Chapter 64: Chapter 64
Adrian's POV
I came to my senses and slowly made my way down the stairs, deep in thought. After overhearing their conversation, I had a rough idea about the hardships Azura was facing in her eighteen years of life. She was the sole breadwinner of her family. She didn't have a place to stay in New York. With the financial crunch at home, she would have to sacrifice her studies and take up another job. No, I could not let that happen.
I decided to speak to Theo and looked around for him. Where was the guy anyway? At the foot of the stairs, I saw nana sitting at the table and chopping vegetables. She looked up and smiled at me, quickly masking the worried expression that was there on her face a minute ago.
"Did you see Theo, nana?" I asked her and she nodded, pointing to the backdoor.
"He's milking the cows with Emmy, outside," she said with a chuckle seeing the jaw-dropped expression on my face. I had no idea how my billionaire business tycoon best friend could milk cows. I couldn't even if my life was at stake. I preferred touching a woman's teats!
"Oh, be right back," I said, rushing out through the backdoor. I was relieved to see Theo standing near the cowshed, leaning against a post and watching Emerald milking the cows and filling up two buckets. At the far end, I could see Azura in the tiny vegetable patch, collecting potatoes, broccoli, parsley, onions, and other stuff. It was such a hard life for them!
"Dude, I need to talk to you," I said, approaching Theo. He nodded at Emerald and followed me out of the gate. We strolled aimlessly for some time, loving the feel of the fresh countryside air and the farms and crops surrounding us.
"Tell me. What did you want to talk to me about?" he asked as I told him everything that I overheard a few minutes back.
"We should shift them to New York. I have a vacant apartment in Brooklyn. They can live there rent-free. Azura already has a job and Emerald can get one too. In fact, she can join me. I need a personal assistant urgently, man. My last one resigned and shifted to Canada with her family. Crystal and Zachary could go to the community school there," suggested Theo, snatching my very words from my mouth. It seemed as if he was more eager to have them shift than I was.
My face brightened up with hope and I couldn't stop my heart from racing wildly. If only Azura would agree. "Great idea, let's convince them to shift," I said and Theo fist bumped with me. We loved the idea and determinedly turned around and returned to the ranch.
When we went back into the house, Azura was preparing breakfast while Emerald was serving the children. Nana saw us and smiled. "Come and have breakfast," she said, making Azura tense immediately and look up straight into my eyes. Our eyes collided and soon a warm flush spread all over her. I knew that she too was remembering the kisses we had shared in the bedroom. We were so busy in our staring contest that it was Nana's chuckle that made us aware of our surroundings. I wondered why she chuckled. Was she observing us?
"Adrian, do you have a big airplane?" asked Zachary as his eyes shone with excitement.
"Yeah, I have. Do you want to fly in it?" I asked as they dropped their forks and stood straight up.
"Whoa, hang on! You need to finish your food first. We will go later, if you behave well," I told them as they jumped with excitement and resumed eating.
"Your coffee," said Azura, placing a big mug in front of me as I stared at her red ears, her flushed cheeks, and her sparkling eyes.
"What? Do you need more? You missed just this, right?" she asked as she stomped out to the kitchen. Theo chuckled as I grinned happily. She's mad at me! Oh, I loved the mad Azura so much! She wanted me to miss her. She's annoyed that I missed her coffee. Did she really believe that? Nana and Crystal giggled eyeing me discreetly.
Emerald brought the breakfast outside to the dining table. Heavenly-looking tacos stuffed with eggs, cheese, chorizo sausages, chopped potatoes, and avocados. Azura brought in a tray of toasted buttermilk biscuits covered in peppery cream gravy studded with crispy bacon.
"Ummmmm, delicious, I could kiss the hands of the one who cooked all of this forever," said Theo as Azura glared at him.
"I made all of this," she said as she put her hands on her waist, glaring at them.
"Ooo, I take it all back," he said. "Lucky you Addy, marry her dude! You already seem whipped with her," I could feel my ears turn hot with embarrassment and at that moment I could throttle the guy.
I stamped his foot in annoyance and nana chuckled while Emerald grinned. The twins were busy fighting over a puzzle thankfully.
"No, he isn't. He just missed my coffee," Azura said as she served me. I inhaled her intoxicating smell as she came near me.
"Did he tell you that?" asked Theo chuckling and Azura nodded vigorously.
The twins went out to play as we helped the girls clear the table and clean the dishes.
We came back to sit beside nana. "Nana, do you have good medical facilities here?" I asked.
"Not very good, but that's all there is. It costs a lot to go to Austin or Dallas for treatment," nana said and Emerald and Azura looked down at their hands feeling guilty.
"Don't you make any money here at the ranch? It needs a lot of repairing though," said Theo and I knew where he was getting at.
"Not much," said nana sadly.
"Then why don't you sell it off and come with us to New York?" I asked her.