The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

I received a call from Lex this morning. I knew it had nothing to do with me hitch-hiking his granddaughter’s ride. Now I wondered what this was all about.

His office was classic and rich. He did not change anything since the last time I was his young protege.

“Lex.”

“Have a seat, Mykel. How have you been?”

“Great. Thanks for asking.” I took a seat. “But this courtesy call has nothing to do with me, is it?”

He gave me a shot of whiskey.

“Thank you.”

“I met your father yesterday. Imagine my surprise.” He sat back in his chair.

I sipped the amber liquid before placing it on the coffee table. This old man knew his poison. “What did he say?”

“That you and Adley are dating.”

A smile spread across my lips. “And you don’t believe it?”

In my twenty-seven years, even my father had never intimidated me, not in the case of Lex Kross, and I admired and respected the man sitting across me.

“You don’t wanna double-cross me, Mykel. Don’t play with my granddaughter or with me. You’re going to break her heart.”

“No offense, Lex, but she’s an adult. You can’t control her life anymore. She’s old enough to do what she thinks is right. She can decide what she wants to do in her life, and if she likes me, you can’t hold that against us.”

“Since when did you stick your junk to one woman?”

I raised my brow. “Look, I respect Adley and the rest of the women I had been with. Adley knew my past. It’s not my intention to hide it from her.”

“Does she also know that Knox is your half-brother? And she went on a date with him.”

My mood turned sour. I hadn’t mentioned it to Adley, and I doubted if she knew my relationship with Knox. “It didn’t come up. I suppose you’re going to tell her?”

“All I want is for her own good, for her future.”

“And the next thing you’d say is to stay away from her and that I’m not good enough for her.”

“She turned down Gary.”

“Gary? Gary Merick? Are you serious, Lex? The trust fund guy doesn’t even know how to close a deal? Seriously? That’s how you secure Adley’s future? And let me guess, he disagreed with Adley’s choice of running her own business?”

“She deserves something better, and that-whatever it is, she’s wasting her time,” he yipped. His scowl deepened.

“And that scumbag is better for her? Does she know?”

“They met yesterday.”

My jaw almost cracked. I looked down at the whiskey. I picked it up and downed it even if it burned my throat.

For the first time, I felt sick, powerless, and terrified. The fact that Adley kept fighting her attraction toward me, I didn’t think I would win over this. I was still taking it as a challenge. I never gave up on something I wanted in life.

“If she comes to you and asks for help, I want you to turn her down.”

I looked at him. “Or what?”

“Don’t ask.”

I needed to leave before I could say or do something I couldn’t take back.

“What if I will win her heart? What if I fall for her? Adley is maybe stubborn, but she’s kind, motivated, fun, and the most selfless woman I’ve ever met. She does what she believes is for the better. And I don’t think I would break her heart. It’s the other way around.”

***

Groaning, I shut my laptop close.

I couldn’t concentrate when my mind was bouncing between Adley and Lex. I couldn’t believe someone like Lex still believed in an arranged marriage to keep the business running.

I rubbed my face in annoyance. My stubble was getting longer, and I didn’t have time to trim it. I was tempted to go out and get some release, but every time I thought of fucking someone, those big sterling eyes and full lips always crossed my mind to taunt me. How could someone captivate me when she had no interest in sleeping with me?

I pinched the bridge of my nose when I started to have a headache. I was not much of a drinker, and I tried hard not to get used to having alcohol as my best friend if I had issues.

I was also tempted to call Dash, but he would only shove the fact into my face that I had nowhere close to getting Adley into my bed.

My phone vibrated, which caught my attention. It was a new number. No one could access my personal number without getting through Elise first.

I picked up and answered, “Mykel Creed.”

“Do you always answer like that?” she greeted with a question. I instantly recognized her voice. My heart began racing.

I found myself grinning. “So you do have my number?”

“I asked Elise. Does it sound creepy?”

“Not at all.”

“Can I come up?”

I froze for a moment. “You’re down?”

“I also asked Elise where I can find you. Am I intruding?”

“No, baby. Please, come up.” Fuck me. It was happening. Lex knew Adley very well. I may owe him big time, but this was his granddaughter’s idea. “Kye, the tall blond guy will help you up.”

“Yeah. He’s with me right now. Thanks.”

“No problem.” I hung up the call, walked toward the door, and waited for Adley to appear. I started rubbing my palms together as seconds ticked by.

A few moments later, she showed up in simple jeans and a shirt, and a pastel blue blazer hung over her shoulders. Her hair was pulled up in a bun this time. She looked delicious and like an addictive pain-reliever that just took my headache away.

“I’m sorry for showing up unannounced.” She looked apologetic enough that I wanted to cup her face and tell her everything would be okay, even if there were no guarantees. But first, I didn’t know what this surprise visit was all about.

I was way over my head. “Glad you dropped by. Come in.”

“Thanks.”

I shut the door behind me and drew a deep breath. “You thanked me a lot, Adley. Can I get you something to drink?”

“If you have white. Thanks.” She helped herself and took a seat on the sofa.

I chuckled. “I do. Be right back.”

I went to the kitchen and sent a quick text to Elise. I grabbed a bottle of white wine, uncorked it, and took two glasses with me.

When I returned to Adley, I realized something different about her. She looked lost, like she was carrying the world over her shoulder. She blankly stared at the wall, and her mind was somewhere far beyond.

I poured the glasses and offered one to her.

This time she didn’t thank me again. She drank it empty in one gulp. She asked for more, then did the same. When she asked for another, I shook my head.

I wanted nothing but love to be with her right now, but not drunk. “Take it easy.”

“Fine.”

I poured one last time, and she didn’t touch it. I sipped mine and watched her intently. “You okay?”

She shook her head. “No. Have you been in a situation where you have to choose between things you dislike?”

“Many times.”

She turned her head and stared at me for a moment before she spoke. “How did you deal with it?”

I sighed. “Certain things we like we don’t get, and we are offered the things we like less, but many of those things are better for us.”

“You’re probably wondering why I am here.”

“The last place where you wanna be?” I wanted to smile, but I hid it pretty hard.

“You are full of yourself, shallow, narcissistic, arrogant, cocky, obnoxious, blunt, obscene-”

“Yet you came to me.”

“Yeah.” She looked down at her fingers. She was shaking.

“Hey.” I sat closer to her. “Whatever is going on, we can get through this.” I held and squeezed her hands. “And it would be better. I promise you that.” There was no guarantee of what the future held for us, but Adley would be better with me than with that scumbag.

“You don’t know that.”

“I may not know this now, but we will find a way.”

She drew a deep breath. “I’m always a planner, obsessed with perfection, but at this moment, I find no other way. And please, don’t tell Blaze that I’m here. He’s gonna make fun of me.”

“I won’t if you tell me what’s going on.” I looked at her, really looked at vulnerable Adley sitting next to me.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I need your help.”

“There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, that’s the right thing to do. That’s not a weakness, Adley. I’ll do what I can.”

“You don’t even know what I’m asking for.”

“Then walk me through it.”