7
MYKEL
My father pissed me off. It was too late to fill the father of the year role.
He’d been so persistent in being in my life again when he knew I didn’t need him anymore. He missed that chance a long time ago. When I needed him the most, he wasn’t there.
“Mykel.” He extended his hand.
“Dru.” I shook his hand just for the sake of the formality and this event, and I couldn’t change the fact that he was still the sperm donor.
“Lyra wants to meet you, Mykel. Give her a chance.”
My temper sent roaring. The audacity. “If she wants to see me, then you should bring her with you tonight. You know that I will be here. Will she be the last?”
My father looked offended. I had known to have no filter. I would say it out loud if I wanted to express my feelings.
“I hope so. Look, son. I will always love your mother. She’s your mother, but our marriage didn’t work out. You have to respect our decisions.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Honestly, I didn’t want him mentioning my mom again. “It wasn’t mutual decisions, Dru. You left us. And I’d better be out of your life. This wouldn’t do good for both of us. I don’t wanna be an asshole and ungrateful, and I don’t wanna say something you don’t like in front of your future wife.” My voice was matter-of-fact. I walked away.
I met some familiar faces, including these great guys who helped the corporation with a sustainable renewable green energy project.
“Mykel.”
“Cenric, it’s been months. How have you been?” I shook his hand.
“I’m great. Still single, I see?” He smiled as he noticed I had come alone.
“And where is your lovely wife?” I waved my hand. Sadie saw me before Cenric could reply. She was at the corner with a group of women.
Cenric used to serve in the military. He’s a real hero, and he was one of a few guys who believed in me when I was just starting up. That was why I owed him big time.
“How’s Cas?”
“He’s doing great, and you two seem to be having a bet who would stay single longer.”
I laughed at his remark. Before I could say something, someone like an angel just walked in.
Fuck me.
Even these people caught her attention, and she didn’t give a damn fuck. So much of making an entrance as she walked to the sea of attendees. Quite frankly, I could pick her out of the crowd of these people just by her back. And thankfully, she came alone. Maybe that was why her grandfather was not here. She came on behalf of Lex Kross.
I felt myself staring as if she would disappear if I blinked. This seemed surreal. The last person I expected was here.
I felt tongue-tied. I was sure Cenric was asking me something, but my only focus at this moment was the woman who had been in my thoughts more than I’d like to admit.
I stepped forward, leaving Cenric behind, making way to the crowd. We were a few steps closer, and she saw me. She smiled as if she didn’t hate my guts days ago.
Adley seemed different tonight, like having a dual personality. The woman in front of me was the extrovert and spontaneous one. I still liked this version of her, but I liked the first version most.
“Adley, I’m glad to see you here. You looked stunning.” I offered my hand. I was grateful that the headstrong Adley wasn’t here. She was wearing a white off-shoulder full-length evening gown with a high thigh slit. Her wavy hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders. She accentuated her looks with teardrop diamond earrings, making her look classy and regal.
“Mykel.” She placed her hand on my palm.
I let out a sigh of relief and smiled. I felt her soft skin against mine for the first time—my nerves buzzed. My skin tingled. And it didn’t end there. Before hooking it around my arm, I planted her hand on my lips for a quick kiss. She always smelled good, and her smell was already inked inside my lungs.
“Don’t ask. Your eyes screamed a thousand questions.” Maybe.
“Not gonna. I’d rather enjoy this night with you,” I assured her as much as I wanted to ensure myself.
“I’m kinda relief I found a familiar face here.” Well, what a lucky man I was despite the encounter earlier.
“Me? Beyond grateful that I saw you first before those guys. I was with my father earlier, and it ruined my mood. Then I met an old friend before you stole the show.”
She gave me the blandest smile. I guessed the old Adley was sprouting out after all. “You’re exaggerating it.”
“I swear I’m not.” I grabbed two Champagne flutes and gave one to Adley.
She lifted the glass with class and sipped the bubble. I swore I’d never been turned on to someone drinking Champagne until Adley came to my life like a tornado, ruining what I believed in and my entire plans for the next fifty years.
At the corner, Cenric raised a glass for me.
“Let me guess, billionaires club.”
“He’s a hero. He served in the military before he created one of the most successful cryptocurrencies. He also started an NFT Game with his brother.”
“Wait, The Travelers?”
I was surprised she knew it. “Yeah, that’s my man, Cenric Wollf. You play games?”
She shook her head. “No. Some in my office do.”
“Cenric also put his wife’s father in jail, who’s, by the way, a bad guy.”
She looked at me in shock. “You’re kidding, right? How did his wife take it?”
I raised my glass at Sadie. She smiled brightly. “Considering that he literally sold her to Cenric, she was relieved and still happily married to this day.”
“Wow! A father could do that?” She watched Cenric walk toward his wife and plant a kiss on top of her head.
“You’d be surprised what a father is capable of doing,” I commented with a bit of disdain. “I trust that man more than my father.”
She looked up at me. “Sorry, that happened to you. I have two people in my life that I can say I’m lucky to have. It’s good to know that you trust other people than yourself.”
“I’m trustworthy too, Adley. You should just give me a chance.” My smile broke.
I brought her to the center, where everyone started dancing. “Dance with me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I promise my grandfather to be polite tonight, just don’t abuse it.”
“I promise.” Despite her high heels, my size overshadowed her. I placed my free hand on her lower, and we started dancing to the live band.
“I guess you’re really active with charities,” she admitted.
“Did you google me?” I asked, part amused.
“Don’t flatter yourself. It was just work-related. I wanted to know more about your color.”
“That’s all?” I arched a brow. “You can ask me personal questions, business, anything that intrigues Adley Kross. I have nothing to hide. Let me clear one thing first, I regretted my behavior that night, but I never regret saying what I said.” I was taking advantage of this moment if this was the closest I could get.
She looked exquisite. Her heart-shaped face was so delicate that it almost made her look vulnerable and fragile. And damn if I didn’t want to kiss those red lips.
“Don’t ever think about that.” She bit her bottom lip nervously.
“About what?” I innocently asked, even if she could see the wave of desire in my eyes.
“Did you just think of kissing me?” Her almond-shaped sterling eyes narrowed.
“A man could dream, Adley, but it didn’t mean I’m going to do it.”
When the song ended, I let her meet Cenric, Sadie, and some of the people I knew.
The last person I avoided just came out of nowhere, almost catching me off guard.
“Why don’t you introduce me to your date, Mykel?”
I wanted to take Adley away from him as far as possible. I tried to protect her from him, but it was too late.
“I’m Dru, Mykel’s father.”
“Adley Kross.” Because she was polite and classy, she shook my father’s hand and sent him a welcoming smile.
“By any chance, are you related to Lex Kross?” Of course, he would play that card. And I hated it.
“My grandfather.”
“You didn’t tell me you’re dating a Kross, Mykel.” Since when did he learn I was dating someone?
“For the love of God, Dru.” As if we shared pleasantries and personal life stories together.
“Maybe it didn’t come up. We just started dating last week.”
A little smile softened my face. Did she just play along?
“Why don’t you bring her over the weekend?” My father turned to me.
“This weekend?” Adley looked at me. “Maybe we can move our plan?”
My mind went completely blank.
“If you have plans, then maybe at the end of the month. Mykel?”
“Sure.” Out of the blue, I accepted it. Fuck.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Adley.”
“Of course.”
When my father was gone, I faced Adley.
She seared me with a scowl. “I just saved your ass. You owe me.”
“Really? Do you think my father will stop asking us until we go?”
“Your problem, not mine.”
“Oh, you’re playing with fire, baby.”
She walked past me. “Tell him we broke up.”
I sped up my pace. “I don’t think so. I just started enjoying our little pretend relationship, Adley.”
“Good luck with that.”
I wrapped my hand around her waist as we walked out of the venue. “I’m sending you home.”
“I have a driver.”
“I’ll send him home.”
She stopped as we reached the parking. “I told you not to abuse my kindness.”
“I owe you. The least I can do is make sure you get home safely.”
“It’s grandpa’s driver. He should send me home safe and sound if he wants to keep his job.”
“Fine. Where’s your driver?”
The black sedan parked in front of us. The tall beefy driver in his early forties rushed to open the door. I helped Adley climb in since her gown was lengthy. Then I closed the door.
It was now or never. I rounded to the other side and climbed in, joining her.
“What are you doing?” She glared at me.
“To her apartment,” I told the driver.
“You didn’t just tell him that.”
“You’re going to your apartment or your grandpa’s?”
“Whatever.”
I texted my driver to meet me at Adley’s address, and then I slipped my phone into my jacket pocket.
“Are you always this annoying?”
“Among other things.”
“Do you know my grandfather before we met?” she shot back.
“Yeah. I was his protege.”
“When did you know I’m his granddaughter?” she asked, stunned.
“After the elevator encounter.”
Her eyes went wide in horror. Her expression would be adorable if this conversion were not serious. I felt guilty for not telling her sooner, but this was the time to tell her the truth since she had asked.
“And you intended not to tell me. Why?”
“It didn’t come up. Besides, you’re avoiding me like the plague.”
She looked ahead and did her best to keep a straight face.
“What’s the big deal? I would find it out anyway. I’m very resourceful when I’m interested in a certain thing.”
“I’m not a thing.”
“Certainly not, but you get my point.”
This time she faced me. “What do you want, Mykel?”
“I thought we were clear from the start that I want you. I like you.”
“Well, I don’t.”
“I take that as a challenge.”
