LAKE
Still, I felt every softness, suppleness, and wetness of her lips and the tiny gasp escaping from her, just enough for me to float away to make me forget that I barely met her five minutes ago.
I’d kissed many women, but I certainly did not feel the enthusiasm, excitement, or eagerness for another kiss until Owen and Huxley interrupted us with loud applause and a flashing camera that pulled us apart.
“Congratulations, Mr. And Mrs. Winston,” said Owen, grinning like an idiot as he gave the bouquet back to Maverick. “Just one last pose.”
I wanted to roll my eyes, but we had an audience, and this was my wedding day, after all, so I put my hand on her waist, pulled her closer, and smiled while Owen and Huxley were taking pictures of us.
“Okay. That’s enough. We can do it outside. Another couple is waiting to be wed.” It was me, excusing myself. My heart still pumped so hard even though the kiss was over minutes ago.
As we walked outside the city hall, Maverick went silent and tensed while Huxley went to take the car.
“I’ll take you to lunch.”
“I’m good.” That was all she said.
“We will be living under the same roof. I know it will be a huge adjustment for both of us, but we have to make it work. You need to be flexible to be with me.”
“I know. I know what I signed up for, but Owen should have told me before I signed everything.” She looked away as she breathed deeply. “But it’s also my fault. I should have met you first and didn’t depend on your people, but it is what it is.”
“So you’d rather marry an old man?”
Her eyes glared. “In my head. I prepared my mind and myself to have an older husband.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, Maverick, but my father no longer believes in marriage. And he’s not the man you always see on the screen. Believe me, you’d be grateful if you were married to me than to Wallace Winston.”
“Can I take a raincheck on the lunch?”
“Why? Do you have a place you’d rather be?”
“Um, yeah. Actually, after this, I’ll be free. Let me know where you want me to be. I’ll be there.”
I chuckled as I shook my head. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I believe a honeymoon is not in the package deal, so let me guess, I’m staying in my apartment—”
“Maverick, you’re my wife now. Starting today, you’ll be staying at my penthouse.” I tipped my chin at Owen.
“Here’s your keycard, Mrs. Winston.”
She hesitated before she took the card from Owen.
“Take it, or you have to wait outside the building.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You have everything you need there. You don’t have to bring anything from your apartment. And we have a lot to talk about at home.” My phone just vibrated. It was probably my assistant, Venus, reminding me of my meetings.
“Owen will drive you wherever you want.”
“No. I don’t need him. I have my car parked over there.” She gestured over her shoulder shyly.
“Let me walk my wife to her car,” I told Owen. I knew the car she drove. It was old but still running. Even the word wife still sounded strange in my ears, but Maverick seemed the type of woman who obeyed and valued loyalty to her partner.
Huxley just parked my ride and waited while I walked Maverick to where she parked her car.
She unlocked her car door and murmured, “Thank you.”
“If you need anything, call me.”
“I don’t have your number,” she muttered, her voice shaky.
“Right. Give me your phone.”
Her phone was an old model, which twisted something deep inside me as I saved my number. “Why didn’t you wear the dress?”
“It’s too beautiful for a short ceremony.”
I smiled as I got her phone back. “You look stunning anyway.” Yes, she was. She could come to the ceremony in her pajamas, which wouldn’t change the fact that she knocked me out with her beauty.
“Thanks.” Her cheeks flushed.
“See you at the penthouse.” I went to the car as soon as she drove off.
“Do you want me to follow her?”
“No, OB. Let’s head to the office.” I dialed Venus.
“Mr. Winston, should I cancel your meeting?”
“No. I’m on my way. Buy a new iPhone model with 1TB memory, and put it on my personal account. Check a car dealer near the office.”
When I hung up the call, Owen was looking over the rearview. “What?”
“You’re buying your wife a car?”
“And how is it your business now?”
“Not my business, but I’ll still say it even if you don’t want me to talk. Take her with you. Let her be involved in the decision-making. She’d love that.”
“I got it. Now shut up.”
MAVERICKI was still shocked, trying to digest what happened in the city hall earlier. How could I be so stupid and trust those people with a year of my life? How could I be so naive? Maybe Heath was right that I was naive and gullible.I was about to take off my diamond wedding band and engagement ring, but it felt wrong when the truth was I was legally married to the billionaire’s son, Lake Winston. Was he rich, too?“Crap.” How old was he? He was not that old, maybe two or three years older than me, and I didn’t know anything about that guy besides he was dating that model influencer Natalie Wise. “Does she know?”“What does who?”“Nothing, Nana. I was just talking to myself.” I looked at her sitting on the passenger seat.“Are you sure you’re not busy?”“I won’t let you go to the hospital by taxi, Nana.” She had been diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease five years ago. So she had to visit her doctor every three months. “And what kind of person would I be if I let go to your d
MAVERICK“Huh. That looks real.” I could see in her green eyes that she did not buy it.“I wish. Who would give me a ring if I don’t have a man in my life?”“Well. You should go. Do you have work today?”“Nope. I’m off, but I have assignments to do.”“Then go ahead.”“Do you still have groceries?”“Ricky, get out and have some fun.”I rose from the chair and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Nana. Call me if you need anything.”My drive back took me a while, and I wondered where I should go— to my apartment or his penthouse. Where was his penthouse, anyway?The kiss, though. It was weird, in a good way. It felt like it was meant to happen like we were in love or a real couple ecstatic to get married. It just felt right, to be precise.My phone suddenly rang in my bag. It was probably Rocco.I answered it. “I’m off today. What do you want?”“Mrs. Winston?”Shit. I checked the screen. It was Owen. “I’m sorry, Owen. I thought you were my boss. Please call me, Maverick or Mave. Mrs. W
LAKEI came home late. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but I had to drop by the IMI office to grab some files of proposals that I needed to review and sign.Owen called me an hour ago to tell me that Maverick was already in my penthouse. I didn’t know why I suddenly felt excited about going home, even though sometimes it got lonely, and I had to rest.Maybe that was the reason why I took women to bed. At least they filled my instant need, but it felt hollow again. Meeting that need didn’t fill the void in my chest. I knew something was missing. I just hadn’t figured it out yet.I may have money, friends, and people who cared for me, but after that, in the darkness, I felt alone— loneliness and pain visited me most of the time. Yes, money couldn’t buy eternal happiness, and I didn’t know if I ever felt that way with contentment, completeness, and wholeness.I’d say having a broken family affected me so much. I was once happy with my parents being around, but it fell apart when they got d
MAVERICKJeez. We hadn’t been married for a day, and we were already fighting. He had already kicked me out of his room, which I thought was mine for 365 days.At that moment, I wanted to flee, but I signed a contract, and I had to endure how he treated me under this roof as long as he wouldn’t get physical, and that was my limit.I could play a good, loving wife before his family, friends, employees, and business partners, but that was it. I signed up for this, which was the price I must pay.I found the room that was supposed to be for me. It had a well-made queen-sized bed, a small walk-in closet, a door to the right that must be the bathroom, and a floor-to-ceiling window with white curtains drawn to the sides.Instead of dueling with what happened earlier, I went to shower quickly. Then I checked the closet to find something to wear. Surprisingly, I found dresses, jeans, pants, shirts, and tees folded in color-coordinated. Some suits, tweed jackets, skirts, shorts, and denim jea
LAKE“You’re leaving already?” my British friend Rusher Radcliff, who was also my IMI COO, asked.“Yes. Unlike you, I have a life outside work.” I decided to take my wife from school since I finished work early.He broke into a smile. “You’re bloody joking, right? What happened to my friend who worked hard day and night? Wait a sec.” He pointed at my finger where I wore a platinum band.“A ring. Yeah.” I stopped him before he could say something right. “Don’t work hard. See you tomorrow, Rush.”“Unbelievable.”I still hear him even though I was already walking into the elevator.“You’re not riding with us?” Homer asked as Owen exited my Audi and threw the key at me.“I’m taking OB’s advice for once. I’m picking up my wife from school.”“Aw,” mimicked Owen in a girl’s voice.“Shut up. You can follow me or take a day off. Up to you.”“Without a bodyguard? No way, Winston. I still love my job, or I’ll clean toilets at Osmium.”“Fine by me.” I entered the driver’s seat and sped off toward
MAVERICKWe arrived at the car dealer. Of course, everyone knew him.“Mr. Winston, we have something new that you might like,” said the man with a broad smile.“Not for me.” Lake didn’t let go of my hand. “For my wife.”My face flamed. Shit. I should get used to it.“Wife?” Even the dealer looked surprised. Now, I just became the person I loathed. “Congratulations.”“Maverick, pick a car so that we can eat.” Just like that— it was like shopping for a toy car or going to a grocery store to buy a carton of milk.“You know what, pick one for me.”“No.” He shook his head. “It’s your car. You choose the brand, engine, and color.”“Okay.” I took him to the cheapest cars on display. Fifty grand wasn’t even affordable, but that was the only cheapest car I could see. “How about this one?”“We have three colors available: black, red, and gray. That’s the latest model with 453 horsepower, 406 lb-ft of torque—”“Leave us for a moment.”When the man left, he looked right into my eyes. “Why don’t y
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