The Billionaire’s Creed

ADLEY

“So, how’s your married life going?”

“How are you and Elise? Don’t you have plans to elope?” I countered back.

Blaze looked happy, and it looked like he and Elise had spent a lot of time together.

“Looks like your billionaire husband is taking care of you, and he’s making a lot of buzz on his Instagram.”

“It’s his idea.”

“And pretty protective of you. He blocked that woman maybe he has slept with.”

I sipped my coffee in silence.

“You also updated your bio,” he pressed.

“He snatched my phone and edited it. Why are you upset about it?” I reacted out of thought, only to realize that I was defending my relationship with Mykel.

“Are you two sleeping together?” His eyes flashed with anger.

“I don’t think it’s any of your business, Blaze if I sleep with my husband. But to answer your question, no. We haven’t slept together.” I narrowed my eyes at him. He wasn’t this intrusive, but something was going on in his head.

“You know your agreement has an expiry date. If you fall for him, you’re gonna get hurt. You are playing with fire, Adley. Don’t get me wrong, Mykel is into you, but what if he finally gets what he wants, and you are done with your family issue? Would that be easy for you to leave him?”

“Yes.” I left him behind. My chest constricted painfully as my words settled in my mind because I wasn’t entirely sure if that was what I wanted.

We were supposed to buy coffee and return to the office, but I didn’t know he would corner and interrogate me.

“Adley, do you have feelings for him?”

“Blaze, stop it.” I hissed at him. “What are you doing?”

“I see. You don’t have to answer it. I already got it.”

The building came to view. “This is my life. I will do what I think is right for myself. And may I remind you that this was your idea, to give the guy a chance.”

“Not to marry him, Adley.”

“Isn’t it also your idea of me getting married? He has needs, and so do I. And If we end up sleeping together, then what’s the problem? It’s not like we hurt people or what we’re about to do is a crime. Instead of sleeping around with different people, I’d rather sleep with my husband, who I trust.”

“You didn’t get my point, Adley.”

“What’s exactly your point, Blaze?” I sagged my shoulders as I stared at him. Honestly, I felt exhausted, fighting over this issue.

“He’s a playboy. He doesn’t have a history of long-term relationships. When he’s done breaking your heart, he won’t hesitate to leave you. I don’t wanna see you broken, okay? If you only followed my advice, you’re not stuck with him right now. But you are so stubborn to take a different path.”

“Why are we talking about this again? Isn’t your advice is I should marry someone?”

“You deserve better.”

“Like who? Like Gary? That guy is a jerk.”

I entered my office. I wasn’t aware Blaze was still following me until he held my arm. I fought back my anger as I turned to face him. “It’s happening. Don’t worry, I’m capable of making decisions, and I’m the one who’s gonna pay the consequences.”

“Your grandfather is the only family you have left. You should pay him a visit. I know you can go far, and I can’t wait to see you running the Kross Corp, Adley.”

I was not surprised by the change in the air between us. I didn’t have to turn around and face him. It was all clear to me now what this was all about. “I see. My grandfather got into you already.”

***

“You don’t like the dinner. I can order something else.”

I barely touched my food. During an ordinary day, lemon thyme chicken with beans and artichokes was mouth-watering, but I had no appetite tonight.

I dabbed my lips clean. “I think I’m not feeling well.”

“Monthly thing?”

I lifted a brow. “You could just say period, Mykel. But no.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get something for you?”

“Thank you, but I’m good. I think I saw a yogurt on the fridge.” I rose from the chair and gripped his shoulder. “I’ll help you clean up the table.”

“Baby, sit on the couch. I got this.”

I kissed him on his cheek. Somehow, he wasn’t expecting my gesture. He froze for a moment. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

After I grabbed a cup of yogurt and a spoon, I went to the couch and turned on the tv. I scanned the shows he previously watched. Apparently, he was into documentaries and food shows.

I played the show about a guy who traveled around the world to try different cuisines while I munched on my yogurt. I had almost finished the episode when Mykel joined me with another cup.

“Thanks.”

“Take it easy. You’re stress eating.”

I kept my focus on the screen. “Do you really think this guy enjoyed every food he tasted?”

“I don’t think so.” His answer made me realize something that excruciatingly twisted my gut. “For the sake of the show, he had to deliver to the viewers and those restaurants’ owners that he enjoyed it.”

“Have you ever faked your performance when we are together for the sake of the show?”

“What kind of question is that?” I knew his eyes were on me.

“An honest one.”

“Then no.”

I stared at him in disbelief. I considered believing him, but then I remembered Blaze’s words, which were stuck in my head. What if I ended up hurting myself? But that was life meant to be, getting hurt in the process, learning from it, and ending up becoming a strong person.

“Did something happen in the office today?” He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. Sometimes his aftershave or his cologne was intoxicating. It often lingered even if he was not around. This time, I let go of all the resistance.

“I don’t think there’s something special about that fish.”

Mykel let go of a frustrated breath, paused what I was watching, and threw away the remote. “Okay, Adley. Here’s what we gonna do. You and I are gonna have a real talk. What’s going on?”

“I fought with Blaze today, and I can’t remember we had this long argument that we left the office without sorting it out.”

“Walk me through it.” He kissed the side of my head.

“You’re not gonna like it.”

“Hmm. Let me guess. The fight is about me being the jerk and taking advantage of his gorgeous friend.”

“Something like that.” I licked the spoon and put it on the coffee table.

“Look, I’m not gonna say against your best friend. If there’s someone who knows you better, it’s him. For the past few days since we met, he saw some changes in you, and he’s worried that you’re taking some risks or becoming careless that might get you hurt. I do that to Elise sometimes. I’m a risk-taker, and not all the time it did me any good, but in life, sometimes you can’t always play safe. You have to do what scares you the most and take a risk to achieve that certain level. I’m not saying you do what I said. It’s still up to you.”

“What risk you took that didn’t do you a favor?”

“There are always consequences attached to it, baby. I’ve made many mistakes, but I didn’t wish to undo them.”

“What risk did you take that changed your life?”

“Example, like you and me, us, my investments, and I wouldn’t change a thing even if the opportunity arises.”

“Is it okay to listen but not take the advice?”

“Of course. As I said, it’s still up to you. You have a good heart and a mind on your own, Adley.”

I planted a kiss on his finger where he wore his wedding band. “How can you be so wiser?”

“It came with difficult life and experience.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be so upset if we just talked about you, but I was upset that Grandpa got into him.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” A rumble vibrated against his chest as he groaned in annoyance.

I pinched him for cursing.

“Sorry.”

“He said that I would be making a mistake if I turn down the offer, that Grandpa is the only family I have left-”

“I am your family, Adley. Remember that. You have me. You’re not alone anymore.”

“I know. He wants me to work at the Kross Corp.”

“It’s all up to you to decide, baby. My only advice is, wait until you have the sealed contract of the assets.”

“How would you feel if I accepted Grandpa’s offer?” I looked him in the eye and watched his reaction-I couldn’t see any hidden agenda there, or I was just too blind to notice it.

“As long as the decision comes from your heart and they’re going to treat you right at the Kross Corp, I’d be happy to support you.”

“Should I talk to Blaze?”

“You definitely should. It’s hard to look at you so miserable like that.”

I touched his cheek. “You’re the best.”

He held my hand there and kissed my palm. “Glad I could help.”

“Can I continue watching now?”

“Yeah. Only if you change to sleepwear, we’ll watch together.”

I did as he said. I brushed my teeth and changed to sleepwear. When I came down, he was on the phone.

“Look, I value your friendship with my wife, but I don’t know what’s going on in her family.” My guess is it was Blaze on the other line.

“Take my advice. Be there for Adley, and don’t stick your nose into something you don’t know anything about. Listen to me, Blaze. I care about Adley, and I would do anything in my power to help her get through this issue, and I am doing this not because I agreed to help her. I’m doing this as her husband.”

I sauntered closer as he listened to what Blaze had to say from the other line. Mykel lifted his gaze when he noticed I was back.

“Well, instead of being her best friend, you listened to Lex. What did he offer you to convince Adley?” Mykel was getting pissed and might as well as Blaze.

“Jesus Christ. Fuck you! My wife is devastated and barely able to eat because you fucking listened to other people than coming to me and asking about my true intentions. It’s surely not about money. Now, figure the fucking out. Call my wife and settle this or you’re not gonna see her again.” He hung up the phone and threw it on the chair. “Fucking moron.”

“I should really put a cuss bank in this home.” I joined him on the couch.

“I’m sorry. He pissed me off. God, I want to crush his skull to let him understand what he’s walking into.”

“Easy there, tiger.”

“If he won’t apologize, don’t talk to him until he realizes his mistake of trusting that old man.”

“That old man is my grandfather, Mykel.”

“A mean grandfather.” He growled his words out.

“Maybe you’ll be mean when you become a grandpa.”

His smile was mischievous as he touched my chin. “You think so?”

I shrugged it off. “You have an overprotective tendency.”

“My baby girl won’t go on her first dance without bodyguards, and she won’t date if I didn’t clear it through a series of background checks, and not until she’s twenty-one.”

“And what her mom has to say about that?”

“Would you let her just go out with some jerks?” He smiled like the devil I had just made a deal with.