After hugging each other for a while, the duo headed back to the hall to have their dinner.
After eating to their stomachs' content, Adam headed back stage as he had to hand over the check. Stella had drunk three more wine glasses during dinner and was a mess now. She was slurring through her speech. Adam had no choice but to take her with him. He couldn't leave her alone in this vulnerable state among all those dogs who had been eyeing her for the whole event.
Adam placed a hand at her back and guided her to the backstage. Shaking his hand with the man who was in charge of the event, Adam took out a checkbook from his coat's inside pocket. Before he could even open it, he heard a giggling sound.
"You carry a checkbook with you." Stella spoke up, her giggling was converted to laughing now.
"Or is it just for today?" She continued. The back of her left hand was covering her mouth as she laughed, while the other hand was wrapped around Adam's bicep.
The man looked at the girl with his eyes widened in shock, thinking who the stupid lady might be, having the guts to talk to Adam Levinson like this. Whereas Adam was looking at her like a lovestruck fool. He was finding her adorable.
"I always carry a checkbook sweetheart." Adam replied softly as he patted her head with love.
"It means you can write a check whenever you want to." She spoke up in between her giggles.
"Well, that's the idea of carrying it with me." Adam replied looking intently at her with tenderness in his eyes.
"W-Will you write m-me a ch-check?" Stella asked him with big hopeful eyes.
"Of course babygirl! I will write to you 'me' in a check." Adam winked at her, making her giggle more.
He took out a pen and wrote the check, signed it and tore it. He passed it to the man who was looking at the couple as if he was looking at some aliens, or more specifically, an alien. If he told someone how Adam was behaving right now, no one would believe him and call him crazy. For people Adam Levinson didn't even have a heart. He was a ruthless businessman who didn't know how to smile.
Adam waved the check before him. "You want it?" Adam asked him in usual emotionless voice.
The man regained his composure and took the check, nodding politely at Adam. After confirming that the amount of zeroes was right and the signature was not smudged, he picked a maroon jewelry box and passed it to Adam. Adam checked the box and made his way out with Stella clinging to his arm like a baby koala.
Adam knew he had to drive back, so he only had a glass of wine himself.
After making sure that Stella was sitting comfortably in her seat and that her seat belt was fastened, he put the car into motion after placing the big box on Stella's lap.
When Adam parked the car before the large wooden doors which were kept open, he found the girl deep asleep in the passenger seat.
As if hearing the sound of engine, the old butler came out to greet Adam. No matter how many times Adam had scolded him and asked him not to do it, he just didn't listen to him. Adam had kind of gotten used to it by now.
"Do you need my help with anything?" The old butler asked him.
"You can place this in my room. I will bring her up in a while." Adam replied passing him the box.
The old butler nodded and left the couple alone.
Adam turned his head to the side to look at his sleeping beauty. His deep gray eyes looking at her, taking in every single detail, etching it in his memories.
He slowly shifted his body closer to her. He placed his arm on the back of her seat. With the other he brushed off the locks of hair covering her face. He placed a soft peck on her forehead as his thumb grazed over her lips. If he could just kiss those delicacies right now. He has been controlling himself throughout the night, he could not do it anymore. But her sleep was more important to him.
"I know one thing for sure now, I am never letting you go babygirl. You are the source of my happiness sweetheart. And I will do anything for you just to keep you happy and smiling." He murmured softly.
Stella stirred in her sleep, opening her eyes slowly as her eyelids flutter. "Are we home?" She asked in a sleepy voice.
"Yes we are home." Adam replied tapping her nose only to get a pout in return.
'Home.' He liked the sound of it.
"Let's get you inside." He spoke up as he unfastened her seatbelt.