Nicole's outfit above.

"Yes." I reply without hesitation. What is he thinking?

"Okay." He whispers.

Does he doubt my feelings for him? I put that thought aside when I remember the reason I followed him.

"Oh. I forgot to tell you. The Summit is fully booked. I couldn't get the girls room there."

Adam strokes his jaw. Everything he does is sexy as hell. "Why don't they stay here? We have more than enough rooms."

"You don't mind?"

"I'm traveling to London tomorrow night and even if I wasn't, I wouldn't mind. The house is big enough."

He is what? Sometimes our relationship confuses me. It's like I don't where we're heading or how to act with him. He is a mystery that I still haven't understand.

"Oh. Maybe I should call Tyler." I say softly. The Williams are Hospitality Moguls with their hotel chain Herz being the most popular. It will be nice to have my friends stay somewhere familiar.

"No. I know you're going to want to be with your friends when they're here. I don't want you going in and out of hotels when I'm not around. Security is also going to be tight." Adam dictates.

"But I want them to be catered and comfortable. They're my guests." I explain. In a hotel, they can get anything they want with just a phone call.

It really means a lot that they are are flying in to help Nicole and Camilla with their show. For them to sacrifice their time, shows what great people they are so I want to give them the best experience for the two days they're here.

"That's what the staff is for. Talk to Randy, he will get whatever you want done. He can assign a staff to each friend. They're very well trained and can provide a five star experience, trust me." My husband insists and I look at him.

He might not be as 'spoilt' as I am but he did grow up in luxury. To be honest, it's one of the things that attracted him to me the most. Not the amount of money he has, but the way he carries himself. You can tell he is an elite just by looking at him. He is possibly the most elegant person I know.

For example, you can never tell what brand he's wearing because he doesn't wear clothes that have logos, but it's obvious to everyone that they are expensive not only because they look like it but how he wears them.

He's the epitome of the wealth he grew up in and the success he worked so hard for, unobtrusively.

He does everything so perfectly well because it's how he is, not because trying to prove himself to anyone.

Everyone admires him, they respect him and women are crazy about him yet he doesn't really give a fuck.

He is just Adam. Even though there's so much I don't know, I understand this because of our similar backgrounds.

"What is it?" He asks when he notices me staring for so long.

"I'm analyzing you."

I know he understands what I want for my friends and if he says the staff can do it then they can.

"And what's the result?" He asks, amused.

"It's a secret." I wink then continue. "So about the security thing-"

"That's nonnegotiable."

I chuckle, humorlessly. "We're not negotiating. You're just giving commands."

"It's either this or I take you to London with me. I have so much on my plate already. I will go crazy if I don't keep you safe."

I look at him in disbelief. "Are you insane? You didn't even tell me you were going to London."

"Chase was supposed to go but he got sick and can't travel. I need things to be in order before I go."

"I am not a thing!" I snap and he looks at me with tired eyes.

"Amelia, as much as I love fighting with you, it's not happening tonight. We will talk to Randy in the morning and you will tell him everything you need for your friends' arrival. They're staying here." He states, leaving no room for further argument.

"Fine." I agree because I also don't have much energy to argue.

He smiles and pulls me down to his lap.

"Good girl."

I glare at him. "You think just because you're who you are, you can tell everyone what to do?"

"Yes." He smirks then nuzzles my ear. "But thanks for not arguing with me." He adds.

"You're welcome."

He then hands me his iPad and it's pen. "Here. Start writing whatever you think your friends will need."

I grab the pen and start writing the one thing I know most of my friends can't live without.

Pilates machine

****

"I always knew he was a dom." Nicole states.

"He is not a dom." I state, still focusing on the road. We're on our way to Nathan and Brie's for a small pool party their having.

Adam left around six in morning to work out with Nathan then they went to a breakfast meeting at their hotel so I'm meeting him there.

My friends and I got ready at Jasmine's house and I just told them about my talk with Adam last night.

"Well, he's giving dom vibes." Emily says, from my side, the passenger's seat.

"He's just used to being in charge." I explain.

"That's what they all say." Nicole state and then Jasmine adds, "You won't know till you fuck."

"Absolutely." Nicole agrees.

"He still hasn't told you why he wants to wait?"

"Nope." I reply. I'm very confused about Adam's decision to wait. I mean, I've waited my whole life so it's not really a task for me.

"Hmm, maybe it's a dom thing."

"HE IS N-" I stop talking or yelling rather when my phone screen catches my eyes and I see Adam's name.

The call ends before I can answer and I see that I have 7 missed calls from him. My eyes widen. My phone has been on silent the whole morning.

I call him back with voice control and he answers after the first ring.

"Where are you? Are you okay?" His voice is husky and thick worry. Oh my God.

"Yes, we had a little.......fashion emergency that's why we're late." I explain. What he think happened?

"Why weren't you answering my calls?"

I look over to Emily who's going through Instagram on her phone and reply, "My phone is on silent and we were getting ready. Now I'm driving." I explain.

I'm already on the street the house is on

"I will let you drive then." Adam says after a while.

"I'm about to pull over."

"Okay." He says.

When we arrive at Nathan and Brie's, I'm not surprised to see him brooding outside.

"If I was married to someone that hot, you guys wouldn't be seeing me. I'm going to stick with him twenty-four-seven just to stare at his face." Nicole says.

I rush over to him with a nervous smile. "Hi."

He stares at me for ten good seconds. "I was worried."

Sometimes I forget how his mind works. He is the kind of person that automatically assumes the worst.

"I'm sorry."

He glares at someone behind. "I couldn't reach anyone on the phone."

My friends? When I turn around I see Cooper looking very apologetic.

"I'm fine, Adam." I reassure him.

He looks at me and stares down at my body to see if I'm okay then, in a sexy l way that makes my stomach turn.

"I like your dress." He comments.

Before I can answer, Nicole chirps. "Hi, Adam."

The girls and him exchange pleasantries then he holds my hand and we walk through the house.

Nathan and Brie's house is a gorgeous contemporary styled home with bright colors and elegant furniture.

I was barely able to greet Nathan and Brie because Adam is being impatient.

I've never been here before so I follow him as he drags me to a quiet living room and he crashes his lips on mine. My eyes close and we start kissing.

We pull away and as I try to catch my breath, he strokes my waist, staring into my eyes. "I need to see these beautiful eyes the first thing every morning." He says.

"Me too."

He smiles and I clear my throat. "I mean......your eyes not mine. I love your eyes." I correct, nervously.

He checks me out again. "You look breathtaking."

I glance down at my sheer DVF wrap dress. "I thought you didn't like see throughs." I joke.

He slides his hand down to butt. "I love it, baby. You look so hot."

"Thanks."

He takes my hand and pulls me down to the couch, settling me onto his lap. "Show me what you wore under."

I actually feel good about what I'm wearing but I can't help but blush. "Okay."

He hooks his fingers around my dress tie and look at me. "May I?" I try not to think how he knows that it's a wrap dress. "Sure."

He expertly loses it and my dress falls open. My bathing suit is a white two piece with purple floral prints.

He stares at me with pure lust in his eyes. "Fuck, Amelia. Are you going to swim?"

"Probably. Why?"

He takes his hand and tries to pull my bikini top up for more coverage but it doesn't work so I chuckles.

He pulls me to him and plants a soft kiss on my neck. "Because you're too God damn sexy and also mine. I'm jealous of anyone that's going to see you today. Make sure you tell me if anyone stares at you too long."

****

"Are you vlogging?" Nicole asks Brie as she points her camera at the cheeseboard then back to the pool.

This party is more of a chill relaxing day by the pool. Everyone is just doing their own thing. Jacob and Chloe aren't here because he went with her to Paris for her graduation dress fitting. Camilla refused to come because her therapist advised her to stay away from Liam after their fight.

Emily and Colton are making out in the pool, Liam is on the phone with his legs dipped in the pool, Adam and Nathan are in the house, the other guys are getting us drinks from the stand that's a couple of feet from us.

Nicole, Jasmine and I are all laying on the sun lounger to get a good tan because the UV index is good. Jasmine is obviously humoring us since she doesn't need a tan.

"Yeah, that's kind of the point of this party." Brie says, still standing in her maroon Inamorata sexy one piece.

She's such a good hostess because she's made everyone feel at home and comfortable.

"I don't really get influencers sometimes." I state.

"Aren't you one yourself?" Brie asks.

I have a love-hate relationship with having an online presence.

In the digital age, it is kind of the way I have to promote myself as a model.

However, I try not to get too caught up in it because it can become extremely toxic. I rarely put photos of myself unless it's for a job or an event. I'm much more comfortable with a few aesthetic photos like the sunset or my cup of matcha.

"Not really. I don't do brand deals."

"Amelia only promotes high-end designers." Jasmine says in a tone I don't like.

"That is my job." I tell her.

"But I feel like anyone that has a lot of followers is an influencer of some sorts." Brie says.

"True." I agree after a quick thought. This is why my university wants me to be the valedictorian. They believe I'm an influencer.

I just don't see myself that way. I don't want or expect anyone to do something because I did it.

"If I knew there weren't going to be any hot chicks, I wouldn't have come." Brian says as he reaches us and Ian, Tyler, and Rob follow him behind.

"What?!" Nicole yells.

"Excuse you!" Jasmine glares at him.

"I mean, apart from you guys." Brian says, raising his hands up in defense,

"What do you need girls for?" Jasmine asks and he smirks. "What do you think?"

"You gross me out."

Ian takes seat on the sun lounger next to the one I'm lying on. "You know I've been thinking, you have to mention us in your speech."

I look at him through my sunglasses. "What? Why?"

"Imagine your college life without any of us."

It would be boring as hell and I would probably lose my mind because I hate being alone.

"You see." He grins as if he read my mind.

"Fine, I'll mention you guys." I shrug and Ian looks very excited. "Really?"

"Of course not."

"So when are we going to talk about Japan?" Rob, who is standing shirtless with a glass of lemonade asks.

I haven't really been paying attention in our group chat but I know there's a plan to go to Tokyo for Ian's engagement party.

"How about next year since we're clearly all busy right now?" Tyler says sarcastically and Rob gives him the finger.

"I know Chloe's not going." Jasmine says.

Tyler looks at me. "How about you?"

"I'm not sure. I have a few work commitments during that time."

Ian frowns at my answer. "Since when did you care about stuff like that?"

"When I stopped taking money from my parents."

"So you're not going, Liam's not going, and if Chloe isn't going, Jacob's probably not either." Rob states but Tyler shakes his head and says, "No Chloe is going back to London immediately after graduation so I think Jake's going."

"Well, I need everybody's answer by Thursday so everything can be planned."

Just then, Adam and Nathan come through the glass French doors and I stand up and walk over to them to hug my husband.

"Must you hug him every time you see him?" Liam asks and I ignore him.

Adam hugs me back and holds me close to him.

"Say hi to my subscribers." Brie points her camera in our faces.

****

"What an insane day." I sigh the moment Adam and I enter his room.

"You looked insane."

"So you like bikinis?" I ask but it sounded more like a question.

"I do but I also love everything else you wear." He lies on bed with and closes his eyes. He looks beautiful youngish with his hair tousled and his lips pursed.

He's very tired because he's been out since morning.

"What's your favorite?" I ask him suddenly curious about what he said.

He gives out his hand and when I take it, he pulls me down and I lay on top of him.

"I don't have one but the first time I went to bed with you on my mind was Last year, when we saw each other in Los Angeles, you wore a short black dress. I've been hooked ever since."

"Last year?" I frown and he nods. "We weren't even married then. I was still with Liam." I state.

He raises his eyebrow. "And?"

"Actually, he and I were broken up." I correct.

"If somehow thinking I wasn't attracted to you while you were with my brother makes you feel better, then so be it." He replies dryly.

"You were?" I kind of find that hard time believe despite the flirty look he's giving me right now. "How could I not?"

"But you didn't even like me then."

"I didn't like you romantically but I'm not blind."

"Yeah, just extremely rude."

He hugs me tight and explains, "You were mine first. Seeing you with my brother fucked with my head. I didn't know how else to act with the effect you have on me."

His answer baffled me. "What effect? Why?"

Did he feel like Liam took him from me? Was he hurt by it?

I have so many unanswered questions like this because this man prefers to just live in the moment not walk through the past.

"Because you've bewitched me from the first time I saw you." He strokes his finger down my face but I pout. "Why do you want to wait then?"

He widens his eyes and chuckle. "Let me make this clear, I do not want to wait. I just want to work on building our emotional connection before anything."

"But how many women have you been with?"

He puts on that mask where I'm not able to know what he thinks. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just tell me." I demand. I know I'm testing my chances.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I wasn't counting."

"Is it up to a hundred?" I laugh but Adam doesn't find it funny. "No."

"Okay, fifty?"

"No."

"Twenty then?" I ask again then he shrugs. "Maybe around that."

"And you've only had two girlfriends?" Giselle and Eva.

"I'm not saying I'm proud of who I was." He frowns.

"I know." I'm just confused. How does go from being that person to who is now. Very calm and reserved.

"Are you done?" He asks through his teeth and it makes me realize he's mad so I kiss him softly. "Don't be upset. I'm just trying to understand you."

He kisses me again then stares at me. "Good luck cause I don't even understand myself."

****

"Caesar salad, spicy grilled shrimp, roasted potatoes, truffle butter chicken and carrot salad."

Each dish has been presented beautifully and the delicious aroma spreads around the dining.

"Thank you, chef." I smile.

He nods and walks back to the kitchen.

"I am so sorry I judged you for skipping work. If I had a life like this, I wouldn't go anywhere." Natasha states.

Natasha, Jada and Casey arrived yesterday and Adam left for his trip to London shortly after their arrival.

I've known them since I was about seventeen. We met during New York Fashion Week. We were leaving for a Versace after party and Jada needed help with her hair and we all came together (with another girl Daniella) and helped.

We were all young and kind of new to the industry so we hung out at the party were we knew no one else. In an industry where there is so much competition between women, we formed a special bond which made us lucky.

These girls aren't my best friends. We go months without talking but we have a strong relationship where we all had each other's back and would always be there for one another.

"You always forget that I'm in college." I point.

"Yeah, well now you can't use that as an excuse anymore." Casey says.

"Don't worry. This year I'm going to be there all the time."

"Will it be like the old days?" Natasha asks.

The old days we took cities by storm. We barely slept during our travels because we wanted to experience every city. We would go to like five night clubs in one night. Of course, I was miss goody shoes and the designated friend but I still had crazy fun.

"We can only hope." Jada grins.

Yes, we can even though I didn't tell them it's going to be my last year as a fashion model.

****

"I loved the flowers you sent. Thank you." I smile at Adam through my phone screen.

The girls and I went out earlier but we're back home and all in bed because we have an early day tomorrow but I obviously had to call Adam before sleeping.

"Anything for my wife." He says with a flirty wink.

He left last night, a few hours after the girls arrived.

"I like being your wife." I tell him.

"I love that you're my wife. This is pure torture, being away from you. I'm not traveling without you ever again." He says with a frown.

"I know, I couldn't sleep properly last night."

"I'm sorry, my love. Should I fire Chase and get a more efficient CFO that never gets sick?" He asks and I stare at him because he doesn't look like he's joking. He sounds and looks serious.

But he also has a dry sense of humor.

"It's actually healthy to spend some time apart." I just state and he raises a challenging eyebrow. "Says who?"

"It's common knowledge."

He rolls his eyes. "That's preposterous. What I feel now is anything but healthy."

"Were you able to take care of your work problem?" I ask, curiously.

He only mentioned that some of their finances weren't adding up so someone had to go and look over them. It's not an issue that can be solved through Zoom.

"Yes. There were just some miscalculations."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I spent the whole day doing that so no."

"Okay."

"What did you eat for dinner?"

Lie fast! "Uh-" shit.

I watch Adam's eyes darken. "You haven't eaten, have you?"

"I had a big lunch!" I exclaim.