The Billionaire Matchmaking Club Book 1

“I'm a matchmaker, Aubrey,” I rolled my eyes, “not cupid.” But I wasn’t sure the message was getting through to her. Aubrey twirled her deep red hair, seeming unconvinced, sliding me another shot across the bar. I raised a brow, sighed, said nothing more and downed it quickly as I scanned the bar from the corner of my eye. The dim blue lighting wasn’t making it any easier, and the song was horribly distracting as the beat vibrated from the floor to my chest. “This could’ve been done better in the daylight.”“Lily, please.” She sighed. “Just…size him up for me?”“Do you not understand how we work?” I scoffed. “If I haven’t attended one social with this guy or even talked to him—”“Take all the time you need!” she pleaded. “I just want you to get a first impression before anything else happens. I’ve heard you…you catch vibes?”“Why do I feel like you talked to—”“Alex Sherman?”“Yeah, the Chad with the good weed, right?”She nodded quickly.“I don’t ‘catch vibes,’ Aubrey.” I threw up my

My fingers would break off if I wrung them anymore, but I couldn’t help it. I’d made the right choice to wear a simple satin dress because I was sweating from all the nerves in the cool breeze under my black shawl. It was navy blue and fell just below my knees, which went well with the golden hoops. I wore the heels from earlier and had made sure to bring Holly with me. Mom’s poodle, Cotton, got along well with her. She barked impatiently and I finally rung the bell.I hadn’t seen her in weeks, and it had been so peaceful without her. Seeing her tonight would mean opening the door I’d fought to lock on her. I left the mail slot open for her, but that was as far as I was willing to allow any communication to come through.A full minute passed, and she hadn’t answered. Hoping with all my heart that she’d forgotten about me, I turned around to leave. I could tell her I rang but she never answered, and my phone was dead so I couldn’t even call. It would be a good enough excuse, and if she

Coffee with Marcus was great, but it was more than enough energy I had to expend on anyone today. I needed to be alone. And so, I found myself in Central Park on a nice bench by the lake, my journal in hand, tapping my pen against my temple.Cut off Mother for good?When to confront Emily?Continue helping Aubrey?Dinner?“I gotta cut down on takeout.” I sighed to myself and stared at the ducks squawking in the distance and getting in the lake.“Decisions, decisions,” came a dramatic sigh by my shoulder and I screamed, causing the ducks to screech and flutter their wings in panic, soaking any unfortunate passerby with a spray of water.“Jesus Christ, Lilith!” Cristo gasped, having run away to the other side of the bench and grabbing his chest, but then he smirked. “Should I say those names in the same breath?”I rolled my eyes as he straightened and stared up at the sky, making the sign of the cross and putting his palms together. My face felt warm, although I wasn’t sure why.“You th

Aubrey sat patiently before me, but the annoyance rolled off of her in waves. I wondered if it was directed at me, and I wouldn’t blame her because our last conversation hadn’t been the nicest.“I…” she started, but paused and breathed deeply, “I stopped seeing him.”“Is it okay if I ask why?”She seemed nervous, fiddling with her thumbs as if she had a secret too big to bear. Her eyes were red, nose puffy, and cheeks bright with freckles. Aubrey was not okay.“I’m so tired, Lilith,” she whispered while staring blankly at her hands. “So, so tired of not feeling what I want to. What I should.”“And what should you feel?” I tried to sound kind. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect besides more recklessness and demand on her part. I was only here because she paid me for this meeting. As sad as that sounded, that’s just how business worked.At least that’s how I worked.Maybe I had deep-set issues related to money that I should’ve been looking into. Either way, I had to try to care abou

The keys jingled as I unlocked the door.“I don’t know why but I was expecting a huge place.” Marcus chuckled as we stepped inside. I shed my coat and tossed it onto the stand.“It’s just me.” I sighed and kicked my heels off. “So it doesn’t make sense to have too large a place.”“The interior’s impeccable, though.”“I definitely made a big investment in it,” I agreed. “Make yourself at home. Do you like mint lemonade?”“Sure.”I went into the kitchen quickly without another word, really needing to be away from Marcus. My social battery felt like it would die out completely if I spent another second around him. It would’ve been nice to know he was such a talker. Not that it was a problem, honestly, but there was only so much I could handle after everything that had happened tonight.My gaze dropped to the brown file on the island and I almost groaned. Emily’s profile. Snatching it off the marble surface, I pulled open the trash drawer and stuffed it in. Sliding it shut, I breathed dee