The Billionaire's Twins Play Matchmaker novel Chapter 3

“Julius, you look like hell.”

With a sigh he turned to face an older version of himself. March was ten years his senior and growing up the brothers had been quite close. Their connection remained to this day. Standing next to each other it was not difficult to see the family resemblance: sandy blonde hair, gray eyes, prominent nose, chin and jaw. They could almost be twins.

Julius gave his brother a warning look before sipping his whiskey. All around them were people dressed in fine suits and summer dresses despite the lingering chill of spring. The air had a party feel with balloons and even a DJ as they crowded the wide, stone patio surrounding the pool of the DaLair family estate. A large sign declared: Happy Birthday, Augustus!

Augustus DaLair was the reigning patriarch of their family empire. At sixty-five he was as domineering as ever and despite losing his much loved wife to cancer thirty years prior he soldiered on with a sharp mind and cutting wit. He was known to be ruthless to his enemies but exceptionally generous to his friends. Everyone strived to be on his good side hence the dedicated attendance for the day’s festivities.

“Dad! Uncle Jules!”

The brothers turned smiling as a much younger version of themselves approached. Jude DaLair was nineteen. The only son of March and his loving wife Rose he was something of a miracle. March and Rose had struggled to conceive and the pregnancy had been fraught with difficulties throughout. Jude was born four weeks premature and struggled to survive even with the latest technology and techniques.

Yet all that was hard to imagine now. His height rivaled his father and he was an open, charismatic young man with a bright future. There had been no doubt in his mind about following his father’s footsteps as the only heir to the DaLair business empire and was currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire.

“Jude!” March exclaimed wrapping his son in a bear hug.

Like their father, March always wanted a large family. Given the difficulty of Jude’s birth he was resigned to one progeny but March would never give up the happy years with his son and wife.

“Dad!” Jude chuckled hugging him back.

There was no embarrassment from his father’s affections. Like his father and uncle Jude had been raised to cherish close filial ties.

“Hey nephew,” Julius ruffed his hair.

“Uncle Jules!” Jude mockingly whined about his hair being messed up.

“How’s school?”

“It’s all right,” Jude shrugged. “Honestly the stuff they’re covering is pretty basic. I learned more on bring-your-son-to-work day.”

“Well it’s only your first year,” March chuckled. “And not everyone has your advantages.”

“True,” Jude agreed. He knew he was exceptionally lucky. “What’s the matter Uncle? You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“Just a little stressed at work,” Julius made an excuse.

“There’s your mom,” March said changing the subject, “make sure you say hi before you disappear.”

“Sure. Sure.” Jude laughed but obediently went search of his mother.

“It’s about Macey, isn’t it?” March said quietly when they were alone again.

The anniversary of her disappearance was around the corner. Every year Julius’s mood got worse and his drinking increased to dull the depression and guilt but it never worked. The collapse of Julius’s marriage made news six years ago yet was all but forgotten now. Still not even March knew the whole truth: that she had been pregnant at the time. It was a secret Julius simply couldn’t bear to tell.

Julius scowled.

“Brother, I know how you feel but…”

“You have no idea how I feel,” Julius snapped.

March had been there that night though he hadn’t seen their argument, only the aftermath. He pulled his brother away from the bar and the social harpies congregating around him to demand what he was doing and where Macey had gone only to receive a disgusted answer, she’s probably flirting with some other guy.

It took everything in March not to hit his brother right then and there but settled for calling him an idiot. Shoving Julius toward the door March told him to head home, get his mind right and talk to his wife. He had hopes for his brother’s marriage, until it all came crumbling apart.

“Okay, you’re right. I don’t. But you might have to face facts. You might not ever see her again.”

“Don’t you think I know that? Do you think it makes it easier?”

“No. I don’t imagine it does. Is that why you put up with Katherine?”

“She keeps the others away.”

“And what about the wedding she’s planning?”

Julius grunted not offering a genuine answer. He had no plans to marry her. In fact he had no plans to attend the function at all. Surely that would send her a clear message.

March studied his brother. It was hard to believe it had come to this. Like Julius he grew up with Macey and considered her his little sister. He couldn’t remember exactly when he realized Macey developed a crush on Julius but he watched as she struggled to keep her feelings to herself while Julius remained oblivious. Like any teenager Julius dated several girls and the hurt in Macey’s gaze as he ignored her was palpable to those who realized the truth.

When Augustus proposed their marriage March supported the idea hoping time together would help Julius finally realize the truth about Macey’s true feelings but it had all come crashing down. Only now in her absence did Julius realize how much she meant to him but it was too late. If March could turn back time he knew he would have done more to help his brother. Instead of waiting for Julius to figure out the truth he should have just told him.

“There you are dad!” Katherine squealed as the DaLair patriarch finally made his appearance. “Happy Birthday!”

Augustus scowled at the woman he only ever referred to as the Harpy. How his son endured someone so blatantly shallow and deceptive was beyond him. Out loud he declared, “And exactly what’s so happy about it? Last thing I want to look at is you!”