LAKE“Um. I changed my mind. I don’t want a spa anymore.” I felt the firm grip of her hand around mine.We were already inside the salon, our booking confirmed, when she suddenly changed her mind, which confused me.“Why? What’s wrong?” I looked at her, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.“The women over there are the ones at the Bazz.”I followed her gaze. Those women chatting while getting their nails done with Champagne on the table. “Those two?”“Yeah. So can we get out of here now?”“Of course, baby. Hold on a minute. Stay here. Don’t move.”“Where are you going?” She looked worried.“Trust me on this.”I went to the girls, and they instantly recognized me.“Lake?” The blonde smiled widely.“Oh, my God. What are you doing here? Nat would be so jealous right now.” She shooed the woman doing her nails.“Really? Well, tell her this. If any of you, and that includes her, will pull that stunt again on my wife, I will sue all your asses and make sure you all in up in Mexico? Did you fuckin
MAVERICKI was so nervous, and riding in the chopper didn’t help. I started fidgeting as we walked into the massive entrance of Beatreigh’s mansion.“Darling, you made it.” the voice just came from nowhere, and I was instantly engulfed and squeezed in a hug.“Oh, hi. It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Winston.” I returned the hug.“Just Beatreigh or Bea, darling. You are Mrs. Winston. I dropped that name a long time ago,” she said with a smile. She looked younger to have a son of Lake’s age. She was also beautiful, with bright blue eyes and a fabulous smile.“Well, hello, Mom.”Beatreigh chuckled, kissing her son on the cheeks. “Hey, bunny.”“Right. Still bunny, even in front of my wife.” He kissed his mother back.“Come with me,” she said excitedly.Lake might have still sensed my nervousness. He took my hand as we followed his mother.The view in the backyard was spectacular, with vast greenery and blooming flowers.“Wow. It’s beautiful.” It was one of the most beautiful places I’d see
MAVERICKLake’s eyebrows met, waiting for his mother to reply.“I want alone time with her.”He was hesitant at first but rose to his feet and kissed the top of my head. “If she makes you uncomfortable, just yell out.”“You didn’t just say that. I’m not the one making her uncomfortable,” his mother said to him.Once Lake was gone inside the house, I shifted in my seat. My heart thundered in my chest.“Did he really do what he said?”“Yeah, and I’m dumb. Now I feel so embarrassed. Considering our situation, I thought he was doing those to make me feel comfortable around him. Like he said, we have to make it look real in front of people. So I did what I did. It was nothing personal.”“You don’t like my son, Maverick?” Her question caught me off guard.I looked her in the eye and saw nothing but a loving and concerned mother. “I like him, but that’s it. I can’t fall for him. Our situation is complicated, and it’s contractual. It has an expiry date.”“Why not? It’s just a contract. What’s
LAKE“Hey. Are you okay?”Maverick was surprised at me joining her in the powder room. “What are you doing here, Winston?”“Don’t worry. I’m sure Mom has so many ideas about what a married couple would be doing in the powder room, but are you okay? You look—”“Like a mess?”“You’re of many things but a mess.”I watched her apply lipstick on her lips, and she saw me.“Creepy.”“Are you really okay? Did Mom say something that upset you?”“No.” She washed her hands and patted them dry.“What did you two talk about?”“I’m sure she will tell you if you ask.” The tension in her body said otherwise.“Something’s bothering you. What is it?” I cupped her head, forcing her to look at me as my eyes searched hers. “I don’t know how to read mind, but I know when someone hides something from me. I’m your husband, Maverick. I need to know.”“And so far, you’re doing a bang-up job as a husband.” She pulled my hands off her head. “We have to get out of here before she thinks we’re doing something myst
LAKE“I’ll take it to her. I want a tennis bracelet.”“All right. I’ll go shop it personally.”“Thanks.”“With that viral video online, aren’t you going to comment on that? People on social media know how to connect dots, Lake. The video is posted by a friend of the woman you’ve been sleeping with. Have you seen your personal account? They’re roasting you. I’m surprised you’re this calm.”“I’m too busy to give that video a second of my time. And I’m happy.”“The video might be gone, but what about that poor woman?” Her words stiffened me. She was right. Nowadays, you have to stand up for yourself on social media and explain yourself because they have the right to freedom of speech. Sometimes it sucked.“Fine.”“And the girl. The flowers are for her, right?” When I did not reply, Venus smiled. “Finally. I’m happy for you, Lake.”“Thanks, Ve.”I came home to a very silent penthouse. I also overlooked her car park at my private parking space.I went to her room. She wasn’t there. I looke
MAVERICKWhat the hell?I could see the fury in his eyes, but I’d done nothing wrong. It wasn’t written in the agreement or my demand that I was not allowed to have fun with my friends. And then he just appeared out of nowhere after he chose to ignore my calls.Well, he just made me mad. And he just showed me who he really was.Once we left the Bazz, I noticed their car park behind mine. “I’m not going home with you.”“You’re going home with me,” he said harshly.I faced him, meeting his fury with my fury. “And why should I? After how you treated my friend. And you just did what those women did to me back there. Humiliated me.”“That’s not entirely the same.” A deep frown formed between his brows.“Mrs. Winston, please, get in the car. We’re attracting people,” Owen repeated it.“I’m going home, but not to this man’s house.” I walked away from them.“Maverick!” Lake didn’t just want to accept his defeat because he used to get what he wanted. Not this time.I ignored him and unlocked m
MAVERICK“What are you doing here, Ricky?”“Hey, Nana.” I joined her in the living room. She was watching some knitting video tutorials on TV.“You haven’t answered my question.”“Because you didn’t give me a chance to.” I sighed as if I was too tired.She eyed me for a moment. “Boy problem?”I chuckled and took off my heels. I was about to put my foot on the coffee table, but Nana quickly hit my leg.“Sit like a lady, young woman.”“I was at my friend’s party. Cooper’s birthday.”“And then what happened? The guy who gave you that ring saw you both and didn’t like it.”“Yeah. How do you know that?” I stared at her.“I raised you, honey.” She tipped her head. “Go up and get some rest. Everything will be okay tomorrow.”“I hope so, Nana.” I got up. “Night.”***My phone kept buzzing. I cracked my eyes open and realized I had slept in my old room and was wearing my old pajamas.I grabbed my phone, and I had a couple of missed calls. Okay, there were tons of missed calls and text messages
LAKEAugustine Bates was a fine woman. She was funny, and she seemed to be able to read minds. She knew precisely why I was knocking on her door.Before we left, she said something to me that terrified me and made me happy at the same time.Unfortunately, I had to go to work while Maverick had classes. We went in separate vehicles, but at least we sorted things out and were on the same page.LAKE: I’ll pick you up.MAVERICK: No need. I won’t be late.LAKE: You don’t want them seeing you with meMAVERICK: It’s not like that, but I know you’re busy at work. Btw, Cooper said you apologized.LAKE: I told you. I did.MAVERICK: Thank you for valuing my friendship.LAKE: Anything for you.MAVERICK: See you soonAfter I left my office, I went directly home. It was both exciting and terrifying at the same time that Maverick might change her mind about our new arrangement.Driven by my desire, I stayed home and showered instead of going out and meeting my friends. I even declined Rusher’s invit