I caught the tail end of the interview. It was a slow morning in the diner, it had been raining for days, which had kept most the costumers away. I poured some coffee and looked up at the TV. It was some morning show. They were talking to the tech billionaire Bennett Carver. Apparently he'd made some new matchmaking app.
"Usually dating apps prioritize women, but your new matchmaking app makes men the main focus. Can you tell me more about that?" asked the female interviewer. I think her name was Judy Daring or Darling. She had been a child actor that became a popular news anchor. Personally I was never a fan. She always wore her hair in a high pony tail and had this smug look on her face, like she owned every room she was in and everyone was beneath her. It didn't seem very darling to me.
I watched as she batted her eyes and flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. It was clear she was interested in Bennett. To be fair he was rather handsome, muscular with defined features, well fitting suits and those ice blue eyes of his were gorgeous. He was hot right now. I think he'd become one of the richest men in the world recenly...top ten maybe. Considering he'd started with nothing it was kind of cool.
They said he never forgot his roots. His inventions had started in a humble place with just wanting to improve the lives of those around him and had expanded into a billion dollar empire. He didn't often give interviews and seem to have no interest in the lime light. Every time I saw him on TV he'd get this bored expression on his face at one point, like there was always somewhere better he could be or something more important he could be doing with his time.
He gave Judy a soft smile, like he was humoring her and responded to her question. "Yes, not everyone is going to like my response, but men honestly know what they want. They don't play games. On our app they make choices, actual decisions and we match them to the best partner that meets both their needs. If they are looking for something casual that is what they'll get, but if they are looking for the real deal, end game final boss, that is what they will get"
"So men get what they want, but women don't?" asked Judy, giving him a sly smile
He looked up and there was that bored expression, the get me out of here look. He looked off to the side then back at her, "As I said we match them to the best partner that meets both their needs."
"Yes, but only the men get access to full accounts. Women essentially fill out a survey. While men get all the bells and whistles, tests, gallery, compatibility charts and detailed requests. I hear women can't even contact the men on your app."
"They can not, they are simply informed if a match is made."
"Because they don't know what they want?" said Judy.
"Yesss," he hissed, looking at her like she was stupid.
She rolled her eyes at him, "You realize your alienating half the population. You're not really selling your app here."
"I don't believe so,"
"Saying women don't know what they want. How is that not an insult."
"Numbers don't lie, Judy. We've done extensive research and women often lie to others and themselves. Sometimes intentionally, but more often then not unintentionally. They often times don't know how to express what they truly want or are to hard set on standards that were set for them at a young age. More often then not they try to conform, changing themselves or other to make things work, which does not work. What my app does is take cold hard facts. It takes people who know what they want and gives them results."
"Results...Love."
"As close to it as you can get."
"My you are confident. Just how close is that?"
"We have a ninty-eight percent accuracy rate."
"Hmp, well I have someone on our show today that is a hundred percent accurate."
"That is not possible." Bennett said before he took a sip of his coffee.
"Anything is possible," said Judy, "At least that is what our next guest believes. Please welcome the Love Guru Mua(Mwah)."
The crowd lit up with applause as I put the coffee pot down on the warmer and a man in orange robes stepped onto the stage. I could see Bennett was not at all impressed. I'd actually heard of Mua. A cousin of mine wanted to try him but he was suppose to be hard to get. Apparently from a single touch he could find your soulmate.
Mua bowed to the audience and then Judy and Bennett before he sat down on the other side of Judy. Bennett looked at his watch and then to someone off screen, he looked put out as he sat there. He really needed to work on his charisma.
"Thank you for making a special appearance Mua."
"Always Judy,"
"Now Mr. Bennett do you think you're new app is better then Mua here."
"Absolutely." he said.
"I heard you were the first person to make an account on your app."
"Yes,"
"Yet you've yet to find a match. Shocking right ladies," Laughter filled the room.
"It will happen."
"Right or we could have the Guru touch you right now and know who your other half is,"
"I don't believe in such things,"
"You don't need to said Mua."
"Now how does this work. How are you able to finds someone soulmate."
"I simply read their souls and am able to see the connection. Think of it like two souls attached with a red string. I simply see the string and follow it to their other half."
"You must have good vision. 20/20 don't cut it right," said Judy.
"It is a gift, born to my family through a millennia of generations."
"Well then let's see is Mua better then your so called app, Mr. Carver."
Judy looked to Bennett and it was clear he did not want to be touched. A man, who I assumed was his bodyguard suddenly stepped onto the stage but Mr. Carver raised his hand, "As I said I do not believe in such things and thus have no interest in whatever he has to say."
"If you let him touch you and he doesn't find your other half. I'll sign up for your app and give you an endorsement right here and now."
The bodyuard grimaced and Bennett sighed. I hadn't realized he'd been wearing leather gloves. He took one off and reached out his hand. Mua smiled confidently and nodded his head. He reached out both hands and took his hand. I was glued to the TV as was Griffon a regular who was at the count. "Do you believe this shit."
"No," I said "But wouldn't it be nice,"
Griffon laughed.
I watched as Mua got a sort of dazed look on his face. He looked far off, his face was blank at first but then as the camera zoomed in on him I watched his eyebrows furrow and his faced turned to one of uttered cocern and then horror. He pulled away like he was touching flames and he looked like he might be crying. Judy looked at him then back at Bennett, who simply raised an eyebrow. The bodyguard came over and sprayed something, I assume sanitizer into his hand and rubbed it over Bennett's hand.
Mau sough to recover and Judy turned to him, "Well"
Mau spoke as if he'd swallowed poison, "You...YOU LOVE ONLY YOURSELF." Mau got up then and rushed from the room as fast as he can. Judy sat there and turned to Bennett, who was not impressed at all.
"Well," said Judy looking at the camera, "I guess I'm signing up for the app. You should check it out it'-
Someone turned the channel to soccer, "Get that crap off,"
I took a few orders, delivered some food, rang up a costumer then set up a new pot of coffee. It started to thunder outside and the power flickered for a second. "If the power goes out you think they'll let me go home sooner," I said more to myself then anyone else.
"When you start?" asked Griffon
"Four," I said, "I don't get out of her until noon or one,"
"Hmm," said Griffon finishing up his coffee.
"You want another,"
"I should get going,"
"It's hot, fresh. How often can I say that,"
"Ehh," he nodded and I grabbed the pot. He lifted his cup but before I could pour the door opened and I saw orange flowing robes. It was the guy from the show, Mau. I paused surprised to see him here. Griffon turned and raised an eyebrow. Mau scanned the room and rushed over to me.
"I am so sorry. Had I known, but I couldn't know until I knew. I am so sorry,"
"What," I said.
"We don't have long. It was always going to happen but I've spent things up. I can not save you from him, from what is going to happen but you must at least let me help you."
"Help me," I said confused.
"I can find the one….the one who stands in his way, your love, your soulmate,"
"This has to be some sort of joke right. Did my cousin put you up to this,"
"No," he said then reached out and touched me.
"Hey buddy," said Griffon he got up and pulled his hand off mine and pushed him back.
Mau stumbled and then looked overjoyed. "You….YOU ALREADY FOUND EACH OTHER. JOYOUS DAY!.
He reach out for Griffon and then my hand, "You two are soulmates. You must go now. Leave together get as far away from here as you can. You might be able to buy yourself some time before….
The entire dinner began to madly rumble. The plates, glasses, tables and chairs all lightly shook. At first I thought it was an earthquake! Then I realized it was a helicopter, possibly several helicopters! I saw a spot light shining outside the dinner. A second later several black cars pulled up and blocked the street making room for the helicopter to land, right outside the dinner. I dropped my jaw never having seen something like this.
Griffon pulled us both back and Mau looked horrified, "It's too late. You must go! GO!"
I watched a man get out of the helicopter with sunglasses and a long trench coat. He had a bodyguard that was less then a step behind them. I recognized him from the morning show alone with, Judy Darling. She jumped out and rushed after them. I stumbled back and dropped the pot of coffee. I don't know why but I was suddenly filled with dread at sight of them.
I looked to Griffon. He looked down at the broken coffee shop, then out the window and finally at me. I felt like I was dreaming or having some sort of nightmare. What was going on here. "GO!" Mua, cried. "GO!"
Griffon grabbed my hand and a second later we were running out the back of the dinner. We rushed into the alley and saw cars were blocking either end. My heart raced. I didn't even know why we were running only that we should. Only that every single fiber in my being told me to get out of here. I thought we were trapped but Griffon found a fire escape ladder. He jumped and caught it pulling it down. Without a word he lifted me up to it and I grasped hold. The metal was wet and it was coming down hard. I climbed and then got to some stairs. I went up and up, round and round. Griffon wasn't far behind me and we got to the roof top. We heard radios and shouting as men burst through the backdoor of the dinner.
We rushed across the roof top and jumped to the next and then the next. We found another ladder and cimbed down. We got into another ally way as the helicopers came after us and car men we ran, our feet pounding on the wet cement my heart had never beat so fast and I had never held on to anyones hand the way I did Griffon.
"What are we doing?" I cried.
"I don't know," He called back. "We just have to keep moving."
We kept going...runnning as fast as we could. After a few blocks, we looked back and he pulled me into his arms. We saw they were still hot on our heels. "The police," said Griffon.
"The police," I repeated.
We rushed to the nearby police station that was only a block or two away. We went inside and Griffon quickly said, "We need your help, some guy is after us and he's got like an army."
The police officer at the counter looked at us and Griffon pointed, "You hear the helicopter that's them."
Several officers went outside and a second later they were calling it in. Half a dozen police officers rushed outside and met with Bennett Carver. The police officer behind the counter had someone take us into another room with some blanket and coffee. My hands were shaking, from where we were sitting the door was open and I saw him come in followed by several of his men he looked around the room dripping with water.
An officer shut the door and it was just Griffon and me.
"Do you know what is going on," he asked.
"Not a fucking clue," I said. "I was watching that interview and then all that. Are we dreaming."
"No," he said.
"Then what? Did he just run off the set and into my diner,"
"No," said Griffon, "They film those things sometimes days in advance. It could have even been from weeks ago,"
"Okay that makes more sense, cause I was like what were they all just rushing over from the show."
"Yeah," he said, "I'm sure the police will find out what this is about."
A few minutes later there was a knock. An officer came in and sat down, "We've had a talk, the people pursuing you are with Mr. Bennett Carver. Have you heard of him."
"I have but what does he want?"
"To talk,"
"To? Me or Griffon."
"You," said the police officer, "Eileen."
"I don't understand. Why would he want to talk to me."
He said he came explain.
"We want an explanation now," said Griffon. "You don't have a dozen men, cars and a helicopter for no reason other then to chat,"
"Yes, well he said he'll only talk with her. Do you want to talk to him,"
"I don't know. No," I said, "Unless he tells me what this is about I'd just like him to leave me alone,"
"Okay," said the officer they left and Griffon and I looked at each other like this was insane.
We sat there for another few minutes. The officer came back, "Would you be interested in talking to Judy Darling."
"What," I said with a nervous laugh. "Again for what purpose."
"She's on TV," said the officer.
"That's great," said Griffon, "But what we want is answers."
"Okay," said the officer. They left then came back. She says its about the dating app, Dormant
"Dormant?" I said confused.
"That's what he called it," said Griffon. He laughed. Nether of us had heard the name before.
"What about it," I asked.
"If you want she cane explain." I looked to Griffon then nodded.
A second later there she was, with her high ponytail and a purple jumpsuit. "Hello there Eileen is it, I'm Judy Darling."
"Nice to meet you," I said. "Can you explain what this is about,"
"Yes, could you possibly fill out this dating app survey."
Griffon burst into laughter like, maddening laughter, "All of this is so she'll fill out that guys new dating app. The one that shits on women."
"It doesn't shit on women," said Judy, "I've actually tried it and its wonderful. Eye opening. We simply want to see if you're a match to anyone,"
"Not anyone," I said narrowing my gaze at her, "Mr. Carver."
She laughed, "No,"
"Is this some sort of marketing ploy or something. Pick a girl at random make her sign up."
"No," she said.
"Does this have to do with what Mua saw?" I asked.
"Did he tell you," she looked at me rather suspiciously.
"Yeah," said Griffon.
"No,"I said. I held up my hand. "I don't want to fill our your app. I don't want to talk to Mr. Carver. I want him and you to leave me alone."
She did not look happy, "It would take you five seconds."
"No,"
"You could be compensated."
"No, means no," said Griffon. "She's not interested."
"Who are you, her boyfriend." said Judy like the title was rinky-dink.
"Her soulmate, I'll have you know," said Griffon, He could barely keep a straight face, which made me burst into laughter but now was not the time. "Stop."
Judy looked at us like we were insects. "I don't see what's so funny. This isn't a big deal. Most people would kill to be in your position."
"And what position is that.
"To be considered at all," said Judy.
"Right, well no thank you." I said. "I'm not interested, after the shit he pulled."
"He might have gotten a bit overzealous."
"Overzealous," said Griffon. "For a second there I felt like we were on the most wanted list. That isn't overzealous that is crazy as shit"
She scowled at Griffon but said, "Fine, you had your chance."
She walked out and a second later the police came back. "They're leaving."
"Good," I said, "That was insane."
Griffon nodded, 'What do you want to do now."
"Well my shift is over, I should probably call Angus, my boss. I used the phone and he wasn't mad but worried. He told me he'd see me tomorrow. After that Griffon walked me home. I didn't need him to but it felt kind of weird after running like that. "Thanks I said when we got to my door.
"For," said Griffon.
"Getting me out of there. I honestly don't get what that was about,"
"Money makes some people crazy," he said. "I better get home, "I got an early shift the docks tomorrow."
"Will I see you at the diner?"
"You know it," he said.
"Well night,"
"Night," I said.
He smiled at me and I smiled back at him. I shut and locked my door then watched him leave from my window. I thought about what Mau said and everything that had happened. It felt like a lot. I couldn't help but wonder what Bennett Carver was thinking. I watched the news later that night and we were on it. They weren't sure what was going on, some disruption or other. I took a hot bath and had a bowl of ice cream to wind down, then turned in before the sun went down. It was raining again. I swear it was never going to stop. I ate breakfast and got dressed for work like I normally did.
I walked back to work and the dinner was dark, which was usually. It was a twenty four hour diner and the lights were usually always on. I checked the front door and it was unlocked I think I saw some light back on in the kitchen. Maybe Angus had shut things down.
I hung up my coat on the rack and called out, "Angus, you back there, everything okay?"
All the lights in the diner turned on and I suddenly saw two men were there. I recognized Bennett Carver at once and his bodyguard. I swallowed and took a step back, suddenly several men appeared out of nowhere and blocked the front door.
"We should talk, Eileen." said Bennett.
"I told Judy I'm not filling out that app,"
"You don't need to," said Bennett.
He took his sunglasses off. "I don't need an app to tell me who you are."
"Okay," I said, "So what do you want?"
"Everything," he said, "The rest of your life,"
My heart skipped a beat. "The rest of my life!"
He pulled something out of his pocket and place it on the table, "Marry me."
"WHAT!" I said, I scoffed then chuckled like this dude was off his rocker, because he was.
He looked at me and I saw them then, dark circles under his eyes. They hadn't been there in his interview, but it was clear he hadn't slept in days.
"I know what I want." he said "And it's you."
"Me." I said and I sat down at the nearest chair I could find, "You don't know me."
"I know enough, the rest will come with time. Oh say, the rest of our lives,"
I didn't find him funny. "No offense, but this isn't how you do things."
"I can't afford to do things the normal way." he said. "Not anymore."
"Yeah, well, there is the right way and the wrong way and this is the wrong way!"
"In time you will understand," He said, "In a few hours the world will know who you are and there will be no turning back. It will be easier for everyone involved, if you simply accept my decision. Now then shall we," he said, getting up.
"Shall we what?" I asked.
I heard it a second later, then felt it. The shaking of glasses, tables and chairs. The helicopter was back! It was so early in the morning that the spotlight, lit up the dark streets as it came down. I stood up, thinking this was insane! "I'm not going anywhere with you!"
"From this moment on, you will go wherever I desire." He said, offering me the small box. I hit it out of his hand and it fell to the floor.
"I wont. You don't own me!"
"You are mine," he said. "From the moment I saw your picture. I understood that."
The guy was delusional as fuck. "My picture."
I looked at him and his eyes were blazing. "I have never been more certain than anything in my entire life. You will be my wife, the love of my life."
I looked at him completely taken aback. His bodyguard grabbed the ring box and Bennett grabbed me. His ice blue eyes were unwavering. I could see he'd made a decision, and given the interview I'd saw, he no doubt thought I didn't know what I wanted, but I did! I wanted nothing to do with him!
I slap him and his head went to the side. He recovered, then slapped me right back. My head whipped to the side and I nearly fell over. I looked back at him and he ran his hand over his mouth before he leaned in and kissed me. It hard and unexpected! He pushed his tongue into my mouth and something else! Medication! I tried to get free of him, but he practically put his tongue down my throat giving it to me.
I tried to spit it out, when he pulled back, but it was too far gone. I coughed and sputtered, "What did you give me?"
"Something to easy your mind, and make this transition smoother."
"Transition. THIS IS KIDNAPPING!" I protested as he dragged me to the front door.
I knew I should throw up before whatever he gave me took affect, but I struggled to get free of him. He wrapped his arms around me and began carrying me. I kicked, scratched and yelled as we got closer to the helicopter. I could feel the wind in my hair and on my skin. I was filled with terror!
Bennett grew annoyed and handed me off to his bodyguard, who covered my mouth with his hand and pinned my wrists behind me. He zip tied them, then carried me up to the helicopter. I heard muffled shouting over the propellers, then the radios went off. I was forced onto the helicopter and buckled into one of the seats. I kept kicking and screamed, when the bodyguard took his hand off my mouth. My eyes filled with tears and I saw something going on outside. Men were fighting! I caught sight of them being taken down one after another by one guy. Griffon! He'd come early! He must have come to check on me! He was fighting off the other men and we made eye contact for a second before the bodyguard slid the helicopter door shut and we went up.
I had never been in a helicopter, nor had I gone into the air so fast! My stomach felt strange like in an elevator and then the building were flying by in a blur. I started to feel strange as Bennett and his bodyguard talked in a language I couldn't understand, discussing something. My eyes were heavy, my head drooped and I moved around, trying to fight whatever he had given me, but it was no use. I fell back in my chair and a second later I was out.
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