Regardless, I decided to stay for a drink, as he seemed harmless enough. Within minutes, however, another lie revealed itself. Darrell was speaking about a previous relationship with a much younger woman whose flat he had paid for in Rome, where heâd visited her.
âHow long ago was that?,â I asked.
âTen years ago, when I was in my late 40s.â
By the time Darrell laid out his offer, I couldnât take him seriously. âThere are two options here,â he said. âI can give you an allowance, or I can employ you at my company.â
âInteresting,â I said, but I was entirely skeptical. When Darrell and I parted ways, I knew I would never see him again.
Several weeks into my search, my experiences had been motley. Dating through Seeking Arrangement didnât seem so different from normal datingâyou meet all kinds of people, some of them inevitably loony, and see whether or not you connect. And like the regular dating world, it was starting to feel a bit daunting, as I hadnât found anything close to what I was looking for. I was willing to forgo looks, but I couldnât force myself to be with anyone I disliked or mistrusted.
When Charlieâdivorced, late 50s, worth about $50 millionâasked to meet me, I tried to remain hopeful. I sauntered into the Mercer Hotel in jeans and a gray cardigan one frigid Sunday morning, scouring the crowd for a tall, gray-haired man. He spotted me first and tapped me on the shoulder.
âHere you goâjust a token,â Charlie said, extending his hand.