Page 34 of The One That I Want

‘Right,’ I say a few moments later. ‘Let’s set up our client with some duds.’

Greta

I put the last biography back in the folder and close it, then rest my hand on top. I may have sent us down this path, but it’s still a lot to take in.

Poppy and I are at The Daily Grind – our unofficial office for the duration of my assignment, as away fromNouveau, we can talk candidly about my writing assignment and everything it entails. Wary – and a little weary – I look across the table at her.

‘What do you think?’ she asks.

What do I think? I think I’m bonkers for agreeing to this assignment in the first place and evenmorebonkers for asking Poppy to set me up with men like these just so I don’t have to admit to Anjali I know what she’s up to. I also think I’m about ten seconds away from marching into her office and putting a stop to this ridiculous gambit.

Poppy cocks her head to one side and regards me with a half-smile. ‘You can be honest with me, you know.’

Is she teasing me or alluding to the GREAT HAIRY SECRET I’m keeping from her and Anjali?

If it’s the latter, can I trust Poppy with the entire truth? While I mull over this conundrum, she waits for me to say something, her kind smile fixed.

‘Well, I think you’ve managed to find five reasons why women my age find dating so horrible,’ I tell her, my eyes flicking to the folder. She chuckles and I join in despite myself. ‘I know I asked you to do this, but we’ll have to change the title of the series to “Dating Horrors of London”. It was supposed to be about avoiding the shallows and dating in the deep end – havingmeaningfuldates… And this issofar from the original concept…’ I sigh. ‘I’m being contrary, aren’t I? Difficult, even.’

She presses her lips together as if she’s stopping herself from revealing something. It’s unnerving, especially as her eyes are still firmly locked onto mine.

‘Can I ask you something, Greta?’

I nod, dread surging through me. I feel like I’m driving straight towards a cliff at full speed. But maybe Poppy has a parachute in her matchmaker bag of tricks.

‘When we spoke a couple of nights ago – about Harrison – you seemed quite taken by him.’

‘Well, yes, I suppose so. I mean, I’m just going by what’s on the page, of course, but…’

I trail off again, my thought lingering in the air between us. I can’t finish it because I’d be admitting that some biographical information and a photograph – one I can’t stop looking at – hasaffectedme. And crushing on someone I’ve never met is almost as pitiful as crushing on Luca for as long as I did.

‘So,’ says Poppy, pulling me from my self-deprecating thoughts, ‘does that mean you’re legitimately interested in finding love?’

And there it is: the dreaded question, the one that blares yet another person knows what’s going on inside my head –andmy heart. My best friend? Fine. But my boss? And now a professional matchmaker? Horrifying.

I may as well take out an advertisement on one of those billboards in Oxford Circus that says, ‘I am thirty-five and single and it’s only just occurred to me that I may have left it too late to find love and start a family!’

And if I do admit to the truth to Poppy, then what? Do I have to date these horrible men? Will Poppy still match me with Harrison?

Oh, to hell with it.

‘Yes. Yes, I am interested in finding love.’

Poppy’s face lights up with a wide smile. ‘That’s great news, Greta. Thanks for being so honest with me.’

It’s a relief, speaking my truth – and to someone other than Tiggy. Possibly because Tiggy and I have very different perspectives on love – and life, come to think of it. Even thoughshe’s supportive, I don’t think she truly understands that what began as a muted, niggling sensation a few weeks ago has taken root, is growing legs, and all other suitable idioms.

‘So, now what?’ I ask. ‘Wait – you said this is great news? In what way?’

That enigmatic smile appears again. ‘Because now I know our objective – the real one – what it is thatyouwant.’

‘You mean, instead of what Anjali wants for me?’

I clap my hand over my mouth. Having just told Poppy my deepest desire,nowI’ve revealed I know there’s a ‘secret’ plan afoot.

Poppy’s response is to laugh, though I don’t think it’satme. ‘Sorry,’ she says, ‘but you should see your face right now.’

I drop my hand and sigh again. ‘Cards on the table?’

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