The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

“Congratulations.” Neke hugged me tight.

After successfully launching our limited products, our expansion in Asia was already taking place. Our sales skyrocketed-our products were in demand. We expanded to other e-commerce retailers all over the globe. I finally bought a fifteen percent share of the company.

And I’d been busy as hell, not that I was complaining because life was good. Striker and I were great, even if we only had a dinner date once a month. We supported each other. We were a team. That was what made our marriage work despite our busy lives, and we still ended up cuddling at night.

Tonight, the fashion show was a massive success, making all my sleepless nights, shoulder aches, and missed dinner dates worthwhile.

It was midnight, and we were at the party to celebrate our success at the Night Stalker Club.

“Why is it everyone is congratulating me?” It wasn’t me. It’s the team.” I went to the DJ and grabbed the mic. He shut the music off. “Excuse me! Everyone, please? May I have a moment of your time before we’ll all get drunk?”

The dance floor went silent.

“Tonight is a huge success. We smashed it. After hours and hours of work, we made it. You all deserve more than just applause. You all made this possible. You know, I couldn’t do it alone. Neke and I wouldn’t make that stunning fashion show possible. I want to thank all of you for your sacrifices and sleepless nights. Me, I missed a few dinner dates with my husband.” I stole a glance at Striker, who had been watching me. “Thankfully, he doesn’t care because he knows I will treat him to our Saturday tacos. You will all get a small gift from the big boss, right?” I looked at my husband. He raised his glass. “Well done, everyone.” After applause. “Let’s get this party started!”

The music boomed. The team and staff began dancing.

I went down to meet Striker in the middle. He leaned in and kissed my lips. “Congrats, baby.”

“You’re becoming rich, husband.”

A small smile spread across his lips. “You know it’s not just about making money.”

“I know. It’s the fulfillment of doing something good and successful. That’s the real happiness.”

“You are my real happiness, beautiful.” He caged me in his arms, and I snaked my hands around his neck as we began slow dancing, even if the music was pop dance.

“You want something, Cade?” I knew how he looked at me when he wanted something. After months of being together and after what we had been through, I got to know the Striker Braddson-Cade.

“What made you say that?”

“Just say it, sweetheart.”

“No more moving the date of our wedding. I want to have you all to myself for weeks.”

“Yes, sweetheart. It’s final. We’re getting married on our first wedding anniversary. So it’s like we’re renewing our vows.”

“And we will celebrate our anniversaries once a year.”

“You’re making things complicated. Just anniversary, Cade.” I tightened my hands around his neck and pressed my lips against his. “I couldn’t wait to marry you again.”

“I believe that’s my line.”

“Suck it up. I wanna say it.”

We left the dance floor and climbed upstairs to our VIP room. He went to sit on the couch and pulled me to sit on his lap. I remembered how he kept me safe that night. Right now, I felt like I belonged there-in his arms like he’d been made for me. As if that night, we were meant to find each other. All doubts about this arranged marriage had gone out the window.

All I was sure about was that we belonged together. I was made for him.

When I felt suddenly emotional, I peppered him with kisses that led me to his lips.

As he wrapped his arms around me, he sighed to my lips.

I pulled my lips away. “What was that for?”

“I feel you. Your emotions.” He smiled at me.

“We’ve always been connected. And I’m happy, Cade. You completed my life, sweetheart.”

“You completed me, too. You made me the happiest man, Vanderford.”

***

In the morning, I woke up, and I couldn’t remember how I got home, let alone go to bed in my pajamas. The last thing I remember was getting drunk with Neke and my team.

I got up from bed with a terrible hangover.

“Good. The drunkass is finally awake.”

“Cade?” I massaged my temple. “What happened? Did Neke get home safe?”

“She’s in the guestroom.”

“Oh, thank God.” I grimaced as I tried to walk to the bathroom.

He shook his head, amused while I was suffering, with my head feeling about to explode like a watermelon. “The tub is ready. I’ll get you painkillers. I warned you not to drink too much, but you just shrugged it off and said, sweetheart, please? This happens once in a blue moon,” he mimicked my voice.

“You’re upset because I slept on you.”

His eyes narrowed at me. “Do you think I’m upset? I’m furious, baby. I have to send my car to the car wash and call the cleaning crew in the middle of the night to clean your mess with Neke.”

“What?” I stared at him in shock. Oh, thank God, not his Bond car.”No. I didn’t. I- what happened?”

“Just get in the tub, please?”

When he left, I stripped off my pajama and sank into the bathtub. The water was warm and felt good, like massaging my sore muscles. I still couldn’t remember what happened after I got drunk with Neke. Did I really throw up in the car? That bad?

“Oh, my God.”

He came back with a glass of water and two tablets of painkillers.

I took them right away with water.

“You need to rehydrate. No more drinking for one month to cleanse your system, Vanderford.”

I lifted my gaze. “Yes, sir.”

“I’ll be right back.”

I stayed there for a while, trying to remember what had happened, but I had no clear recollection.

“So you’re alive.” I turned to the voice. Neke was standing at the door wearing my pajama.

“You okay?”

She looked okay, though. “Yeah. Your husband takes care of me.”

My brow shoots up. “How?”

“Wow. That was quick.”

“What was quick?”

“You actually get jealous?” She came to sit outside the tub.

“No. You’re my best friend.”

She chuckled. “You’re not good at lying. He came and knocked to check if I was okay. He brought me painkillers and water. He gave this pjs last night while your ass was drunk.”

I smiled. “He does that. Take care of the people he cares about. So, what do you remember?”

“About last night? Everything. Why?”

“Did I really pass out and throw up in his car?”

“Did he tell you that?” she barked out, laughing. She was even holding her tummy, making me confused.

“I told her I sent my car to the car wash and called the cleaning crew last night.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I glared at my husband. “Wait. You lied to me?”

He laughed with Neke. “You were drunk, baby, but you didn’t throw up. I thought you’d remember something when you wake up.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I wanted to see the guilty look on your face when I told you what you did. You actually looked really, really guilty.”

“I was, jerk.”

Neke laughed even more. “You just called him jerk, London.”

“Oh, she calls me dickhead when she’s feisty.”

“You will pay for this.”

“How’s your head? Can we have breakfast now?”

“It’s getting better.”

“You’ll soak again if you want, but you need to put something in your stomach.” He gave me my robe.

“I’ll be in the kitchen.” Neke rose to her feet and walked out of the room.

Once, we were alone. I playfully punched him on the abs, making him laugh. “I thought I really messed up your car.”

“I don’t care, baby, as long as you had fun last night.” He wrapped me in his arms. “I will do everything to see the smile on your face and those sparkles in your eyes. And I promise to do that to you until we grow old together.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

We ended up having breakfast on the couch. Neke is on the sofa with her plate. While I leaned against Striker as I enjoyed my bacon. Today was unusual, but it was fun and light as we shared breakfast together.

“Sweetheart, can you give me another strip.” I sipped the coffee in my right hand. My left was with the plate.

“You didn’t touch your toast. You need carbs, Vanderford.” He put a strip of bacon into my plate.

“You can have it.”

“Give it to me,” Neke offered her plate.

I dropped it onto her plate. “I want something greasy today.”

“What is going on?” Oh crap. That was Moses.

“Hey, Pa.” I sat straight.

“You’re eating on the couch.” Moses looked at us one by one.

“These two lazy lassies don’t want to eat in the dining. They were drunk last night.”

“Coffee?” Neke offered him his cup, grinning. “I can’t believe I just offered my coffee to the chairman of the Hover.”

“Thank you, honey. I’ll go get mine.”

“Need help?”

“I can find it myself, honey. Finish your breakfast. Tate and your dad are on their way.”

“Crap. It’s Saturday.” I facepalmed.

“What’s on Saturday?” Neke asked.

“Tacos Saturday. It’s a family day. This time we’re meeting here.”

“Hey, guys.” Linden just walked in and stopped as he found us in different positions on the couch. “What the fu-?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Too late.” He just snatched my bacon and shoved it into her mouth.

“The hell!”

***

After our unusual breakfast, I cleaned up and went to the backyard. My dad and Tate were already there. Sax and Kye managed to join us today. Briggs and Reed were also here.

“Am I late?”

Everyone turned to Reef coming in.

“Where have you been?” I asked him.

“I went to see my children.”

My heart melted. I stood up to give him a hug. “Aw. Good for you.”

“Thank you, London. Mr. Braddson gave me a mail room job at the Hover.”

“Congratulations. I’m happy for you, Reef. How are your children?”

“They’re good. Still, we are getting to know each other. When I left them, my youngest was just two years old.”

“Everything’s gonna be okay, Reef.”

“I know, ma’am. Baby steps.”

“Speaking of baby-”

“Oh, Dad. No.” I raised my hand when Dad spoke.

Everyone laughed.

“I wasn’t talking about you.”

“Oh.” I pressed my lips together as I hid my smile.

“I was actually about to talk about it,” he still admitted.

The guys roared to laugh, including my husband sitting next to me.

“No pressure, guys. No pressure.” I just blushed.

“Take your time, best friend.” Neke was also laughing. “The aunt here is ready.”

“And the grandfathers.”

“Jesus.” Striker had never been amused.

“And the uncles.” Sax pointed at himself and the guys.

I leaned in to whisper to Striker. “What do you think?”

“We can do this.”

“Yes, we can.”