Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
ADRIANNA
“Ms. Baker, can I see you in my office before you leave?” Elijah calls out as I’m packing up my desk for the day.
I’ve been avoiding him as much as I can today. I have no idea how I feel about these newfound feelings for the man. So I’ve been childish and hiding from it. It’s stupid and I know it, but I can’t help myself.
Stepping into his office, I frown when I see him at the lounge.
“Shut the door and come have a seat.”
“I’m not drinking with you again. That was a terrible night.” I close the door and make my way to his side.
“I thought it was pretty good. I ended up with a pretty lady in my bed.” He winks at me.
I roll my eyes, taking the seat next to him. “What is it, Mr. Samson?”
“Are you busy tomorrow evening?” he asks.
I purse my lips trying to think up a lie. “Um.”
“Don’t lie to me, Adrianna. We are beyond this. It’s not a trap.”
I sigh. “No, but I’m not sure we should keep doing what we are doing.”
He nods. “Good thing I’m not scheduling a sex date then.”
I deflate. I don’t know why I’m disappointed when I know I shouldn’t be sleeping with him.
“Oh.”
He chuckles, cupping my cheek. “I’d like you to go to my niece’s dance recital with me.”
“What?” I gasp.
“It’s time you met the important people in my life,” he admits, his eyes on my lips as his thumb rubs the lower one.
“Wh…why?” I stutter.
“You’re important to me too, Adrianna. Will you come?”
I shake my head, pulling away from his touch. “I can’t think when you touch me like that.”
He smirks. “I know. I like when you agree without argument. Since this doesn’t seem like one of those times, hit me with it.”
“With what?” I ask.
“Your reasoning as to why you can’t come with me.”
“We shouldn’t be seen together. The company can’t handle another scandal so soon after Gloria. I’m your employee, and you are my boss. Or how about the fact that up until two weeks ago we hated each other?” I list out.
He looks shocked for a moment before he swallows. “You’re talking about scandals when you threatened me with one when I first got here?”
“What? No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. You said something like this place would go down without you.” He reaches out to take my hand as if he can’t help himself.
“It would have. I kept this place running like a well-oiled machine. Even if you had fired me, I would never take it out on the foundation. It’s not the foundation or any of its employees fault that you’re a jackass.” I pull my hand from his, crossing my arms.
“Don’t be angry with me, Adrianna. I really thought you were threatening the foundation. It’s why I kept you.”
My heart hurts at his words. “Wow. Well, don’t worry about it. If you want me gone that bad, I’ll quit. I know when I’m not wanted.”
I go to stand, but he pulls me down into his lap so that I’m straddling his lap.
“I don’t want you gone, Adrianna,” he whispers, pulling my face closer to his.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet? You’ve consumed me.
All I think about is you. When you aren’t with me, I want to find a way to get back to your side.
It’s torture knowing you sit outside my door every day and I have to keep my hands to myself because we have to remain professional. ”
“I know we have physical chemistry, but that doesn’t mean you like me.” I voice my main insecurity.
“Like you?” He chuckles, making me frown.
This is it. This is where he tells me that I’m a silly girl. That he could never like me.
“Baby, I am so beyond in like with you. I am inviting you to meet my friends and the little girl who stole my heart. These people are the most important to me, and I want you to be right next to them on that mantle. Stop overanalyzing everything and live in the moment with me. Come with me to the recital.”
“That sounds serious, Elijah. Like dating talk,” I whisper, scared of the hope blooming in my chest.
“It is, and we are. Dating, that is. Is that okay with you? Can I date you?” he asks.
I suck my bottom lip into my mouth. He pulls it free, waiting for my answer.
“Yes,” I finally say.
“To which question?”
“All of them. You can date me. I’ll go with you tomorrow night.”
His smile grows until it takes over his entire face. I’ve seen Elijah smirk before. I’ve even seen him laugh with a slight smile. I’ve never once seen him smile this big before. He looks genuinely happy.
I can’t help but smile back at him. It’s contagious.
“Great. Tomorrow is settled. Now, can we talk about you sneaking out this morning?”
“Uh, sorry?” I say.
He laughs. “You’re going to keep me on my toes. I can tell. No more sneaking out. Say goodbye. Goodbyes aren’t always promised.”
My heart breaks as I think of his mother. I wonder if he ever got the chance to say goodbye to her.
“Okay, but if you don’t wake up, I’m still going down to that little bakery by your house. They have the best treats. I’m determined to try them all.”
He pulls me closer, nuzzling my neck with his nose.
“Anything you want. If you bring your clothes with you, you can share my shower, and we can go together.”
“That sounds an awful lot like moving in,” I tell him, stiffening.
“Nah, just leaving some stuff at my place. It’s a baby step. Enough about tomorrow morning’s plans. I’m more worried about what we are doing tonight.”
“It seems like you already have an idea in mind,” I tell him, grinding down on his hard cock.
His eyes flare. “If you don’t want me to fuck you against my desk, you better get up and run.”
The idea does entice me, but I know there are still dozens of people here.
In that moment, I do as he says, laughter falling from my mouth. The happiness I feel in my soul settles me.
Elijah might be just what I needed.
Who would have known?
ELIJAH
“Why am I nervous?” Adrianna whispers as we head up to the auditorium.
“Don’t be. They are going to love you,” I whisper back, kissing the side of her head.
Keeping my arm around her, I lead her into the building. It takes me a minute, but when I see them I smile.
My family.
Brantley sees me first, waving me over, causing everyone to turn and look at us as we approach.
“Hey, man, you made it. Adrianna, good to see you,” Mason tells her effortlessly.
“You know I wouldn’t have missed it. Adrianna, you know Mason and Iris.” I nod to them both. “I don’t think you’ve formally met Max, the surly one is Brantley, and that spitfire over there is Chloe. Where’s Liv?” I ask.
“Backstage with Ari. Good to meet you, Adrianna. I’ve heard great things about you. How do you put up with working for the human corpse?” Chloe asks.
I roll my eyes at her as Adrianna laughs. “Human corpse?”
“Dude is so fucking stiff he has to be a zombie walking. I’ve wondered if we shoved coal up his ass if we could get diamonds. It would be a good side hustle.”
This has Adrianna laughing even more as she turns into me.
“I think you might be right,” she manages to choke out.
“Told you that you would like her,” Iris adds in, coming to my side to pull Adrianna from me. “Let’s go get a drink and give the guys a chance to talk about us when we leave.”
Adrianna shoots me a small smile as she lets Iris and Chloe lead her over to the small concession stand.
“Hey,” I call out, pulling out my wallet.
Adrianna turns and looks at me. I hand her two twenties. She frowns.
“Don’t fight me on this,” I warn her.
She rolls her eyes, turning to leave with the girls.
“That’s interesting. Last I saw her, she looked like she wanted to kick you in your nuts,” Max says.
“They’ve clearly been fucking. Did you see the way she looked at him?” Brantley adds.
“Really? What would you know?” I joke with him. “Aren’t you still denying that you are pining after Chloe?”
“Fucker.”
“Language. We are around children,” Mason hisses.
We all sober up, looking around to see families.
“Sorry, bro. How excited is Ari?” I ask.
“She’s been practicing for weeks. She’s happy all of you are here. She’s really excited to meet Uncle Eli’s new friend,” Mason teases.
“Great. The women are going to outnumber us now,” Brantley complains.
“I mean, you could get a boyfriend to even it out,” Max jokes.
Brantley shoots him a dirty look.
“So you and Adrianna?” Mason asks, looking me in the eye.
I nod. “I was wrong about her.”
“I knew you would come to your senses. Have you found what you are looking for at the foundation? Are you ready to come to the hotel where you belong?”
Looking over at Adrianna, laughing with the girls as they walk back our way, I tell him, “Not quite yet. I’m not ready to leave her yet.”
“You can still date her.”
Turning back to him, I nod. “I can, but then I won’t spend all of my time with her. I’m not ready to give that up yet.”
Mason laughs as Brantley gags.
“You’ve been bitten by the love bug. It looks good on you, brother,” Max says, patting me on the shoulder.
The girls rejoin us before anyone else can say anything.
“Let’s go get our seats. Liv got us some right up front,” Mason tells us.
We follow him inside, all chatting as we find our seats, waiting for the show to start. Not long after we sit, the house lights dim, and the music starts. I take Adrianna’s hand in mine as Olivia slides into a seat at the end of the row next to Mason.
“That’s Olivia. We call her Liv,” I whisper to her.
She nods. “Which one is Ari?”
She’s staring at the stage.
Then I see her. My little Ari angel. She is dancing a little offbeat, but she looks beautiful with her butterfly wings.
“The purple butterfly,” I whisper back to Adrianna.
She squeezes my hand as we watch Ari dance across the stage as if she were in the spotlight. No matter what was happening, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
When the show ends, we stand clapping for all the children, but mostly for Ari.
Olivia disappears again as we move out front of the building. Not two minutes later, I hear her.
“Uncle Eli.”
Turning, I drop into a crouch and catch Ari as she jumps into my arms. Standing, I hug her to me as I turn and introduce her to Adrianna.
“Ari, this is Adrianna.”
She smiles big. “Adrianna. It sounds like Arianna. Our names are twins.”
Adrianna laughs lightly. “They are. It’s such a pleasure to meet such a talented dancer.”
Ari hides her face in my neck, embarrassed by the compliment.
“Thank you, Adri,” Ari says, shortening Adrianna’s name.
“I’m Olivia. Sorry we didn’t get to meet earlier. You can call me Liv or Olivia. Whatever you want.”
Adrianna holds out her hand for Olivia. “Nice to meet you. Adrianna.”
As they talk, Ari tugs my ear.
“Yes, dear?” I whisper.
“Is Adri your girlfriend?”
I think it over a moment. “I think so.”
“Good. I want to keep her forever.”
It’s a punch to my chest to hear her say that. Not that I haven’t thought it, but children are so honest. If she didn’t like Adrianna, she would say so.
“Down,” Ari says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I lower her to the ground, watching as she runs to Max next. Stepping into Adrianna’s side, I wrap my arm around her.
I want this.
The thought enters my mind as Adrianna rests her head on my shoulder.
I want to be sitting here watching my own child on that stage with my wife holding on to me.
I want to give up my multibillion-dollar job in order to be closer to my family.
I want to stand around joking with my friends while my little girl races from uncle to uncle, making them compete for the title of favorite.
I want what Mason has without all the drama that got them there.
Turning, I place a kiss on the top of Adrianna’s head.
I want it all, and I want it with Adrianna.