MAVERICK
Shock was an understatement. And here I thought maybe he genuinely didn’t know my birthday. Then here we were, my friends were having fun, and even my grandmother was with me on my special day.
When Nana got sick, I stopped celebrating my birthday. I thought, what’s the point? I only have a few people who are constants in my life. I was always grateful for another year, but that was it-no celebration.
I watched my friends sing on the Karaoke with amusement. Genesis, though, had a golden voice. There was supposed to be a live band today, but somehow, Lake managed to book the entire bar for the night.
“So nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Winston.”
I looked at my side. An African-American woman in her dress was reaching out her hand.
“Hi. Yeah. We haven’t formally introduced. Just Maverick.” I shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Venus. I worked for your husband for three years as his assistant.”
“I never saw you come to the penthouse.”
“Ow, he never asked me for a personal assistant, just an office job. That’s what I’m grateful for.”
“He resigned. Do you still work for him?”
“Yes. At IMI. Infinite Media Inc.”
“Right. How’s he as a boss?”
Venus smiled. “Don’t tell him that I tell you this. He liked to bark if he was under a lot of pressure, but I guess everyone does. I think I’m among the few luckiest people with a good boss.”
“Good for you. Rocco.” I tipped my head at Rocco at the bar. “He’s also a good boss.”
“Wait. You still work here?”
“Yeah. Lake is fine with that. Rocco came from a humble beginning. He’s a third-generation immigrant from his family. He gave me a job, took me in, and let me crash on his couch for weeks when I had nowhere to go. My Nana’s house is almost a two-hour ride, so I would be late for school and work if I went home. And I didn’t want to see her disappointed face.”
“I totally understood. I would have done the same thing. When I found out Mr. Winston was married, I was shocked. Even if his personal life is none of my business, it’s not hard not to be involved, find out because of the calls, emails, and texts I received every day, yet I never heard about you until he posted a video.”
I chuckled. “You must be surprised.”
“Yes. He never asked me to buy flowers or gifts aside for his moms and his cousin and friends’ wives.” She looked at London and Estelle, joining Genesis on the stage.
The guys were busy chatting and drinking, but I couldn’t find Linden and Lake.
“I’m not what most people expected to be the wife of Lake Winston.”
“Who cares? As long as both of you are happy.”
“I wish there were no mean people in this world so we could all live in harmony.” I couldn’t help but smile. My own words just reminded me of Wallace.
Lake just returned with Linden and Striker, and they seemed to be wearing the same expression on their faces- tensed.
“Is everything okay?” I held Lake’s arm.
He smiled and leaned down to kiss me even if his assistant was with us. “Yes. It’s your birthday.”
I kissed him on the lips. “All right.”
“So you two have met?” He looked at me and to Venus.
“Yeah, and she told me some nasty things about you.”
Venus’s eyes widened.
“Did she now?” He looked at Venus, seemingly amused. “What did you say to my wife?”
“Come on to the stage, Lake. Sing for our birthday girl.”
“Go on. Sing for me. And I’ll tell you about what she told me later.”
“Lake! Lake!” the guys began chanting. Even my grandmother was amused, who hadn’t known the real score of my relationship with Lake. So far, she was clueless, and it knotted my stomach with guilt.
“Forgive me for my out-of-practice, beautiful.” He winked at me before he walked to the stage,
“Does he know what he’s doing?” I asked Venus.
She smiled. “I hope so.”
“Okay. Just one song because it’s my girl’s birthday.” Instead of singing the Karaoke, he went to the Keyboard.
I shook my head in amusement. “Why am I not surprised? Looks like every rich kid has piano lessons since birth.”
My opinion made Venus laugh. “I can’t even play a note.”
“I know Solfege.”
“This is for my birthday girl. Happy birthday, beautiful.” Then he started playing beautifully like a musician, and the music finally became familiar to my ear, which I used to listen to on Spotify.
It was so beautiful that everyone in the room went silent, just listening, except for Genesis, who recorded a video of him playing.
I watched him play the whole time. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, and my senses were solely focused on him.
No one had ever sung or played for me but him. Every note he played hit me differently, hitting every cell in my body- every note tagged a string in my heart, and it seemed harder to breathe.
All of a sudden, our gazes locked. We just stared at each other for that moment. Everyone seemed to fade from the background.
My emotions were too profound- they confused me from the beginning until they became clearer. My attachment for him became strong like poison seeping through my blood, spreading through every organ in my body.
When my ex dumped me, I resented myself for being gullible and falling too quickly, but I moved on from the weak person that I was. Here I was again, invested in a relationship that had ended.
I wiped a single tear that fell down my cheek. I’d never cry. I couldn’t remember the last time I did, maybe when I was alone in the waiting area in the hospital because I had no one to lean on at that moment.
“Hey.” I hadn’t noticed Lake finished playing, and he was already standing before me, cupping my face and wiping the tear off my cheek. “Sorry if it brought some painful memory.”
“Nope. I didn’t know why I cried. Maybe because it was beautiful.” I put on a good acting. “I don’t know you can play.”
“Honey, that was beautiful.”
I turned around to see Beatreigh. I was speechless.
“Mom, you made it.” He hugged his mom. “Thanks for coming.”
“Happy birthday, darling.” She kissed me on the cheek. “I wish you all the best in life and a little Maverick on the way, perhaps.”
“Mom.” Lake looked surprised.
“Thank you, Bea. Perhaps later.” That was all I could say. My emotions were still everywhere.
I drew a deep breath and hugged her. “Thank you. It means a lot to him that you’re here.”
“I know, darling.” She then looked at me. “Do you know that’s the first time he played again after his father and I divorced?” Was that why there was no piano in his penthouse?
“What?” I asked breathlessly. I couldn’t believe he did that before his family and friends.
“Come on, Mom. Don’t spoil her birthday. I want you to meet her, Nana, but be careful not to spill our secrets. She doesn’t know yet.”
They walked towards where my grandmother sat with Linden while I seemed rooted to my place.
One thing I was sure of was that I was definitely falling for Lake, and our fake relationship turned out to be more real than I had predicted.
My heart broke thinking of how many days I had left with him before I lost him forever.