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Chapter 46
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The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 47
The ratings for the show came in by the time I got home, and I felt slightly disappointed. Hugo had taken the win for this episode. I guess it couldn’t be helped, he was pretty unconventional after all. More so than the others. There were no excuses to be made, I was off my guard ever since I’d found out about Rinka’s dilemma in the dressing room at the Nakamura house.Sighing, I turned my phone off and got up to get ready for my appointment with Kathryn. I was looking forward to it, even though I had no idea what I would really say to her. I knew she would be digging deeper into my past, something about getting it off my chest seeing how I never talked with anyone about everything that had happened to me. Truthfully, I felt nervous. For such a long time, I felt like a lot of my memories were either false or exaggerated. I was always told I was overreacting by everyone in my life at the time. I barely had any friends because of Mark, and my mother was of no help.Would Kathryn believe
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 48
Hugo took his time coming to my place. By the time the doorbell rang, it was 7 pm and already dark. I looked out into New York’s skyline from the glass wall of my living room, dressed in navy blue sweats and a glass of wine in hand. I ran my hand through my scalp, massaging the back of my head lightly and occasionally playing with my loosened hair. I really needed to stop tying it up, it made my head hurt.I quietly let him in and he walked around slowly, taking in my apartment. Holly yelped softly at him from the loveseat, but I head over quickly to comfort her with a ruffle. She understood Hugo was a guest and settled back into the cushions.“The episode’s about to air.” I informed him as I took to the couch. He walked over carefully and slid off his coat to drape over the backrest of the loveseat, coming to sit tentatively on the other end of the couch. “Need anything? Coffee? Tea?”“Water’s fine.”I reached over to the dispenser across the couch with a glass from the table before
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 49
This was it. It was the day, the hour, and I sat on a leather seat between two curved couches. Rinka and her family sat on one, Ethan and his family on another. Hugo and his clients were right across from us on a similar couch. It wasn’t entirely unbearable, the set. It was quite lavish, actually. A rose gold stage, black couches with gold accents, and white flowers. Crystals hung low from the chandelier above us, illuminating the studio in a soft, bright light.Everyone was dressed well. Hugo was literally in an aqua colored suit with pink and purple floral print on his tie. His dark hair was gelled back and his eyes sparkled like dew drops on a mint leaf. He looked nice. I, on the other hand, was dressed in a sleek black chiffon dress with a halter neck and gold jewelry. My hair was pulled back into a chignon, revealing a face with soft rosy make-up.My heart was drumming against my chest. Anxiety? Excitement? I couldn’t be sure at this point. I wasn’t even hoping to win. Frankly, I
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 50
Guilt.It’s a nasty feeling that feeds on your soul and plants resentment in your heart. The thing about this emotion is that you can’t numb it. Until you find a way to repent, the memory of what you did keeps replaying on loop in your mind at the most inopportune moments.It had been forty five minutes since I entered my office and still, the same report displayed on the screen of my computer refused to make sense. My eyes were reading the numbers but my brain refused to interpret what they meant. Never before had I ever felt so completely thrown off my game. But then again, I had never hurt someone I cared about so badly.Cristo.It was over between us. For real this time. Any chance that we’d had left for mending the pieces that made up our complicated relationship had ceased to exist the moment he found me with that…jerk. How could I have been so stupid? I, of all people, understood how drinking past one’s limit had a tendency of shutting down all their brain cells. What the hell
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 51
The universe had to be playing a cruel joke on me.If someone had told me that I would be sitting opposite Selena Caron, discussing her son’s inability to manage their business, mere days after interrupting their meeting, I would have laughed in their face. But that morning, as I was sitting at my desk, minding my own business, Lyra called to say that a certain Selene Caron wanted to see me.At first, I thought she was coming to see me about my ‘interest’ in their company so I had given myself two minutes to formulate a fool proof lie. But when she walked into my office and said that it had to do with Cristo’s incompetence, I was taken aback.“He is behaving like a spoiled child,” Selene complained. “Of late, the company’s performance has been going downhill at an appalling rate. If corrective action is not taken soon, we will be out of business in a few months.”So that’s what they were talking about that day. No wonder Cristo looked relieved when I stormed in.What I still couldn’t
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 52
“They look…boring.” I pushed away the file. “For lack of a better word.”“Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt,” Lyra suggested. She glanced at the names again. “They are all excelling in their careers. Not to mention their parents are powerful and influential people.”She had a point. The six girls who’d made it to the shortlist all came from rich families and there was not a stain to their reputation. Clearly, Lyra was following Selene’s instructions to the letter. I made a mental note to give her a bonus if the project went as planned.“I appreciate your hard work. I really do,” I said gently. “You are an asset to this company, you know.”“But?”“I know Cristo,” I explained. “I’m telling you he won’t like them. They are all daddy’s girls. Not to mention…” I stretched a bit to point at the picture of the first candidate. Leah someone. “He doesn’t like blondes.”Lyra was confused. Frankly, I wasn’t making much sense. I didn’t blame her.“Who would be his ideal girlfriend? Let’s
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 53
Hugo looked surprised to see me.“What’s with that look on your face?” I said as I hopped onto the bar stool. “You didn’t think I would show up?”“Um, kind of.” He gave me a sheepish smile.I quickly looked away and ordered a margarita. Sliding my hand inside my brown sling bag, I fetched my tablet and got down to business.“So, the billionaire matchmaking club,” I said as I scrolled through the files till I found what I was looking for. “I have been…”“Lily…”“Lilith!” I quickly corrected him. “It’s Lilith. Do you want me to tattoo it on my forehead?”Hugo blinked. “Sorry.”“You were saying?”“You haven’t answered any of my calls for the last two weeks?” He shook his head disbelievingly. “And when we finally meet you want to dive straight to business? I thought we were better than that.”My drink arrived and I murmured a quiet thank you to the waiter for being swift. I had never been so grateful for a distraction before. To avoid Hugo’s watchful eyes, I busied myself with swirling my
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 54
You can’t put this off forever. The sooner you do it the better. I puffed as I scrolled through my contact list. I found the number and dialed, figuring if I gave myself another second to rehearse my speech, I would chicken out. Again. Like I already had, several times before.Lyra wouldn’t have minded doing it for me but I felt like I had to be the one to do it. Out of respect and in part, to hear what he had to say. More importantly, how he responded. I didn’t know what I was hoping for exactly. Would it make me happy if Cristo hated me for it? If he outright asked me to call off the whole thing? Said he didn’t want anyone else that wasn’t me? That was unlikely to happen but I couldn’t help the sliver of hope that tugged at my chest. “Lilith,” Cristo said in a boisterous voice, catching me off guard. “How are you?”“I’m… fine.” Why was I stuttering? I had spoken to him a million times before. Snap out of it, Lilith!“So I’m calling about a potential match,” I said, finally finding
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The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 68
One year laterThe bi-annual matchmaker’s party was in full swing as the newest members of the club mingled about with the olders ones. Most were interns looking for mentorship oppurtunities, and some had just broken into the world of the elite looking for guidance. There were also some wedding planners roaming about, getting their exposure and making connections.The Billionaire’s Matchmaking Club was an instant success, more so than Hugo and I had ever anticipated. The two of us stood at the balcony of the HQ’s mansion, looking down into the garden with rose champagne in our hands.“Does any of this seem real to you?” I breathed.Hugo shook his head, smiling from ear to ear, “Not at all. Did you see our charts? Our profits are through the roof!”“I’m assuming your attempts to break into the middle class market went well?”“We’re trying for an app now,” he announced excitedly. “Just an idea, but it will get some traction once you attend the next meeting.”“It would definitely free up
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 67
Cristo and I were now a few hours away from New York on the road. The car was parked beside a familiar house in the early morning. The frost from the night drive turned into dew against the warmth of the slowly rising sun that was just peeking from behind the clouds.I didn’t want to leave the warmth of Cristo’s hand in mine. My mother’s house would always tug at a cold spot in my heart, and even the summers couldn’t soothe it. There was no comfort there. NOo love, no joy, and certainly no redemption.Second thoughts. Why was I taking on the burden of making things right? Why did she never try?Of course, she would never acknowledge her own wrong-doings. What parent ever did? I wasn’t sure if it would matter, me going in there and trying to fix things to be amicable. I knew my mother would manipulate her way into my life one way or another.She was the kind of person I wouldn’t want around my own child. Certainly not the kid I would’ve had if Mark and his mother hadn’t killed them.“L
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 66
The last few days in Paris with Cristo made me a different person, although not completely. I felt a lot calmer than I usually was, which was almost none at all. My head was much clearer and I didn’t feel like a nervous wreck waiting for something bad to happen all the time.Most of all, I was ready to really face Hugo. I was anticipating the difficulty of it, but I knew that I was quick enough to find a way around it all.The balcony had been reserved for lunch, and I sat in wait for him. There was only one table and two seats, so there was plenty of privacy to ensure a comfortable talk, but I still wore my usual professional gear so he didn’t get the wrong impression. I knew that if I was going to make headway with Hugo, I needed to acknowledge the things that happened in the past.Hugo and I had some kind of history regardless of how far we had or hadn’t gone. I couldn’t pretend it had never happened.It wasn’t long before he walked through the balcony doors. He looked quite surpri
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 65
I woke up enveloped in warmth. There were spaces between our limbs where the cool air slid in between, but nothing too bothersome. My body insitinctively closed in against Cristo’s, his large frame blocking out the sunlight behind him. It was very convenient, and I was glad the sun wasn’t glaring into my face for once.His chest rose and fell against mine slowly, lulling me back into oblivion. A strong arm lay under my head that he wrapped around to my shoulder, hand resting lightly on my arm. He sleepily stroked my skin, indicating he was stirring into wakefulness.I lifted my head slightly, pushing myself onto the pillow to let his poor arm breathe a little. He hadn’t moved all night to keep me from waking, and I was a ridiculously light sleeper. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I squinted at him and the way the soft light wrapped around him like a halo. I couldn’t believe he’d stayed, and that last night had really happened. He would usually try to disappear before I woke up.Key
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 64
My eyes were glued to my phone, confused and nervous on what to do. I had rarely ever called or texted Cristo before on my own, it felt too weird. Perhaps I was worried about coming off desperate, which was strange seeing as how it was obvious that we both wanted each other. Cristo must be getting tired of always initiating any kind of contact with me.It was time I took the leap.My thumb hovered over his caller ID, held back by the pride in my throat. But it really shouldn’t matter anymore. I missed him, and I wanted to see him. I just wanted to see him, maybe hear his voice, nothing more.He might be busy, my mind suggested.He would let me know.What if he’s tired?Again, he could let me know.In case he’s in the middle of an important mee–I let my thumb fall over the call button and watched as my phone buzzed in my hand, ringing him up. My heart sped up in my chest, thinking of how he would sound when he finally picked up. I put the screen to my ear, thinking what if he didn’t p
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 63
Estelle’s place was a quaint little villa in a picturesque little town just outside of the urban landscape. Set on a hill, she was surrounded by a river, fields of crops and flowers, and little cottages and houses at the foot.“It’s a nice place for spring break for the college kids,” Estelle explained excitedly with a flick of her brown hair as I stepped into her abode. A homey place with tones of green, mustard, and brown. Stone and wood accents, very personalized furniture, and wacky pieces of art that fit right into the atmosphere. “It gets so pleasant here, and I get a good view on the people to observe their chemistry with each other.”“Wait, isn’t that stalking?” I asked, a little shocked.“Something their parents pay me for,” she shrugged, large blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “I don’t report back to them on anything, I only observe who works well with who and see if it’s sustainable long term.”“Ever been a situation where the person’s brought in an outsider?”“French peop
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 62
I wish I could’ve been more present in that moment as I sat before Raya Ansari, but all I could think about was Cristo and how much I missed him. I wanted to be back home in his arms just so I could get a peaceful breath in my body.All I felt in that moment was anxiety and dread. It had only heightened after my talk with John yesterday because my time with Cristo felt so much more limited now. It didn’t help that Cristo himself was so busy with his own business and family matters, but I knew what was happening now. It as obvious after his cousin, Jenna, called me up to ask if things were okay between him and I.“Things are fine,” I’d said as I looked at my watch to check how soon my flight would be. “Is everything okay on your end?”“Yeah, it’s just that Cristo is having a talk with my parents…” she sounded confused.“He’s in Paris?”“He didn’t tell you?”“Not like he owes me any explanation at the moment, to be honest,” I said, but it sounded more like I was trying to convince mysel
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 61
My office was cleaner than it had ever been since the years I’d started working there. No papers, no ink, I only had to scroll around on my computer and tap a few buttons.It was too relaxing. Not something I was used to.I’d gone through the profiles of the matchmakers that Lyra had prepared for me, trying to memorize their names and faces. I had some weeks before the welcoming party took place, and I wondered if it would be appropriate to meet them in person before it took place to at least be better acquainted with them to avoid awkwardness.Planning ahead again as always, I reprimanded myself and shook my head. But it couldn’t hurt. There was barely anything to do.The glass table buzzed under my elbows and I patted around for my phone, answering it promptly. I should’ve checked who it was, though. The voice took me by surprise.“Is this Lilith Mendez?”“Yes?” I answered uncertainly.There was a short huff of breath before the man on the other end responded shakily, “I’m John Caro
The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1 Chapter 60
Blair and I sat across from each other, surrounded by fancy people in a fancy restaurant with food before us that didn’t look appetizing enough to try. It was still the only place I could confront her without her possibly killing me. Would be an accident? Couldn’t be sure with Blair.She acted pretty oblivious, but it was possible she was just happy with the current turn of events. Her fingers scrolled across the screen of her tablet, eyes skimming with glee over the news.“Does this count as a blow to your career?” she feigned curiosity with a glance at me. I gave her a sarcastic smile, scrunching my nose in contempt and stabbing a fork into the ravioli on my plate. Of course, it didn’t, failed engagements didn’t count. She raised her brows at me and went back to reading the article, no doubt about Cristo’s and Suzan’s failed engagement. Her eyes narrowed onto something so violently that it even piqued my interest. “Has his family lost his mind?”My hand froze before the ravioli coul
