Spewing hype about a company she had never heard of galled Bailey to the point of nausea, but she was a consummate professional. The Lori Laker trademarked serene smile never once slipped from her face. And then, the program switched to a question and answer session with Ren Wei, better known as her prey of the day.
"Thank you for joining us here today, Mr. Wei. How does it feel to be viewed by these strong, intelligent women eagerly awaiting your incite into how men view matchmaking services?"
"Thank you for having me, Ms. Laker. I'm not sure how useful my comments will be to your viewers, but I'll be happy to share my honest opinions."
"Oh, really? So you admit that women should be led by the opinions of men?"
"I didn't exactly say that." Ren straightened the knot on his tie and looked to the director for guidance.
"Don't look over there, Mr. Wei. The world is looking to you for enlightenment."
"What was the question again?"
"Come now, Mr. Wei. You are the personal assistant to one of the most renowned businessmen in the world. I can't believe your attention span is so short. Well, never mind. I'll repeat my question." Bailey motioned for an assistant to bring her a pen and paper. "I'll even write it out for you. Aren't men, by and large, visual creatures known for choosing a mate based on aesthetics rather than compatibility? I'll give you a visual of my question."
Bailey quickly scribbled on the paper. I demand a meeting with the CEO within twenty-four hours. She held the notebook up to Ren Wei, who looked even more confused than before.
"Do you understand now, Mr. Wei?"
"Not really, but let me try." Ren blew out a breath and addressed the camera. "Indirectly, yes, I think women should be led by the opinions of men, not because men are always right but because knowing your competition is the first step to formulating a logical response, one that should theoretically benefit both parties."
"Ah, so you've followed my program and understand the dynamics of male/female relationships and how basic business management principles can be applied to personal matters. I applaud you for doing your homework. Now let me do mine."
Ren nodded.
"Sir, have you ever utilized a matchmaking service?"
"No."
"Have you ever used an online dating app?"
"No."
"Mr. Wei, I'm not understanding where your expertise comes from in order to speak on this topic. Did the CEO just run out of duties for you today? Or did you lose a bet?"
"Pardon me?"
"Well, you've just admitted you have no first-hand experience with matchmaking, yet you expect my followers to waste their precious time listening to you babble on about what? The marketing data that was passed on to you by some four-eyed geek who's never even dated?" Bailey leaned forward for the kill as Ren pushed wire-rimmed Harry Potter glasses up on his nose. "Have either you or your boss ever dated? I mean truly dated, not a hookup or an arrangement for a dinner companion but a true date with the intent of building a lasting relationship? Do you ever intend to?"
"Well, I—" Ren sought answers from the back of the studio as panic paled him.
Bailey hid a smirk by looking down to a clean page in the notebook and writing a new note. He's here, isn't he?
Turning the notebook in Ren's direction, she continued, "I'll take that as a no. Are you also speaking for CEO Meadows, or is he man enough to step forward and speak for himself?"
And then she spotted the man Ren kept looking to for answers. Tall, wearing a tailored black suit over a red dress shirt, Chase Meadows was unmistakable even behind the black face mask and a Dallas Cowboys baseball cap. With a nod and a touch to the brim of his cap, Chase acknowledged Bailey spotting him before exiting the studio.
Coward. Sacrificing his subordinate without as much as a backward glance.
Bailey narrowed her eyes with contempt. One day he would have to face her and not through lawyers or Judy or Ren Wei. He contracted her to play a part and increase market share, not to hawk whatever new product or service he threw her way. At the very least, it should be a collaborative decision as to what best suited her format and viewer base. He should know she wasn't just some pretty face. She was educated and had been in the industry her entire adult life.
His way could ruin her reputation as carelessly as a smoker tossing a cigarette butt. While she hated her role as Lori Laker, Bailey loathed the idea of destroying what she had worked with Judy for so many years to create.
"Mr. Wei, out of curiosity, as someone who has never utilized a matchmaker, exactly what is your opinion of using a third party who spends less time getting to know you than they do in buying a car to help you make a lifetime commitment? Would you ever in your wildest dreams enter into a business partnership based on the analysis of an outside party without doing the research yourself?"
"I…I…I don't think enlisting a matchmaker means you have to marry the first person they introduce you to. Based on interviews with the service, it is a starting place, not an ending." Sweat was glistening on Ren's forehead, and he took out a handkerchief and dabbed at his brow. "It's really hot in here, isn't it?"
Bailey didn't miss the tremor in his hand. She knew she could break this man, but what confused her was how someone in his position was falling apart so easily. Ren had to be accustomed to dealing with powerful CEOs and working deals worth billions. The man he worked for was known as The Demon CEO. Working for someone like that must mean living under constant pressure. Her little show should have been a vacation compared to that. Then again, she wasn't sure why someone of his status was paying attention to her show anyway. And how high could the matchmaking service's profits be to garner executive-level attention from the home office?
"Okay, okay, let's say you're right. What qualifications would you look for in a potential mate, provided you ever found anyone to go out with you?"
Bailey wondered when someone would remember this wasn't a live broadcast and stop her for a reboot. She dared them to try. If she stopped now, she was walking out. Judy could take her place. They could cancel the episode. Honestly, what she really wanted—no, needed—was a long hiatus.
"Well, I guess I want someone pretty, with a good personality, and I'd like to have something in common with her. It would be good if she were clean and tolerant of my work schedule." Ren's voice picked up strength as if he'd never really given it much thought, but now that he had, he was committed to seeing it through. "I'd like to fall in love and be there for her when she needed me and to know she would be there for me when I needed her."
He seemed to have forgotten anyone was listening. "I'd like her to have soft skin and silky hair, and it would be good if she got along with my mother. Since my father died, I'm her only family. Whoever I marry has to understand that I will always be there for my mother no matter what. I don't care if she's wealthy or movie-star beautiful. Children are negotiable, especially with my medical history, and I'll support her as a career woman or a housewife.
"I won't tolerate smokers, liars, cheaters. She can be American, Chinese, Icelandic, or any other ethnicity under the sun as long as she is tolerant of the beliefs of others. Oh, and I'd like someone who isn't super political. I have little patience for important men sitting on a hill making decisions for the common man."
And then Ren's eyes focused on Bailey with the intensity of a thousand candles. "And lastly, I want a woman who doesn't treat guests like her enemy, Ms. Laker. So, if we're done here, I'll return to my office and the CEO who pays your salary to discuss the future of The Happy Homemaker, since it's obvious you don't plan to cooperate with us in the future."
Bailey made the innocent sad face that had gotten her through many dates without ever having to commit to a second one. "Aw, did I ruffle someone's feathers? So sorry. Perhaps you should give me a month off without pay to reflect on my sins."
She silently prayed for him to do exactly that. Judy would never agree to a month off. She never had in all these years, but she couldn't argue with a forced hiatus. Bailey was already making plans for what she would do during her time off. Hiking in Colorado, catching up on her reading list, leveling a new character in World of Warcraft, and eating. She missed eating whatever she wanted the most. Judy had her on such a restricted diet that some days, Bailey wondered if she would make it through the day without passing out.
If this worked out, Bailey was willing to personally and professionally promote the matchmaking service to all her friends and followers wholeheartedly out of gratitude.