84 ·^ COSMOPOLITAN
my mind as to who to set them up with.” Whoever it is,
Amy will not see a picture of them. “I have no tolerance
for online dating and how dismissive people can be; it’s
disrespectful. You have to give people a chance.”STORMY WEATHER
Our next appointment is at a plastic surgeon’s office. It’s
here that we meet Dr Ghoobi‡ to see how he’s getting
on with his current match. He met his first wife through
Molloy and, 10 years later, messy divorce behind him, he’s
turned to her again. He beams at us and says he’s weeks
away from proposing. Just as he’s divulging his plans, we
are ambushed by a surprise visitor: a friend and client of
his, who’s recently divorced and wants to find love. Molloy
fires questions at her, but she soon mentions her ex, his
name uttered as if it’s wrapped in gold. Molloy plainly
says, “You’re still in love with him.” There’s some back and
forth as the prospective client insists she isn’t. But Molloy
is unconvinced. This could be good or bad, she says after
we leave – perhaps starting
something else will be what she
needs to get over him... or it will
help break her out of denial.
She’ll still take her on as a client
and see – after a few dates – what
happens. Then it might be time
for a tough conversation.
Because that’s another huge
part of Molloy’s job – tellingpeople where they’re going wrong. After every date, both
parties give feedback, and that informs the next date – in
terms of both who they’re matched with, and how they
behave. “Some people really appreciate being told what’s
wrong with them,” she says. “It’s quantitative analysis- eventually after five, six, seven dates, you see the same
themes coming up.” If these things are damaging, then it’s
time to have a word. Similar bugbears come up again and
again, across the board – people drinking too much on
dates, inflated egos and something that’s enhanced in
both online dating and a service like this: pickiness. “You
can’t breed the perfect human,” she says. “And often my
clients will think the more money they spend, the more
they can lengthen their wish list... but even if we can
present you with your ideal person on paper, we can’t
provide chemistry. It’s the one thing money can’t buy.”
As for cash, I’m intrigued to know whether her clients
demand their match earns a certain salary. “I don’t think
salaries come into play too much for the men, maybe
3% will ask about it. For them,
it’s about the laughter, the love,
the look and feeling of belonging.
But for women – and this may be
controversial...” she says. “I think
they like to feel secure. Not
necessarily financially – women
should be financially independent- but they do like to feel looked
after, and money comes into that.”
- but they do like to feel looked
“IF YOU ACCEPT THAT
EVERYONE HAS
FLAWS, THEN YOU WILL
MEET SOMEONE”
G e t i n
t h e b i n ,
ghosts