by Eva Luxe
Marie butted in, “One thing led to another, and now we’re here as best friends with chips on their shoulders. Chips you can make vanish.”
“Fine! How much do you want?”
I dug my heels down into the carpet. The blood pumping through my veins burned through my skin and my temples. These fucking bitches had me on my last nerve, and it was burning out deathly fast.
“This isn’t only about money. We want your business,” Marie said. “Simple as that.”
“What,” I spat out. “You think I’d give you my business? Are you so dumb as to think I’d hand over all my hard work to you?”
I balled my fists, and they smirked, knowing that they’d hit a soft spot. I fought tooth and nail to get my business to where it was. No way in hell were they getting it.
“Give us your business,” Marie said, “and we’ll stop the negative press. Don’t give us your business, and…”
“We’ll bury you nine feet under shit,” Samantha finished. “We’ll give exclusive interviews to the media and tell them you let men hurt and take advantage of young women. Melissa Wynn is power hungry and doesn’t do her research very well. She’ll believe anything I tell her. I have photos of my bruises. I’ll say you’re nothing but a slut yourself, who gets off on making other women fuck for their money. How I was sweet and innocent when I first came to you looking for love. And, I’ll drag Grant and my sister into it as well.”
My lips twisted into a grimace. “You would know about fucking for money… or should I say pennies, right Samantha? I tried to help you. Tried to be there for you. But you used, abused, and blackmailed your matches trying to get rich quick.”
“Whatever, Eliza,” Samantha said with a roll of her eyes. “Now hand over your business, or we’ll just take it from—”
“Get the fuck out!” I thundered, stomping my foot on the floor. Samantha and Marie jumped back a little. “I’ve had enough of this.” I moved for my phone to call the police.
“Hold her down!” Samantha ordered Marie.
Marie lunged forward and knocked me down onto the carpet. My breath heaved out of my lungs, and it took a couple of seconds for me to come to my senses.
Struggling against her punches and scratching, I punched Marie in the face, and she fell to the side.
Samantha grabbed my feet and dragged me towards her. She took twine from the pocket of her jeans and bound my feet.
“What’re you doing!?” I reached up to stop her, and she kicked me back down, and I hit my head off the corner of the coffee table.
I saw stars, and when I rubbed my eyes, I glimpsed something dark rushing through the front door.
“Let her go,” Beckett roared.
“Beckett, be careful, they’re both insane,” I warned, holding my head.
Samantha threw my feet down and charged at Beckett. My feet might have been bound, but my arms weren’t. I lunged forward and grabbed Samantha’s foot. She crashed face-first onto the carpet.
Beckett crouched down and took out his phone. “I hope you both like prison.” He played the recording of what they were saying earlier… Samantha took in a shallow breath of air and scooted away from him.
Marie had her back against the bottom of the couch and looked petrified.
“Guess what?” Beckett said, “This is going to the news too.”
Police soon ran into my apartment, and Samantha and Marie tried to run. Not that there was anywhere to go but to my bedroom and kitchen.
The cops caught them, threw on the cuffs and dragged them out of my home.
“Thank you, officers,” Beckett said while he tore off the twine binding my ankles together. As soon as my feet were free, he picked me up. “Are you okay, Eliza? Did they hurt you?”
“Beckett! How’d you know—”
“Protective instincts. That’s why I had that vase of flowers armed with a HD camera. Your sister and her friend are going to go down, and you’ll have your reputation back. Come outside with me, I have a news crew standing by.”
“I’m not sure I can face them, Beckett.” I didn’t have the balls to go out there.
“With me by your side, you can face anything. Trust me, my love, please.”
Thank goodness I had Beckett by my side. He was right, with him, I could do anything. Casting him out of my life when the shit had hit the fan had been wrong. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Okay, but please stay with me.”
“You’re going to be fine. I’m right here with you,” Beckett said. It was good to have my match right at my side again, and it was about time I got to taste the fruits of my labor by fully giving myself to him.
He guided me into the elevator and then outside of the apartment building where Melissa and her crew waited.
Melissa, looking nothing like the sweet college girl I’d met before glowered in my direction. She now looked like a jaded reporter bent on destruction. Obviously, she’d made herself look sweet and innocent when she’d approached me outside Match de Amour.
“If I had my way,” she said, “I would have let this story fade into the ether, but your boyfriend pulled in some favors which left me no choice.” She cleared her throat and rolled her shoulders. “We’re going on in one, two three,” Melissa straightened herself up and snapped into reporter mode.
“I’m here with Eliza Rousseau, her boyfriend Beckett Monroe, and several couples who’ve used Eliza Rousseau’s matching service. After receiving video footage of the two women who brought accusations against Eliza trying to blackmail her, we decided to dig for the real story. And we’re here today to bring it to you.” Melissa turned to the group of women with their husbands who were there to protect my name. So many… I didn’t even realize I had matched so many couples together successfully. “You’re Lindsey Glen correct, married to billionaire Gordon Glen?”
“Yes!” Lindsey said. Her newborn baby girl was nestled inside a baby sling, and Lindsey beamed at the camera.
“Is it true you met your husband through Match de Amour?”
“I sure did, and so did a few of my friends. There are leagues of women and men who’ve used Eliza’s services,” Lindsey said, looking Melissa straight in the eye. “None of us are prostitutes and Eliza isn’t a pimp. She helps find love, simple as that. One of the women who tried to blackmail her is my sister. She’s a liar and can’t be trusted. I should know, she tried to come between Gordon and me.”
“What about you,” Melissa said, turning her attention to Wendy. “Your husband is Sam Reign, the tech genius, correct.”
“He is. Not everyone will find a match,” Wendy said to the camera. “But those who do? They find the right one. I’m glad that these false rumors have been put to rest. Thanks to Eliza, I reconnected with my high school sweetheart.”
All the ladies’ husbands were standing to the side with smiles on their faces, and kids hanging off them. Not to mention Wendy’s baby bump. She looked like she would deliver at any second.
Melissa looked over at me and shoved the mic in my face. “What do you have to say about this, Eliza? You’re now back as the hottest matchmaker in town. What do you want to say to your accusers?”
“That they shouldn’t give up on finding love. If they’re patient, their match will come. I know mine did, although it took a while to find him,” I said, squeezing Beckett’s hand. “I forgive my sister, Marie, and I even forgive Samantha. I hope they both get the help they need.”
Melissa turned to Beckett, who had the eyes of a shark. He was watching to see if the reporter was trying to pull any shady moves. “Mr. Monroe, will you marry her?”
Merde, she had to go and ask that damn question.
“Yes,” he said proudly.
A warmth skipped over my cheeks, and he pulled me into him.
“So now we truly get to witness a happy ending to this story,” Melissa said. “We’re glad that we were able to find the truth. If you’re looking for your true love, swing by Match de Amour and find your perfect match.” She waited for her
cameraman to stop filming, and when he was done, she shot me an odd look.
This would not be my last run in with her…
Some people liked the truth, her? She just wanted something juicy and negative. The news didn’t thrive on anything positive. She was feeding her watchers nothing but bullshit.
Beckett knew it too.
But if something crazy ever came out of her mouth again about me, I knew how to deal with her.
The camera closed in for one last shot. Without warning, Beckett dipped me and gave me a dramatic kiss for the audience in front of us and at home.
What a man.
A man that was all mine.
Epilogue
Eliza
Over the following weeks, business went back to normal. Except the men who now came looking for matches poured out obscene amounts of money to find the one.
Sure a few men were in it for the sex, but once they experienced the magic of their new match, they couldn’t let their women go. And vice versa.
I sat in my office, busily planning more meet and greet parties for my new clients. Lucy typed on her laptop while sitting on the corner sofa, giving me a few quick smiles every so often.
Now that everything was good and calm in my life, there was one thought that wouldn’t stop nagging me. And that was what Beckett had said while the cameras rolled. He’d announced that he’d marry me.
I knew he’d meant what he’d said… but he still hadn’t popped the question. When he did, I wasn’t sure what my answer would be. Did I love him? Without a doubt, but marriage was a monster I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.
For the past week, he’d been overseas at a conference, and I missed him terribly. It was like half of my heart was somewhere else.
“Madame,” Lucy said, looking up from her laptop. “I have something I must take care of. I’ll be right back.”
Lucy hopped out of her seat before I could respond and disappeared. She was unusually chipper.
Maybe she had found a match and was waiting for the right time to tell me about him.
“What is she up to?” I thought aloud.
Not too long after she’d left, she came back with Beckett in tow.
“He just arrived, Madame,” Lucy explained with a shrug and a smile. “I’ll give you two some privacy.” She then scurried off, quick as a mouse.
Beckett strolled into my office looking sexier than ever. He wore the warmest and biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face, and it caused my heart to race around, bouncing all over my ribcage.
“Mon amour, you’re back.”
“It feels like I’ve been gone forever,” he said, taking a seat.
“It does, doesn’t it. But you have a job to do. C'est la vie.” I rested my chin on my hands and smiled at him. I hoped he was feeling as frisky as I was. A week without sex was a week too long.
“Eliza, come over here,” Beckett said, motioning his hand. “I want to ask you something.”
Was he about to ask me the one question I’d been both waiting for and dreading?
Holding my breath, I got up and walked around my desk. When I got close enough to him, he gave me a deep and searching kiss.
“Eliza Rousseau, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?” Beckett asked, getting down on one knee.
He held up a little black box and opened it to reveal a ring with a huge sapphire cushion diamond in the center. The band was made up of smaller white diamonds.
“Mon Dieu, darling…”
“Say yes, or oui, whichever you want. No isn’t an option.”
I was too stunned to answer.
“Lord have mercy, woman. Where’s my yes?” Beckett asked, a frown replacing his smile.
“Beckett, you’re perfect. But people don’t like me. Some of them want to ruin me. I don’t think I’m good enough for you,” I admitted.
He shot up to his feet. Towering over me, he took my hand. He slid the ring onto my finger and then cupped my cheeks. I had no choice but to look into his eyes.
“You’re the only woman good enough for me. There’s no one better. You’re my match, and you will marry me.”
“Since you already slid the ring on my finger, I guess I have no choice.” I hooked my arms around his neck.
“But there’s nothing better than you saying the actual word…”
“Yes, you darling man, I will marry you.”
“Hearing you say yes in English makes me tingle,” Beckett said, sucking air through his teeth. Using both hands, he gave my derrière a tight squeeze, and I pressed my soft body up against his hard chiseled one.
Having someone to lean against, having someone to protect me made me feel safe and secure.
“Beckett, I love you so much. Thank you for coming into my life,” I said while I leaned against him. He held me tight, the spiciness of his familiar cologne soothing my nerves.
There was a knocking on the door, and I assumed it was Lucy, so I told her to come in.
The door flew open, and Lindsey, Wendy, Sam, and Gordon tumbled in followed by Lucy.
“Well, are you going to be my stepmom?” Wendy squealed, looking at me and her father with an expectant smile. Sam stood to the side with his hand in his pocket, and a wide grin on his face.
“I didn’t know you guys were here,” I said, looking at them surprised.
“I told them to come,” Beckett said. “I told them I was going to propose to you.”
“And you said yes, right?!” Wendy asked, cupping her baby bump.
“Oui, darlings, I did.”
Beckett rocked me, and I snuggled my cheek against him.
Lindsey took out her phone. “This is a picture worthy moment. Sam, Wendy, go on over to them so I can take a picture of the happy family,” she ordered, fiddling with her phone.
They scooted up next to us. Wendy stood by me, holding onto my shoulder and Sam stood by Beckett.
Lindsey took a couple of photos before telling us we were done. “These are all Facebook-worthy,” she said, her fingers busily moving over her phone.
“So how big will the wedding be?” Sam asked. “After all, you are the one and only Eliza Rousseau.”
“Soon to become the one and only Mrs. Monroe,” I corrected, rubbing Beckett’s chin.
“The whole matchmaking world and every one of your matches will want to come to your wedding,” Wendy added.
Beckett and I looked at each other, and we both shared the same look. The other matchmakers would try to cause nothing but a ruckus.
“You know, I was thinking of something super small. Most of my family are still back in Paris.”
“Then we should do it there,” Beckett said. “After all, Paris is the city of love.”
Happiness filled my heart, and I looked around at the people surrounding me. I’d always said there was a match for everyone, and that was something I stood by. But sometimes, a perfect match didn’t just bring you the one, it also brought you a family. People who accepted and loved you for who you were warts and all, and for that I would be forever thankful.
THE END!
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Match Wanted is part of the standalone but connected Wanted series. Click here for more books in the Wanted series.
Sneak Peek Excerpt of Billionaire’s Secret Baby
If you enjoyed Match Wanted, I know you’ll love Eva Luxe’s release, Billionaire’s Secret Baby. Here is an exclusive sneak peek!
Chapter 1 – Greyson
The Spiced Cow was doing better than ever. After Caden had inherited his riches, he had invested the money in all the right way
s. And it was paying off. I had loved working at the restaurant from day one, but seeing how Caden built it up made me feel like passion was never misplaced.
And neither was love. Caden had asked me to officiate his wedding with Harper. They had been married for six months already but seeing that it had been in a courthouse, Caden had wanted to surprise Harper with a ceremony the way she had always wanted. And because they were already legally married, he’d asked me to officiate. I didn’t need any kind of license or anything.
It was a great honor to be the one to lead one of my best friends and his beautiful bride into their life together. Harper looked like a dream and Caden looked at her like she was the only thing he saw. It almost made me believe in love. Almost.
I stood to the side, sipping a glass of champagne as I watched Caden and Harper move around from one group of friends to another. I had never seen a couple this happy or a wedding this relaxed and free of stress. We were all only friends here, no family. Somehow, that took the drama out of it.
Caden came to me while Harper took some time to talk to her friends. I grinned.
“You look a little lost,” he said.
I shrugged. My fingers were itching for a smoke, but I had quit a couple of weeks ago. I was twenty-seven and if I kept on smoking the way I had been, I wasn’t going to make it very far before my lungs gave out. I wanted to do way too much with my life to have to give in.
“I’m still trying to avoid taking smoke breaks,” I said.
“You’ll get there. You’re doing really well.”
I shrugged. It was going good with it, but sometimes it was a pain in the ass. I had given up smoking to be healthy, but in doing so had given up something that kept my hands busy, and gave me a reason to take regular breaks.
I changed the topic. Talking about smoking only made it worse.
“A married man, huh?” I asked.
“Yeah, for a while now, but somehow this makes it feel more real than the civil ceremony.” We watched Harper together for a while.