The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

There was so much pain in her eyes. She had withdrawn to somewhere she didn’t want to be reached. It fucking hurt knowing I was the one who put it there that I made her that way. I wished I could take those pain away. I didn’t care how excruciating it was for me-I just wanted to see the sparks in her eyes and hear her rich laugh again.

For a second, I didn’t buy that tough girl bullshit. I’d known my wife for months, and she’d never turned her back on me. I knew she didn’t mean those words-those words were coming from a woman who was hurting and carrying the world over her shoulder.

I fucking missed her-my wife-the woman I fell in love with.

Now was not the right time to give up on someone I loved. Now was not the time to have some doubts.

Days had passed, and I had not heard from Adley again. Romare was keeping me updated-that put me in bed and made me sleep at night, even if not peacefully.

I was giving her the time and space she needed. What I didn’t expect was that she needed this much, but I knew she was okay. The only thing that bothered me was that she didn’t have the light on her face anymore-according to Romare, and I trusted his judgment. But that guy couldn’t even find a good word to say-he needed to learn a few vocabularies.

“Hi. How’s the transfer going?”

“I still have a few boxes to unbox, but this is the closest I can call home. Thank you, Mykel.” Jade had been an orphan since high school. I had to admit-she was a strong woman, finished college, and raised a kid alone. Somehow, she reminded me of Adley.

“You don’t have to thank me. I’m grateful you allowed me to help you. How’s Jax?”

“He’s enjoying the space and the peace without our loud neighbors. He’s been playing and running in the apartment the whole morning.” She paused for a moment. “Have you opened up to your wife?”

“Yeah. To be honest, she’s having a hard time accepting it. She’s living with her grandfather. I’m giving her enough time she needs since she asked for it. But I want to see my son, Jade. I want him to know me as his father.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Mykel, but that’s my condition. I know you love your wife and want to be a part of Jax’s life, but I want to make sure your wife is okay with our arrangement. I wanna make sure she’s okay with my son. I know one day, you wanna take him to your home, and it’s okay with me, but I also want to trust Adley that she won’t hurt Jax.”

“Jade, you don’t have to worry about Adley. She’s kind, and she won’t ever hurt Jax-”

“Mykel, I really want to help you. I don’t want Jax will blame me one day for not letting him meet his father, but I also care and need a guarantee that he will grow up in a safe environment, in a good home, and that is where you and your wife come in, I don’t want him to see you fighting because of our arrangement.”

“I get it, Jade.” I nodded in agreement, pinching the bridge of my nose, even if she could not see me. “That’s what I want for him, too. I want to help you raise him with the people who care about him.”

“If she’s a good woman, Mykel, she will understand your situation and why I want this for Jax.”

When the line went dead, I was left with only a few difficult choices, and those were not in my favor at this moment.

The house was not the same without Adley. It felt lifeless, soulless, and haunting.

I decided to meet Dash and Knox in the evening at the Night Stalker. As much as I wanted another heart-to-heart talk with my father, he was out of town on a business trip.

“I can’t believe you are a father.” I was expecting this reaction coming from Knox. He studied me for a moment before he sipped the blue drink he ordered.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“I’m not. Knowing your brother back then, it’s only a matter of time before kids come running at him, claiming he’s the sperm donor. Congratulations, by the way.” Dash slapped my back. It sounded enthralling, and I couldn’t wait for Jax to call me daddy, but that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.

“Bro, we’re here, you know.” Knox nudged me. “Aren’t you supposed to be happy that you’re a father, and I’m just an instant uncle?”

With my knuckles tucked under my jaw, I raised my gaze at him. “I’m thrilled-”

“But?”

“The mother, Jade. She has a condition I should meet before introducing me to our son as his father. His name is Jax. Zhaer Jax.” I showed them the picture on my phone. I also sent it to Mom and Dru. They were terrific to meet him.

“He’s really your son. He got the hair and the eyes,” Dash affirmed.

“Agreed. So, I’m Uncle Knox, huh?”

“You are now, bro,” I muttered.

“So, what’s the condition?”

“I understand her doubts. I just showed up and asked for something that needed a huge commitment, and she had to make a big decision. I was even lucky she talked to me. But Adley should agree with the arrangement. Jade wants to make sure Adley is on board before she introduces me to Jax.”

“Did Adley know about this?” Dash asked.

“Yes, before I traveled. I wanted to be certain the kid is mine.”

“Let me guess. The reason why we’re here is Adley.”

I nodded at Knox.

He hummed. “I also understand Adley. She must be so hurt. She’s a good woman, Mykel, but she’s still shocked that she just found out you’re a father. It’s just the two of you for a couple of months, and now you’re planning to raise and take your son from another woman’s home. Whether she likes it or not, she’s gonna play a stepmom role to your son. It’s like you’re forcing her into a situation she’s not ready for it.”

Dash agreed with Knox, “If this happens before you two get married, maybe this doesn’t hurt her so much. I bet she’s not ready to be a mother, let alone trying to fit in to be in a stepmom’s shoe to your son.” He sighed deeply and didn’t even try to hide his disappointment and distress. “I also understand the mother of your son. She raised him for three years, and not only that. She’s pregnant for nine months without someone to depend on. I’m impressed that she welcomed you without punching your face.”

“I might have said something that made Jade reconsider.”

Knox and Dash shared a look before they shook their heads in unison.

“Why am I not even surprised?” Dash snorted.

“Look, I was desperate. All I wanted was to make things right. I wanted to start over with Adley with a clean slate. I don’t want secrets between us anymore. Look what got me when I hid who’s Knox to me?” I could barely shrug. This whole situation was far harder than any challenges I’d ever encountered, especially since I didn’t have my wife as my anchor.

“You are also desperate to be a father,” Dash added.

“And you’re failing it spectacularly, bro. How will you convince Adley to be okay with this if she’s just moved out of your home?”

“I wanted to punch you so often, Dash. You’re here because you have words of shits you can tell me.” I threw him a glare before I downed the dirty whiskey till empty.

“Did you try explaining?” Knox asked.

“The first thing I did. You’re useless, yourself.” I growled in annoyance. “You’re not listening. I told you I don’t keep secrets from her anymore. I told her about Jade’s term, but she turned me down. Flat.”

“Okay. Take it easy.” Knox raised a hand. “That’s the alcohol talking.”

“I’m not drunk, asshole.”

“It doesn’t seem like the Adley I know. I know this might hurt your feelings, but she used you to get what she wanted, and then you were asking for help desperately, and she turned you down. I mean, you gave up and sacrificed everything, and went beyond to any length for the sham marriage-for the sake of her inheritance, and now you need her help. She doesn’t want to return the favor? Wow! That’s low, man.”

As soon as Dash finished his sentence, I just snapped. I found my fist against his jaw. He stumbled down the chair.

Knox was on his feet as he yelped in shock at what just came over me. I was not this violent. I may be overprotective over my wife, and I didn’t like any of the words he said, but it didn’t give me the right to punch my best friend for years.

“What the fuck, Creed?” He narrowed his eyes to slits as he touched his jaw, which started to swell. He rose from his fall. “Did you just punch me? If you’re still dreaming, wake up and open your eyes to reality because that’s the truth. You were used to using women and got what you wanted. I think karma is instant nowadays. It backfires pretty quick.”

“You just disrespected my wife, Chandler!” I spat back.

“If your fucking feelings still blind you, time to see the truth, Mykel, because not all the time we are here to grab you back on your feet. Suck it up, man! You might have misread your wife being too good to be true after all.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Rage against Dash consumed me as I launched into him. Before I could punch Dash again, his fist had already reached my eye, and it hurt as fuck. But when you were overpowered with your anger, you tended to forget the pain you endured, and all you wanted was to crush your opponent’s face.

An hour later, I found myself in a holding cell police station. I realized I was too drunk and let my rage and denial devour me. Dash did not press charges. I just volunteered to get myself locked for the time being until I cooled down.

“Do you still wanna stay here, asshole?”

“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t even look at him. I was ashamed of my action. I acted like a raging teenager. And for fuck’s sake, I was twenty-eight years old and ran a billion-dollar empire, and here I was with my ass locked up. I shook my head in disappointment.

“Pull yourself together, Mykel. I’m sorry, too. I’ve said something terrible about Adley. I know you love her.”

“It’s all my fault anyway. I chose this life and took full responsibility for my action. I’m under a lot of stress, and I threw that on you. I’m staying here until morning.”

“Okay. Call me if you need anything, but not punch me. You hit like a girl, by the way.”

I chuckled as I pressed the cold water onto my left eye.

He left, and Knox walked in.

“Can we go home now?”

“I’m staying.”

“Are you kidding me?” He looked at me as if I had lost my damn mind. Maybe I just did.

“Nope.”

“I’m calling your bodyguards.”

“Don’t. I’ll call a cab or let the officer send me home.”

“You’re losing your shits, bro. Your son won’t be so impressed to hear this.” He was right. This should be the last thing I should be doing, but here I was, acting like a lunatic.

“Go home. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“If you say so.”

Once Knox left, I laid back on the bench. Things I did came back to me like flashes. I shut my eyes close, hoping to block those images. What if Dash was right? But that couldn’t be. I felt how she cared for me. What we had was real.

“Mr. Creed, do you realize this isn’t a hotel room?” The officer who brought me here looked more amused than ever. I volunteered myself that if Dash would press an assault charge, then so be it. I would pay for it.

“This is actually better than my empty bedroom.” I looked around at these arrested individuals. “At least I have angry mates here to piss off.”

The officer tsked before he walked away. I got up when my world started spinning. My head was hammering. I closed my eyes and pressed my head against the cell to suppress the ache.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Mykel?”