The Billionaire’s Creed

ADLEY

“I’ve already told them this company is not for sale.” I clenched my teeth in anger. I pushed my chair back from my desk and stood as I glared at them sitting in front of me.

“I think you should consider our offer,” Atty. Tim emphasized the word offer.

“Ournewoffer,” his companion seconded.

“You’re wasting your time. I’m not and won’t change my mind. Tell Grandpa not to bother again. He can buy everything surrounding this building but leave my company alone.”

“Just hear us out first.” Gary surprised me as he joined in.

“Well, good to see you again, Gary. So your true color has finally been revealed. What made you think that whatever you say will change my mind?”

“Forget about this company. Our only intention is for you to work in the Kross Corp before your grandfather retires.”

“How does it concern me?”

“You’re one of the majority shareholders. Unfortunately, my father can’t take the position. If you don’t want to appoint anyone, the board of directors will vote on who will be the next president and CEO. And I’m sure you’re in the loop of who are the possible candidates.”

“As you can see, I’m a little bit busy,” I sarcastically remarked.

“Adley, think about the offer,” Gary insisted as he walked closer to me.

“Which one? His or his?” I pointed at the two lawyers. “My grandfather’s or yours?”

The door swung open all of a sudden. Mykel walked in, ignoring all my uninvited guests’ eyes set on him, looking so powerful and magnificent as he glanced one by one in an unwavering glare. Then my lawyers followed inside, and the other two were his. My office suddenly became too small for all of us. The testosterones were heavy in the air.

“What are you doing here, Creed?” Gary broke the tension as he faced Mykel, trying to intimidate the people in the room as if he got the map to the pot of gold.

“Funny you asked. I’m here for my wife. If you wanna offer her, you talk to our lawyers.”

I watched Gary as he narrowed his eyes at Mykel. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, did you miss the memo? You should try to keep up, Merick.”

“You’re kidding.” He snorted, mocking Mykel. “You and Adley?” He looked at me. “Is he serious?”

Mykel pointed at my hand. “Yes. We are happily married. Did Lex intend to avoid mentioning the crucial part to you?”

“He-he knew?”

“Of course. He’s my wife’s grandfather, after all.”

“This is ridiculous.” He blanched as he may seem to understand now the point of having our lawyers around, and he was not winning the argument.

“Please, pass this message to Lex. Our lawyers are arranging an appointment to talk to him in a private meeting. Creed and Kross’ matters only.”

The two lawyers rose from their seats. “We’ll relay the message, Mr. Creed.”

“Have a good day, Merick,” said my husband.

I was still speechless until the moment Gary gave me dismay, disheartened, defeated, and whatever that look he gave me before he walked out of my office.

I sat back in my chair with a sigh.

“Eventful first day, huh?” Mykel asserted.

“Thanks for saving my butt.”

“You’re ass is worth saving.” He sat on my desk, touching my hair. “You look lovely for a woman who just had a bad day.”

“It wasn’t bad.” I looked at my husband and the lawyers in front of me. “Anyway, why are they here?”

“I was discussing with them regarding our plans.”

“You meanyourplans.”

“Baby, they got our marriage license. All we have to do is present them to your grandpa’s lawyers for verification to recognize that your parents’ terms in the Will are met. Then they can file a contract to transfer assets, funds, or anything your parents have owned to your name. You can talk to your lawyers to enlighten you.”

“That’s basically how it works, Mrs. Creed,” My lawyer, Atty. Roth agreed.

“So you already made an appointment for a private meeting with Grandpa.”

“Yes. You, me, and our lawyers will be present. Your parents’ lawyers or a representative from your grandfather and his lawyers will be there.”

“Okay. How did you know they’re coming to pay me a visit today?”

“Because I’m Mykel Creed.”

“You’re not busy?” I asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“Not for you.” He stood straight, buttoned, and straightened his suit. “Can I take you out for dinner tonight?”

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

Our lawyers chuckled.

“Baby, they’re gonna sue your ass if you decline my invite.” He pointed at his lawyers.

“Fine. No suing.”

“I’ll pick you up later.” He leaned in to kiss me on my cheek. “Bye.”

***

“Fancy,” the first thing I said as we entered the restaurant. It would take at least two months to get a reservation, yet somehow, Mykel got in less than a day unless this was reserved for him and someone else.

“I negotiate with the manager. Since he’s getting married, I offered him a free round trip to their chosen honeymoon place. Then I get a table tonight.”

I laughed silently, tears forming in my eyes. “You’re good at this, Mykel.”

“I only have to use my charm and anything for my beautiful wife. You’re stunning tonight, Adley.”

“You showered me with compliments today, Mykel. What’s up on your sleeves?”

“Just this dinner.”

“How are you this fine evening, Mr. and Mrs. Creed?”

“Great. Marcus, thanks for the table.” Mykel shook the slender manager’s hand.

“Appreciate it,” I thanked him.

“Your husband is very persuasive, and I can’t resist the counter offer.”

“Congratulations.”

“Best wishes to you, too.”

A waiter brought a bottle of red wine to us.

“A complementary,” said the manager. “Are you ready to order?”

We ordered and arrived later on. The seared scallop was savory.

“We’re going home tonight?”

I sipped my wine. “You hate my bed?”

“Nah. I slept in a bed with a hole for a few months. The broken spring was poking at my back. Your bed is actually not bad. I slept well last night.”

“Fine. We’ll go home to your penthouse tonight.”

“Our penthouse, Adley.”

“Our penthouse,” I repeated, ignoring the little flutter in my lower belly.

We went home to the penthouse. I suddenly felt nervous, even though I had been here several times. Tonight, I came here as his wife. We were married, and I wasn’t sure about our sleeping arrangement. Though he had a spare room, he could still change his mind anytime, and I had no say in that matter.

I had no problem if he preferred we should share the same bed-this was not even the first time, and he behaved nicely. It annoyed me sometimes. Mostly because of my terms.

He grabbed my suitcase from my hand and carried it to the next floor.

“How many rooms do you have on this floor?” I stalked him upstairs.

“One. The spare room is down, my office, baths, kitchen, mini bar, mini gym, and I have a small wine cellar.” He slid a key card and unlocked his room.

My jaw dropped. When I thought he had a dark color bedroom, I was wrong. “You sleep here?”

“For a year. Why?” He grabbed a remote on his nightstand and pressed a key on the screen. The ivory floor-to-ceiling curtain slid on either side, revealing stunning city lights from the skyscrapers.

“I was thinking of your color, maybe blue duvet, dark walls, or gray curtains.”

“I asked someone to change everything last minute. You are right, but I figured to change things to your liking since we’re now married.”

“You don’t have to change everything for me. I’m sure I’m going to like the way it was.”

“You are my wife. You deserve better. You can do whatever you like in the penthouse. Just don’t touch the kitchen.”

I smirked. “Why do you like your kitchen so much? Some sentimental value?”

“I always dreamed of having that kind of kitchen.”

“I see. I like the rustic gold vibe.”

“We will share closets. Yours on the right. Mine is from left.”

“I can’t take your closet, Mykel,” I refused. I had already taken advantage of this marriage. But his personal space? I couldn’t do this to him.

“Too late.” He held my hand and walked me through his walk-in closet. It was half size of my room with a few wardrobe doors, glass slides, shelves, drawers, and an island.

“Elise called my personal shopper.” He opened my supposed wardrobe, showing me a full of women’s clothes. “I hope I guessed your size right. You have dress, casual, shirts, sleepwear, underwear, shoes, bags, and that dresser is yours.”

I did not allow him to finish. I walked out. It was too much.

This was getting way out of hand. I didn’t know how to handle this situation anymore or how to react. Should I punch him, hit him, thank him? I didn’t have any idea.

My chest felt heavy with so many emotions. I found myself standing in front of the skyscrapers, waiting for Mykel to explain. The view outside was incredible, yet I couldn’t appreciate anything. I’m lost.

We were not playing our roles anymore. This time, this was real-me as a wife and him as a husband.

“Adley, what’s wrong?”

“What’s all this, Mykel? Why are you doing this?” I wanted to talk some senses into him. This was too much for me. I did not ask for this.

“I want you to feel at home.” He was not entirely forward. He was hiding something.

“No. You’re way over your head. You enjoy playing your role so much that you forget that this is just a temporary arrangement.”

“You’re overthinking this, Adley.” His laugh was low and humorless. “I just want you to feel welcome, so you don’t have to carry things with you every time you come here. I want to make it believable for Lex. If you don’t like what I did with the room or closet, you are welcome to stay in the spare room or guest room down the hall beside the office. It’s all up to you.”