Page 17 of Adonis: The Cost of a Billionaire's Heart
“Why so punctual?”
“To get ahead of the day. My mind never turns off, so I’m always thinking about the next thing.”
“And what’s the next thing you’re thinking about right now?”
“The makeup and hairstylist who will be here for you soon.”
“If you’re always thinking about the next thing, how do you ground yourself in the present? Like, when’s the last time you slowed down or even stopped to take a vacation?”
“I’m plenty grounded, and I don’t take time off.”
“You must really like your job.”
“I love my job.” He corrected me before handing me a steaming cup of coffee and changing the subject. “How’d you sleep? Is there anything you need?”
I paused. I’d slept surprisingly well considering what I’d discovered yesterday. It had to have been courtesy of the expensive thread count on the sheets and the cloud-like pillows that felt like I was in a luxury hotel bed—a far cry from theold queen-sized bed and clearance Wally World sheets I was accustomed to.
“I slept fine. And no. There’s nothing else I need. You’ve thought of everything,” I answered before blowing into the mug and taking a small sip.
“Okay. I meant what I said when I told you I wanted you to feel comfortable here.”
“I know.”
“And I’m sorry for what I said last night. I didn’t?—”
I swung my head and waved off his comment. “It’s fine. What happens after my hair and makeup are done?” I probed, changing the topic. “Mason will probably be awake by then, and I need to know what’s expected of me today.”
We didn’t need to talk about the obvious things we both knew. He was shitting money, and I was way on the other end of that spectrum. Garrick was arriving in New York, which meant it was the official first day of our arrangement, and all I wanted to do was the job he’d hired me for.
“Maya will be here the entire week to assist with Mason, remember?”
“Oh, right.”
I’d never had an overabundance of help with Mason. The most I had was Mrs. Wilson, and I appreciated her more than anything. I made a mental note to write her a thank-you check for all her help since I’d have fifty thousand dollars to work with soon.
“We have a few runs to make, so I want you to feel comfortable out and about in public with me. Then, later this afternoon, they’ll be back to make changes for tonight.”
“What’s happening tonight?”
“We’re meeting Garrick and his wife, Jeanine, at the Manchester Opera House at seven.”
I ran my hand alongside the cool granite before placing my mug on it. “The opera?”
“Have you ever been?”
I shot him a look that said nigga, be forreal. Then I swung my head in a no.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”
“I have a feeling I’ll be doing a lot of firsts this week.”
“That makes two of us.”
I spent the first half of the day shadowing Adonis and getting an up-close and personal view of the day in the life of a billionaire CEO. I thought I’d never step foot back into Holland Enterprises after being let go, but the universe had a different plan for me. Luckily, Adonis had his own private entrance, so I didn’t have to worry about running into anyone from my floor after doing my semi walk of shame, especially not Nina after cussing her ass out first thing this morning.
Adonis’s day was filled with reports, deadlines and board meetings, calls with global investors, and site visits—surely not the glamorous life I had imagined. It was no wonder he was a recluse at work. I almost felt bad for him. It took the phrase he’d said in the café, “More money, more problems,” to a whole new level for me.
Finally, it was lunchtime. We went to an Italian restaurant in the West Village. We settled in among the lunch crowd as the savory scent of garlic, cheese, and herbs wafted past my nose from the open kitchen.
