Page 20 of Adonis: The Cost of a Billionaire's Heart
He cheesed. “Thank you.”
I tore my eyes away from him when I saw Adonis coming down the opposite hallway. His presence immediately swallowed up all my attention. He looked effortlessly handsome in his custom-fitted black tuxedo and diamonds chilling around his neck and wrist that flashed in the light like paparazzi cameras.
“Where are you two going?” Maya queried. “You both look amazing.”
“Yeah, Mommy, you look pretty.”
“Aww. Thank you,” I replied with a smile.
“The opera,” Adonis answered. “And we should get going. Ellis’s plane has already landed, and he and his wife are on the way to the opera house now.”
I nodded at him before turning my attention back to Mason. “Don’t stay up too late, and not too many snacks and water before bedtime, okay?”
Mason nodded. “Okay, Mommy. What time will you be back?” he probed as if he could tell time.
“I’ll be back after bedtime, but I’ll still come in and kiss you good night like I always do, okay?”
“Mr. H., look at my rocket ship that I drew all by myself!” Mason said eagerly, switching his attention from me to Adonis.
His eyes lit up just as mine had when he noticed all the detail Mason had put into his artwork. “Wow. That’s the best rocket ship I’ve ever seen. I think that might even deserve prime placement on the fridge.”
Mason grinned from ear to ear. “Yeah! Let’s do it.”
“C’mon, Mason. I’ll help you find the perfect spot,” Maya insisted. “Let’s say bye now so they can go.”
“Bye, Mommy. Bye, Mr. H.”
Adonis and I waved goodbye before entering the private elevator. I waited until the doors were closed before speaking. “You do know that he’s gonna want to put up every drawing he makes on the fridge now that you’ve offered it up, right?” I asked with a chuckle.
“Yeah. I figured as much.”
“Okay, as long as you’re prepared.”
“I am, Sim.”
We made quick eye contact before I darted my gaze down to his satin lapel. “Nice tux by the way,” I complimented him.
Adonis leaned in slightly, just enough so that I wouldn’t feel like he was intruding on my personal space, but closeenough that I could smell the expensive cologne infused into his melanated skin. “Nice gown,” he replied with a half smirk.
“So, is there anything I should know about Mr. Garrick?” I questioned as the elevator descended.
“He likes to talk, sometimes too damn much. So if he tries to spark up a conversation with you, go with the flow. I’ll be there to intercept whenever you need me. Plus, his wife will be there as a buffer as well.”
I dipped my chin. “Okay. Anything else?”
“Not about Garrick. But there will be cameras.”
“Cameras?”
“Paparazzi.”
“Oh. Right,” I answered, feeling my insecurities flooding to the forefront.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a faint smile. “Just think of all that shit as flashes of light.”
“Like lightning bugs?”
A small chuckle slipped from his lips. “Yeah, exactly like lightning bugs.”
