Mid Size For The Billionaire

8- Cristiano

Trey had managed to persuade me to join him at one of his clubs, calling me out of the blue with an insistence that left little room for refusal. Given the tumultuous events swirling in my personal life, I welcomed the opportunity for a night out, so I agreed.

Adia had yet to respond to my messages, and doubt gnawed at me, making me wonder if I had irrevocably pushed her away. Each unanswered text only deepened my concern, yet I resolved not to reach out again. If she wanted me as much as I wanted her, she would find her way back to me; if not, I would have to accept her decision, no matter how bitter the pill.

I adorned myself with a gold chain and my Rolex, scrutinizing my reflection in the full-length mirror. Today, I opted for an all-black ensemble: a long-sleeved black shirt paired with sleek black jeans and custom black Nikes, their signature swoosh embellished in gold to match my accessories. Even the insoles bore the same gilded hue.

Though Trey's clubs attracted the elite of society, they remained clubs—places where business executives sought solace from their rigorous lives. I had no intention of pursuing anyone tonight, but I wanted to present my best self; the ever-watchful paparazzi were known to lurk outside, ready to capture any moment of indiscretion or fashion malfunction.

As I grabbed my wallet and picked up my phone, ready to step out, my phone vibrated unexpectedly. Glancing at the screen, I saw Adia's name. A moment of hesitation swept over me. Part of me considered letting it ring, wanting her to experience a fraction of the neglect I had felt in the past few days. Ultimately, my desire to hear her voice prevailed, and I answered.

"Hello?" I retreated to the couch, preparing myself for whatever she might say.

A brief silence hung in the air before she responded, "H-hello."

"Adia?" I feigned surprise, relishing a bit of playful payback for her earlier silence.

She seemed unfazed by my tone. "Yeah, it's me."

"I'm genuinely surprised to hear from you," I admitted, my sincerity evident. I had not anticipated a call, especially after our last exchange.

She sighed, a sound heavy with relief and trepidation. "I'm sorry about that. I got a little too lost in my thoughts and worried you wouldn't want to see me again after what happened last time."

Hearing her vulnerability was a balm to my concerns. I understood that articulating her feelings could be challenging, but her willingness to open up meant the world to me. I had no intention of pressuring her; I simply cherished that she had chosen to confront her fears and reach out.

I chuckled softly. "Adia, I was only upset because you were avoiding me."

For a moment, silence stretched between us, as if she were processing my words. "So, you're not mad at me?"

"Do you plan on ignoring me again?"

"No."

"Then no, I'm not mad at you."

"Can we just take things slow?" she asked, and my mind instantly wandered to the ache of wanting to kiss her.

"I can go slow."

"That's great... talk later?"

"Most definitely."

After she hung up, I was left with my thoughts once again. Relief washed over me, grateful that she had summoned the courage to reach out. For this reason alone, I chose to forget the missteps of our last date and focus on the potential ahead. Taking a deep breath, I stood and moved toward the door. The clock read eight, and I knew Trey would soon start blowing up my phone with messages if I didn't leave soon.