The Billionaire’s Pawn

STRIKER

We were going home. I was relieved that this madness was finally over. I was still shaking with anger with Giosue Conti, but I couldn’t be any prouder of how my wife stood for herself.

On the other hand, Terzo fucking Siciliano was another story- that asshole got on my nerves in a matter of seconds. I had a strong feeling that I would be in trouble because of him. I was overprotective over my wife and didn’t quickly get jealous, but if he ever touched my wife, he just got his ticket punched.

“What’s wrong?” Moses asked me across the table as he put his card down. He won for the third time.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Linden showed his cards. “You’re cheating, sir.”

“This is math, Linden. Show me how did I cheat?”

I scratched my head. “My ass.”

“You both are losing. He can take all your money and be poor. If you both win, he’s still rich,” my wife said. She was right, even if this was just for fun.

“You still owe me my fifty, Linden.”

“Are you serious right now?” he asked my father.

“Did you treat them to gelato?”

“You know we didn’t have enough time for gelato, sir.” He grinned.

“You could have won, son, but your head is not in the game. What is it that’s bothering you, Striker?”

“Why did you take us to Italy if you didn’t want us involved?”

Moses nodded lightly and sighed. “The meeting was between me, Linus, Gaetano, and Giosue alone. You were there because I was hoping you could solve your issue with your wife. When things get complicated around us, they make us realize the importance of relationships. We tend to see what we lack, an eye-opening of how we feel for our partners.” Dad stole a glance at my wife. “And you needed to be there to show your gratitude. They maybe are outlaws, but they are bound to their own codes, and if someone breaks it, even a member of their family, if the punishment is death, then it is then.”

“Why did Terzo say London is under his protection now?”

“Because he’s your wife. That’s why she had to be there. Look, the last thing I want is to involve you both, but I had no choice. You have to meet Gaetano. Think of it as showing respect to my associates.”

“Why did Dad come late?” London inquired.

“He had to pay respect to the grave of Gianna.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

“Yes.”

“And you left my brother alone with them.”

“I wasn’t alone, brother. We were seventeen. Three were my men. The rest is from Siciliano and your father. If I didn’t know they’re wanted criminals, they’re actually cool.”

“Really?” I eyed Linden, feeling a little jealousy twinge in my chest. “So maybe the next time I see you, you’re already playing pool together and were sharing your best love advice with those assholes.”

Linden laughed. My father joined him too.

“And here I thought you never get jealous, but right now, I see it. Are you jealous of Linden meeting new guys? Wew. That’s cute, sweetheart.” Did she just mock me?

I shot my wife a glare. When she saw that it didn’t amuse me anymore, she pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

“I’m not jealous. They’re just bad people.” My argument wasn’t compelling, but that was my point.

“You’re mad at Terzo, brother. And you know why I am here. It’s not because I got paid and sealed the deal with your father, but because I wanna help my brother. I love you, man.” Linden was still amused.

“Fuck you.”

“See? Your son has a bad mouth.” He tried to hide his laugh. “Here’s what I wanna say, brother. Sweetheart, I will always be by your side. Nothing like Terzo can tear us apart. Okay? I heard he came to see you while waiting for us.”

“Just shut the fuck up. I don’t give a damn.”

“Striker, your mouth is starting to irritate me, son. Your wife is listening, and you’re being ridiculously vulgar.”

“Sorry, Papa.”

“So, Dad is gonna be okay now, Pa?” Good thing London knew how to change the mood.

“Yes. If he won’t make another mistake with the mafia.”

“I couldn’t thank you all enough.” She patted my father’s hand. “You too, Linden.”

“You are family, honey.”

“He just took the words from me, sweetheart.”

“It means a lot.”

“And let’s not forget how you punched and threatened Giosue and called him a thug.” Linden laughed.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what came over me when I saw his smirk. It just I saw red.”

“Are you kidding me?” Linden was amused, and so was my father.

“We’re proud of you. Don’t ever apologize.” I pulled her into me and squeezed her for a hug. “Is your hand okay?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t hurt.” She clasped and unclasped it. “It feels really good to punch someone I hate.”

And I thought I just saw the pride in my father’s eyes.

***

The following day, life seemed to go back to normal. I slept soundly beside my wife. We talked for a few minutes during breakfast. Then we got ready for work.

“You have your own coffee, and I don’t?” I pointed at her tumbler.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“Well, I thought guys don’t use tumblers and prefer to drop by the coffee shop. You know, it could ruin the whole masculinity thing.”

“Wow. Is that how you see me? Afraid of bruising my ego?”

“I was just trying to help clean the earth, you know. Be sustainable. Instead of using disposable material, use recyclable.” When she talked like that, she became sexier, and all I could think was to take her back to our room. Then I remembered something. I still had to wait for a couple of days.

“You’re hot.”

“Get in your car, Cade.”

“Not without a kiss.” I cupped her face and kissed her lips. “Don’t work too hard. And don’t worry about your boss. He is handsome and lenient.”

“Are you two done?” Reed shook his head.

“Shut up,” we said in unison.

“Well, look at you two. What a sight for sore eyes.”

“Take care, and don’t work too hard. I’m sure your boss, the handsome old man, is lenient.”

At the office, I had a lot of work to do. While staying in my apartment, I managed to catch up, read many books, and did my own research about the project designs we were working on.

I checked the collected data forwarded to me regarding the stealth project proposal. It was impossible at this time since no aircraft was totally invisible to radar.

A knock on my door interrupted my reading. “Come in.”

The door swung open. My jaw dropped when the last person I expected walked in. “Your assistant is pretty.”

I chuckled as I got up from my chair and went to hug her. “You didn’t just say that.”

She looked around. “I like your office. I can see your personality all over the room.” Nothing special about my office. I only requested it to be minimalist and have less color. So it was a modern interior in gray and white.

“Thank you.”

She picked up the photo on my desk. “Lucky her.”

“That’s my wife, annoying and bossy sometimes, but she can be obedient and thoughtful. She’s passionate. That’s what I like about her.”

“Hmm.” She sat on my desk and crossed her legs while she fished out something from her bag. “I have something for you to add to the collections of mess in your immaculate office.” The idea of her sitting on my desk came across my mind many times while we were separated. I always missed her, and my anger toward her almost ruined our marriage.

“Pen holder?” A white ceramic pencil holder in geometric design.

“Not just a pen holder.” She showed me what was written on it. It was small, but the penmanship was familiar. I thought it was sweet and thoughtful.

“The greatest husband in the universe.” I took it from her and put it on my desk. “It’s perfect. Thank you, baby.”

“You’re welcome.” She rose to her feet. “I have to go.”

“Wait. You’re leaving already?”

“You have work to do. I just excused an hour to visit you since you didn’t invite me.”

I felt embarrassed.

“You’re blushing, Cade.”

“I’m ashamed that it didn’t come to my mind.”

“It’s okay.”

“You’re always welcome, Vanderford.” I wrapped my arm around her waist. “Now that you’re here let’s go and see my father.”

“Are you sure? You have work-”

“Fuck the work,” I whispered to her ear as we walked out of my office.

“Same.”

“I’ll be right back,” I told my assistant. She was young than me but older than London. She was pretty if I was being honest, but she was fresh from college and too highly of herself. “This is my wife, London Vanderford.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.” She offered her hand.

“Me too.”

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“What about earlier?” I asked.

“Nothing.” London held my hand, dragging me away. “Let’s go see the big boss.”

While on our way to Moses’ office, I was curious about what had happened. “Baby, are you gonna tell me?”

“You’re not going to fire her.”

“No, I won’t.”

“She said, I don’t have an appointment to see Mr. Cade. He’s swamped with work. Get an appointment and come back. I said he was expecting me. She said, no, he’s not. Striker didn’t inform me. I was beginning to fume when she called you by your name. Are you sure you didn’t sleep with her?”

“No.” I stopped walking and faced her. I might have overreacted as I was already throwing her a nasty glare. “I would never sleep with-”

“With your client, employee, or your assistant?”

“I swear to you, I have never slept with anyone since you and I had a-”

“You can say we broke up. It’s okay. It was my fault anyway. Then it came to my senses when you told me that I can sleep-”

“I was enraged. I didn’t mean that,” I finally admitted. “And I wish I could take that back. You know the feeling when you say something you can’t take it back? It feels like stabbing yourself in the chest over a million times, you die, and you live and do it over and over again.” I sighed. “Don’t do that to me.”

“Do what to you?” She looked hurt and confused.

“Sleep with another guy.”

“You know what I wanna do to you right now?”

“What?”

“Kiss you.” She cupped my face and kissed me hard and quickly. Then I heard applause around us.

“Are you two done?” It was my father. My face just heated.

“Thank you and sorry,” I told the guys around us. Then I faced my father. “You have an unwanted visitor.”

“I can see that. Come, honey.”

“Pa, he thinks I cheated on him.”

“I didn’t say that,” I defended myself as I followed Moses.

“Sure, you thought, son.”

“Are you on her side now?”

“She’s my only daughter-in-law, Striker.”

“Well, she’s my wife, and you’re my father.”

Moses stopped and turned to face. “You’re too possessive.”

“Yes, he is,” my wife agreed.

“I’m not.”

“And madly in love.”