LAKE
“How the fuck did that happen, Huxley?” I was already vibrating in anger. My muscles tensed everywhere, and I wanted to throw punches at someone’s face.
“She asked me to leave after I followed her to her work.”
“Didn’t I specifically tell you to drive her to the Bazz?”
“Yes, sir, but she insisted on going by her car alone, or she wouldn’t go to work.” Of course, she would do that.
“But she’s a freaking woman, Huxley. You could have done better than that. I trusted you with her life, and I knew you could handle that kind of situation. It was not even a hostile situation. How did you become so incompetent? Now, what the fuck happened?”
“Sir, I’m on my way to her work. Mr. Cordoso just informed me, and I haven’t gotten all the details.”
“Is my wife okay, Huxley? Fucking answer me, or I swear to God, you wouldn’t be able to find a job again.”
“She’s fine.”
“Then what fucking happened?”
“A group of women came to her work and-” My phone beeped. I had a call waiting. It was Linden on the other line, and he wouldn’t call if it were not necessary.
“Stop talking right now. I’m furious. Go and bring my wife home.”
“Right away, sir.” The call ended, and so did Linden’s.
I returned the call, and Linden picked up right away.
“Did you see the video?”
“What video?” I was already squeezing my eyes shut, groaning in anger. “Maverick’s.”
“Yes. I sent you the link. Check it before it goes down on the Internet.” What he meant by that was that his IT department would do the magic and erase all the traces of related videos.
“Thank you, bro. I owe you.”
“Where are you anyway?”
“I’m at Mom’s.”
“Then you better get your ass up back here. She’s probably shaken up. Talk to you soon.”
I quickly clicked the link to the video, and I couldn’t even watch it. It fucking hurt to watch my wife being humiliated for something she did not do, and people enjoyed watching this kind of shit all over the Internet. The account for that video was owned by a woman named Shiloh Hye.
The phone almost cracked in my hand as I gripped it hard. My hands were shaking with rage. I couldn’t watch it again.
“Boss?” Owen just came. He probably received a call from Homer.
“We’ll take Mom’s chopper. Talk to the pilot. I need to go home sooner.”
“We’ll do. I’m sorry for what happened to Mrs. Winston.”
I nodded as I walked past him. “I’ll deal with those stupid women later. Right now, I need to be with my wife.”
“Are you leaving already?” Mom came, looking worried.
My emotions were everywhere. It was even hard to think straight. “Someone chose the wrong person to bully, and they will pay for it.
“What happened, honey?”
“They hurt my wife, and I will hurt them back ten times fold.”
“Oh, my God. Is she okay?”
“I hope so, Mom.” I hugged her tight and kissed her on the cheek. “I need to use your chopper.”
“Of course. And say hi for me.”
I managed to pull a small smile before I left. The trip back to New York seemed like forever. I called her number many times but it went all to her voicemail. I decided to text her.
LAKE: Maverick, please take my call.
It wasn’t even seen, and it pissed me off.
“Boss, you need to calm down. I just got an update from Huxley. They’re heading to her apartment.
“Why the fuck would he take her to her apartment?”
“You have to understand your wife. She’s still adjusting to this kind of life, and maybe she feels safe there, or she needs time to herself. What she’s been through is traumatizing, and if you don’t mind me-”
“What?” I growled at Owen.
“Take it as a person who knows you better.”
“You think because you work for me, you’re just my employee, OB?”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. What I was trying to say is maybe you should avoid arguments or forcing her to have a bodyguard.” That was what I was about to do.
“It was my fault.”
“None of this is your fault. Gunner is handling the video right now. They will take everything down related to that incident.” He was referring to the situation room. Osmium had a pretty impressive software program, and it was propriety and made by IMI. “What is your plan with those women?”
I glared at him. “What do you think?”
He nodded. “They shouldn’t have done for what? For likes, followers, to gain attention? I’ve read comments, and they are mostly negative about what they did. Some, of course, they thought it was-”
“I don’t wanna hear about it. I couldn’t even watch it till the end.”
“You really like her, don’t you?”
“Fuck you. This has nothing to do with that. She’s my wife, and it’s my responsibility to keep her safe, and that includes her physical, mental, and emotional sense of well-being.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
We finally arrived at the rooftop of Osmium. Two black SUVs were waiting for us at the parking lot.
“I made a connection. Your ex’s friends are the women in the video. I only identify two of them involved.” Linden walked with me to the car. “How do you proceed? Sue them?”
I looked at him. He knew me very well. “I haven’t decided yet, but I want to see their friend first. How else did they know about me and Maverick?”
“Well, you were pretty public kissing her at the Bazz.” Fuck. “And maybe someone saw you together.”
“I picked her up at the school, but Cooper would never betray Maverick.”
“Well, there you go. And there’s more.”
“What?”
He showed the picture of Maverick’s car’s windshield vandalized with red lipstick.
“Fucking bitches.” I felt like I was about to explode. My body burned in anger, and I wanted to punch something. “I need those pictures.”
“You got it.”
“Thank you.” I stopped before I got in the SUV. “She’s not my ex. Never had.”
Linden grinned. “Okay, lover boy.”
We arrived at her apartment building. I instantly noticed her car parked. The words bitch and slut were already wiped clean.
“She’s on the third floor, apartment four,” Owen informed me. The other SUV had already left. “Homer is with her right now.”
Every step I took since we came out of the elevator felt like forever. It made me anxious. I wanted to see her right away. I wanted to hug her and tell her it’s gonna be okay.
Before Owen could knock, the door already swung open.
Homer stepped aside, giving us the way. “She’s in her room, door to the left.”
Her apartment she shared with Genesis was pretty tiny and old. There were boxes on the small space with a single couch, but it was pretty clean.
I went ahead to knock on her door, and I’d never felt so relieved upon hearing her voice.
“It’s open, Homer.”
I unlocked the door and stopped as I spotted her. Maverick instantly saw me, her eyes widening.
My breathing held in my lungs, and something unleashed inside me. I crossed the room and stopped just a few steps away from her.
“Lake?” she said my name breathlessly as if she was relieved and surprised to see me.
“Hey, Maverick.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to feel her in my arms and take her scent into my lungs, or I would lose my shit. It only took a second, and I was already hugging her tightly.
I shut my eyes close, and I finally able to breathe now that I knew she was okay, at least physically. Her scent intoxicated me. Her warmth enveloped me. I felt shuddering. Maybe this was what home felt like. In her arms.
I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. There was still a little sadness in her eyes, and it was killing me that she had to go through that because of me.
“I’m so sorry.” I kissed her forehead and apologized because, at that moment, it felt like it was the right thing to do. “God, Maverick.”
A pain formed in my chest, making it hard to breathe. It was an emotion that I’d never felt before that my brain could not even process.
“I’m fine. It was not the first time.”
“Will you shut up for a moment?”
Her eyes widened a bit.
“Fuck it.” I tugged her head back and kissed her.