Chapter 157


    Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Seven


    Sephic


    We spent the morning at the house, like usual. When it was time for Adrik to leave for work, we all left.


    All of them had been practically giddy all morning long, like they had a secret that I wasn’t in on. I was


    hoping by their smiles that whatever it was, it was going to be good.


    On the elevator up, I finally asked, “are you guys going to let me in on the secret you’re all clearly very


    happy about?”


    Adrik kissed my temple. He looked at his watch, then back to me. “In approximately 15 minutes, you’ll


    know everything.”


    Instead of going to the penthouse, we went to his office first. Except Ivan. Ivan stayed on the elevator,


    waving bye to me as I looked at him, confused, while the doors closed.


    “Where’s he going?” I asked. Now I was getting even more curious, They all looked at me, devious


    grins on their faces, but no one answered my question. 1 felt myself starting to get slightly nervous


    about what they were nning.


    It didn’t seem like we were in the office for more than 5 minutes and Viktor’s phone rang. He answered


    it, listened, then hung up. He looked to Adrik, “ready, Boss.” Viktor looked to me, his broad smile


    stretching across his face.


    Adrik grabbed my hand, leading me back to the elevator. Everyone followed us. No one said a word.


    They just had their shi t- eating grins on their faces. Once in the elevator again, Adrik pulled me to him.


    I tucked myself into his side, looking at him, silently questioning what was going on. He just pushed the


    curts hick from my face. “You’ll see,” he said, that smile still on his


    face.


    Once we arrived at the top floor, I saw Ivan as the doors opened. He was grinning like a mo ron just like


    the rest of them.


    “Okay, you guys are starting to creep me out. For real,” I said, starting to get frustrated they wouldn’t


    say anything. They all


    that each piano has its own feel. The keys respond differently, they feel differently. You can adjust your


    ying to each piano, usually easily, but each pianist has that one piano that will always be their


    favorite. This piano was that for me. I’d yed plenty of others, but this piano was always my favorite.


    Once I was older, my mother managed to buy a new piano. It wasrger than this one, which she


    loved, but I did not, I hated it. It was all wrong. This one was perfect for me. Once she got the second


    piano, I always told her this one was mine. It crushed me to have to sell it.


    I thought I would never see it again.


    I took a deep breath and started to y, Craig had taken care of it all these years and it had been


    tuned since they moved it. It sounded perfect. It felt perfect. It was perfect. As I yed, I was lost in


    thought. I knew Adrik had put this together. Clearly Ivan had a hand in it as well. I’m sure they all knew


    about it. That’s why they’ve been grinning like idi ots all day long.


    I couldn’t help but think about how they were all so different from the people I’d had in my life until I met


    them. Since losing my m om, I’d never really had anyone that I was that close to. Ms. Jackson was


    great. I loved her, but she didn’t know everything about me. She kept an eye on me, she helped me,


    but I also kept my distance from her on many things. She didn’t know i yed. Max was the same way.


    He kept an eye on me, but he would ditch me more often than not. I’d had other friends, but they never


    lasted lung. I’d only dated once or twice before I met Adrik. Everyone in my life up until I met Adrik


    know as little about me as possible. I felt safer that way.


    But then, these six men hade into my life and shown me not only what love was, but also what


    loyalty was, I knew that even if something were to happen In Adrik, the rest of them would make sure


    that I was never alone and was always looked after:


    My mind went back to the day we went to the house after returning from Italy, when we were avoiding


    the house because of Tori. Misha had told me that I was so much like them it was scary, but I think I


    can now say the same thing about them. They were looking for ways to make me smile, to make me


    happy. Their future girlfriends better thank me.


    I smiled, thinking about how I went from beingpletely alone to having six men willing to d ie for me.


    I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that our individual paths had led us all to this moment.


    The song ended and I sat for a moment, still in shock over having my m om’s ns back. I felt the tears


    threatening to fall once again, but I didn’t care. I got up and turned toward where they were all standing,


    watching me. It was my turn to grin like an Idint as I walked quickly to Adrik. He opened his arms for


    me, still smiling at me. As soon as he opened his arms for me, I ran to him and jumped into his arms. I


    wrapped my legs around his waist, my arms around his neck.


    “I didn’t think you could make me any happier than you already do.” I leaned back, holding his face in


    my hands. “I was wrong. I was so wrong,” I said, smiling as my happy tears fell freely down my face. I


    pressed my lips to his, I felt his arms hold me Lighter.


    I unwrapped myself from him, going to Ivan next, “I know you had a very big hand in this, Super


    Squish,” He grinned as he pulled me to him with his good arm, hugging me lightly.


    I went to each one of the guys, thanking them each individually for making this happen, feeling


    incredibly grateful for each one of them.


    Adrik pulled me close, looking at me thoughtfully. “You’ve been quieter than usual tonight. I just want to


    make sure you’re


    really happy?” He was in his usual battle with the curls around my face, trying to get them to obey his


    commands.


    “I’m really happy.” I said, smiling at him. “I don’t have the words to tell you how much. You gave me a


    piece of my childhood back. I don’t know how to tell you how much that means to me.” I could feel the


    tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at him, still smiling. I was surprised to see tears forming in his


    eyes. Ele pressed his palm to my cheek. “I would give you the world,


    solnishko.”


    Trino had a vi on one of the Caribbean inds where Adrik would sometimes meet with him. It was


    faster, and in this case, safer, than going all the way to Colombia. None of the other bosses knew of


    this meeting ce and Trino wanted to keep it that way. He agreed to let Armandoe, simply


    because Adrik asked.


    Adrik had told Trino that he felt better meeting with him in person, given the circumstances, than


    speaking over the phone. He wanted to make sure their deal was still solid. Trino, of course, agreed toProperty ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    meet with Adrik right away. It appeared that Trino respected Adrik as much as Adrik respected him, but


    I was still to be the deciding factor.


    Giana was excited to be going to the Caribbean. It was starting to get cooler in the city; she preferred


    the warmer climates. She had to go shopping again to buy winter clothes, but thankfully, she took Ms.


    Jackson and her own guards while we were at the house. I’ve never been more relieved in my life to


    have missed something.


    I had to admit to looking forward to a few days on a tropical ind. I’d already been to more ces


    since I’d met Adrik than I had for my entire life. Misha felt like it was a good idea, so I tried to feel less


    nervous about going