MAVERICK
Sitting 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.” He stole a glance at Striker. I could see their considerable resemblance, including those eyes and the jawline.
“I’m glad you found and have each other now, Mr. Braddson.”
“Oh, he didn’t lose me.” Striker scoffed. “He’d known I existed for a long time. He sent me money every month, but I refused to see him. I used his money to invest instead of sending it back to him.”
Striker’s story made me smile. “That was a great idea. I would have done the same thing.”
“So you like kids?” Moses’s question almost choked me.
“Um, yeah. What’s not to like? They’re little angels.”
“Wait until they cry in colic,” Estelle said humorously. She was beautiful with beautiful blue eyes and sectoral heterochromia. No wonder Gabe Linden fell in love with her.
“I don’t mind if I have like yours.” Beatreigh’s words flashed in my head. Even right now, I couldn’t have kids, and I was still hurt by how her son treated me. They said a drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts. Maybe that was how Lake saw me, like a prostitute.
At the corner of my eye, Lake froze, but he recovered quickly.
“What about you, son?”
“I want to have kids someday, but not right now.”
“You should not listen to your father. You’re a grown adult. Have a mind of your own. He has a failed marriage and relationships. Why would you listen to his advice? I know what’s happening, so man up, get a life, and stay away from him.”
“I can’t do that,” Lake replied.
“And why not?” London asked. “You have company on your own. Why would you still want to work at Winston Holdings?” I would never have imagined sitting next to London, who was so kind and sweet despite her upbringing.
“I can’t let Stoll run the company.”
“I don’t think your father would hand the seat on someone not his heir. He’s just trying to control and manipulate you to do this bidding. If you do that, take the seat. You have two options. One is to be your own or to be his puppet forever.”
“I have a plan.”
“But he still remains the chairman, and technically, he can still kick you out of the seat with the majority of the votes coming from the board.” Moses had a point.
“Exactly.”
“So, what is your plan?”
“Once I’ve taken the seat, I will change the leadership, resign, sell my share, and run my own company.”
Striker and his father laughed.
“You evil bastard. You remind me of Estelle, who fought against her father,” Striker said to Lake, shaking his head in amusement.
“What about you, two?” My heart thudded at Moses’ question. Damn, this man never filtered.
“What about us, uncle?”
“You two seemed off, barely looking at each other.”
“Papa, I think it’s none of our business anymore.” Striker laughed.
“Oh, it’s my business when my nephew is involved, son. Beatreigh told me she had met Maverick, and they had no issue. So, should I grill you before your wife, son?”
“We just have a little misunderstanding.”
I remained silent because I didn’t want to be rude in front of dinner and these people.
“Little, huh?” London pressed.
“Can we please just continue this dinner?”
“What did you do, son?” Moses still pressed him.
Lake looked pissed as he put his silverware down. “My father was angry that I did not ask his approval of the woman of my choosing. He knew for a fact that I didn’t have a girlfriend to marry.”
“Why do we have to deal with these arrangements?” Moses sighed heavily.
I cleared my throat. “Um, if I may.”
“Of course, honey. Go ahead.”
“Here’s the short detail on this arrangement. I won’t go to the part where I would break-”
“What the hell, son? Who is involved in this?”
“Papa, should Estelle and I leave?” London asked.
“No, honey. I know for a fact Lake has already broken the agreement, right, son?”
He dropped his gaze instead of answering.
“You paid her to be your wife. For how long?”
I held my gasp. How did he know?
When he did not answer Moses, I replied. “A year.”
“And after that? You two will get divorced? Wow, son. You’ve sacrificed a lot to please your father? What’s left for you after that? What Beatreigh has to say about it? Or is my sister aware of this arrangement?”
I nodded subtly.
“Jesus Christ, Bea.” Moses shook his head in disappointment.
“In Lake’s defense, he did what he thought was right. And I accepted the terms.”
His eyes found mine, almost grateful.
“Because I needed money. Yes, I married him for money. You can judge me all you want, but you can’t be mad at him. It just happened that I was the one available for that position, and we both needed each other at that time.”
“Then why did you two fight?”
“I broke one of the demands I made. I should not be sleeping with my client. My employer, I mean. And I slept with him.”
London and Estelle tried to hide their smile, but it eventually came out.
“Then I pressed on why he came home mad. He told me his father wasn’t fond of what he did. He got drunk and said something I didn’t like.”
“I was drunk, obviously. I didn’t know what I was saying,” he said, defending himself.
“Didn’t people say a drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts?” Striker asked playfully.
“What did you say, Lake?” Moses asked him.
“I can’t remember, uncle, but I have a feeling it’s terrible. OB punched my face.”
“I say you deserved it,” said London.
“I was drunk, London.”
“You don’t get drunk to oblivion, son. I know you because you don’t want to disappoint your father. For God’s sake, son. Stop pleasing other people. It’s time for you to think about yourself and your happiness. You’re already married. Think about you and your wife, your future, and stay away from Wallace. Don’t be like your father, hurting his wife. Be your own man.”
I made an audible gasp.
“I did not hurt my wife,” Lake said, still defending himself.
“Not physically, but abuse is not only physical, is it?” Estelle said.
“Why do you all have to crucify me in front of the dinner and my wife?” He looked angry and ashamed. “Whatever I said, I didn’t mean it. Excuse me.” He stood up and left the dining room.
“I’ll go talk to him. Excuse me.” I left and followed him. He went out to the backyard.
“Are you happy now?” He knew I would follow him. He hadn’t even faced me. He was sure I was the one behind him.
“Do you think I wanna discuss our arrangements and my life before your family? But they care about you, Lake, and they were right.”
“About what?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “About my mistakes? About my father’s abusiveness? About me being a puppet with no backbone and that I couldn’t decide on my own?”
“That’s not true. You made decisions on your own.”
“Like marrying you, right?”
“Why is it all my fault? You approached me. Your people came to me. Is that the mistake you’re talking about?” I promised myself I would never cry after my grandmother got sick and my mother chose to go on a cruise to be with her boy toy. Right now, I wanted to run away and cry until I couldn’t anymore.
“No, that’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life, but you came to my life at the wrong time, and you’re paying for my mistake and for what I’ve done.”
I nodded, feeling so lost in my emotions. “I should go. I think my job here is over.”
“Don’t go, please?”
I pulled my hand away before he could reach it. “No, Lake. I can’t do it right now.”
“Why?”
“You just showed me what kind of woman I am, and that’s how exactly you see me, your paid wife, your transaction, and nothing but a gold digger and a hooker, a whore to you. Your pretty woman.”