The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

The ring I picked up earlier was still in my pocket-it was gorgeous after a bit of customization, and I was confident she would love it around her finger.

As I began to get to know beneath the tough, beautiful woman beside me, she was penetrable, and I liked her even more. Even though my reputation preceded me, I was willing to throw away the title of the most sought-after billionaire bachelor in the city.

The car was parked at the private airport. I also had a little surprise waiting for her on the jet.

I helped her climb out. She drew a shaky breath and braced herself against the car.

“You okay?”

“Y-yeah.”

“You’re not getting cold feet and planning on ditching me at the altar, are you?” I joked when I sensed her feeling sick, her fingers trembling.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Good to hear,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely aware of what was going on with her.

Then she suddenly froze. Her face went pale. Her eyes flared wide as she stared at the jet. Then I realized something. A wave of dread hit me hard in the chest, squeezing my lungs and stealing my breath.

Fuck.

Her words last night flashed back in my head. I had utterly forgotten the bigger picture of her silence. I felt like a complete asshole right now. How did I overlook this?

“You guys can go ahead,” I told my men.

“I-I’m so sorry. I-I should have been honest with you.” She started sweating and could not meet my eyes anymore.

I put an arm around her. “It’s okay. Nothing to apologize for. Look at me, please?” I cupped her face. “Please?”

I’d never seen her like this, with the horror set deep in those eyes. I felt the instant fraught with enormous guilt. I felt terrible for putting her through this. On the other note, she had to defeat her fear, one way or another.

She blankly stared at me and blinked a couple of times.

“This is never my intention. You should know that. Do you trust me, even a tiny bit?” I look directly into her eyes.

She answered me with nods.

“Then I promise you that I will always be by your side no matter what. You can do this. You can get through this, but you have to trust me.”

“I’m scared.” Tears formed in her eyes. She bit her lip hard to hold them back, but she failed spectacularly.

“I know, baby, but you’re a stronger woman. Remember how you stood up against your grandfather? Yeah, you’re a badass, and I know and never doubt that you are more capable of many things.”

“I’m so sorry.” She wiped her tears dry.

“Never apologize to me, Adley.”

“I should have been straight with you. I have never flown since my parents died in a plane crash. I was just ashamed.”

“Don’t be.” I couldn’t help it. I wiped the tears with my thumbs that kept rolling before I pulled her in my arms in a tight hug.

A sharp stab of guilt sliced through my heart.

I kissed the top of her head. “Remember, we can get through this. Take a step and stop when you need to. The jet is new and equipped with advanced technology. There are parachutes for passengers. I’m not trying to scare you, but trust me, my pilot is competent. We’re in good hands.” As I talked to her, we were making progress. We were taking one step at a time.

“This is embarrassing.” She was shaking, her fingers clawing into my shirt.

What was the fucking hell Lex doing all those years, letting Adley consume her fear without seeing a therapist or helping her beat it? What an asshole.

“Stop, stop!”

“Okay.” I squeezed her hands and planted them on my lips. “Open your eyes, Adley.”

She nodded, cracking open those terrified sterling eyes for me. “Are we almost there yet?”

“Halfway, baby. Let me carry you so that you can take a rest. I promise you that nothing’s gonna happen to you.” I smiled genuinely.

“I-I can walk.” Of course, she resisted.

“I know, but let’s say that since we’re getting married, I’d like to do that.”

“Don’t you think you should do it after we’re married?”

“You know I don’t always play by the rule,” I smirked.

She yelped in surprise as I scooped and picked her up bridal style. “Put me down.”

“Not a chance.”

“Mykel!” She buried her face into my chest. Her arms tightly wrapped around my neck as I climbed up the airstair.

“We’re here, Adley.” I slowly took a seat and placed her on my lap.

Her eyes were shut close. Her makeup smudged on her face, but she still looked perfect to me.

I heard Elise approach. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah. Give us a few minutes, please? Tell the attendant to bring a blanket and a bottle of water.”

“Sure.”

When Elise left, I wrapped my arms around her, running my fingers through her hair. “You’re gonna be okay.”

After a few minutes, she lifted her chin and gazed at me silently from under her lashes.

“You’re beautiful, you know. I don’t even deserve you.”

“I know you’re just trying to make me feel better. I look hideous with my smudged makeup.” Her voice dropped, and so as her gaze.

I wiped a thumb under her eye with smudged mascara. “I can’t wait to see your face bare. I like that you never hide these cute little freckles with makeup.”

A small smile curved up her lips. “Thanks. I wanna sit down now.”

I gently placed her on the seat and sat on the armrest with her. I doubted myself if what I was doing was helping her. She started pulling her knees close in fear. I went to the seat across hers, trying to talk her out.

The attendant came, carrying the things that I asked for. “The captain said, we are taking off in fifteen, sir.”

I nodded in understanding. Either we fly, or we cancel everything we planned.

“Baby, can we talk?” I wrapped the blanket around her.

She heard me as she nodded repeatedly.

I held her cold, shaking hands, squeezing them. “Do you still wanna do this?”

She nodded again, slowly meeting my gaze.

I smiled at her in assurance. And what I wanted her to see first thing was me. “I’m here with you when the jet takes off. I swear to you. This isn’t so bad once we are in the air.” I squeezed the lid of the bottle and offered it to her. “Take a sip.”

Her hands were still shaking. I had to help her to her lips. After taking a sip, her face seemingly lit up, color starting to show off.

“My heart still pounding.” She smiled timidly.

“Do you want anything before we take off?”

“I want to call Blaze.”

My smile widened. “Well, you don’t have to do that.”

She looked confused.

“Hey, badass.”

She squeaked upon hearing her best friend’s voice. I felt a pang in my chest, but I couldn’t compete with Blaze. They had known each other for a long time, while I only met her days ago.

I watched Blaze pull Adley into his arms, and she willingly melted in him. I felt a hand squeezing on my shoulder. I guessed Elise saw a reaction on my face.

“I’ll leave you two alone.”

“Don’t go.”

I froze in my place. For the first time, I saw something in Adley’s eyes that filled my chest with hope. “I’m not going anywhere. I just wanna confirm something with Elise before we take off.”

“Would you stay with me during take-off?”

“The whole time.”

“Thanks.”

All I could do was smile. Elise showed me our itinerary in Vegas.

“Is this really necessary?” I pointed at the Bridal shower on the list.

“Of course. Are you kidding me? You only get married once. Well, I hope.”

There was another stone rolling in my stomach. I knew I could give Adley a better wedding, but why did we rush things like there was no tomorrow?

“I don’t like that look on your face.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s huge. Even a blind person can see it. I know you, Mykel. You like her a lot. You can still get married again to the same woman and invite thousands if you want to give her an extravagant wedding.”

Sometimes I hated it when she was right. “Whatever.”

“She wants you.” Blaze came over.

Before I turned to Adley, I felt a firm grip around my arm. I knew it was Blaze. “I should return the favor, but I won’t do that. I’m more of a man of a few words kind of guy. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

He glared at me, and I glared back until the intercom interrupted us.

“Guys, unless you wanna see yourself at the tail of the jet, then you better buckle up,” Elise cut in.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I went to Adley. She had buckled up already. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I replied as I fastened my seatbelt.

“Thanks for inviting Blaze, or it is Elise?”

“I told Elise to invite Blaze because if I do, I know how protective he is of you. He’ll talk you out. Things happen. So, how do you feel?”

She looked at her fingers. “I’ve never felt embarrassed.”

“Don’t ever feel that way. Even if you peed in your pants.”

She chuckled. “Thank you for being here for me-” Her words were cut short when the jet ran at the runway.

“Always, Adley.” I held her hands, squeezing a little. “It’s gonna be over soon. Baby, if you’re scared, just think of some happy moments or something that make you laugh.”

“I’m looking at you.”

Our gazes locked together, and I found my lips curving into a smile. “Or-just look at me. You’re doing great.” I tightened the grip on her hands as she yelped, shell-shock. Her eyes grew wide. It was the time when the jet ascended.

“I think I’m gonna pee this time.”

“Go ahead. Whatever makes you feel better,” I joked back. “So you haven’t been out of the states or country?”

“Been to other states, but outside the country. No.” She felt shy again.

“I guess we just have to put that on our bucket lists. Where do you dream of going?”

“I wanna go somewhere like beaches.”

“Then we need to defeat that fear and go to the beach. I know just the right place.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course, you can.”

“I have work left in New York.”

“Adley, remember we have a break in every month? Blaze will take over while you’re gone. You need to get a life too.”

She glared for a moment before her face softened. “Why are you so pushy?”

“I want you to enjoy life. And for God’s sake, Adley, how in the hell Lex did not help you with this?”

“When I refused once, he didn’t insist. Maybe, he thought I was getting better. It’s my fault. Don’t blame him.” I understood her protecting the old scumbag, but this has to end.

“Do you still trust me?”

“I’m not sitting next to you if I don’t. I don’t even know how we got here when we started on the wrong foot.”

“I wouldn’t change that moment for anything.”

“You’re weird.”

“Anyway.” I unfastened the seatbelt and fished out the ring in my pocket. Then I was on one knee in front of her before I even realized what I was doing-it just came out spontaneously.

For the first time since the airport incident, I heard her rich laugh. Her eyes sparkled again. Her face just lit up. I found myself smiling that somehow, I put that smile on her face.

“What are you doing?”

“Doing the right thing.” I cleared my throat and popped the box open. “You despised me for my unsolicited awful opinion, and you named me the jerk guy in the elevator. In my heart, I knew we’d meet again, and I knew that was just the beginning of many dreams, plans, and a long road we’re sharing together. Adley Xael Kross, will you do me the honor of becoming your awfully handsome husband?”