The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

Adley ended up in my arms since we slept in the same bed together. It was constant. And it felt so damn good that I didn’t have to be in a hurry to escape all the time after getting what I wanted.

For the first time, I realized what I had been doing had nothing to do with sexual pleasure. I was running away from commitment-the fear of failure, trust, and intimacy. I was looking for an instant connection, and I didn’t find it in those women but with Adley.

Adley stirred and stretched out with a groan. She suddenly stiffened, realizing she was tangled with me. “This is getting so embarrassing.”

“What is it?” I remained calm before her situation became awkward, even though I was beyond cool with this.

“Just so you know, I was sleeping. I didn’t know what I was doing.” Her voice was still groggy and low. She moved to her side.

“It’s not your fault.”

“It is, Mykel. My space is empty.”

I chuckled. “It’s okay. I think my boxers are still on. I don’t feel like being assaulted, and you slept well. Good morning, by the way.” I watched her look at my abdomen. I was back to not wearing a shirt when sleeping. She didn’t complain, though.

“Morning.” A smile curved up her lips. She just saw the bulge on my boxers. Well, I couldn’t avoid it.

“Are you planning on talking to Blaze?”

She sat on the bed. Her hair was messy, and she looked like we had some fun and a wild night, all rosy cheeks. “Yeah. We can’t avoid each other, and I owe him a lot.”

I went silent for a while. I didn’t know what to say about my schedule for today because if I told her, she might not come home tonight.

“You okay?” She got up from bed, so I had to do the same. She had this habit of making the bed so tidy.

“Yeah.”

I went to the mini gym and ran on a treadmill for a while, while Adley was more a yoga type. After half an hour, my phone rang. It was Elise.

“Morning, boss.”

I sat on the chair, wiping off my sweat. “Morning. Are you with Blaze when I called last night?”

“Yeah. He was kinda off before you called. He didn’t tell me when I asked what’s wrong.”

I took a deep breath. “Blaze and Adley had a fight.”

“Figured. Anyway, you can check out your schedule for today and tomorrow. The hotel is booked, and I have already talked to your pilot. Your flight is in two hours. Did you pack your things?”

“Yeah. Last night.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

“No. I’ll be fine.” The truth, I wasn’t okay that Adley was not on good terms with Blaze. “Can you look after Adley while I am on a trip?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll call her after work.”

“If there’s anything, call me right away.”

“Got it, boss.”

I hit the shower after. I went to the kitchen, and Adley was already dressed in a blue corporate dress.

“Coffee-” She stopped.

I dropped my bag on the floor as soon as she noticed me. She went silent for a while, and I knew that look on her face. My chest constricted with guilt for not talking about this last night.

I ran my fingers through my hair. “Baby…”

“You’re leaving.” Her dismayed words hit my gut.

“What? No?”

“You’re going on a business trip?” She swallowed.

“I was going to tell you last night, but you were dealing with Blaze and upset. You didn’t touch your dinner, and it felt like bad timing.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“I had two cups of yogurt.”

“That was not even a meal.”

“Okay. Let’s not discuss the food groups today, okay?” She gave me a coffee cup. “I should have thought about your trips. I was swamped with work and the ideology of you and me and my mess.”

I snatched a toast. “I’m really sorry. I feel guilty.”

She snorted. “I could have helped you pack your bag.”

“Yeah, About that…” Adley was known to be a well-organized person. And I just picked up some of my things from my last trip.

“Oh boy.” She laughed. “I know that look. Do we still have time?”

I scratched my eyebrow. “Less than two hours.”

“I got this.” She left the kitchen, and I followed her.

After I picked up my bag, we went back to our room.

“Okay. Help me empty your bag, please?”

I did as she asked.

“How long is your trip? Next time, tell me a night before you leave, big guy.” She went to my closet and took two suits and shirts-one white and one light blue. Then she opened a drawer and picked up two ties.

“I used to have Elise help me with what to wear. We Facetimed, and she told me what to pick up.” I watched how she scurried alone, yet nothing seemed to look untouched.

She then put my suits in the suit bags. “Will Sax and Kye be traveling with you?”

“Yeah, why?”

“All you need to carry is your bag.” She put some shirts, my boxers, pants, sweatpants, and a belt in the duffel. Then my deodorant, cologne, hair gel, aftershave, and trimmer were in the toiletry bag. Then she stuffed my charger into the pocket. My workout shoes and my work shoes were also in the bag.

When I first met Adley, it didn’t occur to me she could be this smart and well-kept. I watched in amazement. I meant, she was terrific, but for an heiress to be this thoughtful and wife material, she made me proud.

“I’m not gonna ask where did you learn that? They didn’t teach you that in college.”

She smiled. “Everything you wanna learn is on YouTube, Mykel.”

Sax and Kye were already waiting for me at my parking lot.

“Mrs. C, good morning.” Kye was waiting with the car door open. He then took the bags from me, stuffing them in the trunk.

“How are you doing, Kye, Sax?”

“Doing great, ma’am,” they responded in unison.

“Look after this big guy for me, will you?” This would be my first business trip since we got married. As much as I hated to admit it, I felt terrible for leaving her alone, but I knew she was still adjusting to traveling, and she would not definitely leave her work for my trips.

“Always, ma’am,” Sax said before entering the car.

“Take care of yourself while I’m away, okay? If anything, even how irrelevant it is or those lawyers or that asshole shows up again in your office, call me immediately.”

“You’re overreacting,” she said with disinterest.

“Baby, I’m serious. I dislike it when they intrude on your workspace.”

“They won’t do that again.”

“Gary? I don’t think so.”

“He’s after is just a seat in the company.”

“You don’t know that.”

She let go of a sigh. “You’re gonna be late.”

I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. I didn’t let her go for a moment. Without a doubt, I was going to miss her. I kissed her head, taking her smell in.

“It’s just two days.” She giggled in my arms.

“Still, it will feel like forever.”

“I’ll be fine.”

I finally pulled away. “I’ll call you as soon as I land.”

“Sure.”

Before I finally let her go, I cupped her head and kissed her lips. There were those moments when I got emotional and desperate, and this was one of those moments. When she smiled on our lips, I knew she felt me. I kissed her forehead before I stepped back.

“See you soon.”

I was still in euphoria even if I was already in the car, watching her smile and wave from our leaving vehicle. I couldn’t blink and wouldn’t want her out of my sight, but she was gone.

We were on our way to the private airport, yet I was still looking outside the window.

“Would you want me to contact someone to look after her while you are away?”

“I was thinking of hiring her a driver, but I know Lex has hired someone to keep tabs on her since she started living on her own. I just don’t know who. I’m not worried about her safety, for now.”

“Okay, boss. Just let us know.”

“Thank you.”

***

I tried my best to focus reading on the proposal in my hand, but I was a screw-up. My mind was still with Adley, her smile, her lips, how she looked at me, and how she felt in my arms.

I was falling for her, and the feeling was foreign, yet it felt right and familiar.

“Hey, baby,” I called her as soon as we landed.

“Hey, how’s Miami?”

“Sunny.”

She chuckled. “You’re funny.”

“How’s work?” I climbed into the rental car.

“Fine.”

“Have you talked to Blaze?”

“He called in sick today. I tried calling him, but it went to his voicemail. I think I should go to the apartment and check on him.”

“Try calling Elise first. Maybe she knows where he is.”

“I’ll do that.”

“I already missed you.”

“Really?” She sounded surprised.

“Yeah. You don’t believe me?”

“It’s not like that. We’ve been apart for like four hours. Anyway, I have to go back to work.”

“Take care, baby.”

“You too.”

Before she could hang up, I called her name again.

“Yes, I’m here.”

“I miss you.”

“I believe you.”