Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 103102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
She moves all the way around the table to offer her hand.
Lexi shakes it. “My power color.” She smiles and holds Willa’s gaze. “Not all of us can rock neutrals the way you do.”
Willa softens. She understands power, and she responds to flattery. Everyone responds to Lexi’s flattery.
Outside the frosted glass walls of the conference room, the office buzzes around us. From in here, it’s all silhouettes and murmurs of conversation. Are people running numbers on MeetCute? Talking to competitors? Preparing to lowball us?
Deep breath. Utmost confidence. I’m not here to consider anyone else’s motivations. I’m here to finalize this deal. “It’s nice to see you again, Ms. Wilder.”
She smiles. “Please, Deanna, call me Willa.”
I swallow hard. I’m tongue-tied. Which is silly. I don’t get tongue-tied around people.
But then maybe it’s not silly. She has our company’s future in her hands.
At this point, it’s all decided. That’s how these meetings go. I hate not knowing what’s already been determined.
Is it a yes or a no?
Do I need to spend the weekend prepping pitches, or can I relax for the first time in two years?
Willa motions for us to sit.
Lexi takes the spot on the right. I take the spot on the left.
Slowly, Willa lowers herself into her leather chair. “The pitch impressed me.”
Under the table, Lexi offers her hand.
I squeeze.
“MeetCute is exactly what we need in the dating app space. You’re bringing feminine fun into the market. And even better, you’re bringing inclusive femme fun,” Willa says. “Pink and flowers and champagne and the ability to find someone who appreciates the real you, the you who loves romantic comedies and ice cream.”
“Exactly,” I say. “The algo matches users who truly relate to each other.”
“It’s genius,” she says. “I’ve played around with it myself and I love the setup.” With the press of a single button, she pulls up our slide deck on the giant TV behind her.
The home screen of the app is a picture of Lexi and me, smiling, with a lot of pink text.
I’m not sure why she’s pitching us the app, but I know it’s a bad sign. People only talk you up if they’re trying to let you down easy.
Still, I nod as she flips to the sample profile. Our system is different. Instead of a picture, users get an answer to a question. They can see three answers to three questions before they swipe left or right—yes or no.
They only get a picture after the initial match. After they’re invested in their potential partner’s personality.
What do you like to do on a Saturday night? the slide reads, followed by the answer:
I know a lot of people say they’re down for anything, but I mean it. A movie at home, a football game, a night of dancing to candy pop. As long as we’re laughing together, I’m happy.
That’s from Lexi’s profile. She had the most popular answer, statistically. Logic agrees: Lexi is irresistible.
“There’s only one problem,” Willa says.
All of the air leaves the room at once.
Of course, there’s a problem. There’s always a problem.
“Two problems, actually,” Willa says.
Oh God. I swallow hard.
Lexi squeezes my hand. “I’m sure we can work through that.”
Willa addresses Lexi. “I love the attempt to match people by personality, but let’s face it: people are superficial. They’ll be slow to try an app if they think it will attract the unattractive.”
Lexi laughs. “I told Dee the same thing when we started. I was sure people would resist an app without fast pictures, but it hasn’t been a problem. We’re growing quickly. Twice as fast as the next fastest-growing app.”
Willa turns off the TV behind her. “Even so. My investment partner isn’t sold. That’s problem number two.”
What partner? Does she really answer to someone, or is this a friendly brush-off?
Willa notices my disbelief. “I’m sold, Deanna. I promise. But I have to bring my partner something really convincing. And that’s a big ask. He’s freshly divorced. A total non-believer in love. So, unless we see financial returns, we need a poster couple. By next month.”
Poster couple. Okay. What if…
“Two people. Any gender, any race, as long as they’re happy long-term,” she says. “Twenty-five to fifty. And attractive. A younger couple and an older couple would be ideal, but I’m sure we’ll have time for that later.”
Later. Right.
“Now, we need to convince him,” Willa says.
“We’re still new,” Lexi says. “We don’t have many long-term relationships.”
It’s true, we don’t. But there is one—
“What about you?” Willa asks.
Lexi blinks in disbelief. “Me?”
“Yes, the two of you. You’re successful young women.”
Lexi stares out the window, looking for help in the blue sky. I was thinking the same thing Willa is now leading toward, but there’s something I know that Willa doesn’t—Lexi.
“You’re conventionally attractive,” Willa says. “And you’re the two who created the company. You aren’t testing it on yourselves?”