The Matchmaker

by Fiona Wilde

  "It's alright." Cassie smiled and accepted the light kiss he planted on her lips. "I'm still unpacking. My apartment is almost presentable but not quite."

  "Here's to new beginnings." He'd poured her a glass of wine and offered it to her. She raised the glass to his in a toast.

  "To new beginnings," she said, and then grew serious. "Um, Gavin, before we go any further there's something I need to tell you."

  "Peterson? Part of two?" The hostess came over and handed Cassie a red rose. "Your table is ready."

  They walked over and sat down, this time at a table overlooking a little courtyard. "This is nice," she said.

  "It is," Gavin replied, taking her hands. "And I really am glad you agreed to see me again. Lola, I feel really comfortable with you. It's just so nice to..."

  "Wait," Cassie replied. "Before we go any further, there's something you need to know--"

  "More wine?" The waiter had appeared now.

  "Sure," said Gavin. "We'll have this one." He tapped an expensive selection.

  "It's just so amazing that we both have so many of the same values, and the same educational background," he continued. "I'm not getting any younger, and the last thing I want is to have to pick my way through a bunch of people who aren't sure of who they are or what they want."

  "Gavin, wait," Cassie interrupted. "I feel the same way about you, but I need to ---"

  "Cassie?" At first Cassie wasn't sure if she had heard the female voice call her name. But when it came a second time she forced herself to look.

  Elaine was wearing a little black dress. With her black hair pulled back into a severe bun, her white skin and blood red lipstick, she reminded Cassie of the evil queen from Snow White.

  "My, my. Small world. Tell me, who's your friend?" The saccharine smile was fixed on her face.

  Gavin stood. "My name is Gavin Peterson," he said. "But I'm afraid my date is a victim of mistaken identity. Her name is Lola."

  "Lola? I don't think so," said Elaine. "Her name is Cassie, and she works for me. And why does your name sound so familiar Mr...."

  Suddenly she stopped and her face turned to ice. "Peterson." Her gaze whipped back over to Cassie. "Good God. You didn't forget that referral at all, did you, Ms. Bernard. I can't believe this. You know it's forbidden for staff to date clients."

  "Elaine, this isn't the time...." Cassie began, her heart racing in her chest.

  "Isn't it?" Elaine's voice grew shrill as she turned back to Gavin. "She told you her name is Lola? Well, I hope you like dating liars, because that's what your dinner partner is. Lola. Ha! Her name is Cassie, and she's one of the counselors at MatchYou." She stopped, a smirk playing on her lips. "Or was. I suppose you'll at least have the dignity not to beg for your job back, because it won't do any good. You're fired"

  Cassie looked down at the table, unsure of what to say.

  "And as for you, Mr. Peterson. I suggest you call me directly in the morning so that I can set you up with a real counselor." Elaine pulled a card from her clutch bag and plopped it on the table in front of him. "Now that you see what kind of women are out there, the last thing you should be doing is trusting in your own judgment."

  Elaine clicked away then to join her husband, a mousy man who'd retreated during the ugly scene to wait for her in the bar. Cassie felt hot tears prick her eyes as she looked up at her date.

  "Gavin..." His face was stony, unreadable.

  "So you lied," he said. "You lied about who you are. I really can't believe..."

  "Don't. Just don't." Cassie rose, not even trying to stop the tears that spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "You can't say anything to me that will make me feel any worse than I already do."

  "Wait," he said, reaching out for her arm. "You owe me an explanation."

  "I can't," said Cassie, pulling away. "Just accept my apology. This was just a terrible mistake on my part. I'm so sorry."

  She fled the restaurant then, feeling all eyes on her as she did. The street was crowded, making it easy to blend in, not that she expected Gavin to follow her. Why would he want to? She had ruined everything. She was unemployed, alone and publicly humiliated for the second time in a week.

  Cassie stifled a sob as she navigated hand-holding couples who seemed oblivious to her presence as they made their way to various restaurants and bars to celebrate Valentine's Day. The sight was like salt in the wound, and she was glad when she finally reached her car and - climbing in - sped back towards her lonely apartment.

  ***

  "Cassie? Cassie. It's me, Jill. Pick up the phone." Her best friend's tone was worried and Cassie knew she should answer, but couldn't bring herself to talk to anyone. Not just yet. "Look, Elaine came in this morning and told everyone about running into you. She held you up as an example and said you were fired. God, I hate that." Silence. "Are you there? OK. I guess you don't want to talk. I'll call later. Love ya."

  Cassie climbed out of bed and went to the shower, standing under the spray as it washed the dried tears and makeup from her face. The previous night's events seemed almost surreal now. But it was no dream and now Cassie had no choice but to pick up the tattered pieces of her life.

  After showering, she dressed in a knit shirt and blue jeans and had a cup of coffee as she scanned the want ads for a job. She still had enough in savings to live on for maybe a month if she was careful, and after that? Without a job equivalent to what she had at MatchYou, she wouldn't be able to afford the new apartment. Cassie knew that she could go to her parents, but the idea of it made her shudder. The last thing she needed was another lecture from her mother on the value of Independence.

  The cable was due to be hooked up at 2 p.m. Cassie called and canceled the work order so she'd have one less bill to worry about. The phone rang as soon as she hug it up and she let the machine get it. It was Elaine, telling her if she didn't come get her belongings by 5 p.m. she'd have them thrown out. Cassie noted that her Former Boss From Hell didn't even try to disguise the obvious enjoyment she got from delivering the message.

  Cassie circled a few potential ads in the paper before deciding to finish unpacking. She'd just tossed the last box into the dumpster out back when she heard the doorbell ring.

  "I guess the cable guy didn't get the message," she said with irritation and walked to the door. When she opened it, she was momentarily speechless.

  "Gavin?"

  He was standing in the doorway, and it occurred to Cassie that this was the first time she'd seen him outside a darkened room or a nighttime stroll. He was, she achingly noted, more handsome by the light of day.

  "May I come in?" he asked. "I'd like to talk to you."

  "I don't think there's much to say," she said.

  "Why don't you let me determine that," he said. "I think you kind of owe it to me."

  Cassie hesitated for a moment and then stepped back, opening the door. "You're right," she said. "I do." And then: "How did you find out where I live?"

  Gavin pulled Elaine's card from his pocket. "I called MatchYou," he said. "I asked to speak to different counselors until I got one who knew you, a girl named Jill." He paused and smiled. "At least I think that's her real name."

  Cassie grinned in spite of herself. "It is. She's my best friend."

  "She's worried about you," he said. "You should call her."

  "I know," said Cassie. "I just don't feel like facing anyone."

  "Why not?" he asked.

  "Because I'm so ashamed," Cassie put her face in her hands for a moment. "It seems like I can't do anything right. I mean, my needs, you know. My needs are so simple. I want someone to love me, to guide me. But every time I think the life I want is within reach it just falls apart. I mean, I know what I want but the way I go about getting it is always just so ...screwed up."

  Cassie sat down on the couch. "And this time. Well, this time I've really gotten myself into a pickle."

  Gavin walked over and sat down beside her. "I wouldn't say that. If you ask me, getting awa
y from a place like MatchYou is a positive step. I've been avoiding controlling women like Elaine my whole life. It's actually good to see someone as sweet as you get away from someone like that."

  "You still think I'm sweet?" Cassie looked at him and smiled sheepishly.

  "Yes," he said. "I think you're sweet, even if you're a little rash. You just lack guidance, Cassie. And if you're still interested, I'd like to be the man who provides it for you."

  "You mean you're willing to give me another chance?" Cassie asked.

  "As far as I'm concerned you're still on your first one," he replied. "I was surprised last night, not angry. I knew right away what you'd done as soon as she started talking. Did I question your judgment? Yes. Did I consider it a negative reflection on your character? No. Everyone makes mistakes."

  "Oh, Gavin," said Cassie. "Thanks so much."

  "Don't thank me yet," he said, and grew serious. "I know we've only met, and I know we both believe in taking things a step at a time. But Cassie, if we're going to try and do this you need to know right up front that I'm a stickler when it comes to honesty. It's the basis of any good relationship, and you need to understand that if you've not been straight up about something the best policy is to come to me right away." He paused. "And if you don't, you need to be prepared to accept the consequences."

  "Consequences?" Cassie repeated.

  "Did you think there wouldn't be any? I think we both know that the type of dynamic we're looking for involves correction from time to time. I'm not talking about punishing you for grins or for my own ego or for foreplay. I'm talking about the old-fashioned practice of a man taking his woman over his knee to teach her a lesson. I assume you've considered this."

  Cassie nodded. "I have," she said in a small voice. "But I don't want it to be some sort of fantasy, either. I want to learn, Gavin, to grow. And I want to do it with a man strong and true enough to teach me."

  "Do you think I'm that man?" he asked.

  Cassie nodded.

  "Then you understand that what you did can't go unpunished," he said, and sat back. "I won't play games with you, Cassie." He patted his lap. "Let's get this over with."

  The spanking Gavin gave her wasn't anything like the ones she'd ever received from Barry. Gavin was purposeful and stern, and the notion that his actions were corrective humbled and reduced Cassie to true tearful contrition within minutes. Even though the seat of her blue jeans, the searing pain left by his large hand lingered even after he pulled her to her feet. Standing before him, Cassie still squirmed, as if by moving she could shake the burning imprint that spanned the tops of her buttocks to her upper thighs.

  "Are you ready to listen now?" he asked.

  "Yes," said Cassie. "I am."

  "Good," said Gavin and pulled her into his lap, kissing her lightly on the lips. "I don't want you to be afraid. I know you're worried about things but you don't need to be. You've got me to help you through them. There's an opening at my counseling center; I'm pretty sure someone of your qualifications will have the advantage with HR, given that you'll be using me as a reference. You think you can get a resume together today?"

  Cassie smiled and nodded through her tears.

  "Next order of business," Gavin said, "is for you to open this." He reached into his coat and pulled out a cream-colored envelope. "I meant to give it to you last night, but you kind of left in a hurry."

  Cassie looked at the envelope, her throat constricting as her mind flashed back to the list of orders she used to rely on in her artificial life with Barry. Swallowing, she took it from Gavin's hand and broke the seal. Inside was a card. "Happy Valentine's Day," it said. And on the inside: "Here's to the first of many."

  Cassie put her hand to her mouth and sobbed a little cry of joy. And then her arms flew around Gavin's neck. "The first of many," she said.

  The End

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  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.