Big Top Billionaire

Matchmaker

AMARI

As I cleaned the dusty floor of the arena after the last show of the night,  I felt like this was where I needed to be. It has been an entire year of working with Freddie, and the business was as great as ever. He was acquitted from the charges against him and the aerialist death was ruled an accident.

Not that I was happy for the poor man, but my friend didn’t deserve the chaotic drama that unfolded on him. With a generous offer, the settlement was accepted and his family never bothered Freddie. 

But there was one thing that never left my mind in all this time. That girl. The one with the beautiful dark hair and innocent features. It was a shame I would never get to see her again, to tell her she could count on me for anything. 

“Hey, aren’t you going back to Boston soon?” Freddie asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Not anytime soon. I have Clyde check on a few more meetings for me until I get there,” I replied, sweeping the floor again. 

“Well, I have something to tell you. I called Emmeline a few days ago, and she’s coming back today for the show,” he sighed.

“Is there anything you want to tell me?” I asked, knowing where this was going.

“Yeah, I was wondering if you can help her get over her fear and get up in the air again. Maybe if I pair you two to perform, she might get back up there in no time.”

There was always this instinct when it came to Freddie. The sigh, the avoidance to the other person’s eyes, and the way he would nervously rub the back of his neck. That’s how you can tell you know someone very well.  

“I’m not sure, Fred. First of all, having someone who had a traumatic experience go back to what they used to do it’s hard. When Aniela passed away, I promised her I would come back, but I am not so sure I can get on that. Who knows if that girl would too, since she’s the one that witnessed the tragic accident.”

“That's why I need you to help her.”

I folded my hands on top of the broom and looked at him with an eyebrow raised. Yes, I did know him very well.

“Are you trying to play matchmaker here?”

He scoffed, looking away as he whistled like nothing was happening here. 

“Freddie…”

“Okay, okay. You two have gone through a lot, and as much as I loved both your partners, you deserve to be happy. In my opinion, you two are perfect for each other,” he confessed, putting his hands inside his pockets while his lips formed a thin line. 

“Fred, we don’t even know each other. I have only seen her for a short time and she didn’t even make eye contact with me. There’s no way she will accept to be with me, and I sure won’t. I respect Aniela very much and I’m not ready for a new relationship.”

“Dude, it has been over a year…”

“Not ready.”

I picked up the broom and walked away before he said anything else. Freddie is crazy if he thinks he can set me up with someone. Despite my promise to her, I still wasn’t ready and it will be a while before that happens. 

“Is Freddie giving you a hard time about finding love again?” Sue said as I walked into the cleaning closet to put the broom away. I nodded, giving her the confirmation she needed. He was stubborn, that’s for sure.

“He needs to focus on getting himself a new girlfriend instead of sleeping around like he always does,” I replied, making her laugh. My phone buzzed, an unknown number appeared on the screen, making me wonder who could be calling me. Pressing the green answer button, I put the phone against my ear. 

“Hello?” 

“Mr. Doulkas? Hello, this is Marcus Holmes, one of your clients,” the man greeted me, his voice deep on the other side of the line. 

“Hello, Mr. Holmes. It has been a while since we last spoke. What can I help you with?” I asked, already dreading the call. 

He never calls me on my cell phone unless it was an important matter he couldn’t discuss with Clyde. The man never trusted him to handle the business. As the main investor, I couldn’t say I blamed him, he’s just watching his interests. 

“I wanted to see you and talk to you in person about a proposal that you might be interested in,” he replied. 

I was curious to see what proposal that was, but I was not going back to Boston yet.

“I would love to hear that proposal, Mr. Holmes. But I am not in Boston and not sure when I will be there again. Why don’t you talk to my COO and my assistant? They can help you with the matter.”

“No, it has to be you. I don’t trust Mr. Harper, and honestly, I’m not sure he is managing your company the way he should. How about I meet you at your location?”

I let out a deep breath.

“Sure, you can call me and we can set up a time and place. Looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Holmes.”

“Please, call me Marcus. See you soon, Amari,” he mentioned before hanging up the phone, leaving me in my thoughts about what he meant by Clyde not handling my company the way he should. 

“Is everything okay, darling?” Sue frowned, her concern making me smile. I loved this lady, but didn’t want to involve anyone here in my business affairs. The only thing they needed to know was that the circus had been saved and that Freddie was still the boss, even if I was the one who owned the place. 

“Yes, Sue. Everything is fine, just a few things I need to solve later, but nothing big,” I replied, leaning over and hugging her 5’1” figure before I resumed my cleaning duties. As I washed the equipment, that girl came to my mind once again. 

Emmeline… Such a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Her delicate features were perfect for what she did. I could imagine her flying in the air like an angel, or more like a dove as they used to call her. 

No, Amari. What the hell are you thinking? 

Pushing those thoughts away, I kept focusing on my job until Freddie walked in, sitting on a small barrel in front of me, his head hung low and his elbows on his knees.

“I’m sorry, Amari. I know I shouldn't force you to find love if you don’t want to. It’s just the idea of you two together after what you’ve been through would make me happy.”

I patted his shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. His ex wife had left him a few years ago, taking their kids with her. It was normal for him to want to see someone happy and in love. To live vicariously through others. 

“I understand, Freddie. But let me find love at my own pace. Aniela’s death still hurts and I need to heal completely first before giving my heart to someone else,” I said. 

He nodded, smiling back at me before he patted my back and walked out of the room, leaving me there to finish my job. 

Freddie might have the best intentions at heart, but this was my life and I had to decide when I would be ready to open my heart to a new woman.