Page 117 of Serenity
Freeing myself from the myriad of thoughts in my head shifted my focus to my surroundings. As I stood at the front of the new spa in Adelaide, my heart grew light and fluttery. At present, the building was just a shell, with concrete covering the exterior. There was much to accomplish with regard to construction. Things were going perfectly to plan, with another two to three months until the spa’s completion.
Adding to that was the fact that another location would soon be underway. The cash infusion came from Solari, surprisingly falling in line with my vision. To that end, I housed no complaints.
My phone pinged, pulling my attention away from my dreams made manifest, to its screen.
Thinking about you, bumble bee.
What about me?
I’m ready to see your fine ass in Madrid.
I smiled at the prospect of experiencing yet another part of the world with my favorite person. In the short span of our relationship, we’d been to five countries together. Had I left it up to Duke, it would have been more—many more.
Once the new spas were complete, I imagined we’d be traveling much more frequently than we already were. As busy as I kept myself in Paramour, Duke was determined to remind me of the importance of my namesake: peace and relaxation.
Let me check my calendar.
There you go with that bullshit.
I’m free for the weekend.
It had been a couple of months since we’d last taken a flight together. With business on both of our ends ramping up for the new year, we hadn’t prioritized a trip since Belize. Biting my bottom lip between my teeth, I smiled at the prospect of stepping aboard the G5 again.
LEWD
After an endless day of completing merger contracts, I was ready for comfort. The warmth of a home-cooked meal and the softness of my woman’s voice were the perfect pairing of heaven. Chest expanded, head high, with a smile plastered across my face, I stalked out of the doors, encasing me in Colonial Holdings. I was headed home to my lady.
Twice, my phone beeped, alerting me of an incoming text message. I silenced that, continuing my stride out of the metal detectors near the lobby of the building. Mid-wave to the security staff, the device sounded off again. This time, it refused to cease. Desperation lulled the sound. Already, I was removing my blazer and my tie and unbuttoning the top few buttons of my dress shirt. Today had fucking drained me.
The perpetual ringing of my device slowed my movements as I drew closer to the SUV parked out front of the building’s doors.
GRANDPA
I’d chat with him later.
Continuing my stride, I drew closer to the SUV. My outstretched hand grasped the door handle as yet another call came through on the line.
PRE
Not exactly in the mood for idle chat, I silenced the call and hopped inside the back of the truck. With Biram at the helm, we pulled off and into traffic. Rush hour in the city could mean a lengthier trip to the penthouse or Serenity’s place for the evening. We hadn’t decided, but she’d been at the penthouse more often than not, with an entire section in the walk-in closet space we shared.
Ceaselessly, my phone buzzed, alerting me of an excess of notifications. Niggas were really trying to get at me today.
Biram’s distracted movements tugged me from my device. At a red light and busy crosswalk, his attention was dipped toward his phone. The heedlessness caused my jaw to clench involuntarily.
“Biram, what the fuck are you doing?”
“Boss.”
“You’re on your phone, Biram, putting both our lives in jeopardy. Should I cancel your visa and send your ass back to Accra?”
“I apologize, but I think this is something you will want to see.”
Raising his right arm, he offered his device. As I stretched forward, another host of notifications went off on my phone. While a busy man, the incessant hotline blinging alerted me of something amiss. Silently, I prayed no one close to me had died.
Peering down at Biram’s phone, I read the headline.
“OIL BARON AND NOTABLE PARAMOUR SOCIALITE IN LEWD PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEO”