The Blind Date Was Empty —Until Twin Boys Appeared And Told The Billionaire,“Dad’s Sorry He’s Late”
A Solitary Start in Manhattan
The autumn evening had settled over Manhattan like a silk scarf, lights from the skyscrapers twinkling against the darkening sky. Olivia Wright sat alone at the corner table of CL Blue, absently turning her wine glass between manicured fingers.
The restaurant, perched on the 35th floor with panoramic views of Central Park, had been her selection, a place where she felt comfortable and in control. At 43, Olivia had built Wright Innovations from a small tech startup into a multi-billion dollar empire.
Her life was meticulously organized, every decision calculated, and every investment scrutinized. But tonight, she’d done something completely uncharacteristic: agreed to a blind date arranged by her persistent assistant, Jenna.
Olivia glanced at her watch, a rare vintage Patek Philippe that had been her first significant purchase after her company went public. 8:30. He was 30 minutes late.
She released a controlled sigh, making a mental note to remind Jenna that punctuality ranked high on her list of non-negotiables. She should have known better than to agree to this arrangement.
Dating was complicated enough without adding the weight of her fortune into the equation. Most men either became intimidated by her success or saw her as nothing more than a trophy to be won.
The sommelier approached, offering to refill her glass. Olivia declined with a polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
She was giving this mystery man exactly five more minutes before she would leave. New York’s most influential businesswoman didn’t wait around for anyone, no matter how highly recommended they came.
The Unexpected Messengers
Her phone remained face up on the table, deliberately visible in case Jenna sent an update. The screen remained stubbornly dark.
Olivia surveyed the restaurant, taking in the other diners. There were couples leaning in close, business associates closing deals, and a family celebrating what appeared to be a graduation.
Everyone seemed to belong somewhere, with someone. The thought pricked at a vulnerability she rarely acknowledged.
Just as she was reaching for her clutch, prepared to end this failed experiment in normal human dating, a commotion near the entrance caught her attention. Two young boys, identical in appearance with unruly dark hair and bright blue eyes, were making their way directly toward her table.
They couldn’t have been more than 8 years old, dressed in matching navy blazers and khaki pants that suggested they had come from somewhere formal. What struck Olivia wasn’t just their unexpected presence in this upscale restaurant, but the determined look on their small faces.
The maître d’ was hurrying behind them, clearly flustered that two unsupervised children had breached his carefully controlled domain. “Young gentlemen, you cannot simply—”
But the boys had already reached Olivia’s table. They stood side by side, looking up at her with an earnestness that temporarily silenced whatever objection she might have had.
“Are you Miss Olivia?” the boy on the left asked, his voice carrying a confident tone that belied his years.
Olivia straightened, surprised to hear her name. “I am,” she replied cautiously.
The twins exchanged a quick glance, some unspoken communication passing between them. The second boy stepped forward, offering a disarming smile that revealed a missing front tooth.
“Dad’s sorry he’s late,” he announced as if delivering a well-rehearsed line.
“He sent us to tell you that he got stuck in traffic coming from Brooklyn. There was an accident on the bridge.”
A Chaotic Introduction
Olivia blinked, processing this unexpected turn of events. “Your father is Matthew?” she asked, recalling the name Jenna had provided for her blind date.
The boys nodded in unison. “I’m Ethan,” said the first boy.
“And this is my brother Lucas.” He gestured to his twin, who gave a small wave.
“Dad said to tell you he’ll be here in 5 minutes and that you look exactly like your picture.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow. “Did he now?”
A mix of emotions swirled through her: irritation at being kept waiting, confusion about why her date would send his children ahead, and an unexpected curiosity about what kind of man would bring twin boys to a first date.
“We’re supposed to be having dinner with our aunt tonight,” Lucas explained, leaning in conspiratorially. “But she got sick and Dad couldn’t find a sitter.”
“So he’s bringing you to our date?” Olivia asked, unable to mask her surprise.
Ethan shrugged. “He said you might not want to meet us yet, but he didn’t have a choice. He was going to cancel, but then he said that would be even worse.”
The maître d’ had caught up to them, looking apologetically at Olivia. “Miss Wright, I’m terribly sorry for this interruption. Should I escort these young gentlemen back to the lobby?”
Before Olivia could respond, the restaurant’s entrance doors opened again and a tall man rushed in, slightly out of breath. Even from a distance, she could see he was handsome in a rugged, unpolished way.
He had dark hair touched with premature silver at the temples, a strong jawline shadowed with stubble, and broad shoulders beneath a charcoal suit that looked well-made but not designer. When he spotted the twins at her table, his expression shifted from anxiety to dismay.
He quickly crossed the restaurant, weaving between tables with mumbled apologies. “Ethan, Lucas,” he said as he reached them, his voice a mixture of exasperation and embarrassment.
“I told you to wait by the hostess stand.”
He turned to Olivia, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “Miss Wright, I’m Matthew Taylor. I cannot apologize enough for being late and for—” he gestured toward the boys, “this unorthodox introduction.”
