Elmer pushes past Bennett. “I’d like to take a look,” he says, his red glasses framing his smug eyes. “You came to our office to snoop around. Now it’s our turn.”
I wait for an explanation from Bennett.
“He wasn’t too thrilled about learning who you really are,” Bennett reveals in a low tone. “I honestly didn’t know she was bringing us here.”
I remind myself of the information I just learned. We’re on my turf. I extend my arms out under Lunar Love’s pink doorframe. No one’s getting past me.
Elmer peeks around my head to see inside. “Those walls could be knocked down. There’s so much potential!” he says like he’s trying to be provocative.
Alisha pokes her head out of the back office. “We have company, I see!” she says, strolling over to us. I drop one of my arms to let her pass. “Bennett up close in the flesh. Man, I wish Randall wasn’t on lunch break so he could witness this.”
Bennett extends a hand. “And you must be?”
Alisha purses her lips. “Olivia, glad you’re speaking so highly of me,” she says with mock annoyance. “I’m Alisha, Olivia’s matchmaker-in-crime.”
“Great to meet you,” he says with a smile.
I shouldn’t have filled Alisha in on everything because the look she gives me in front of Bennett is a clear giveaway. He notices, and a small laugh through his nose comes out.
“When was the last time that carpet was replaced?” Elmer asks, peeking through one of the windows.
“Oh, let’s see,” I say, pretending to take his question seriously, “sometime between the first moon landing and when the Spice Girls broke up.”
Alisha grabs my arm. “Now that was a sad year.”
Elmer rolls his eyes and continues to critique the space. “First thing I’d do is get rid of all the pink and red.”
My jaw drops at his audacity. “Don’t get too comfortable,” I call out to Elmer with an edge in my voice. “We’re not for sale.” I look up at Bennett. “You know we’re not for sale, right? Because we’re definitely not for sale.” My chest feels heavy with the pressure of feeling like Lunar Love is being kicked out both physically and digitally.
Bennett nods quickly. “I know that. Elmer, let’s go. I’m sorry about all this.”
“Since when did he become your business partner anyway?” I nod toward Elmer, who won’t let up.
“He’s not my business partner, but he does like to involve himself,” Bennett says, shrugging. He leans over to whisper to me, “He’s surprisingly ill-mannered for a Rabbit.”
I resist laughing at his joke, forcing the corner of my lips down and out of a smile. I resume a stoic expression and assertive posture.
Alisha watches Elmer carefully. “You know, I may have a great match for him.”
“Keep our clients away from him,” I say sternly. “We have a reputation to maintain.”
“I heard that!” Elmer says, finally breaking his gaze through the window.
“Okay, I’m in the middle of date planning. Fantastic meeting you, Bennett, or should I say B.O.B.?” Alisha says, winking at me before heading back to the office.
Bennett laughs as heat rises in my cheeks. “So you’re telling people about me?” He takes a step closer.
I avoid making eye contact with him. It never ends well. “She helped me solidify the details of your date with Harper. She deserved context,” I explain in a professional tone.
“I’ll accept that,” Bennett says.
“Clearly you’re talking about me, too, but not in a good way,” I say, nodding toward Elmer.
Bennett smiles, one corner of his mouth pulled higher. It’s infuriating. “I save my best words for talking about you.”
Internally, I roll my eyes and smile unconvincingly. After everything I learned today, he almost feels like a stranger. But then I think about the past few weeks and I’ve never felt closer to anyone.
“Hey, I don’t know if you got the email about the Halloween party ZodiaCupid is hosting on Saturday for all beta testers, but I’d love for you to be there,” Bennett says. “Would that be weird?”
“I’ll have to look at my calendar,” I say coldly. I’m not in the mood to run into other women he might be going out on dates with. Somewhere along the way, we became too friendly. Lunar Love and ZodiaCupid are not friends. An alarm of panic rings through me when I remember that I agreed to call off our bet in a moment of passion. From now on, I need to only make important deals on solid ground.
“I really hope you’ll be there. It’s come-as-your-animal-sign.”
“Cute,” I say, unsmiling.
He leans over. “Is everything okay?”
I put on a happy face. “Fine. Everything’s fine.”
I gave up press, potential clients, and proving Lunar Love’s efficacy for what? So that I could freely kiss my competitor? Was everything just an elaborate ruse? Worse, did I fall for it? He did work with Harper to manipulate the situation. To date me. So that he could prove me wrong? I don’t know what to think or believe anymore. Especially now that Bennett is here in front of me, shopping for buildings—including ours—for his copycat business. But hey, I’m totally fine.
“Alrighty!” Carol sings from the end of the pathway. “Thanks a billion, Olivia. We’ll be in touch.”
“Nope,” I call out after her.
“This is a fine place you got here,” Elmer says. “Maybe I saw some documents through the window, maybe I didn’t.”
“Sorry again,” Bennett mouths. “I hope I see you soon.”
I walk him to the edge of the welcome mat. “We’ll see. And do me a favor and remind Carol that we are not for sale,” I say, accentuating every last word.
I unconsciously slam the door shut, rattling a framed photo on the wall of me, Pó Po, and Auntie outside of Lucky Monkey Bakery. Our arms are wrapped around each other, and we’re laughing. We all look so young, so happy, so innocent.
Chapter 19
I’m greeted on Saturday afternoon with a delivery to my apartment. I open the box to reveal a spooky chocolate cake for Halloween and a card with the words “No tricks here, just treats. Sorry for showing up on your pink doorstep like that. Hope to see you tonight. —Bennett.”
I break off one of the chocolate gravestones and let it melt in my mouth. It’s possible I’m being irrational about him influencing me, but I can’t risk being hurt again. It’s like Mom says, “Evidence is what matters, not speculation.” As much as I don’t want to go to the party, I need to know the truth.
Several hours later, I follow signs for ZodiaCupid’s Halloween party and take the elevator up to the rooftop. With sweeping views of downtown LA and a glowing blue moon as the backdrop, the hunched plastic skeletons and spider-filled cobwebs strung throughout the space look spooky in a fun way.