The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

“Mr. Creed?”

I repeatedly blinked when my name was called.

“Is there something you’d like to ask?” Reed asked.

“That’s all. Let’s wrap it up. See you all again in three months for the quarterly report.” I stood from my chair. From the corner of my eye, Elise was eyeing me with knitted brows.

I ignored her even though I could see a thousand questions written all over her face.

She followed me into the office. “You okay? You’ve been distracted.”

“I am if you stop asking questions.”

“It’s not my business, but something is bothering you-”

I went to my chair. “You what? Ask me to see a shrink?”

Elise smiled as if I read her mind. “Is it something to do with me giving your number to Miss Kross?”

“Actually, I should thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied.

Just hearing Adley’s name felt like dread cutting through my chest. It had been two days, and she hadn’t called me or did anything people used to reach out to others these days. Nada! Zilch! Maybe she was willing to throw her life at that asshole bully rabid wolf.

Elise was startled when the pencil snapped in half in my hand.

“Sorry.” I threw the broken pencil in the bin. “Are there any important calls or meetings?”

“She did not call if you’re pertaining-”

“I’m not, Elise,” I denied, but I couldn’t hide my nerves.

“You know, I may be just your assistant, but I can give friendly advice.”

I met her gaze. “You are not just my assistant. You know that. You’re like a baby sister to me. And I could use some advice. Shoot.”

“Call her. Pay her a visit. Whatever is going on between you two, I feel like it could be something more.”

“Send her flowers.”

“Not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“The last time you sent flowers, she threw them in the trash.”

“What?” I stared at her in shock.

“She hates when someone sends her flowers.”

“Who hates flowers? Do you hate flowers?” I asked in annoyance.

“She doesn’t hate flowers. She feels like people are using flowers to make an excuse or to apologize. If you want to give her flowers, give them personally to her.”

“How did you know all this?”

“Blaze told me.”

I eyed her. I was protective of Elise. It was not that I forbid her to have fun or have a relationship with anyone as long as she got the respect she deserved. Her last relationship ended so badly for her. I didn’t want her to go through that again.

“You’re seeing Blaze?”

She swallowed. “It’s just a one-time-”

I raised my hand. “I don’t wanna know as long he won’t hurt because if he does, mark my word, I will break every bone in his body even if he’s Adley’s friend. Do you understand me?”

“Thanks for being okay with this.” She smiled shyly.

“You’re good at what you do here, and I don’t have reasons to not be okay with it. Besides, you both are consenting adults.”

“Anyway, she’s at the K&B.”

“Thanks. I might take your advice after all.”

***

My car parked in front of the K&B Office. Since she chose not to contact me, maybe a surprising visit would give her a little push. If she could sleep soundly at night after what we talked about, well, I, on the other hand, had suddenly developed sleep deprivation.

Kye was already opening the door for me.

“Thanks.” Then I looked at Sax through the rearview. “I’m good. You and Kye can have coffee at the nearby cafe. I’ll let you know once I’m done.”

He met my gaze. “Boss?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Sure, boss.”

I met Blaze halfway to Adley’s office-he had just come out from his own.

He offered a handshake. “Mr. Creed, good to see you here.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I gripped his hand harder. “Mr. Creed, my ass. I know you are sleeping with Elise. If you ever hurt her or if I even see her crying, I will break your skull and make sure you won’t wake up from a coma ever.”

“O-kay.” He looked amused and confused at the same time.

I let go of his hand. “I’m not fucking kidding, Burns.”

Their team, as Adley called it, was always busy. No wonder she cared a lot about this company.

I knocked softly, and she answered to come in.

“How’s your day?”

She froze stiff like a statue. She closed the folder she was reading and stared at me in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“You have no plan on talking to me afterward?” I asked her as I walked into her office. The idea of me getting married to a woman I barely knew should have terrified me, but somehow, I felt it challenging.

She checked her watch. “I still have six hours left, Mykel.”

I sat down on the chair across the desk. “Have you decided?”

She rolled her eyes. “Six hours, please?”

“Have you written down your demands?”

“Conditions.”

“Same thing. Terms. So you decided to say yes.”

“Jeez, you’re the most impatient man I know.”

“And the most attractive.”

“I’ve seen plenty.”

“I bet.”

“Why are you here, Mykel? Aren’t you supposed to be busy making yourself rich?” she asked as she went to rereading whatever was in the folder.

“I have plenty to spend in a hundred lifetime.”

“Maybe by that time, your billions are only worth a penny. And the poor dear old me is busy right now.”

“Let’s have lunch.” I checked my watch. I knew she hadn’t eaten anything. “Come on, baby.”

Her cheeks turned red. I always noticed her blush every time I called her baby. Well, if we were going to get married, it was best to give her a name.

“Fine. It’s because I’m hungry.”

There was a restaurant across the street. It was not a Michelin, but it was pretty decent.

Before we crossed the street, we were like in a social distancing protocol.

I moved closer to her. “Adley, if you wanna make things work out between us, you have to practice like we are attracted to each other. We don’t have to act in love, just make people believe we’re dating.”

She wrapped her little hand around my arm.

“See? It’s not that difficult. Just so you know, I don’t have infectious diseases for you to be so distant from me.”

She looked at me with a straight face. “That’s a relief.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. So she had plans to sleep with me after all. “I know how to keep myself safe.”

We settled at the corner end of the restaurant. She ordered a chicken Ceasar pasta.

“I’ll have the same. And a bottle of white wine. Thanks.”

When the waiter left, she was staring at me.