Divorcing The Billionaire On Valentine's Day

28. Adeline

ADELINE

The walls closed in on me. What was supposed to be my escape did the exact opposite. What was Jay thinking saying that? Not once has he even so much as hinted in the past that he entertained the thought. Was he just trying to get me to leave Grayson’s mansion? Would he really go as far as that just to get me to change my mind.

I screamed into the pillow. I had cried so much all through the night, I barely had any tears left. Why was it that when I even thought about making a way out of the web I found myself in, something always managed to pull me back in.

Sobbing hadn’t helped. Screaming didn’t help either. What was I supposed to do if he was actually serious? If he really harbored feelings for me? If they were strong enough to complicate things with us, make things awkward. I had so few people in my life as it was, I couldn’t be losing anymore. But the alternative wasn’t any better.

I needed to do something else with my life, go to school, have a paying job that did not involve me juggling two jobs to earn something decent. A chance to start life like I should have five years ago. The contract with Grayson was going to give me all of that and more.

Did it make me feel sleazy and dirty? Yes. But it would only be for two years. I survived five years with the man without the added benefits, two years couldn’t be that bad. I’m sure Jay and Kris would understand if they could only put themselves in my shoes, see things the way I did.

Speak of the devil. My phone chose that moment to vibrate on the nightstand, the sound speared right through my skull, worsening my already bad headache. I didn’t need to check the caller ID, I just had this feeling in my gut.

I was right. Kris' name popped up on the screen, taunting me the longer it rang without going to voicemail. I waited till it did. The screen went blank again and I played the voice message she sent.

Adeline please tell me this is some sick prank, you wouldn’t really walk back into that house based off of another contract, would you?! She sounded shaky, like she knew she was probably right, but chose to keep clinging to the hope that she wasn’t.

Call me when you get this. I need to make sure you aren’t being brainwashed or some voodoo s**t like that. She held onto the call, I could still hear her breathing, like she somehow believe I would pick up or call back while she still did. After a long pause, she ended the call.

Guilt racked through my gut. She was worried. She knew how badly the first contract ended, how unrecognizable I became in the course of it, knew how much I hated myself and cursed my father for shoving me right into it. She was right to be scared. I probably should be too, but for some absurd reason, I wasn’t.

I needed to do this. I chanted in my head, more to convince myself than anyone else.

With that thought, I was ready for the day. Going back to school wasn’t even on the table for now, not until those blogs are taken care of. I slipped on some sweatpants over my shorts and threw on a light shirt over my bralette. The house was quiet, which was no surprise, Grayson was usually out before 8am, despite being the CEO, he never let himself ‘slack off’.

I shot a quick text to Kris telling her I have things all figured out. Yeah, the only thing I had figured out was how to lie to myself.

My index finger hovered over the send icon. Not because I was suddenly second guessing my choice, but rather because of the notification that popped up.

Aaron Baker comes clean at press conference, admits to feeding false narratives to the media.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. I knew he would keep his word, I knew he had something to do with it, but there was no way he worked that fast!

I clicked on it and skimmed through on my way to Johnny’s room. It was a full confession. How he had set things up with the photographer, how he knew about my relationship with Grayson and why he did it. It was all there. What exactly did Grayson promise him to get him to agree to it, this would no doubt affect his credibility as a person.

I tried to muster even an ounce of pity for him and his about-to- be career of the past, but no matter what tale I tried to spin, what excuse I tried to give for him, I couldn’t even feel a smudge of pity. He deserved it. He deserved every bit of bad luck about to hit him. He not only used my feelings and vulnerability against me, he continually lied to my face, almost ruined my second chance at a decent life.

A warm, cozy feeling filled my chest. It was all thanks to Grayson. He kept his word, he cleared the air, there was no way anyone in their right minds would believe anything but my innocence with the unfiltered confession Aaron let flow at the conference. It was like a weight had been lifted off my chest, like I had been drowning in unidentifiable liquid the entire time and for the first time in a long time got a breath of fresh air. It felt good. And I had him to thank for that.

Johnny sat at his desk, twirling a pencil between his fingers, but his sketchbook never got a feel of his pencil the entire two minutes I leaned against the doorway.

“What’s on your mind big boy?” I pushed off the doorway and towards him. Try as I might to fight it, I raised him, he might as well be my son, but I knew better than to overstep or overplay my role. Grayson wouldn’t waste any time reminding me.

“Addie!” He beamed, the forlorn look that had been on his face gone. “You didn’t come out all day yesterday.” If his voice wasn’t accusation enough, the tiny finger pointed my way was.

I shrugged like it was nothing, “I was having a bad day, but I’m much better now, I promise.” I lifted a pinky in the air. He narrowed his eyes at me, the way his mouth curled as he did was just too cute! He met my pinky finger with his and gave a toothy smile. “Now, come on. Let’s get some food in you.”

He clutched onto my fingers as I led the way. I set up his favourite cartoon, SpongeBob and headed to the kitchen to get lunch ready.

It was already very late by the time I finished on the rice and chicken sauce with a serving of chicken dipped in teriyaki sauce. It was a tough decision, but in the end, I added extra for Grayson. The chances he would actually eat were almost zero, but it was my little way of thanking him for working so fast. He had no idea how much stress he was taking away.

As if he had some sensor stuffed in his brain or something, the devil in Armani walked right through the door as I was serving up the meal.

He paused on his way to his bedroom, took steps back and peeked into the kitchen. I was sure I looked a mess, my hair was held back in a messy bun, the few rebellious strands stuck to my face, held in place with sweat from all the moving around I had done in the kitchen. He narrowed his eyes at me.

I know, I looked a mess. I wanted to say, but instead I held my peace. “Why are there three plates? Did you invite a guest to my house?” He wasted no time pointing out the fact that I was still answerable to him. I shoved Jay’s words down before it could rear its ugly head.

“I made some lunch and decided to make some for you.” I explained. He c****d an accusing brow at me. I rolled my eyes. If I really wanted to poison him, I wouldn’t be that obvious. “Thank you for clearing the blogs.” I mumbled, hating how quiet my voice suddenly became.

“You never made food for me before.” He tilted his head to the side.

“You never saved my ass before. Plus, I did, you just never bothered to take any.” I shrugged like it didn’t feel like he shoved a knife through my heart every time he refused my meals.

He hummed, eyeing the extra plate like it would grow into a monster if he glared at it long enough.

“If you don’t want it, I could always take it.” I reached for the plate, not bothering to keep the bite from my tone.

“I’d eat it.” He rushed, his eyes still on the plate like it held an evil yet to be revealed.

I covered the plate and grabbed mine and Johnny’s. I felt his eyes on me the entire time I made my way passed him and to Johnny in the living room.