The Billionaire’s Pawn

STRIKER

Days went by smoothly until the weekend. London and I were still strangers. She seemed guarded all the time, and I also kept my distance.

Considering we lived under the same roof, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t cross the line again. I couldn’t afford to break her trust.

“I thought we were going as friends.” I turned to look at her, going to the non-existence backseat door.

“Sorry.” She pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

“I opened the door, Vanderford.”

“Sorry, okay. I didn’t also realize it doesn’t have a backseat door.” She climbed in, and I shut the door before her.

She was fastening her seatbelt when I got into the driver’s seat when she said, “I like your car.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s classic. Where did you get this?” I was glad she appreciated the classics. I loved my Aston Martin DB4. I wouldn’t change it with anything.

“Dad’s gift on my 25th birthday.”

“Are you a Bond fan?”

“Not really, but we happened to go to a car show in the UK, and I didn’t know he was paying attention to it.”

“Your Dad. He seems a good guy.”

“He is.”

“I met Mr. Cade twice. How about your mom?”

“I never knew my biological parents.” That was not entirely true.

“Oh?” She looked shocked as she stared at me. “I’m-I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Dad loves me very much, and I love him. I grew up like every normal kid, even if he raised me alone. He provided for my needs, and I experienced childhood and stuff. And he doesn’t care even if I don’t have a passion for running a business. He was okay with that. So, yeah. And I wasn’t surprised when he told me I am his adopted son.”

“And you two look actually alike.”

“People don’t know I’m adopted, say that. And all Dad wants for me is to be happy.”

“Are you?”

“Yeah. And grateful.” I stole a glance at her. London wore a blue casual dress and dark blue boots. She still looked stunning. “You?”

“Grateful and happy.”

“Good to know. So what do I expect with Neke’s folks?”

“If you get along just right with Neke, you’ll be fine.”

We arrived at the address. Neke lived in a pretty quiet neighborhood in a two-story house.

London went ahead of me. I picked up the gift I bought for Neke from the backseat.

She smiled when she noticed I had a gift for her friend. “I also bought a gift, and I thought it was from us.”

“I don’t know what she likes. I hope this is okay.”

“She doesn’t mine as long as it’s coming from you. Now let’s go.”

I followed her, and she knocked on the door. It instantly opened as if someone was waiting for us behind the door.

“Happy birthday!” London pulled her friend into a hug.

“Thank you.” Neke winked and grinned at me before they pulled away.

“Happy birthday, Neke.”

“Come here. It’s my birthday, and I need a hug.”

I chuckled. “Well, then, a big hug for the birthday girl.”

We hugged, and she whispered, “Thank you for coming.”

“Anything for you.”

“It’s Neke, now, Striker. Come on in.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I heard London chuckle. It was probably because I called Neke ma’am.

Wow. At least twenty pairs of eyes pinned at us. It was like a Saturday family gathering. I was glad I wore a shirt and pants, or I would feel like I was at the wrong party.

“My darling London. You look beautiful today,” said the old lady as she cupped London’s face.

“You look gorgeous, nana.”

And the old lady came to me, inspecting me from head to toe while Neke grinned from ear to ear.

“Don’t scare him off, Nana. He plays an important role in my life,” Neke said.

“Aren’t you a good specimen, young man?”

“You’re the first person to say that. Thank you, ma’am.”

Neke laughed out loud. “You just had her at ma’am, Striker.”

Then Nana surprised me as she did the same as she did to London. “You are a family now. Who gave you the name Striker, son?”

“My Dad, Nana. You can call me Aodhan or Asher or Cade, ma’am.”

“Striker is just fine, dear. Welcome to our humble home.”

“Thank you.”

Then Neke introduced me to the bunch of heads that I only remembered at least seven names.

“Let’s go to the backyard.”

The weather was good. Guys were grilling some barbecue, and it smelled incredible. There was a long table with benches.

We settled on the outdoor table with an umbrella.

“It’s not what you expect, if I may guess.”

“I have brothers, and we are pretty tight. I have billionaire friends, and we still do this with their families. But you, on the other hand, are inviting me for your birthday. I’m honored to be here, Neke.”

“I’m grateful for another year with my family and best friend here.” She looked at London, who was smiling back at her. “And you, my new friend. That’s all that matters.”

“Thank you. And you are so sure you can trust me.”

Her thick brow arched. “Yes. You genuinely seemed to care about my best friend. I mean, besides you doing your job. So I know I can trust you, and we can be BFFs.”

“Lucky you. I’m in need of a BFF.”

She replied with a chuckle.

They served us a cocktail, burgers, finger food, and a side dish.

Neke’s parents came with her birthday cake. After we sang a birthday song for her, Neke made a wish and blew out the candle. Her parents came to check on us again, and her cousins brought some refreshments.

“I wish you all the happiness in the world,” London wished Neke with a kiss on her cheek.

“I wish you the same. May your dreams come true,” I said to Neke.

“Thank you.”

We started digging. London just ate half of her burger, but she had some salad.

We stayed for a while as they chatted together. When my phone chimed, I checked the message, one from Dad and the other from Linden. They both just wanted updates.

We bid goodbye to the birthday girl and her family later on.

“Do you wanna go somewhere else?” I asked London as we both settled in the car.

“I wanna go home.”

“All right. But if you need anything, text me, and I’ll bring it for you.”

Once we arrived at her house, she turned back to the woman I drove and protected. Maybe a while ago, she didn’t want to be with a bunch of people alone, so she needed me, and I was there for her. That was all that mattered.

Later tonight, I was going to update Linus. I went to my room and took a shower. Then I changed into jeans and a shirt before I went to check the monitors. Then I replied to my Dad and Linden.

Before I could put my phone down, it buzzed again. To my surprise, it came from London.

LONDON: Meet me on the rooftop.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I went up quickly, and London was on the lounge before the pool.

“I thought you wanna rest.” I sat beside her. This time there was no hint of makeup on her face, and she looked incredibly young and gorgeous. She wore a baggy sweater and sweatpants and tied her hair in a messy bun.

“The weather was nice. I loved coming here with Neke, and we just talked and talked until we fell asleep. But she couldn’t be here tonight, and I don’t wanna be alone.”

“I thought my role as your friend ended when you left the car.”

Her head snapped, and she glared at me. “You thought I was using you?”

I shrugged and looked at the vast estate she owned. She had a great place. When you looked up, it wasn’t as beautiful as Winterbourn and Burkhese, but it was closed enough, and this was her home.

“I don’t know, Vanderford. And I let you, so if it’s helpful, I’ll play along as much as you want.”

“I can’t believe you’re this dumb and sometimes a jerk.”

“Maybe. So you wanna talk?”

“Not anymore.” She rose to her feet, and I was scared she would walk away angry tonight.

“I’m sorry. I just felt that way. Maybe because you don’t know me well or trust me enough, and I know nothing about you, too. So why don’t we get to know each other.” I patted the empty seat beside me.

She laid down instead and folded her arms over her chest.

“Are you cold?”

“No.”

I drew a long deep breath before I started, “I told you about my biological parents, that I never knew them. That’s not entirely true.” I pulled the convertible sofa, and then I lay beside her.

“How so?”

“Well, Dad told me in my early teen. Then one day, he told me about my biological parents. He let me decide if I wanted to meet my sperm donor. I never knew he met that man, but my mother died a year after I was born.”

“But you never met your father until now.”

I faced her. We were just inches apart. She was within my reach, but I tried hard not to raise my hand and run my finger on the smooth skin under her jaw.

“No. I’m not interested. Dad told me to hear his side, but for what? One Dad is enough for me. I’m happy and grateful that Dad told me, even if it was hard for him, that he thought I would leave him for my father.”

“He raised you alone. It wasn’t easy. My Dad was out of town all the time. My mother was useless.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Well, Dad dated a twenty-one-year-old college student. She had me at twenty-two, and Dad was already in his late thirties. My mother didn’t want me. All she wanted was luxury, shopping, glitters, and all that. Dad gave her everything, even if she spent half a million a month just to have her as my mom, but she didn’t care about me. She left Paris to buy jewelry and bags, leaving me alone with the nannies. When Dad found out, he divorced her and took everything from her. It was harsh, but Dad had enough.”

“Wow.” I was speechless. “Your Dad loves you very much. Even blind people can see it. I guess we have one thing in common. GDOAT.”

She smiled. “Yeah. Amen to that.”

“Can I ask something?”

“We’re not there yet.”

“I know, Vanderford. I was about to ask why do you hate me?”

She was quicker on her seat than the flash. “I don’t hate you.”

“Really?”

“But you broke your promise.”

“What do you mean?”