put the mug down on her desk, only slightly proud of myself for not spilling it. Sadia gives me a thumbs up as she turns back to her screen.
When I return to my desk, I’m pleased to see that Salman hasn’t returned. Not for the first time, I wonder why he’s even here, considering he doesn’t seem to be taking the role seriously. Does he have an ulterior motive, like I do? His parents are still together so he can’t be here for them, and as far as I know his cousins aren’t old enough to date, so logically I can’t think of any reason he’d be here.
Whatever. I need to stop thinking about him. He’s not mine any more.
Though his presence does make me want to find out how to get on Sadia’s list that much more. Because the sooner I find a way to get Ma on that list, the sooner I can get out of here – and away from him. I’m sure Sadia must have a document listing the criteria she looks for in potential clients, or maybe she tallies their scores somehow.
I wake up my laptop and go on the shared server, searching for clues to what Sadia might use to narrow down who makes her list after the initial questionnaires. I don’t know how many folders I click through, reading through abbreviations I don’t understand and jargon that sounds made-up, but I don’t find anything that will help me with my mission.
‘Damn it,’ I mutter to myself, sighing.
It was a long shot that I’d find exactly what I needed so early on but still, I hoped for something. Defeated, I put my head down and open the pack Sadia gave me instead. Maybe I can figure it out by looking at client profiles. It becomes clear pretty quickly that these are historic clients – the documents track their journey with Eternally Yours until they get a final matchthat worked out. I’m shocked by how many success stories there are in my hands alone. I’m not sure what I should be taking notes on as I read through them, but I mark up bits I think might be relevant with the highlighters I’ve brought along.
I’m not usually a big reader, but as I leaf through the papers I can’t help getting invested in the stories in front of me. It’s difficult not to as you read their initial hopes from their intake forms, watch them transform at their mid-point review as they’ve gone on dates and discovered more about themselves, then read their exit form, which details the joy they feel after finding their forever partner, thanks to Eternally Yours.
I’m halfway through the folder when Salman finally makes an appearance at his desk. He must have been gone for at least half an hour. He’s lucky Sadia is in a meeting or I’m sure she would have chewed him out for spending more time socialising than actually working.
Stop worrying about what he does or doesn’t do, I tell myself and return my gaze to the papers in front of me.
I’m reading the story of Ayesha and Tanvir, taking notes on how, upon intake, they matched with different people, but when they did their mid-point review forms, the data and revised answers suggested they couple up. From their diary logs, it seems they were both hesitant about the other, but it wasn’t until their second date (playing laser tag!) that they realised how into each other they were. Ayesha noted how the shared adrenaline rush of trying something new got rid of the tense atmosphere they both felt on their first dinner date, while Tanvir wrote about how he recognised how well they worked as a team.
Soon, the words in front of me begin to blur, my eyes unable to tell the letters apart and the stories they are trying to tell. I rub my eyes, but even so I find it difficult to go on. I check the time and find that I’ve been going at it for a solid hour, and decide maybe it’s time for a loo break.
But when I step out of the toilets, waiting outside is Salman.
‘Are you following me?’ My voice comes out in a whine. I step forward to get into the hallway, but Salman won’t budge. I try again but he remains leaning against the doorframe, blocking my way.
‘Would you like to get out of my way? Have you totally forgotten how unspoken social cues work or are you being intentionally obtuse?’
‘Pops –’
‘I told you,don’tcall me that.’
‘Poppy,’he says, pausing as if awaiting approval from me, ‘when are you going to give this up?’
‘Give what up?’
He studies me. Even though his tone is casual, there’s a look in his eye that’s sharp and imploring in a way that leaves me exposed, despite the layers I’m wearing today.
‘Ignoring me. Treating me like I’m the bad guy here.’ His words slip off his tongue with no malice or anger, but such sincerity it makes my gut twist into knots.
‘But you are,’ I say, a tremble in my voice.
He swallows but doesn’t look at me. In fact, he’s looking over my shoulder at something behind me. I turn around to see what’s captured his attention, and see Sadia standing there. I straighten my back and hope she can’t tell that my eyes are slightly glassy, as I do my best to forget about Salman and how irritated his presence makes me feel.
‘Just the two people I was looking for!’ she says, her upbeat tone a stark contrast to the despondent atmosphere. ‘I’ve got your first assignment.’
8
‘Now that you’ve had time to study some of our successful love stories,’ Sadia says once we’ve taken a seat opposite her at her desk, ‘I want you to create some matches of your own.’
