MAVERICK“She said her name is Florence Bates. She has no appointment but insists and says she’s your mother. She’s at the lobby.”My mouth hung open as I dropped the call. My chest squeezed hard. My stomach dropped. I didn’t know how to react. I was overwhelmed with many emotions and didn’t know how to hold them all together.“Hey. What’s wrong?”I stared at Cooper. “My mother is in the lobby?”His eyes went wide. “Your estranged mother? How?”“I don’t know.” I got up and slipped my phone into my pocket. “Estranged is a better term. More like a ghost mother, a non-existent mother.”“You don’t have to see her.” I knew he would say it, but she would keep coming back until I faced her.“I’m sure I know why she’s here, and she will keep coming back if I won’t put an end to this.” I took a deep breath before I walked out of the office premises.I went downstairs to the lobby. I couldn’t even remember how she looked. She abandoned me while she was supposed to bathe me, put me to bed, and r
LAKE“Hey. How are you feeling?”“Fine.” She took another bite of the purple macaron Homer bought for her.I didn’t know why she suddenly liked purple, but watching her engrossed in that thing made me want to punch someone.I took her home after that incident, no matter how much she resisted and insisted on working. She needed to rest and let what had happened sink in.She had changed from work clothes to a baggy shirt and shorts. Now, she was on the sofa with her chin tucked on her knee.She didn’t talk much, and that was what worried me. She must have been shocked seeing the mother who abandoned her and suddenly appeared after twenty years.“Baby?”“You should go back to the hospital.” She didn’t even look at me. She was staring at the skyscraper outside.“Aurelia is there. You need me here.”“Then take me with you.”“What?” I sat across hers. “No. You need to rest. I’m sure you’re shocked.”“You’re overreacting. I’m fine.”“You don’t look fine.”She glared at me. “Do I look like I
MAVERICKI wriggled and squirmed wildly while on four. With my throbbing clit and aching core, he denied my orgasm, and it pissed me off.I pushed my ass back, demanding his cock inside me. Every time I was about to come, he pulled it out.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I turned my head and looked over my shoulder.“Will you stay still? Stop fighting.” He lifted one large hand and brought it down on my ass cheek. A sharp and cracking sound echoed. It stung, yet it instantly sent a delicious sensation between my legs, making my clit throb, demanding a fondle.“How is it going down to take my burgers a crime? You punished me for that?” My breasts were heavy, and my nipples pebbled rock hard. I could feel the coldness of my wetness between my thighs from the prolonged exposure.“You never ever listen to me because I am too lenient.” His hand landed precisely on the same spot. The sting was quickly replaced by a flood of heat and a steady pulse of pleasure throbbing in my core
LAKE“What’s this?” It was obviously the receipt of her money sent to her account.”“I don’t want it anymore. We already talked about this.” She pushed the paper back to me. “I’ll transfer it back to you later.”“Baby, this is yours. And here.” I have her the booklet from a real estate. “I’ve picked a house that I know you might like.”“Are you kicking me out of your house?” She eyed me intently.“Don’t be silly.” I pulled her into my lap. “A house is a part of our agreement, and I know the contract has been terminated, but our relationship is not, and I promised to buy you a house. So, I won’t take no for an answer.”With narrowed eyes, she stared right into me. “If I were to pick a house, I would choose something big and expensive.”I grinned. Yes. “Take a pick. My first choice since you like beaches, how about Southampton?”“What?” Her eyes widened. “No, that’s— how much is that? Ten, fifteen?”“Yeah. Something like that.”“No. That’s a lot.”I shrugged. “I already picked one. All
MAVERICKWe finally found out the gender of our baby this morning. I could see the joy in Lake’s eyes as the doctor told us. He was excited and couldn’t wait to meet our baby. He was even teary-eyed as he kissed my tummy.One thing he assured me was that he didn’t care about either a boy or a girl as long as our child was healthy, and I couldn’t agree more.On the other hand, I was a little bit scared of a lot of things, including labor and the pressure of being a first-time mother.I was still astounded at how lucky I was to be his wife. Aside from being overprotective and bossy, he was also thoughtful and loving.After Beatreigh, Nana, and I visited a bridal boutique, we had a late lunch, and then I decided to pay a visit to my husband, who was never invited to the Chairman and CEO’s office. The last time I planned on walking into this building was my confrontation with Wallace, but it didn’t happen.So, I thought I would surprise Lake.I knocked on his office door when Venus told m
MAVERICK“Linden made fun of me. He sent me every copy of the books he read while Estelle had their first baby, Gabrielle. I’m done reading the first two books.”“Is that why you’re so calmer than me because of these books?”“You may be stubborn, but when it comes to our unborn child, you’re very responsible. Hence, we never argued about it. We most argued about money and my spending on you.”“I did not tell you that I love the ring.” I raised my hand. It was a Marquise cut, the same size as my first engagement ring.“Thank you, baby. I have good taste, you know.” I found some meaning in his words.“I bet.”Once he was done eating, he went to a small fridge and brought two bottled water. He opened one and gave it to me.“Thank you.” I drank it.“Can you stay a little longer?”“Why? Isn’t a chairman and CEO has a lot of work to do?”“That can wait.” He stood before me, cupped my head, and kissed me hard.My hands came to his arms, gripping them as he deepened the kiss and shoved his to
LAKE“Are you okay?” I glanced down at Maverick working on her tan beside the pool.She looked pretty satisfied and comfortable in her yellow two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses, which shielded her eyes from the blazing sun.“Why do you keep asking me that?” She slightly lifted her chin.“Did you put enough sunscreen on?” I wanted to see her eyes but was disappointed that she kept her sunglasses on.“Don’t worry. I need more Vitamin D.” She strolled her gaze at me.“My Vitamin D isn’t enough for you?”When she saw me smirking, she slightly tipped her head down, glaring. “Not everything is about your dick, Lake. Going somewhere?”“Yeah. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”“A date?”“Yes, Maverick. I have a date. You might as well put Airtag on me.”“Can you buy butter pecan ice cream for me?”“Of course. Anything else?”“Bring your cock back untouched.”I laughed, making her frown. “My cock is exclusively yours, baby.” I bent down to cup her face and kissed her on the lips. “I promise yo
LAKE“She did not ruin your life. You ruined your own life by sleeping with the most dangerous man,” Augustine spat her anger out.I felt her anger towards her daughter was decades long, and she just had time to let it out of her chest.“You were only eighteen,” she added. “I had high hopes for you, but you disappointed your father. You were reckless and stupid and slept with a married man. You didn’t even know what care and love meant, and after you were gone for months, you came to me five months pregnant. Don’t blame your miserable life and poor choices on the poor, innocent child. She’s been through enough and all of that because you caused her so much pain.”“What do you want from my wife, Florence?”She lifted her chin. “I just wanted to meet her.”“Why now? Why not before when she didn’t have a mother at her first school recital? On her first time having a period? I’m your last to get out of here without being dragged into a van. Terzo is still in town, Florence.”She blinked t