Page 56 of A Lot to Unpack
‘And you’re welcome,’ Jordan jokes, not letting it throw him off. If anything, it just makes him seem even more relaxed.
He starts walking slowly across the stage, quietly owning it.
‘But, contrary to popular belief, that’s not exactly what we had in mind. What I care about – the reason I’m standing here today – isn’t just the hook-ups. It’s the connections. Because for some people, Matcher isn’t about one night. It’s about that first step towards a lifetime of happiness. A first step for people who lack confidence, who don’t do well in loud bars or at social events. People who need the shield of a screen to feel comfortable opening up, until they feel like they’ve found someone they want to meet in person.’
It’s an interesting thought to consider, that Matcher is filled with men with the most confidence or the least.
‘And then there are people who have just moved to a new town or city, who don’t know how to go out and meet people – how the hell does anyone do that? Because let’s be honest, it’s impossible to meet people as an adult. For love, for friendship, for anything really.’
He stops centre stage now, his eyes scanning the crowd. I could swear he was looking right at me – or maybe it just feels that way. He’s doing such a good job of appearing to talk to everyone. It feels intimate. Like he’s speaking only to you.
‘My focus is, and always has been, on creating safe spaces. Safe spaces where people can connect without fear, without pressure, and – most importantly – without feeling like they have to change themselves just to be chosen.’
The room quiets. Everyone – including me – wants to know where he’s going with this.
‘So how do we do that? How do we make dating feel human again?’ he continues. ‘It’s a scary time to date – scarier than ever, and tech, anonymity, AI… it’s not making things any easier. There will always be people who use these tools for bad, people who aren’t who they say they are, people who will love you and leave you – and block you. That’s a relatively new part of the process. People who, no matter how hard you try, won’t believe you’re good enough. But what if I told you that, beyond everything we’ve got going on behind the scenes to keep you safe, there is one tip I can give you that will change how people view you – because it will change how you view yourself?’
You could hear a pin drop. Jordan smiles, like he’s about to let us in on a secret.
‘It’s going to sound corny, so hear me out,’ he starts with a chuckle. ‘The most valuable thing you can do, first and foremost, before you even download the app, is to know your worth. First of all, remember that not everyone is going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Not to sound like a very British cliché.’
Even when he’s being serious, when he has the entire room holding their breath, I love the way he still gets a laugh.
‘So I want you to think about it this way,’ he continues. ‘You can buy a bottle of water in a UK supermarket for, what, less than a pound? I’m going to guess it’s the same here. But… go to a train station and it’s £2.50. Go to a festival or a concert, and that same bottle might cost you four or five quid. But here’s the thing – it’s still the same water. The only thing that’s changed is the demand, and to the right person, at the right time, it’s worth it. Whatever the cost.’
Another pause. I glance around. People are nodding in agreement.
‘Some people will drink from the tap, for free, and that’s fine. But what I care about is helping people find the ones who see them, who value them, who think, yeah, okay, that’s worth the price. And I’m going to make it my mission to give people the tools to weed out the timewasters. To cut through the bullshit, the ghosting, the games – so that someone doesn’t only see you, they see your worth too.’
People clap, cheer – a few people even stand up. It’s the kind of reaction you only get when someone says something everyone has been waiting to hear. Even I’m clapping, and I hate Matcher. I suppose, with the right effort, it could be an app used for good, not just for a good time.
I guess I’m also applauding Jordan for surprising me, for saying the last thing I expected him to say. I knew he was charming, sure, but I thought he’d be swiping Matcher with the best (or the worst) of them. I didn’t get the impression – especially after talking to Paige – that he was someone who believed in love. Really believed in it.
Maybe he does – or maybe it’s good for business to say he does – but, either way, he’s won over the room.
It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve heard someone talk about the dating game and thought, I don’t know, maybe it’s not so hopeless after all.
22
I didn’t choose the corporate espionage life, the corporate espionage life chose me, and I really, really don’t think I’m cut out for it.
I’m sitting on the plump, luxurious grey carpet of my hotel room, legs crossed, demolishing one hell of a club sandwich that I just ordered from room service. Even the crisps (or should that be chips, given I’m in the US) are incredible.
Why am I down here? I always like to sit (or lie) on the floor, when I’m having a pity party, wallowing, thinking about my life choices.
I have come to the conclusion that I’m struggling with not one but two issues. First and foremost, I don’t know, the lying, the sneaking, the trickery – it’s just not me. I know, I know, I’m doing this for Paige, righting a wrong, no one is going to get hurt, everyone’s job will be saved, blah, blah, blah. I’m trying to focus on the positives, on doing what my boss is telling me to do – because that’s what having a job is, right? Doing shit you don’t want to do, for money, so you can pay your bills and eat.
Being so underhanded, though, it’s just not who I am, and the biggest spanner in the works is that, the more I get to knowJordan, the more it feels like some sort of betrayal, to be trying to trick him. I’m sure Paige knows him much better than I do, she was married to the man after all, but he doesn’t seem like an unreasonable person to me, he seems like someone who cares. Can he really not be negotiated with? Surely he would be decent about it?
And then of course, aside from feeling morally conflicted by the task at hand, the second problem I’m having is that I’m absolutely shit at it. Come on, look at me, look at my best efforts – they’re pathetic. Pretending I’ve seen a spider, sending in a cake… Is that really the best I can do? They’re the tactics of a teenage girl.
I pick up my phone and see that I’ve got a message from my mum. That’s the thing about time differences – I can only speak to people back home at certain times.
Mum
Hello darling, just checking in. You okay? Excited for the wedding?
I stare at the screen for a moment, debating what to say. Am I okay? Not really. Am I excited? Definitely not. But I can’t say any of that. Probably best I tell her what she needs to hear.
