Page 28 of Adonis: The Cost of a Billionaire's Heart
“Don’t mention it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Instead of replying with words, she responded by throwing her arms around my waist and pulling me into a tight hug. “I fell apart today, but you. . . you really stepped up for my son, and that means more to me than any amount of money ever could.”
I hugged her back, refusing to let go as I gently stroked her hair. I inhaled slowly, drawing in the warm vanilla and lavender scent radiating from her body. She gently pulled away and looked up at me with those amber brown eyes I’d become accustomed to looking into.
“I just need to know why . . . like why’d you do that? Why are you doing any of this?”
“Our agreement has always been mutual, Sim.”
“I know that, but still. What you did today . . . how you acted—it just felt like more than whatever this arrangement is between us.”
“I did it because it was the right thing to do,” I said abruptly, hoping my answer would shut down any further probing from her.
It was the answer I gave, but not the one I wanted to say deep down in my bones. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth—that there were feelings inside me that stretched beyond the boundaries of our contract; that there was something about being around her and Mason that made my house feel like a home; or that by the end of our week together, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to let her go.
I wokeup the next morning with Adonis still heavy on my mind and all types of unacknowledged emotions swirling around inside my chest. When shit hit the fan with Mason’s health, he’d taken control like the boss he was, when I could barely breathe. He’d ensured everything from the ambulance ride to the emergency room visit was handled with care and accuracy.
What I couldn’t wrap my head around was what he wanted. His lips said one thing—that this was all a part of our arrangement, and he was just “doing the right thing”—but his actions said otherwise. From the intimate way he guided me through my first golf swing to the way he tightly embraced me in the waiting room, as if he were the only thing stopping mefrom breaking into a million tiny pieces, there was something unspoken growing between us. I wasn’t the only one who felt it.
Everything changed the minute I rolled over to check my phone.
There were dozens, if not hundreds, of notifications from media outlets running stories about Adonis and me, with photos of us arriving at the hospital, holding hands inside the waiting room, and leaving with Mason. The one thing I didn’t want, my son being exposed to the media, had fucking happened.
“Fuck,” I whispered, careful not to wake Mason.
I eased out of the bed, and the minute I approached the door, Adonis was standing there as if he were ready to knock. I stepped out and eased the door shut behind me before speaking.
“Did you see the?—”
“Yes,” he answered, cutting me off. “I was just coming to find you. From what I’ve been briefed on by my assistant so far, one of the emergency room nurses recognized me and snapped a few photos of us at the hospital among all the chaos,” he explained.
My brows snapped together. “What? What about the NDAs you had his care team sign?”
“She wasn’t even assigned to Mason’s care team.”
“That’s got to be some violation of his rights, isn’t it? He’s a fucking kid! He didn’t consent to any of this!” I huffed, feeling myself becoming more and more worked up as I spoke.
“It is. I already have a team of lawyers on it, preparing a lawsuit. Don’t worry.”
“Fuck,” I whispered, pacing the hallway. “I knew this was a bad idea. From the headlines I skimmed, some of these blogs are saying he’s our secret love child.”
“Maybe there’s a way we can spin this in our favor.”
I scoffed before cutting my eyes at him. “My son isn’t a story to spin, Adonis. He’s a human being!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. We can handle this however you’re comfortable.”
“I’m down with the lawsuit. I usually wouldn’t try to get in the way of people making their money, but I want that irresponsible ho fired!” I demanded, my chest heaving in and out.
“Can I ask you something?” Adonis inquired calmly.
I huffed, physically feeling the stress pile on. “What is it?”
“Besides the obvious reasons of people on the internet being creeps, why are you so afraid of people knowing about Mason? He’s an adorable kid.”
“There are no more reasons outside of the obvious ones. Those are scary enough. Just like it’s your job to run your company and protect your assets, it’s my job to protect my son at all costs,” I explained, although I wasn’t sure why I had to. My not wanting him exposed to the world should’ve been enough.
“I wasn’t trying to upset you.”
