The Lost Souls Dating Agency by Suneeti Rekhari

Author:Suneeti Rekhari
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Australia Pty Ltd

Chapter 22

I arrived at the warehouse on Monday morning, found it already open and heavy with the aromas of brewing tea and blueberry and white chocolate muffins. I had forgotten that I had asked Roxanne to start from today. I congratulated myself on my choice of receptionist.

‘Morning, Rox, those muffins smell good.’ I sniffed the air hungrily.

‘Help yourself to one! I could lie and say I baked them this morning, but I just stopped by Verb on my way here.’ I wondered if the librarian ate anywhere other than that cafe. It might be the books — words — verb connection.

‘Grrfhanks.’ My mouth was already full of muffin. I smiled at Roxanne’s ability to thwart the magical non-detector spell for muffin procurement. I was glad to share her need for delicious food.

‘By the way, I took a message this morning from a gentleman who called about his daughter. I’ve left details on a note at your desk.’

I gulped. ‘What? I didn’t get any calls on my phone.’ I looked at my mobile phone to make sure and immediately felt silly. Roxanne could not have answered the phone in my pocket.

‘Oh I answered the telephone in your office. I hope you don’t mind, but there is no line out here for me to answer.’ Roxanne looked around the smaller office room.

‘We have a telephone?’ I walked quickly into my office and saw an old 1950s style push button phone, made completely out of bright red melamine.

‘Where the hell did that come from?’ I squawked.

‘I thought you had bought one for the office. It was there when I arrived this morning.’ Roxanne looked worried.

‘I definitely did not do that.’ I walked to the phone and lifted the receiver. There was no dial tone. Peculiar.

‘I hope I did the right thing.’ Roxanne looked at me anxiously.

‘That’s fine, Rox, you’re employed to answer phones. And here’s one to answer.’ I gestured sweepingly at it. ‘I just wish things wouldn’t materialise out of thin air in my office. I had just gotten used to The Mythical Weekly’s appearance.’

I lifted the receiver again and placed it gingerly to my ear. Still no dial tone. Most peculiar.

I looked at the note Roxanne had left on my desk. The phone call had been from a Mr Singh, enquiring about arranging a match for his daughter. There were no other details.

Before I had a chance to ask Roxanne why there was no contact number for Mr Singh, the phone rang again. It made me jump with its shrill high-pitched ring.

‘Hello?’ I answered inquisitively. Roxanne watched me closely.

‘Is that Ms Shalini Gupta?’ a male voice asked. He pronounced my name faultlessly.

‘Yes, that’s me.’

‘I rang earlier about my daughter. I left a message with your secretary. Why haven’t you called me back?’ The man sounded annoyed.

‘I just got into the office, Mr Singh. I only just received your message.’ I didn’t know what else to say.

‘Lateness is not an excuse. Anyway, when can I make an appointment to see you?’

‘I-I’m free this afternoon,’ I stammered.

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