Lunar Love (24)

Harper nods, her gold hoop earrings jiggling back and forth. “I like the sound of all of that!”

“Based on your birth year, your sign’s fixed element is Earth. As an Earth Dragon, this makes you stable and fair. And mixed with what I know about you so far, you seem to work hard on self-development, but sometimes you feel the need to control your environment and other people. Does this sound like you at all?”

Harper laughs and nods with a shrug. “Incredible.”

“I tell you this just so you’re more aware of yourself. As we get to know each other better, I’ll have a better sense of what traits you personify,” I explain. “This knowledge tends to come in handy when relationships are developing because Earth, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Water are elements that all react to one another. Once you go on a date, we can get into specifics so that it makes more sense in context.”

“How long until you find me my first match?” Harper asks.

“Because of the specificity of traits and preferences, there’s no way to put a timeline on it. We’re not as fast as ZodiaCupid, but I’ll get to work today and will keep you updated along the way.”

“Exciting! So, I’m curious,” Harper says, leaning in closer to me. “Do you have a special someone? You must know right away when a person would be good for you or what to look for in a partner.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Me? No! There’s no one. No, I…no. It’s not as clear-cut for me,” I say. “It’s more difficult to find someone compatible in the right ways than you’d think, especially when it’s for yourself.”

Harper watches on amused as I dance around her answer. “Sounds like the matchmaker needs a matchmaker,” she says.

I laugh. “I’ve got plenty of those in my life. Besides, I prefer to focus on my clients, like you. My time and energy are focused on finding you someone compatible.”

Harper waves her hand in front of her. “I was only wondering! It’s incredible how dedicated you are. This is going to be so fun. I can’t wait to see who you’ll find.”





Chapter 7





On Friday morning, I exhale a deep sigh of relief. I survived the very first week, which is saying a lot, all things considered. I start working my way through emails when a new one materializes at the top.

Hello Olivia,

I have to cancel our session today. Work is keeping me busy these days, and I have to focus on that for now. I’d also like to suspend further sessions until my schedule clears up. Apologies for the last-minute notice.

Regards,

Greg



Damn Greg using “Regards” like we’re colleagues in a corporate setting. I’ve known the man for a year! I even helped him decide between festive ties for his company’s holiday party!

This is the third cancellation this week. I want to revel in a successful onboarding session with Harper, but we need more sign-ups. The tug-of-war on my emotions won’t end.

On the edge of my desk, Lunar Love’s planner is filled with crossed-out sessions. Auntie preferred not to rely on technology for appointments so we would all mark our meetings on the designated planner. Alisha and I now track our client sessions digitally, but we’re still in the habit of maintaining the paper calendar. Updating our client management system is yet another thing to add to my to-do list.

I cross out Greg’s session, adding one more tally to the series of recent cancellations. I refuse to let this moonquake shake me. My mind drifts off to what I’m going to stress-bake tonight. Something fudgy.

Needing a change of scenery and a more productive distraction, I decide that the only thing that can make me feel better right now is a Singles Scouting. When I first started working at Lunar Love, I learned about the lengths Pó Po would go to find clients love. She could talk her way into and out of anything and everything. She once secured two invites to the members-only magician clubhouse, The Magic Castle, for her clients who were obsessed with magic by obtaining and calling the entire list of magicians who were set to perform that month. She offered dating services in exchange. All but one magician thought it was an illusion, and Pó Po got her clients in. It was happy ever after for all parties involved, including the magician.

Stories like that have inspired me to be more hands-on, not only with creating unique dates but also in finding the matches themselves. Ideally, we’re pairing Lunar Love clients together, but if we don’t have someone already in our database who might be a good match for a particular client, I go out and actively find them myself. There have been a lot of laughably awkward encounters at yoga classes, movie theaters, and parks, but I do it for love. For every ten who say no, there’s one who says yes. I just need a yes from the right person.

As I walk down the sidewalk in downtown LA, I habitually check my phone for new emails and tap into a link from a Google Alerts email to see what’s happening with ZodiaCupid. Looks like there’s action in the press. New articles surface about the company hoping to raise funding from investors.

“We’re looking to raise a small seed round,” says founder Bennett O’Brien. “We’ll be pitching at Pitch IRL in November.” O’Brien says that the funding will be used to double its design and engineering teams and to expand their marketing efforts. With a rollout strategy already in place, he plans to dominate a few markets and hone their messaging. “We’re offering a service in the market that wasn’t being met,” O’Brien says. “Our users are looking for relationships that work best for their personalities. It’s based on a system that’s been around for over two thousand years. We’re rethinking online dating and adding a new level of interest. Lots to come, so I hope you’ll stick around!”