The Billionaire’s Creed

MYKEL

“Is she okay?” I asked Blaze as he walked into my hotel room.

“For a second, I thought you genuinely care.” He grumbled with narrowed eyes.

“Cut the bullshit, Burns,” I snapped.

“Don’t you know she dislikes that kind of words?”

“I’m working on it.”

Blaze finally noticed that I wasn’t alone in the room.

“My friend Dash Chandler. Dash, this is Blaze, Adley’s best friend.”

While they exchanged pleasantries, I dialed Adley.

She picked up right away.

“Can we talk?”

“Bad idea,” the two assholes chorused, staring at me as if I went mad.

“It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” Dash added.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I covered the mouthpiece. “It’s not that-”

“What?” Blaze growled. “Real wedding or you two are in love? Are you fucking serious right now?”

“Aren’t you both getting married like real fucking married?” Dash argued.

“Of course, this is real.”

“Then fucking stick to the plan.”

I glared back at Blaze.

“He’s right, man. Pull yourself together. Just talk to her over the phone,” Dash agreed with Blaze.

I checked my phone, and Adley had already hung it up. Fucking great. “She’s not bailing on me, is she?”

“I don’t think so. But that thought would be a relief.”

“Fuck you, Burns.”

“We were laughing before I left. So, you’re gonna have a bride tomorrow. Maybe you should get some beauty rest.” He turned toward the door. “Got to check on my girlfriend.”

Once the door shut behind him, I redialed Adley.

After a few rings, she finally answered.

“Sorry, I was changing.”

My inner demon woke up. “What are you wearing, Adley?”

“Spongebob boy shorts and my red Betty Boop onesie.”

I burst out laughing. “Nice one.”

Dash had never been amused as he shook his head. I knew what was in his head right now. I just lost my mind.

“I wanna check up on you if we’re good. You were angry with me when you left me earlier.”

“I realize it was my mistake, and you’re right.”

“Is that your way of apology?”

“No. I only admitted that I should be upfront with Blaze.”

I was smiling the whole time. “You should work on your apology, baby.”

“Jesus Christ, what happened to my best friend.” Dash cracked a smile.

“And you should start practicing wearing a cassock.”

“The last time I checked, my hand is just capable of doing me a huge favor.”

“Whatever.” I could hear her rolling her eyes.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

“Tomorrow. Bye.”

There were some thoughts in my head after I talked to Adley, but definitely not something about backing out. Had I ever thought of my sex life? Of course, we both needed that. I was sure Adley was not a virgin. Lots of things would happen in three hundred sixty-five days. If I were lucky, she would be mine. She definitely would be mine in a few hours.

Was I attracted to Adley? Yes, I had no doubt. I even started to care about her. I had already planned something for us. Even if this were our scheme against her grandfather, the wedding would be real. We would be a real married couple-I would be a married man and a husband to her. That was the fact.

“Any thought of running away before it’s too late?”

I lifted my gaze to Dash and shook my head.

“So this is the same girl you met and went home with your half-brother?”

I rolled my eyes. “They did not sleep together.”

“How did you know that?”

“I just know.”

“Does she know-”

“No. Not yet. And I don’t think they ever met again.”

“You’re keeping that secret from her,” he sang out.

“She knows I have a half bastard brother. She just doesn’t know it’s Knox.”

“Then you better tell her before you bumped into one another. That’s gonna be awkward. And she’s your mentor’s granddaughter. Remember, your world is getting smaller each day. Think about what I said, bro.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. But I always knew there was something familiar about her.”

“She took a shine on you, huh? I’d never thought you were throwing away your bachelor’s life for a woman you don’t even know. If I hadn’t known she’s an heiress, I would have thought she’s after your bank account.”

“We have a prenup.”

“That’s good. Anyway, congrats!” He slapped my shoulder. “I wish you all the best, bro. See you tomorrow. Thanks for asking me to be your best man.”

“You’re my best friend, might as well extend the courtesy.”

He laughed. “Proud of you, Mykel.”

***

At the Graceland Chapel, I checked my watch for the umpteenth time. It was about time. I was wearing a simple suit, a white shirt, and a metallic blue tie with my hair in a pull-back style.

I’d never been more nervous in my entire than today. I felt like my tie was too tight, and my shirt collar was suffocating. I was blowing breaths and licking my lips as the moments passed by.

“You still have less than a minute to change your mind, bro,” Dash said half-jokingly.

“Shut up.”

“You’re about to pass out.”

“For the love of God.” I practically rolled my eyes at him.

Finally, the receptionist called our names.

“I guess it’s too late then.” Dash enjoyed very much making fun of me.

Elise walked in first in her white summer dress.

Then there she came, my bride with her best friend.

I realized I was holding my breath until I felt I was running out of air.

“Breathe.” Dash elbowed me.

Adley took my breath away, wearing a draped wrap floor-length white dress with a thigh-high slit. She was holding a simple beige and white roses bouquet. How could a woman be even more stunning each day? And she’s going to be my wife.

“She’s beautiful.”

I let out a groan at Dash’s compliment.

“I get it, bro. Hold your horses.”

My heart pounded as she got closer, and I felt like I was waiting forever for her at arm’s length.

“Hi.” The first word slipped my lips and came out breathless.

She held back her smile. “Hi to you too.”

“It’s great that you came. Otherwise, I would hire the entire private military contractor to search and kidnap you to be here right now.”

“You’re awfully chatty today,” she murmured.

“Sorry. I’ve never been nervous like this. You look beautiful, by the way-”

“If you two are done chatting, I would like to start the ceremony,” Elvis cut in.

We couldn’t help but laugh.

“My apology. Please,” I said in delight.

He started right away with a short sermon.

“Mykel Zhair Dru Creed, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?

“I do.”

“Adley Xael Kross, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“Repeat after me,” Elvis said.

“I, Mykel Zhair Dru Creed, take you, Adley Xael Kross, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”

“I, Adley Xael Kross, take you Mykel Zhair Dru Creed, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”

“Do you have rings?”

We replied in unison, and we looked at each other. I couldn’t help but smile back. I was the luckiest man to be in this position today.

I took the ring from Elise and looked at my beautiful wife.

“I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.” I slipped the ring into her finger.

She did the same and slipped the ring into my finger.

As we held our hands together, Elvis declared, “By virtue of the authority vested in me under the laws of the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Today might finally happen. The world seemed to have stopped as those sterling eyes locked on mine.

As I moved closer, I felt the pounding of my heart in my chest, the flutter in my stomach, and my breaths held in anticipation.

I promise today that Adley is mine in every sense of the word. She belongs to me.

As excitement splintered all over my system, I then dipped my head, angling my lips and covering hers. She sighed into the kiss and gave in herself to this moment in a span of a heartbeat. And it took only a second for me to get lost in this kiss as I wanted to delve into her mouth, seeking out the sweetness of her taste, feeling the softness of her lips, and imploring her to drop down her defenses.

Before I could get lost forever, I was pulled back by the applause around us. But then I had three hundred sixty-five days to make her fall in love.