Chapter 28 Adeline
Adeline's POV
The amusement on his face only grew the more he listened to whatever Richard was saying, which made me even more curious about what was going on.
"Are you serious?" Percy asks. "Double-booked? How does a historic Italian villa double-book a wedding?"
He listened for a moment longer and nodded to himself. "Okay. Yeah. No, tell Melissa not to panic. We will handle the guests. Six months—are they serious? That’s the earliest opening? Alright. We can make it work."
He listens for a while again and says. "No, you don't have to panic, too. Didn't I tell you I was on top of it? I will handle it and smooth things over. Hmm. No.... okay, bye."
He hangs up and looks at me, the amusement still evident on his face.
"You’re not going to believe this."
"What happened? Is Mom alright?"
"Yes, she's panicking but she will get through this."
"What?"
"It's about the venue they booked for their wedding in Lake Como. Apparently, there was a huge clerical error. They booked a celebrity wedding for the same weekend and, unsurprisingly, they bumped us over the celebrities because those ones just couldn't wait any longer."
My jaw drops. "You’re kidding. Mom must be hysterical."
"She is. Richard is trying to calm her down, but the venue is offering a full refund and a guaranteed slot for their next opening." He pauses, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "In six months."
"Six months," I repeat to myself before what that means washes over me. The wedding is off, for now which means we don't have to stand up there this weekend and play happy step-siblings. We don't have to lie to their faces in front of an altar in three days.
"We have six months," Percy says, reading my mind. He crawls back over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Six months to be us. Six months to date properly. Six months to figure out how to tell them before they actually tie the knot."
I let out a laugh of pure relief. "It’s a reprieve."
"It’s a gift," he corrects, kissing me. "The universe just bought us more time, Ghost."
"Seems like even the universe wants us to be together." I smile. "How do you want us to celebrate this amazing offer, Rider?" I ask, and his eyes darken with desire.
"Well, my girlfriend could get over here and ride me until I can no longer feel my legs."
"Your wish is my command, my lord." He rolls us over until I'm on top. His first thrust when I'm fully sat over him nearly sends me tumbling off him, and he laughs. His smugness doesn't sit well with me, so I take his hands off my waist.
"No touching. I'm the rider." I whisper in his ears, and for some reason, that only makes him harder. By the time I finish chasing my own finish, he's completely at my mercy, begging me to let him come.
Six Months Later
The last six months have been the best of my life. Percy and I lived in our own bubble, completely untouched by anything or anyone. It was dangerous and secretive, but it was our bubble.
By day, we were professionals. I finished my internship and was offered a junior associate position on my own merit, though Percy made sure Mason’s old office was converted into a break room so I wouldn't have to look at it. We kept our distance in the corridors, limiting ourselves to professional nods and the occasional lingering glance that no one else caught.
But by night? At night, I used the silver key.
I practically moved into the penthouse. We cooked together. We raced on weekends. We fell deeper and deeper into a love that felt less like a secret and more like a real relationship.
Whatever darkness Mason had brought into my life had been scrubbed away by Percy and his unending love for me.
As today was a Tuesday evening, my work was light, so I was packing my things and ready to head to the penthouse when a smile subconsciously came on my lips.
Percy and I had a long talk last night and with the rescheduled wedding now only weeks away, we decided it was time to tell our parents about our relationship. Our plan was to sit them down and tell them about our relationship before they heard it from anyone else. He decided that there was no point in delaying it so we were going to do it tonight.
We were going to go to Mom’s house and explain everything. The history, the relationship, the love. We were going to beg for their forgiveness and their blessing.
My phone rings just as I’m slinging my bag over my shoulder and putting my chair in place. I smile when I see the Caller ID. It's Mom, and I wonder what she wants this time around.
She’s probably calling to panic about the flowers again, or maybe she wants to know if I’m bringing a date to the rescheduled rehearsal dinner. I already told her I wasn't, but I would have to change my answer.
"Hey, Mom," I answer brightly, walking toward the elevators. "I was just about to head over. Is Richard there? Percy and I need to talk to you guys about something important..."
"Adeline."
Her voice stops me dead in my tracks. It was not the manic and excited voice of a bride-to-be. It was the brokenness of a woman who had been crying for hours.
I freeze, my hand hovering over the elevator button. "Mom? What’s wrong? Are you okay? Do I need to come over?"
"Don't come over," she sobs.
"Mom, how could I not come over when you're in that state?" I know she was not the best mother growing up but I couldn't deny her when she was clearly in distress. "Do you need me to bring anything? Ice cream?"
"I mean, come over, but don't bring Percy. Please don't bring Percy."
"Mom, you’re scaring me. What happened? Is everyone okay?"
"It’s off, Addie," she whispers, the sound tearing through my heart. "The wedding. The engagement. It’s all off."
"What? Did the venue cancel again?"
"No," she chokes out. "Richard. I found... oh god, Adeline. I went to his office to surprise him... and he was with his secretary. Right there on his desk."
My stomach drops to the floor at the thought of anyone cheating on my mother, especially Richard Akilov, who claimed to worship the ground she walked on.
It was then that I suddenly remembered something Percy told me about his father and his multiple conquests. I had brushed it off because I believed it was in the past and that meeting my mother had changed him. How wrong I was. He knew exactly the kind of man his father was.
"I’m coming," I say, my voice shaking. "I’m coming right now, Mom. Just stay there."
We decided to tell our parents the truth.
But how can we tell them now? How can I tell my heartbroken mother that I am in love with the son of the man who just destroyed her life? Our bubble just popped.