The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 33

Marcus sat at the bar nursing his drink sip by sip. He really didn't feel like drinking but he also didn't feel like mingling. This was not his crowd and he still didn't know how he had gotten talked into attending.

All around him were men in suits and women in gowns. It was an informal gathering though most treated it as another business opportunity. There was no one here Marcus was close enough to chat with comfortably and he had nothing to sell so there was little reason for him to seek out others.

He winced as the alcohol aggravated the cut on his lip. It brought back memories of the previous night, memories he wanted to bury...or drown. He hadn't realized Connor got a few jabs in during his blind rage. Marcus still couldn't believe he had actually started a fight...a real, actual brawl. He had made such a fool of himself and for what? He felt like an utter fool.

Surprisingly his grandfather hadn't said anything regarding his injuries. His mother had plenty to say more than enough for both of them. Instead his grandfather merely looked thoughtful. After breakfast he was called into the study where he was informed he was going to attend the Mixer after all.

Marcus had tried to argue against it wanting nothing more than to nurse his injuries and wounded pride but his grandfather waved off his concerns with a grin, "You should have thought of that before the fight."

Luckily his mother had been so furious she hadn't been aware he was going which got him out of escorting Elizabeth. But now he had to endure the curious looks of everyone else. He hadn't seen Connor which meant the other man was probably at home with an ice pack. Oddly enough Leonard was also missing, but perhaps he was on his honeymoon.

"That's quite a shiner."

"What would you know about it?" Marcus sighed turning to the voice to see someone he certainly didn't expect.

If his boyhood good looks were not a dead giveaway his curly brown hair certainly was. For years he had been known as a maverick willing to take a few risks in order to grow his company and catch up with more powerful figures. Then he suddenly went crazy...at least that's what others claimed. After practically disowning his entire family he sold off the family estate and for what?

A woman, oddly enough.

To this day no one knew exactly how Sarah Tomlinson caught his eye only for them to divorce two years later. That should have been the end of it. Yet four years later Lucas pursued her with single-minded intent. Many thought it was simply because he wanted to keep his daughter in his life.

Contrary to rumor and speculation Lucas and Sarah remarried and by all accounts their relationship was stronger than ever. Marcus had no idea what changed between them. He certainly wasn't close enough to either to ask though he supposed Nicolas would know the answer. After all, Sarah and Aubrey were certainly close.

Lucas smirked at what had to be a dubious expression, "There's only one reason for a man to come back from a fight looking like that...so what's her name?"

"What?" Marcus hesitated. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lucas's smile broadened, "Have it your way. But denial will solve nothing."

"And what would you know about it?"

"I know something about making snap judgments based on assumptions," Lucas said after a moment. "It nearly cost me everything. I thought I knew her so I let her go. When I finally opened my eyes and saw her for who she really was I realized I made a huge mistake."

"Yeah. Well, I've already seen enough."

"Really?" Lucas glanced at him. "I doubt you've even made it past the shallows."

"What?"

"They say a woman's heart is as big and mysterious as the ocean, but do you know why?"

Marcus's brow furrowed.

"It's because they know pain. They know pain that would cripple a man. Pain that they endure every day without our knowledge. Pain they bury in the depths of their heart and go on living as if it wasn't there." Marcus wanted to argue but he couldn't shake the hurt and despair he had seen in her eyes after she dragged him away from the fight. Was that why his mind wouldn't let it go?

"Women are strong," Lucas continued. "They'll amaze you every time and even bring you to your knees. And maybe, just maybe, they'll let you shoulder some of that pain with them...but you have to prove yourself first." "...And how would one do that...hypothetically?"

"You ever heard of pearl divers?" Lucas asked. "They head out into the ocean in these little canoes and free dive in shark-infested waters looking for oysters and the like all in hopes of finding a pearl. That's what it is like." Marcus frowned.

"Oh she's going to fight you. Just like the ocean, a woman doesn't reveal their secrets easily. So if you're not up to the task you should quit now," Lucas accepted two glasses from the bartender and gave Marcus a final appraising look. "Of course...if you are strong enough you could end up with a treasure more valuable than any other."

Marcus's gaze followed him as Lucas returned to his group across the room. There he saw not just Sarah but also Silas and Ava. Handing Sarah a glass Lucas's arm slipped around her waist. Across from him Silas stood with his arms protectively around Ava, his hands settled over a prominent baby bump.

Both men looked incredibly satisfied. Their paths to happiness certainly hadn't been easy. Marcus couldn't help but wonder how many times they had to dive, chipping away at the walls Sarah and Ava built, to win their hearts. Marcus looked at his drink before turning away. He didn't feel like drinking anymore. There was somewhere he needed to be...but he had no clue how to get there. While most ignored his departure four sets of eyes watched him. "So what was that about?" Silas asked.

"You know him?" Sarah asked.

"Marcus Avery. And not really. Different circles."

"You seemed pretty chatty," Silas eyed him.

"Jules."

"Julius? What business would a DaLair have with him?" Silas snorted.

"Yeah, I wouldn't think so either," Lucas agreed. "But I got a call from him a week ago asking me to keep an eye out for him. He called Marcus his intern, of all things." "Julius? He called him that?"

"Yep. I almost fell out of my chair."

"Why?"

"Don't know. Some agreement his father made with Marcus's grandfather. War buddies."

"I suppose that makes sense. DaLairs are fiercely loyal to family and friends," Silas nodded. "Still Marcus Avery? Did Jules say anything else?"

"Only that Marcus has been his assistant for the last five years and now he was sending him back to his grandfather, so I should keep an eye out for him." "Strange. He didn't say anything else?"

"No. Not directly. Though when I asked him what kind of work Marcus has been doing he let a few things slip. Like how good of a babysitter he was." "Babysitter? Why would he let that man anywhere near his kids?"

"He said that was the agreement," Lucas said. "Miles wanted his grandson to spend as much time with kids as possible."

"Interesting."

"Why is that interesting?" Sarah asked glancing from one to the other.

"You don't suppose..." Silas let his question hang in the air. They both knew Marcus's reputation all too well.

Lucas smirked, "Jules wouldn't say, though he probably doesn't know the answer. But judging from that shiner Marcus has I'd say...he's been pearl diving." Silas smirked, "I see."

"Pearl diving?" Sarah repeated looking at Ava when the men didn't elaborate. The other woman merely shrugged.