MAVERICK
I reported to work two hours earlier so I could go home and wash my clothes.
“So, where’s your hot and rich boyfriend?” Genesis teased me as she placed down orders on the tray for table five with four women in heavy makeup.
“He’s not my boyfriend, GG.”
She smirked, glancing at my hand. “Not your boyfriend. Perhaps a fiancee or a husband?”
“Just send those orders before Rocco comes and fires us.”
“Fine, but I will grill you with questions about your hot-not-boyfriend. And you barely come home, woman. He must be that good.”
“Oh, my God.” I widened my eyes because I was sure Dallas was listening, and the customers kept coming.
“Don’t mind me, Maverick, but I’m interested if you lost interest in him.” He winked, shocking me more. “I’m into both.”
“Oh. Okay, cowboy.” I laughed as I dropped olives into the Martini.
Genesis came back, still wearing that mischievous smile on her face. “How big he is?”
“You saw him. Thick and long,” Dallas replied, making my face flush with embarrassment.
“Will you two stop? This is not the right place to talk about-”
“Cock…tales?” She widened her smile and did a high-five with Dallas. “Oh yeah. Tall, big, huge… hands. I had one just like him, girl.”
I shook my head both in amusement and annoyance. “Not all tall have thick and gigantic dickidoo. You know.”
“But he’s an exemption.” Dallas gave me a nudge on my shoulder. “Nine inches long, two and a half inches in diameter.”
“Okay, okay.” I raised my hands in surrender as I grabbed a clean towel. I wiped the counter while Dallas took all the dirty glasses to the kitchen.
“How did you two meet? The way he looked at you, he looked like you just swept him off your feet, Mave.” I wished, but it was all an act. None of it was true. I must admit. It was convincing, almost real, and he could easily win an Oscar.
“His bodyguard introduced me to him.”
“Yeah, I saw that tall guy often. He gave a good tip.”
“His name is Owen Boone.”
“So, where is Lake Winston?”
“He went to see his mother.”
“And you did not go, why?”
“He invited me, but I have work and am not ready.”
“This is really serious.” She took another order, and Dallas came back with some bottles.
“Why did you say that?”
“You just met him like a week ago, and now he wants you to meet his mother? That’s rare, and he’s a gem. I say, marry him and make some cute babies.”
I rolled my eyes. “Unbelievable.” It may sound good, getting married, planning a future together, living in a pretty neighborhood, and popping out babies, but that dream would be impossible for me after a year. Knowing that my name would forever be a divorcee to Lake Winston, I didn’t think someone would ever be interested in me, but this was life. I needed money, and he needed a fake wife.
“Hey!” One of the girls with pretty heavy makeup called us. They were probably one of those TikTok girls or Instagram models.
“I got this,” I told Genesis and Dallas. I left the bar and went to their table. “What can I get you, girls?”
One girl in a corset top was busy with her phone, velfieing with that annoying sweet cringy voice.
“Hey. Your Margarita here sucks,” said the other girl in a red mini-dress. The buttons almost popped out of how tight it was, and she had a pretty big chest size that I was jealous of.
I’d often handle this kind of customer, only to ask for another free drink. “I’ll bring a new one for you.”
“Remember what I told you, guys? About the girl who stole my friend’s boyfriend?” The velfie girl giggled. “Can you see her now? This is the girl. A freaking bartender. A loser. I mean, she’s nothing special. She must be a bootlicker, though, or unless she’s a witch, right?”
I didn’t realize the phone camera was already facing my direction, and they were all laughing at me. They just took a video of me while they made fun of me.
“Go ahead and mop this floor, girl.” The woman in a red dress picked up her drink and spilled it on the floor, and I was just shell-shocked in horror as I watched them do what they did.
“Bitch!” It didn’t end there. The corset girl just threw her Martini on my face.
I sucked in a breath as I felt the cold drink splash against my face, dripping down my neck and chest, and I stood frozen as everyone around gasped in the entire Bazz.
I was humiliated once when Heath kicked me out, but no one saw it except me and him. This time, everyone here was watching, and thousands were probably watching this livestream, and there would be more in a matter of hours.
This was the most humiliating, embarrassing moment of my life and was not even my fault.
“What the hell is going on here?” Rocco just came, and I hadn’t grasped what had just happened. All I could do was wipe the drink off my face. “You may be the customer, but we don’t tolerate that behavior in this establishment. I suggest you to leave.”
“Let’s go, girls.” The woman in the red dress stood up, and the rest followed. “The drinks here suck anyway.”
“Here’s some cash,” said the corset woman, throwing some bills on the table. “I give you a pretty generous tip so you could buy another dignity.”
“That’s enough, young lady. Leave, or I will call security,” Rocco gave another warning, his voice rising.
“No need. We’re leaving this awful place.” One of the girls rolled her eyes.
Once they’re gone, everyone hushed. All I could see was sympathy in those eyes. I looked away as there was nothing I could do to assuage my shame right now.
“I’m so sorry, Mave. Let’s get you clean up.” Genesis came, holding my arm.
“I’ll clean this up,” Dallas volunteered.
Rocco picked up the bills and put them in the donation jar. “This generation has lost their brain in technology and stupid videos.”
“I’m good, GG. Let me just change. I’ll be right back.” I went to my locker to grab a clean shirt when Rocco followed me.
“Take the day off. Come back on Monday if you still wanna work here.” He looked worried. I’d seen how he looked at me right now when I came knocking on his door and asking for a place to crash. He didn’t even think twice, offering me his couch.
“I’m good, Rocco. I’ve been in that place once.” I looked down at my wet shirt.
“Like when? That was different. Those women are bullies, and they destroy their future.”
“Their future?” I arched a brow as I felt the anger brewing in my blood. “Or mine? They just showed the world that I stole someone’s boyfriend and that I am pathetic and a loser.”
“Did you steal someone’s boyfriend?” He didn’t leave his gaze on me.
“No,” I replied softly, thinking of the reactions of the people watching that video right now. Sometimes, it was easy to make people believe by twisting a story and playing the victim.
“Then you are not what they said you are. They are just manipulative gaslighting bitches. And I don’t peg you as a loser, Maverick. Don’t worry, they will deal with Lake later.”
“Please, don’t tell him,” I said quickly. Shit. My stomach lurched.
“Oh, it won’t come from me, sweetheart. He probably knows it by now.”
“Crap.” I sagged against the locker and dragged my ass down. “Fuck.”
“Go clean up before his men come raiding my place.”
“You’re overreacting.” I blew a breath. My eyebrows furrowed.
“You have no idea what he’s capable of, have you? He’s a billionaire. Do you know how deep his connections are? He’s Wallace Winston and Beatreigh Braddson’s son, Mosses Braddson’s nephew, and an investor at Osmium. Those guys at Osmium are deadly. You’ve met Gabe Linden.”
“Stop.” I growled as I raised a hand. “Stop scaring me and reminding me of what kind of people Lake is.” Then I heard a strong vibration.
“Is that your phone vibrating?”
We stared at each other, almost comical.
“Shit.”