Page 55 of Addicted

“Of course,” Ava said, smiling warmly.

I could see Indie processing everything. The staff, the house, the sheer magnitude of what I was showing her. I wanted her to understand. This was what I could provide. This was the life she’d have with me.

I led them out of the kitchen and down the hall to the theater room.

The door opened to reveal a space that looked like a private cinema. Plush reclining seats arranged in tiered rows, facing a screen that stretched across thewall, with surround sound speakers built in so clean you couldn’t even see them. Every detail was high-end.

Indie’s eyes widened again.

“You have a whole movie theater in your house?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said simply.

Ishmael walked in and sat down in one of the recliners, testing it out.

“This is fire,” he said, grinning.

I smirked.

Next, I showed them the game room. Pool table, arcade games, a fully stocked bar in the corner. Everything a nigga could want to unwind.

Then the home gym.

State-of-the-art equipment, weights, treadmills, a boxing ring in the corner. When I was home, I spent a lot of time in here, keeping my body sharp, my mind focused.

Indie was quiet as we walked through each room, but I could see her taking it all in. I could see the wheels turning in her head, and I was watching her the whole time.

Watching the way her eyes lit up when she saw something that impressed her. Watching the way she bit her lip when she was thinking. Watching the way her body moved as she walked.

She didn’t realize it yet, but this was hers, too. All of it. Even if I hadn’t fully admitted it to myself until now.

I led them outside through the sliding glass doors in the back. The backyard was just as impressive as the interior.

A pool stretched out in front of us, the water crystalclear and shimmering in the sunlight. Next to it was a jacuzzi, big enough to fit at least eight people comfortably.

To the left was the outdoor kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, a built-in grill, and a wood-fired pizza oven. Everything a chef could want.

There was an outdoor bar with stools, a grill area with seating, and a fire pit surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs. The landscaping was perfect. Manicured lawns, flower beds, trees providing shade in all the right places.

It was a paradise.

Indie walked to the edge of the pool and stared down at the water, shaking her head.

“This is unreal,” she said softly.

I stood a few feet behind her, watching. I wanted her to understand exactly what I was giving her. The security. The luxury. The life.Everything.

Ishmael was already exploring, walking around the pool and checking out the outdoor bar.

“Yo, Stone, this is crazy,” he said, grinning. “You really live like this?”

“Yeah,” I said.

And now so did they.

After showing them the backyard, I led them back inside and upstairs. The second floor had several bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom.

I stopped in front of one of the doors and pushed it open.