LAKEI looked down at my sleeping wife, looking so gorgeous. She didn’t make it to finish whatever she was reading.After our mind-blowing sex, we cuddled and talked for a few minutes until she began yawning. And then I kissed her goodnight.Maverick was fantastic in bed and apparently sassy. I couldn’t help but smile. Never in a million years had I dreamed of being married at twenty-six.After sex, I was always quick to get off the bed and bolt out, but this time was different. The sex was different, even better than I expected. No awkwardness or something.I slid off her bed and went to use her bathroom. I checked her medicine cabinet to see if she was using pills. As always, she was telling the truth. I returned to bed, pulled her into my arms, and kissed her shoulder.“Goodnight, baby.” I felt sleepy right away.I woke up before her alarm went off, feeling a heaviness on my thigh and abdomen. The sweetest smell flooded my senses. Then I remembered I was in her bed, and we slept to
LAKE“First and foremost, it’s never okay to bully someone regardless of status, gender, and age. It won’t only humiliate someone but hurt them emotionally, destroying their self-esteem. And you should not poke fun at someone working hard to make ends meet. It’s a job, a decent job. Imagine this—the world without our workers. Two days ago, someone taught me an important lesson. No one is above anyone else. We’re all equal in this world.” I took a deep breath.“Now, let’s go back to the video circulating online. These individuals mentioned stealing someone’s boyfriend and vandalizing a car using obscene words. I don’t want to mention the names of those who are involved. You know who you are. You may apologize or not. I don’t care anymore.”I felt I wasn’t alone anymore.“I’m addressing this issue because I’m somehow involved, and someone I care about dearly is a victim of harassment. These individuals crossed the wrong person. At this moment, I’m choosing kindness, so I’m not pressing
MAVERICKI went home early after my work at the Bazz because it looked like this relationship was one-sided.Lake was the one making all the efforts and adjustments, while all I did was school and work. Maybe that was why my ex dumped me because I wasn’t generous with my time.We just had dinner together, and he called the restaurant to bring the food when I could cook something for us. Lake made me feel guilty, even if it was unintentional.He went to his home office to work, and the guys went down, leaving the penthouse for the two of us. I put on some cute and sexy lingerie inside my baggy shirt, and then I knocked on the door.“Come in.”“What is it?” His focus remained on the long and wide spreadsheet on the desk.“Wow. That’s pretty big money.”“Beautiful.” He lifted his gaze and smiled even if he looked tired. “I thought you were OB.”“They left, and I told them I let you know,” I said as I locked the door and waltzed inside. His home office was minimalist, with no pictures or
LAKEI uploaded the video I made on my social media accounts and posted pictures of us in the city hall and during my volunteer that Owen and Homer took. It received a lot of buzz and likes, but I was not up for it. I’d still like to keep my private life private, but I was just proud of Maverick and to be in a relationship with her. Owen was right. I had changed a lot since my marriage.I hadn’t told my dad about it. I didn’t give a damn about his opinion anymore if he didn’t like the idea of me marrying a working-class woman. I liked Maverick, and that was enough for me.I read some comments. Venus was right. People were crucifying me online for being a cheat.“Stupid people.”“Whoa. What’s wrong?”I lifted my gaze from my phone screen. “What are you doing here?”Striker took a seat. As the CEO of Hover, he was respected around here. “That was quite a relationship soft launch.”“You mean hard launch. Is that why you’re here, cuz?”He laughed. He and London were inseparable. Sometimes
LAKE“Before you throw questions, if I let her sign a hundred pages of prenup, yes, it’s ironclad with NDA and agreement. Anything else?”“You could have asked for my opinion before you married that woman.”“That woman has a name, and she’s my wife.” My anger was giving me a headache. I breathed deeply before I could throw curses at my father. “I don’t need anyone’s opinion to choose a woman for me, Dad. Since when did I ask for your opinion of the woman I wanted to sleep with?”“Lake Archer!”“You’re criticizing my decision because of her job. And she doesn’t come from a prominent figure. Well, like I told you, I’m not divorcing her.”“Then you just lost your chance.”“I don’t care. Put Stoll in that position. If you want me to resign as COO, just let me know. You’ll have my resignation.”“You disrespectful brat.”“Bye, father. Good luck.” I hang up the call. Yes, I hang up on him. I was so done with him belittling me, manipulating me, and controlling me. He could have promoted me wi
MAVERICKI knew something wasn’t right when he walked into the kitchen. We may have only known for a few weeks, but Lake was a ray of sunshine. But not tonight, though. He seemed to have carried the whole world on his shoulder, and I had a feeling that it had something to do with his announcement.And that kiss— it was something— deep and meaningful as if he was pouring out all his emotions, wearing his heart on his sleeves.“He can fuck with it.” He was mad. I could see it in the way his body was tense.“Maybe you should care about his opinion.”“Says the woman who doesn’t want to know about her father.”Okay, this conversation was getting out of hand. “That’s a different story. My father hasn’t been there for me since birth. Your father, on the other hand—”“He doesn’t like you!”I opened my mouth to say something, but my brain went blank for a moment.“Wallace always gets what he wants, and I’m not giving it to him this time.”I chuckled bitterly. “What could I possibly expect from
LAKEWhat the fuck?I woke up with a hammering headache and a swollen nose. Did I fall or something?I remembered going out for a few drinks while Owen kept babbling and sending me home. I guessed I drank a little too much, even if I didn’t do it often. I always drank responsibly to avoid getting into trouble.I got up from bed and realized her side was empty. Fuck. We got into a fight and didn’t make it to dinner.“Shit.” I went to the bathroom and checked my nose in the mirror. “What the fuck?” Did someone punch me because I could tell it was hit by someone stronger or had experience in the ring? My nose hurt but wasn’t broken.I grabbed a bottle of painkillers and took two tablets before I went to her room. “Maverick?” Her room seemed untouched. She wasn’t in the bathroom either.I went back to my room to grab my phone and called her. She didn’t answer, which wasn’t surprising since it was Saturday. She probably went to visit her grandmother.I went downstairs. Owen and Homer were
MAVERICKSitting before Moses Braddson, the billionaire tycoon who owned Hover Company, gave me a different perspective about wealthy people. This man was intimidating as hell but also humble.“Where are your family from, Maverick?”“My grandparents are from around here. I was born and raised here, too. I don’t know about my father, not even his name.”The food was delicious, and he probably had celebrity chefs to cook for him. The dining room looked like a banquet to me. His estate was the biggest I had ever been, even bigger than Beatreigh’s.“My mother was the best, while my father was a son of a bitch patriarch. I almost turned out to be like him. Thankfully, I met the love of my life even though we’d only had a short time together. I still cherish it. And believe me when I say this. Money can’t buy happiness. Money is only to make your life better, but not a true fulfillment. Success isn’t measured by how much money you make. I’m happy right now because my son has forgiven me.” H