Page 55 of Someone Like You

‘Thanks.’

We end the call and I tap my phone against my chin.

Freya’s onboard with my wing-woman strategy, even if she doesn’t know its additional aim is to unearth how Gaby really sees Raff, so I’ll elicit her help.

I want both RaffandGaby at that event.

Not only did Paloma have to call in a slew of favours to secure the invitation, but it’sexactlythe type of occasion that could lift the veil from Gaby’s eyes. They’ll both be dressed to the nines, it will befestive as well as fancy, and Julia is a very attractive and charming woman. If Gaby can witness Julia’s charm offensive andnotwant Raff for herself, then her feelings for him are most likely platonic and nothing more.

Before packing up for the day, I send a quick message to Freya, explaining what I need from her to ensure Raff and Gaby go to the Forty Under Forty event.

As I gather my belongings and put on my coat and scarf, I look around the office. Only George is still at his desk – everyone else has gone home, as it’s now past six – so he’ll lock up when he’s done.

‘Bye, George, see you tomorrow.’

‘Bye, Poppy.’

‘And don’t stay too long.’

He chuckles at that. Like me, he often disregards the agency’s culture of clocking off at five. But it’s not always possible – especially not when you have a high-stakes case like this oneandyou’re prepping three cases for the New Year.

That means long days, as well as being on-call evenings and weekends.

I really do hope we employ another agent soon, ease some of the burden on the five of us. But it’s not the sort of role that gets advertised on job sites.

As I step out into the darkness and head towards the Tube station, I can’t help but wonder how compatible a baby would be with the life of a matchmaker.

Not very, is my guess.

14

GABY

‘Thanks for coming with me, Gabs,’ says Raff, tugging at the collar of his shirt.

‘No problem,’ I reply.

If he truly understood the extent of this favour, he’d offer me his first-born child in payment. Or an Aston Martin. I’d prefer the latter.

But I should have learnt by now that Poppy Dean can work wonders. Not only did she get Raff to accept the invitation to this little shindig, but after Freya gave a resounding no, she gotmehere as Raff’s plus one. She didn’t even have to resort to begging. She went with bribery, dangling a carrot so enticing, I couldn’t resist – professional hair and makeup, and a stylist. Apparently, Greta hooked her up. Well, hookedmeup.

And once I said yes, I had to bribe Quinn to take my place at the MouMou event. Somehow, I’ll need to convince Elysium to comp me another spa day for Quinn and a friend.

All these backroom deals were signed, sealed, and delivered within twenty-four hours of Poppy’s call to tell me the ‘good news’.Now here we are – me and Raff – in the back of another town car, looking better than either of us has looked before, or likely will again. Tonight is like prom on steroids.

‘You look lovely, by the way,’ he says, regarding me intently across the backseat.

‘Thanks,’ I say, suddenly self-conscious. It shouldn’t feel weird that Raff’s complimenting me, considering how well we know each other, but it does.

Heisright, though (if I do say so myself) – the hair and makeup team,andthe stylist, did a stellar job. I feel… well, maybe not beautiful but at the very least, pretty.

My shoulder-length hair has been dried pin-straight (which necessitated a quick trim to even out the ends), and the hair stylist parted it on the left, pinning the right side behind my ear with a diamante-encrusted hairpin. The style is reminiscent of 1930s movie stars and my hair is so glossy, Raff can probably see his reflection in it.

The makeup artist gave me a smoky eye in dark green, a hint of peach-coloured blush, and a glossy nude lip. They even gifted me the tube for touch-ups.

But the dress!

It’ssopretty – a sleeveless sheath in slinky, forest-green silk that skims my body, its hem landing mid-thigh. As I have a boyish, athletic figure – no cleavage and not even ahintof a butt, so very un-J.Lo – I’ve gotta love a dress that makes the most of what Idohave, namely shapely arms and well-defined legs from working out three times a week.

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