Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 142

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When did Apollo Reed become so soft?

Apollo

The door to the car opened with a soft click. I dropped the files onto the seat beside me and stepped out, straightening to my full height. The cold air brushed against my face as I adjusted my cuffs.

The moment my shoes hit the pavement, flashes exploded from every direction.

“Mr. Reed! Over here!”

“Mr. Reed, just one picture!”

“Mr. Reed, can you comment on-”

Their voices blended into a dull hum, like insects buzzing too close to my ears. I didn’t even glance their way. None of them dared come close. They stayed behind the barricades, cameras snapping, eyes following my every move as I walked up the steps and into the hall, with Austin and Chase following behind me.

The instant I entered, the noise died down. Dozens of heads turned in unison, eyes widening in surprise. Conversations stopped mid–sentence. Some faces lit up with excitement, others with unease. I caught whispers rippling through the room.

I ignored them all.

My gaze swept the room, scanning clusters of faces, employees, executives, guests, looking for one person.

“Apollo!”

The sound of my name cut through the noise. I turned to see my father standing on a table near the center, speaking to Genesis. When Genesis caught sight of me, her expression shifted from amusement to surprise.

“Ah, my good son,” My father said as he approached, his smile too wide. “You’re ignoring your old man now?”

I slipped my hands into my pockets.

“You’re alive.”

He rolled his eyes dramatically. “No, I’m dead. What do you think? Are you trying to push me to the grave early? I’m still a young man, you know.”

Genesis chuckled softly beside him. “You know it’s not like that, Adam. That’s his way of saying he’s happy to see you.”

Adam laughed. “I know, I know. I just love teasing him.”

Genesis turned toward me, a smirk playing on her lips. “You’re early, you were supposed to come three weeks later.”

When I didn’t respond, her smirk widened. “Ah, I see, you came for her.”

That made me pause.

Genesis tilted her head, amused. “When did Apollo Reed become so soft? Leaving an important trip for a woman?”

My father’s brows shot up. “Huh? What woman?” His voice sharpened with interest. “Does he really have a woman?”

Genesis grinned.

My father’s expression changed in an instant, from pleased to stern. “No,” he said after a moment, shaking his

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head as if talking to himself, “no, I don’t care whatever you have with that woman. You have to break things with her.”

Genesis and I just stared at my father, both of us caught off guard by his words. For a man who’d spent half my life preaching about marriage, settling down, and having grandkids, he was now telling me to break things off.

Genesis raised a brow, her tone sharp with disbelief. “Why? She’s really good.”

My father waved a hand as if dismissing a trivial matter. “It doesn’t matter if she’s good or not. The woman of my choice is far more perfect.”

Genesis snorted. “So is his woman.”

He scoffed. “She can’t be more perfect than mine.” 1

“She is more perfect, actually,” Genesis shot back. “If Apollo wasn’t interested, I would’ve gone for her myself.”

“Then by all means, go for her,” my father said flatly, his eyes on her. “Make her your wife, so my son can be free.” 1

Genesis frowned. “I can’t compete with your son. Even with his good–hearted nature, he’s perfect in so many ways. If I weren’t attracted to women, I would have fallen for him myself.”

Adam wasn’t listening. He kept talking, eyes gleaming as though he was already giving a speech. “The woman of my choice is beautiful, kind, polite, and intelligent. She is a proper wife.”

“So is his choice,” Genesis countered sharply. “She’s kind, and she’s beautiful. You just haven’t met her.”

Their bickering blurred into background noise. I wasn’t paying attention anymore. My mind was elsewhere. I cut through their argument with a calm but firm voice.

“Where is Grace?”

Everything stopped.

My father’s eyes widened slightly. “What… did you just say

Genesis leaned forward, smirking a little. “He said Grace. The woman he’s seeing. Her name is Grace, and she’s a good woman.”

For a long moment, my father just stared at me. Then he gasped, loud enough to make Genesis flinch.

“Adam?” she said carefully. “Are you okay?”

For a few seconds, he just stared at her. Then, to everyone’s shock, he laughed. People in the hall turned to look at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Grace!” he said between laughter. “Of course, Grace!”

He turned toward me, still laughing, and clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Boy, this is the first thing you’ve ever done in your forty–two years of life that’s made me proud!”

Genesis blinked, clearly confused. “Wait… don’t tell me-

Adam nodded with a huge grin. “Yes, we’re talking about the same person!”

Genesis chuckled, shaking her head. “Talk about coincidence.”

“I know, right?” my father said. “Perfect coincidence!”

He faced me again, his grin widening, that dangerous spark of excitement lighting in his eyes. “Alright, I was

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When did Apollo Reed become so soft?

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thinking this weekend might be too soon, so next week’s perfect.”

My bore furrowed. “Next week what?”

“The wedding, of course,” he said as if it were obvious. “We need time to prepare. River’s mother can handle the honeymoon, she’s good at things like that. I need a grandkid, Apollo. At least one before I die.”

I turned to Genesis, my patience thinning. “I asked a question.”

“What?”

“Where is Grace?”

“Oh, I heard she went to the restroom,”

“Yes,” my father replied. “But it seems as though she’s taking quite too long.”

He turned to his secretary. “Quinn.”

She immediately stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Yes, Mr. Reed?”

“How many minutes has it been?”

Quinn checked her watch. “Five minutes now.”

My father frowned. “That’s quite a lot. I hope she’s okay. She was acting strange when she walked off… Quinn, go and check up on-”

He didn’t get to finish. I didn’t know what came over me, I just started walking.

That woman. The one I can’t seem to get out of my head, no matter how hard I try.

Ever since last night, I hadn’t slept a wink. I’d closed my eyes, but all I could see was her. I didn’t even know why. Yet as I walked down the corridor toward the restroom, my chest tightened for no logical reason.

And then I realized something: living without her was difficult.

I hated that truth.

I hated that I needed to see her just to feel like I could breathe again. She was becoming far too important to me.

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