Page 7 of Saving the CEO

“I’m afraid not. But if you find one, let me know. In the meantime, you’re going to have to learn how to get along with Mr. Drama King. Especially if you want to keep both of your eyebrows. You know how competitive Amber and Capri are,” she added, referring to their older sisters. “I bet they’re cold-calling all the single execs they can find at Facebook and Google.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Her sisters were all gifted in ways she wasn’t. Amber was a literal genius with multiple patents to her name. Capri had been a competitive swimmer during college and had qualified for the Olympics. Emerald had been winning beauty pageants since she was a kid. Being at the top was in their blood. Scarlett couldn’t follow in their footsteps even if she tried. But at least she was one step ahead of them for once in her life. “What about you, Em? Do you have any prospects?”

“I’m interviewing one this morning. She’s a CEO at a start-up, but she seems to have a good work-life balance. She’s super sweet and ready to settle down.” She tapped a red fingernail against her lower lip. “You know what I’m thinking?”

Scarlett caught on to the sparkle in her sister’s blue eyes. “You want to see if your client is a good fit for my client?”

“Bingo! Let’s touch base later today and go over their profiles together.”

“Sounds good.”

“Cool. I gotta run, but I’ll catch you later, Red.”

With a quick wave, Emerald shut the door behind her as she left. Scarlett twisted in her seat as she looked around her office. The simple, white decor that her mother had insisted on for all the individual offices contrasted greatly with her bright pink suit. It was one of those days when she’d started out wearing neutral hues but had changed to something with a pop of color. She’d needed a shift in her perspective to jumpstart her mood. That and a large mug of chai tea latte and her favorite lemon scone. She needed all the help she could get to find her client a match.

Their company database housed a couple hundred profiles of male and female clients from throughout the Bay Area. Not surprisingly, there were more of the former, men in their late thirties to early fifties who had been too invested in their work to date. Each person had to fill out a five-page questionnaire when they started, then go through an in-depth interview before being matched. Bekah’s brother had sent her his answers early this morning. Scarlett had about an hour to review them before they were scheduled to meet in person.

She pulled up his form on the computer and began skimming the first page. Her eyes widened as she scrolled through the questions addressing different areas of his life and his preferences. Pithy one-liners filled each section.

For lifestyle, he’d writtenbusy.

Under family values, he’d answeredstrong.

And for communication style, he’d saidclear.

The details she needed were nowhere to be found. Did he expect her to read his mind?

Too impatient to wait for their appointed time, she grabbed her phone and dialed his cell phone number.

A gruff, masculine voice answered after the fourth ring. “Hello?”

“Mr. Kendall, this is Scarlett Hayes.”

“Who?”

“Scarlett Hayes, your matchmaker, Bekah’s friend. We met yesterday at lunch.”

“Right, Ms. Hayes. Isn’t our meeting scheduled for later this morning?”

“Yes, I know we’re on for nine thirty, but I’m calling you now because I just reviewed the questionnaire you sent back to me, and I noticed a lot of spaces were left blank.”

“And?”

“And that doesn’t give me much to work with. If I’m to find you an appropriate match, I need to understand you better. I need more information.”

“How much more information?”

“It doesn’t have to be an essay, but I would appreciate at least half a page for each question. That’s how much my other clients have written.”

“Here’s the thing—I’m not like your other clients. My schedule is packed from morning till night. That’s why I signed up for your services in the first place: because I don’t have time to date, much less fill out a five-page questionnaire.”

“I understand you’re busy, but—”

“How many CEOs have you worked with, Ms. Hayes?”

There he was questioning her expertise again. She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Why was he being so difficult? Her sister was right when she’d called Devin Kendall a drama king. It was quite appropriate how his initials were D.K. as well. She inhaled deeply and prayed for patience. “Why does it matter? I’ve had plenty of experience working with people in all types of careers.”

“The difference is that I have a company to run and thousands of employees under my care. I cannot afford to spend my time on trivial matters.”

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