The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

I shut my eyes close, waiting for him to reply.

“No, sir. She’s alone.”

“Which hospital?” Cracking my eyes open, I let go of a shuddering breath as I sagged against the backseat. I felt terrible that somehow I was relieved that my son was not with her when it happened.

I hung up the call after the officer gave me the hospital’s name. “Turn around, arrange the flight to LA.”

I couldn’t take my mind off Jade. I just talked to her over the phone, and now she was rushed to the hospital fighting for her life. I tried to wrap around it and rationalized, hoping this was just a nightmare, but the more I thought about it, the more I was sucked into the reality that Jade might not make it, and my son would be losing his mother.

How was I going to tell a three-year-old kid?

How was I going to raise him alone?

“Jesus Christ.”

“I’m so sorry, boss,” Sax said.

“I was just talking to her. This could not be real.” I shook my head, voicing out my denial. “How did this happen?”

“Is your son safe, boss?” Kye asked.

“I feel terrible for saying this, but thankfully he was not with Jade when it happened.”

“Let’s just pray that Jade will pull through.”

I was in deep thoughts the whole flight about how I would take care of my son. How would he take the news? How would I explain to a three-year-old kid raised by the person he just lost if Jade would not make it?

We went directly to the apartment as soon as we landed.

“Mr. Creed, what are you doing here?” Jax’s nanny asked. They still had no idea what had happened to Jade until now.

“Where’s my son?”

“He’s sleeping in his room, sir. Have you heard from Jade? She’s not returning my call. She’s supposed to be back hours ago.”

I stared at her for a while before I dropped the bad news. “She was in a car accident.”

“Oh, my God! Is she okay?” She really had no idea.

I shook my head. “I’m going to the hospital to find out. Can you stay with my son tonight? Don’t worry about money. I’ll double it. Just take care of Jax.”

“Of course.”

“I wanna see him before I leave.” I went to my son’s bedroom. He was sleeping soundly without knowing what was going on around him.

My heart broke for Jax that he could possibly lose his mother at an early age. I knew much about the loss-it was permanent, and the impact was extreme and deep.

I swiped the hair away and kissed him on his forehead. “Daddy is here now. I love you, buddy.”

I forced myself to walk out of his room after I took another look at him.

“Did Jade give you my number?” I met Jax’s nanny in the hallway.

“Yes, sir. You’re on the emergency list.”

“Good. Call me if my son wakes up.”

“Of course, sir.”

I looked at Sax and Kye. “Let’s head to the hospital.”

I constantly sighed in the car until I realized something. “Fuck. Fuck! Jesus Christ!” I instantly dialed Adley’s number. “She’s gonna fucking kill me.”

“You could just text me if you couldn’t stomach to call me and tell me there’s been a change of plan, Mykel! I looked stupid and wretched waiting for you for two hours in the restaurant. You really don’t give a crap, do you? I was about to tell you about our baby, but that’s not something you wanna waste your precious time on, is it?”

“Baby, calm down. Let me explain.”

“I don’t want you to, Mykel. I’m done with you. And I know you’re in LA. And it is clear to me that you couldn’t be in both places at the same time. Goodbye.”

“Baby-Adley!” She just hung up on me. Fucking great.

I watched my phone screen in contempt. I hit redial. I had a terrible night, and I couldn’t also lose this fight.

“What do you want?”

“Baby, just give five seconds, please?”

“You have one second.”

“Jade was in a car accident.”

There was a moment of silence that expanded between us for long, stretched seconds.

“Mykel?”

“I’m here, baby.”

“Oh, my God! That’s awful. Is she okay? She’s gonna be okay, right? Wait. Where’s Jax?”

“Jax is at home, sleeping. We’re on our way to the hospital, but the officer who called me said Jade might not make it.”

“Oh, no, no, no. This is not happening. Oh, my God, Mykel. I’m so terribly sorry. I take back everything I said. I should have thought before I opened my mouth. That was awful of me. I should have known better that you would never do such a thing to hurt me.”

“It’s okay, Adley. You didn’t know, and I left you alone. I was just too shocked. My mind went blank, and I just thought of one thing. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You made the right call.”

“Jade called me before the accident. She was telling me how Jax was excited about the trip. That’s how the officer managed to call me first. I was the last person she called, Adley. And I feel terrible that she might get into an accident because she was talking to me.”

“You don’t know that. You didn’t know she was driving, did you?”

“No.”

“You know how responsible she was to Jax. She would never put herself in danger talking while driving. Can you give me an update if you get to the hospital?”

“Of course. Baby?”

“About what I said. I’m sorry. That’s uncalled for.”

“I’m terribly sorry for bailing out on you.”

“We have all the time, Mykel. Does Jax know?”

“I just came from the apartment. The nanny is still with him but was asleep when I left.”

“I’m flying to you. Let me just make an arrangement. I’ll call you soon.”

“Baby, no. You don’t have to come.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Baby, you’re pregnant, and you know how-”

“I know, but I can’t just wait here and do nothing. Jade is also my friend and Jax’s mom. I’m gonna be okay. I’m safe to fly, and I can do it. I promise. I’m taking the jet with me.”

I scratched my brow. “I can’t stop you, can I?”

“I love you, Mykel. But this time, I’m not gonna listen to you. Just go to the hospital. See you in a few hours.”