LAKE“Lake Winston.” Gabe Linden grinned, the owner and chairman of Osmium Resource Group, one of the largest private military contractors in the world, who also happened to be a good friend. Osmium had a futuristic building that London called a donut. He may not have a Braddson blood, but he was a family.“Linden.” I held my hand out, but he pulled me into a bear hug instead.He looked at me for a moment, and when he did that, he knew I needed a favor, and it was something important.Linden started the Firm, a startup private investigator agency, from the ground up in a small studio room with his friends. Now, he ran a multi-billion dollar company, yet he remained down to earth.“What do you want, Winston?” He opened the door to his office.“Wow. Is that how you treat a client?” I stalked inside.“A client? A fucking Braddson-Winston is a client, huh?” He slumped his ass on his chair.“Just shut up and hear me out for a second.” I took a seat across from him.“Well, I’m a busy man. J
MAVERICKI’d been trying to concentrate back on studying since I got my books from my apartment, but I got distracted by Homer.“Ma’am, you can’t get in there. I told you Mr. Winston is not here.”I should have just studied in my room, but the view behind the window was spectacular.“Then why are you here?” a woman asked, sounding pissed.I turned my head, about to stand up from the couch, when I recognized that face—the beautiful blonde model.Shit. I thought she didn’t have access to Lake’s penthouse. Right now, I wanted to flee and disappear. Lake’s personal life was not my business, and it was clearly stated in the agreement.“I can call the security, and I’m allowed to apprehend you if you make any disturbance or create a scene. This penthouse is private property that my employer can sue you for trespassing. I’m warning you, Miss Wise.”“He’s not answering my call. He’s not in his office either.”“He’s a busy person, ma’am. Can I help you out now?”“I’m not going anywhere until I
MAVERICKIt was afternoon already, and I had to go to work at the Bazz. I changed to a new set of casual outfits. I grabbed the black designer crossbody bag and put my wallet and keys inside before I headed down, but I made sure that bitch wasn’t in the penthouse anymore.I knew this would happen, and it didn’t occur to me that it would be awkward and somehow hurt.“Did she leave?”“Yeah.” Homer looked distraught as he gave me my phone back. “Boss is pissed off.”“At you?”“Yes.”“Why would he? If anyone should be pissed with, it’s him or me.”“He didn’t see it that way.”“If he fires you, let me know, and I will break his nose and knee him in his nutsack.”Homer’s dark eyes lit up. “Let me take you to your work.”“Oh no. I’m good.”“He insists.”I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess, if I resist, he threatens to fire you.”“Something like that.”“Fine, but because I don’t want you to lose your job.”Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at the Bazz.“You can go home. I’ll be fine,” I said a
LAKEIt was fun to watch Maverick blush before her boss. What Rocco did back there was admiring. We didn’t often see a boss fighting for his employees. But I still couldn’t shake off that Natalie went to my penthouse, and Maverick allowed herself to be treated like that. It pissed me off. I could still feel my body shaking from rage.I knew she didn’t want to get involved with Natalie because that woman could be mean if she wanted to, so Maverick chose silence and peace of mind.After we talked over the phone earlier, she still texted me. Despite ignoring her constant almost obsession with sending me messages, I deleted them.From the start, she knew it was just sex, and I didn’t want a relationship with her. When she started to get clingy, I declined most of her invitations because I wasn’t that stupid. She wanted more.Maverick just came out from the back door, looking upset.“What’s wrong?” I went to her, and the guys retreated to the car.“You is what’s wrong?” Her eyes narrowed.
MAVERICK“What’s this for?” I hesitantly took the cards and a piece of paper wrapped around it.“My credit card. If you want to buy groceries or coffee or go shopping.”“I have money, Lake. And I don’t do shopping sprees.” I gave it back to him, but I only got a stare. “Fine. I’ll keep it before you put holes in my head. What about this one?” I flipped a debit card.“It has fifty thousand in it, and I will send ten thousand monthly.” The way he said it was as if we were not talking about money worth thousands of dollars.“I thought I gave the details of my bank account—”“That is not your monthly payment, Maverick. As your husband, I’m obligated to give you financial support for groceries, bills, spa day—”“Wait. Wait.” I raised a hand. “I already have the credit card. I don’t need this one.”“Take it. You might need cash. Follow me.”“Oh, God.” I rolled my eyes.“I saw what you just did.” He grunted as he went upstairs.I followed him, stomping my feet. “I’m gonna be late, Lake.”“Ju
LAKE“You were driving like a granny.”“Did I ask you to ride with me? I didn’t, did I? You have your guys and your Mercedes. You should have been here an hour ago.” Maverick paused, dropped her bag on the couch, and arched a brow at me.“Wow.” I stared at her in both amusement and surprise. “You just said five sentences. I was messing with you, Maverick.”“Well, you have a dry sense of humor,” she said as she went to the couch and played with her phone.“Thank you.” I left her alone and went upstairs. I took a quick shower and changed.Then my phone rang. It was my cousin, Striker.“What’s up, cuz?”“I heard a word on the street that you got married and did not tell me. Why?”“Linden has such a big mouth. I specifically told him not to tell anyone. At least, not yet.”“You didn’t tell me, toolbag.” Linden talked.“Oh, now he’s there with you, gossiping.” I got in bed and leaned against the headboard. I felt tired and sleepy. I even yawned and rubbed my eyes. “Is this the club you’re
MAVERICK“Why are you here?” I instantly felt his presence, smelled his cologne, and the mattress shifted as he joined me in bed.My senses awakened. My heart began pumping fast. My breathing held in my lungs as I felt his large hand on my arm.He could have felt my body tensing, but every time he came near me, a fire lit inside me that took all my strength to push my excitement back in place. I admitted our situation was getting complicated. At least, that was what I felt as I began to like Lake.Behind that playboy charismatic, charming, and overconfident Lake Winston, he was a good, caring, and thoughtful person. Before I entered into this arrangement, I thought I would be living in hell for 365 days, but so far, aside from being obnoxious and controlling, he was more tolerable than my ex.I had forgotten entirely about Heath. Lately, Lake had occupied my brain most of the time. And I knew this arrangement was going to screw me up over.“Can you at least turn and face me?”It was a
LAKE“Hey, Mom.” I just entered the entrance of her house, and she was already dashing in my direction to welcome me. Her blue eyes were bright.“Bunny.” She pulled me into her arms, hugging me tight. “I miss you, honey.”“I miss you, too, Mom.” One of her modern architectural houses was situated in her 12.6-hectare estate in Massachusetts, and she has always felt it was her home.“Tell me how you have been for the past weeks.”“Do you realize we just had dinner two weeks ago?” You could say I was a mama’s boy. Mom was also my best friend.“It feels like an eternity.” Her arm was still around me as we went directly to the dining room. I was a little bit late. It took over three hours to get here, and I left the office late because I had to help our IT department fix some code issues.“Well, I am here now.”We began dinner right away. The salad was delicious, topped with grilled prawns. One thing I remembered on Maverick’s file was that she had allergies to shells and walnuts.“If you