MAVERICK
A week ago, it had been an oddly emotional week. I didn’t cry, though, but things had been happening so fast.
I hadn’t seen Lake since that dinner at Braddson estate, but he texted me every day and had an apology for every text. Though he never asked me to come home, I was grateful. If I were being honest, I missed him.
If there was one thing I made progress, it was the freelance job Estelle and London offered me. They said to grab the opportunity when it arose, so here I was while not on trophy wife duty.
I blinked rapidly because I thought I was going to be blind from flashes. This was my fifth change of outfit for the photoshoot, and my face was thick with heavy makeup, and I could barely open my eyes with false eyelashes.
“I know sometimes it can be overwhelming, but you’ll get used to it.” London didn’t have to be here but stayed for the entire photoshoot.
I felt like I only got this job because of Lake, and I hadn’t replied to him. I knew he would insist, and it was my obligation to accompany him to his engagements, but he hadn’t asked so far.
“I’m good. I’m just not used to having so many people involved as a team dressing me up.” I chuckled. “But thank you for being here. I know you’re a busy woman.”
“I can multi-task, and besides, I’d rather be here with you than deal with papers at the office. Nekesa can handle it.” Nekesa was her assistant.
“Why’d you never try this collaboration before?” I wore London Hester spring collections and Estelle’s plant-based cosmetics for my makeup.
“I don’t know. We have talked about it, but it never came to execution until you came in. I think you’re the missing piece.”
I smiled as I sipped the water from the straw. “Glad I could help.”
When she smiled meaningfully, I knew what exactly she was about to say. “Don’t bother. I already told you I’m not ready unless he asks me to be his trophy wife for an event.”
“I just saw myself in you.”
“The stubborn part or the pride?”
She playfully hit me on the arm. “Silly, that’s why I like you.”
“You have no idea how much this means to me. I mean, I really look up to you, not just your products but your story. Lake knows that I’m a fan.”
She smiled. “Good thing you didn’t experience the never meet your hero.”
“Yeah. You’re all down to earth than I ever expected. So thanks for not treating me differently despite our social status.”
“Don’t be silly. Money can’t buy true and loyal friends. I’m glad we’ve met.”
“Me, too.”
“We’re ready,” the production assistant announced.
“Back to work.” I rose from my seat as the stylist took off my robe and put on another dress.
“All right. This is the last one. After this, I’ll send some pieces to the penthouse. We can send the team, or if you know a good photographer, that would be great.”
Shit. For days, I sneaked into the penthouse to get some of my books and changed clothes. Despite the fact that Lake and I were not on good terms, I still had to dress like his wife; otherwise, people would suspect that we were not together anymore. And I couldn’t afford that to happen.
“I know, just a guy. Cooper likes photography. He does streetstyle.” While these shoots were more like magazine covers, Cooper enjoyed taking pictures of scenery and cities.
“Great. We’ll contact him.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. What friends are for.”
I did another round of shoots and poses. I always liked dressing up and styling and was fascinated with fashion, even if I couldn’t afford designer apparel. Sometimes, I went to thrift stores to buy dresses. At this moment, it felt like a dream come true.
***
“Hey, darling.” Beatreigh saw me before I could.
“Hi.” We kissed each other on the cheeks before I sat across her. She invited me for a coffee, and I couldn’t refuse. I didn’t want to be rude to my mother-in-law.
“Thanks for accepting my invitation. I heard you got a freelance job with LH and Star.” Of course, news traveled fast.
“Of course, Bea. I love having tea with you.” We ordered my coffee and tea for her. “And yes, it was fun.”
“You deserve the best in the world, and it’s just the beginning.”
“I feel like I got the job because of your son’s connections.” I sipped my coffee.
She smiled, picking up her teacup to sip. “You are beautiful, and you only need to be discovered and an agent to get a break. The rest is on you. And I guess you haven’t thought about auditioning, have you?”
“No. I’m a shy person. I hate attention. I like to be in a box.”
“But you get out of your comfort zone to be with my son. That’s a good thing. After you finish college, you will have more opportunities. What is your plan?”
“Well, I haven’t thought about it, but looking for a desk job is fine.”
“You don’t have any idea that you have so many job opportunities at Hover, do you?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t want to get the job because I’m married to your son, Bea. I don’t like stepping on someone’s toe to get there.”
“Of course you don’t, darling.” She smiled. “So you haven’t seen Lake?”
I guessed it was not news anymore. “He texted me every day.”
“He’s always waiting for your reply. He came home every night to have dinner with me. He thought you were not ready to talk when you didn’t reply.”
“Yeah, but I’m always ready if he needs someone to accompany him.”
“This is not about the contracted marriage anymore, Maverick. Your marriage is real. You are his legal wife.” I knew this topic would arise even if I weren’t ready to discuss it. “And have you read the comments lately? I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you need to be seen together. Just reply to his text. He’s been a mess, but of course, he tried to hide his misery from me, but I’m his mother, and I know when he’s struggling.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know he’d made some mistakes, but his father put a lot of pressure on him, and this marriage, whether you see it as just a contract or real, has been a real relationship for him.”
“It’s real for me, too.”
“You can’t wait for that moment until there’s no left to save. You have to see my son.”
“I know, and this is my obligation.”
“Do you know he resigned?”
“What?” I almost dropped my coffee. Shock was an understatement. “Why? Why did he do that?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t know.”
“I swear I don’t, but why? He put his life into this job. He sacrificed a lot and even married to get that position.”
“It wasn’t just about the position, but the inheritance and the company. It’s Winston that he wanted to keep because his father didn’t want him to have a share of more than twenty-five percent. Wallace is that kind of controlling son of a bitch. Sorry for the awful choice of word.”
“I understand,” I admitted breathlessly, still wrapping my head around it. “So where does this leave him?”
“Deep inside, it’s his rebellion against his father, but he can still have a good life without the Winston money. When he turned eighteen, he got access to the trust fund I put under his name. It’s twenty percent of my net worth, but Lake is a good son who never wasted a penny. Instead, he invested that money at Hover, and then his father gave him a cheque. He invested it at Osmium and started his own solar energy, Archer Solar Solution. He used the dividend to fund a startup company, Infinite Media Inc., he founded and hired his friend Rusher Radcliff as his COO, now profiting millions of dollars.”
“He fought for Winston Holdings because it’s his birthright.”
“Yes, but for his father’s assets, Wallace can still change the will, and that’s why Lake did his best to please his father.”
“God, why did he do that?” I sagged against the chair. “Now, he might just lose his only chance.”
“Because of you.”