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1
Summer
“A boss a day keeps bankruptcy away,” my aunt says. She’s perched on the edge of my desk with a wide smile on her face. “Isn’t that what we’ve always said? And Anthony Winter is the biggest boss of them all!”
“Yes, but he’s not signing on as a high-paying client. He’s our new owner.”
“No,” Vivienne corrects me.“Co-owner.”
“With a fifty-one percent stake.”
“Still an important distinction.” She walks to the gilded mirror in the corner of my office, one of two at Opate Match. We’re small, but we deliver love to New York’s elite. Started by Vivienne Davis twenty-five years ago.
Now sold by Vivienne Davis, two days ago.
And she doesn’t seem the least bit concerned the venture capitalists she’s sold it to will dismantle us.
I try a different route. “It’s your life’s work.”
“Yes,” she agrees, fixing her lipstick in the mirror. Re-arranging her honey-wheat hair, styled into shoulder-length curls. “But we’ve been close to bankruptcy for years. I hate that word. After today, let’s never use it again.”
“We have plenty of clients.”
“Not enough, Summer. You’re worrying, darling, and it’ll give you wrinkles if you’re not careful.”
I sigh. Ace lifts his golden head from the floor at the sound and flicks his ears, attuned to my moods. “I wish I could be as happy about this as you are. I know it’s a good thing, it’s just… well, there will be changes.”
“Dear, I’m the one who should worry, not you!”
“I know, I know.”
“They’re not allowed to fire any employees in the first three years, I made them put that into the contract. You’ll meet Mr. Winter when he drops by the office tomorrow. He’s the serious, grumpy type. Definitely committed to turning our numbers around.” She gives a small laugh. “In truth, I think our ability to turn a profit is the only reason he’s willing to stand me.”
I meet her smile with one of my own. My aunt is an excellent judge of character. “He’s too good for a matchmaking company?”
“He thinks he is,” she says. “We’ll see about that. But I don’t doubt his commitment to turning this ship right side up. We need some business savvy, Summer, and we need their capital.”
I sigh. “Yeah, you’re right. I look forward to meeting him tomorrow.”
“Good.” She puts her vintage handbag over her shoulder and gives me a winning smile. “I have to head out for lunch, or risk keeping the Walters waiting even longer. Did you hear they’re celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary this summer?”
“I did, yes. That’s fantastic.”
“One of my triumphs. Suzy is out of the office too, had to run some errands. You’ll take a break, won’t you, darling?”
“Yes, I will. Ace and I will hit the park for lunch.”
“That’s a good dog,” she says, patting Ace’s head on the way out. “How about we have lunch at Olive next week? It’s been a while.”
“I’d love that,” I say.
“Then it’s a date,” she says, smiling. There’s the sound of heels on hardwood and then the decisive snap of our front door closing.
I lean back in my office chair and look down at Ace. My golden retriever looks back at me.
“Opate Match,” I tell him. “Sold, like a piece of furniture. To a venture capitalist.”
He cocks his head like only a dog can, as if he’s trying to solve a puzzle. But this is one I don’t have the answer to. Opate is Vivienne’s pride and joy. She’s poured her sweat, blood and tears into making it work for decades.
