The Business of Attraction

by M K Lansbury

  Her brown eyes lit up every time she spoke of her husband. Beata loved Lawrence to death and made no secret of it.

  “Honestly, when my mother introduced Lawrence to me at her friend’s country house in Paris twenty-five years ago, I thought he'd make a great first husband.”

  Zara couldn't help but admire Beata and her contagious energy.

  “Turns out, he might end up being my only husband! And it was kind of an arranged marriage of sorts. I mean, my mother picked him out. Totally old fashioned. Probably the only good decision she made in her life. God bless her soul.”

  Zara and Ally watched Beata. She was such a vibrant, larger-than-life woman, and her mood left the whole office floor upbeat when she walked through.

  “Which brings me to Soul Mate! I was talking to my friends last week, and most of them haven’t had such good luck with their relationships. I did a little hands-on research of my own and asked them about dating apps. You know what they said?”

  What?” Zara and Ally chorused together.

  “That dating apps are for men looking to find women to have a good time. That these apps would never take into account what women really wanted in men and the kind of relationships they wanted.”

  “That’s exactly what Soul Mate is all about!”

  “I know. So even though I’ll never get to use the app for myself, I think it’ll be perfect for my friends. Actually, for any woman looking for something meaningful. I can’t believe Lawrence tried to talk me out of investing! Thank God I’m a determined woman. However, Lawrence did use the word stubborn instead of determined. I didn’t speak to him for a whole entire day!”

  Ally bit her lip to fight the chuckle. “We’re so glad you put your trust in it. In us.”

  “I love what you guys are building.” She scanned the office floor, her eyes halting over the hard-at-work programmers. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. It’s so cool. So . . . professional.”

  Beata’s phone beeped, and she grinned at the phone screen like a teenager in love. “Lawrence keeps sending me these GIFs. They make my day. Oh, I almost forgot! I didn't just come here to gush over our fantastic office, ladies. Ally, Zara . . . I come bearing great news.”

  She strode to one of the metal chairs by the window and crossed her long legs as she sat down. The slit in her white skirt revealing toned calves and thighs.

  “I exploited old Lawrence for his connections and booked you an appearance at a tech conference next week. Apparently, it’s pretty big.”

  Zara’s mouth fell open. Ally was the first to recover.

  “You mean NY Tech Talks?”

  “Yep!”

  “Whoa.” Zara breathed out. “Big? Beata, big is an understatement. NY Tech Talks is the top tech conference on the east coast. Only the top venture capitalists and tech media people get to attend. It’s a huge deal, and every panel is covered by everyone. It goes viral, almost religiously.”

  Ally shot out of her seat, electrified. “That’s going to be our official debut. This is . . . Beata . . . this is—”

  “I have more.”

  Zara and Ally gaped at Beata in anticipation.

  “You’re also going to attend an after-party of some sort. Lawrence says all the who’s who of the tech scene will be there. It’s one of the reasons why I tolerate Lawrence,” Beata joked.

  Zara gave Ally’s shoulders a quick squeeze with a sideways hug.

  Ally looked like she was going to start crying in gratitude. “Beata, you’re the best teammate we could’ve asked for. And we’d also love to meet Lawrence someday. He sounds amazing.”

  Zara decided a quick change of topic was in order—before Ally actually started sobbing from happiness.

  “Beata, you and Lawrence remind me of my parents. They’re celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary this November.”

  “Wow. Forty years. I hope they’re gonna celebrate that. It’s a huge milestone.”

  “Actually, there’s going to be a party.” Zara flinched. “I mean, there’s supposed to be a party. I was going to throw it for them, but . . . I hope I can find the time.”

  “Are you kidding me? I’ll definitely help out and make it happen,” Ally chimed in. “Count me in.”

  Beata leaned forward in her chair. “I’d love to help out in whatever way I can.”

  “That would be great.” Zara grinned. “Thanks, both of you.”

  “But first!” Beata slammed her hands on the armrest and propelled herself up off the chair and onto her long legs. “You two need to start planning for NY Tech Talks.”

  Nervous excitement traveled up Zara’s arms, sizzling at her nape.

  “This is nerve-racking,” Ally said with a sheepish chuckle as they sat together at the desk. Beata’s heels clicked across the office floor as she made her way to the elevators.

  Zara pushed a laptop toward Ally. “Let’s figure out what you’re gonna say up on the stage.”

  Ally did a double-take. “Me? I don’t think so.”

  “What do you mean? It needs to be you. You’re the founder.”

  “You remember what happened when I had to make that speech in grade seven? I broke the lectern.”

  “Still . . .”

  “And when I did that presentation at Colgate? They still laugh about it.”

  “Ally.”

  “What about the time I was a witness to that small hit-and-run? The news crew had to delete my interview ’cause my sweat stains were all over my shirt.”

  “I forgot about that.”

  “You need to do it, Zara.”

  Zara’s throat went dry. “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Me?”

  Ally stood up with a flourish, gaining an advantage by standing. It allowed her to loom over her. “You’re my head of marketing for a reason, Zara. You’re so great at taking ideas and making them presentable. You can do this!”

  Zara laughed, but there was no real mirth in the sound. “You can’t be ser—you’re actually serious about this? It’s the biggest tech show you could snag!”

  “We. It’s we now, Zara. And you’re more than capable of hitting the ball out of the park. Actually, you’re the only one who can do this. You’re the best. And we’ve gotta make every minute on the panel count.”

  Zara smiled, but she was wildly aware of the fact that it wobbled in nervousness on her face. She bit the inside of her lower lip to make it stop, and took a deep, steadying breath. Ally had so much faith in her. And before this moment, Zara had believed she had unwavering faith in herself too.

  It was faltering a little.

  There was so much at stake. Ally’s hard work, her dreams, the money put into the company. Tech Talks could make or break Soul Mate, and now everything fell on Zara’s shoulders.

  FOUR

  To Chase, Or Not To Chase?

  Thank God this panel isn't streamed live.

  Or is it?

  Zara fought the urge to bite her lip and eat away her lipstick. She was composed, which she credited to being over-prepared. She’d spent the last seven days preparing for this panel.

  It hadn’t been easy. But she liked the challenge.

  The panel was titled “Marketing and Algorithms” and focused on startups built on specific algorithms that had the potential to grow beyond their basic underlying mathematical formula. The panel consisted of founders of firms in the cryptocurrency, food, and real estate arenas.

  And Zara with Soul Mate.

  Zara grimaced at the two massive lights. They were angled toward the stage from both sides. Three different cameras sitting on tripods faced her as she sat with the three other panelists, and was most likely the only one sweating.

  Kassandra Young, the moderator and conference host, and a striking African-American woman, was sitting to the left of the stage wearing a glorious beige pantsuit that seemed to glow in the brightly lit set.

  Hanson Basket, a short, pale twenty-year-old who’d dropped out of S
tanford to pursue his passion for his app, was answering Kassandra’s question. His app gave couples the opportunity to forego the endless “Where are we eating?” arguments. From what Zara now knew about the app, its algorithm provided matches for the perfect spot for that time of day, for that day of the week, considering the current moods of both partners, the occasion, and the level of hunger.

  Zara was attuned to every word but also scanning her mental notes over and over.

  With Ally’s help, Zara had conducted extensive research on Kassandra. Ally and Zara had been crushing after Kassandra ever since she managed to start her very own tech media company from a simple blog she’d started in her dorm. Now, Kassandra had a TV show, podcasts, and a lot of notice in the tech world. She was a top tech blogger, who had been hosting the NY Tech Talks for the last two years.

  She was also funny and a pro at keeping the conference engaging.

  “We’d like to get your opinion on this area, Zara.” Kassandra’s brown eyes settled on Zara, a polite smile on her face. Her dark spectacles adding the perfect amount of nerdiness to her otherwise glamorous look. “What was the biggest factor that drove you to aim for an app geared toward dating?”

  Zara leaned slightly forward. Calm and at ease wearing a light gray suit with a white silk blouse, she felt like a million bucks. Probably because it provided her Prada bag new competition as top dog of her wardrobe. Yes, it had cost a fortune but did give much-needed confidence.

  Zara couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s pretty simple, actually. It is really important to find someone to love and to be loved in return. I know being single has its perks, but come on, it tends to get really old, really fast. Isn’t offering and receiving love for another person perhaps the most important thing one can do? No matter what age you are or what gender, you always want someone special to hold you at the end of the day and say: ‘Hey, it’s going to be okay. I know today was rough. Tomorrow will be better.’ That! That’s what we’re hoping to provide to our users. A partner.”

  “Dating apps are such a competitive field. What makes you think that you’ll be able to get users?”

  “We all know dating isn't a walk in the park. It’s a landmine.” Zara grinned. “It’s tricky finding that one person that’s just right for you. Most dating apps aren’t programmed to find you a match for a steady relationship. The swipe-and-sold model wasn't what we’re aiming for. We wanted a more female-driven app. Females and their perspectives have been overlooked with much of the app-dating scene today, and we wanted to balance that equation with Soul Mate. That is why Soul Mate is an all-female company.”

  “Good point there. However, considering how powerful a force industry leader Finder is, and their huge user base, don’t you think it’s going to take a lot of effort to get a sound standing on your feet?”

  Zara quickly summoned recollections of her earlier research. Finder’s market share, its extremely dense ‘bro’ reputation. “I’m not going to deny that Finder’s market share is daunting for a new up-and-coming app like Soul Mate. But you can’t deny that anything is possible. That challenge is actually extremely exciting.”

  Kassandra seemed impressed and smiled at Zara. “I should tell you that Finder’s CEO is actually in the crowd. I wonder what he would say to your claims about his company’s “bro” reputation.”

  A spotlight was already on a man in the audience.

  Zara glanced toward the man as Kassandra’s voice resounded in the studio.

  “He’s proven that he knows exactly what it takes to become a powerhouse in this industry. I’d love to invite Mr. Lance Chase to NY Tech Talks in the future for . . .”

  Zara didn’t even hear most of what Kassandra was saying anymore.

  Zara sat at the table as white as her silk blouse, her eyes locked with the man she recognized . . .

  The man from the beach. Oh, god! It’s him!

  Is that Lance Chase?

  His lips curved in a knowing smile. Zara’s skin prickled in goosebumps, realizing that he’d been sitting there the whole time she talked, watching her.

  The man she’d openly flirted with on the beach. The man who’d sung along with her next to the bonfire. The man in front of whom she’d made an utter and complete idiot of herself by pretending to be someone else . . .

  Running off stage is not an option.

  Zara considered pretending that she didn't recognize him, but it was too late.

  Days of preparation and research all evaporated in the blink of an eye. One look at Lance and everything she had planned to say went down the drain.

  Lance leaned back in his seat and lifted a brow in what seemed like a challenge. Or maybe it was a greeting. Zara was obsessed with every little change in his expression.

  The crippling embarrassment she’d felt the last time she’d seen him returned full force—as debilitating as the night in Montauk. In the middle of the most important moment of Zara’s life, her ears began to billow heat.

  He grinned. The cocky, self-confident smile made her knees shake behind the low table before her.

  Kassandra turned her attention back to Zara. “I admire your ideology behind Soul Mate, Zara, but dating apps are a really tough space to try to launch in. It’s a very ambitious feat, and most people would call it misguided, considering every single dating app that surfaced in recent years was either beaten or purchased by Finder.”

  Zara drew in a deep breath. She’d expected this question. She’d prepared for it for two whole days. However, she hadn't expected the CEO of Finder to be in the audience when she answered. And she certainly had not expected Soul Mate’s biggest competitor in the market to be Lance Chase!

  “Soul Mate is different,” Zara spoke with calm confidence. “Finder and Soul Mate are entirely different in terms of their basic, fundamental ideology. Soul Mate skews toward female preferences and what they’re looking for. Our algorithm is leagues ahead of what Finder is capable of.”

  This time, Zara returned the cocky, challenging smile Lance gave her. She hoped beyond hope that she succeeded in coming off as completely unfazed by his presence and his position as a competitor.

  “Lance, what do you think of Zara’s opinion about her superior algorithm?”

  Lifting the microphone to his chiseled, perfect lips, Lance spoke with a calm authority that seemed to boom with power in the studio.

  “I remain confident that Finder is the better dating app. But I have to say I can’t help but admire Miss Rodriguez’s faith in her product. And I’m almost looking forward to their launch so I can see it for myself. A little healthy competition can only help Finder become better.”

  Zara paused, surprised by his response. He’d all but set off the wheels to a very successful launch of Soul Mate. That’s not what she’d expected at all.

  Kassandra seemed a bit surprised, too, but quickly moved on to other members of the panel, engaging them in conversation.

  As more minutes passed, Zara tried to fathom what had really happened. Lance had been gracious, considering she'd blatantly challenged his app and algorithm. But the challenge in his eyes remained. Part of her was glad she finally knew what color his eyes were. A cold, steel gray.

  She bit her lip as a burst of nervousness sprung to the surface. Zara recognized his flirtatious, knowing smile. He knew exactly the effect he had on her, and Zara couldn’t allow that. Not anymore.

  Zara forced herself to drag her gaze away from him. It took considerable effort because he was undoubtedly the most charismatic man she’d ever laid eyes on. The moment she’d seen him on the beach, the space between them had been charged with magnetic energy.

  But Lance was the CEO of Finder. Zara had to pull out the big guns if she had any hope of Ally’s Soul Mate getting off the ground.

  Her eyes had a will of their own, constantly bolting back to the spot where Lance was sitting. She made sure the glances were short, but it was no use.

  He caught her watching, alm
ost expecting her. A smirk on his face, the knowing look in his eyes, made Zara clench her toes in her nude pumps.

  Why does he make me so nervous?

  For the rest of the show, Zara kept her gaze stubbornly glued to Kassandra’s shoulder.

  Every second of it was hell.

  All she wanted was to steal one last look at the man in the audience.

  It didn’t help that Zara could feel the warmth of his relentless gaze on her face.

  He knows how uncomfortable it’s making me feel. But why is it making me so uncomfortable?

  FIVE

  Bygones

  Great job, Zara. You were wonderful out there.”

  Zara turned in awe to look at the group of three women that she didn’t even know. Zara felt like a celebrity.

  “Soul Mate is totally going to change the way we connect with men online,” a girl with cat-eye spectacles and short dark hair gushed.

  The blonde with a French braid angled to the right side of her head placed her hand on Zara’s arm. Her sharp, intelligent eyes were sincere. “I simply can’t wait to try your app. When are you releasing the beta version?”

  “In two weeks,” Zara breathed out, overwhelmed by the attention.

  They nodded and smiled, open and warm women uplifting other women. They healed her spirit a little.

  “We’ll keep an eye out. And believe us, we’ll be among the first to give the app a test-drive.”

  “Sounds great! Thank you so much.”

  The girl with the cat-eye spectacles, who looked no older than twenty-two, reached into her bag and pulled out a business card. Ally took it, taken by surprise at her confidence.

  “I own Foster Marketing. We’re based in Chicago and are redefining how to test out campaigns and marketing efforts. I would absolutely love to work with you and Soul Mate to make the launch as successful as possible. And I’ll give you the best deal possible. Soul Mate is going to drive a female revolution in the dating app market. We’d be lucky to be part of the team.”