Page 70 of The Billionaire Babe

“But I like it,” I tell her honestly. I feel like if she is in my arms, then this is all real. Not some dream or my imagination. She is safe and I feel safe with her. Like, if we are together, then nothing else matters. As long as we have each other, then everything else will be alright.

“I can tell.” She smiles as I place her on her feet under the spray, and I watch her as she soaks her body. “So I wanted to talk to you about something…”

“About?” I ask, ducking my head under the stream of water, wishing it would wash all the bad shit in my life away.

“I want to go into the Van Cleef Corp offices today.”

I pull out of the water and look at her like she is crazy.

“No,” I say sternly. She is not leaving this apartment. It is what her father is waiting for. He hasn’t made a move yet because he can’t. But I know he is waiting for her to leave. I am sure he has plans to take her, kidnap her, mistreat her. That is not going to happen.

“But I need to go in, see the staff. Tell them I am fine and things will be okay,” she says, and I shake my head.

“It isn’t safe.” There is no way in hell she is leaving this apartment.

“But I need to show the board that I am strong and capable under pressure. That I won't just hide when things get tough. They need to see what kind of leader I can be.” She’s not letting it go and my shoulders feel tight.

“We don’t know what your father is thinking, we don’t know what he has up his sleeve. Here, you are safe,” I grit out to her, trying to make her understand.

“But I need to be seen in public. I need to make a statement,” she pushes back on me, looking frustrated that I am not condoning it. “I can’t keep hiding.”

“Val, I said no.”

“AJ, I need to get out.” She demands as my nostrils flare.

“No,” I say sharply, because if I say anything else, I will yell.

“AJ, it has to happen sometime. I need to force his hand.” I know what she means. Nothing will happen while she is here, and I know we need to make a move, but I don’t want to.

“I can’t protect you as well outside of these four walls,” I grit out.

“You don’t need to worry. I’ll take a team. You don’t need to protect me. I will be fine.”

“You are not leaving this penthouse!” My voice rises, the shower not drowning out our heated discussion.

“Why not?” Her sassy confidence is in full effect.

“Because he will find you, because he will take you from me, and he can’t do that, because I fucking love you!” I yell, and we both still. The running water is the only sound as we both stand together in shock.

“What?” she whispers, her eyes wide.

“I fucking love you, alright,” I snap as I step out of the shower and grab a towel, my heart thumping, my head a mess.

“Wait…” She scrambles to turn off the water and follow me. I take a deep breath. I feel like I am going to have a fucking panic attack. I love her. I fucking love her. What if she doesn't love me? What the fucking hell have I done. I lean on the sink and hang my head as I try to get myself under control.

“AJ,” Val says softly, her hands running up my arm. “Look at me.” I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment before opening them again and taking a deep breath. I stand up and turn. I need to take it like a man.

“I love you too. I think I did from the moment you picked me up and threw me out of Club Vine,” she says, a small smile coming to her face. I sigh in relief and my shoulders lower as I swallow hard. For years, I felt unloved. If your own parents can’t love and care for you, what hope is there to ever find true love? I never thought it was for me. But I found it. And she is standing right in front of me. A small smile threatens my lips. She fucking loves me too.

“Don’t be scared. This is a good thing.” Her smile widens, and I can’t help but smile back at her. I reach out and cup my hand around her waist and pull her tight, looking at her now beaming. Kissing her gently, I feel her melt into my arms. I pull back slightly and look at her before our conversation re-emerges in my brain.

“The answer is still no,” I tell her sternly, and she pouts. She is about to come back at me when my cell rings. I am immediately on guard with how early it is.

“Get it,” she says, stepping back, worry on her face.

I swiftly walk back to the bedroom and grab my phone from the nightstand. My mom?

“Hey, Mom,” I answer as I sit on the bed and look at Val, who leans against the doorframe, watching me with concern.

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