MAVERICK
I couldn’t believe Lake forgot that we had an event to attend if Venus did not remind us-the 3rd anniversary of Infinite Media Inc.
Thankfully, he knew a lot of people and just snapped his fingers, and everything he needed was laid down before him, like the gown I was wearing-a beautiful black backless beaded couture dress. Then, I put on a diamond set to complement the look.
I went downstairs, and Lake was fixing his bow tie. “Damn, you look hot.”
He stilled, lifted his gaze, and stared at me for seconds. His eyes twinkled, and his lips spread into a full-blown smile.
He was handsome and even had the time to trim his hair. It touched a little bit the collar of his black tux, but the hairstyle suited him.
“I think that’s my line.” He strolled his gaze at me, from head to toe, before taking my hand and kissing it. “Damn, Maverick.”
I waited for him to continue, but he chuckled, shaking his head.
“I’ve never been speechless and forgot adjectives to describe how beautiful you are tonight.”
“You just did, handsome.” I smiled, and he was still smiling. One thing I did right tonight was to make him smile, and he looked so happy.
“Maybe we should go before I change my mind.”
“Uh-huh. Don’t ever think about it. We’re going to your party.”
“You’re right, beautiful.” He placed my hand on his arm as we walked towards the door.”
“Are you both ready?” Venus appeared.
“You looked beautiful, Venus.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Winston.”
“Just Maverick.”
His white Maybach drove smoothly towards the hotel where the party was held.
“I have a suite up. We could stay the night.”
“It depends if the party went well.”
He smiled meaningfully. “It will. That’s a promise.”
“Your father might attend the party, Mr. Winston.”
“I hope he won’t,” Lake replied. “He hates the idea of me building the company and has no reasons to attend.”
“Let’s not ruin this night, and I love my dress, Lake.” I gripped this thigh.
“You look stunning, Mrs. Winston,” Venus said.
“Thank you. At least you found an adjective, unlike this one over here.”
“What’s the word for breathtakingly beautiful, baby? None. And you caught me off guard.”
We arrived at the venue and posed before the backdrop, blinding my eyes with flashes before we walked inside. This was the first time we had formally attended an event as a married couple.
The event was decorated with a futuristic theme, from the chairs to the tables, LED media walls, and lighting. It was beautiful as if it had just brought us into a sci-fi movie set.
The invites arrived, including his friends, wives, and his mother.
“You look gorgeous, darling.”
“You are beautiful, Bea.” Beatreigh and I did cheek-to-cheek before I went to welcome Striker and London and Linden and Estelle.
“I was afraid I was going to be out of place. Thanks for being here.”
“He won’t let it happen,” London said, glancing at my man.
“I wouldn’t miss the event. Lake was always present at company events,” Striker said in his well-fitted tux.
“You look beautiful, honey,” Linden said before he and Lake did a brotherly hug.
“I like the decorations. Babe, I want a room like this if we have a boy.”
Linden smiled at his wife. “Are we pregnant, Estelle?”
“Give me a break, Gabriel.” She snatched a flute of Champagne and sipped, confirming that she wasn’t.
“Oh, I thought, we are. It would be awesome. Baby number three.” Linden turned to me. “How about you both? Any exciting news?”
“Nah. We haven’t even spent our honeymoon,” Lake replied as I felt my cheeks burn. He played a hand on my naked back, pulling me closer to him. “Maybe in a few years. Of course, I want a family with Maverick.”
“That’s great to hear, cuz. I can’t wait to watch you being overprotective of your kids. It drives you nuts.”
“You’re scaring the man.”
I turned to my side, where a deep, husky voice came from. The more they got closer, the muscular, dark-haired man looked more familiar like I’d seen him before.
“Brother, you made it.” Linden went to the man, hugging him tightly. “You’re tanned.”
“And you’re still a smug son of a bitch,” said the man grinning from ear-to-ear with a gorgeous dark blonde woman beside him, wearing two engagement rings. Wow. Billionaires.
“Cenric Wollf in the flesh. Why is it so hard to catch you up lately?” Lake offered his hand for a handshake.
Right. Now I remembered-the crypto guy.
“Lake Winston. I heard you get married. Who’s the poor girl?” He sided glance at me, smirking before they engulfed each other in a big bear hug.
“My wife, Maverick. Maverick, this is Cenric Wollf.”
“The crypto guy.” I clamped my mouth instantly as I extended my hand for a handshake, and they laughed as they found me calling him the crypto guy funny.
“Right, that’s me.” He shook my hand firmly. “Nice to meet you, Maverick. This is my wife, Sadie.”
After our pleasantries, another couple came. The former notorious playboy Mykel Creed and his wife Adley, the heiress to Kross Industries. How many billionaires did I have to meet tonight? They were all young, gorgeous, and married. Well, except Moses, who gracefully sat beside me at our table in peace.
“How are you, honey?”
“Grateful and seemingly small.”
“Half of these people are superficial, miserable, and problematic. Not everyone with money is happy. When I look at you and my nephew, you both are happy. And your relationship with him is something worth celebrating. Live, enjoy, and do what makes you happy. That’s what matters most.”
“Thank you.”
When Lake’s name was called, everyone stood up to applaud him. He kissed me on the cheek before he went up the small stage.
“Thank you, everyone. Please be seated. As a young boy born into Braddson and Winston, it is both a curse and a gift. I always dreamed of forging my own path and building my own company. I have so many self-doubts and what-ifs. What if I failed and be forever just the son of Beatreigh Braddson and Wallace Winston? I wouldn’t make a name for myself.” He paused for a moment. He looked at everyone in all his magnificent glory.
I still found it hard to believe that the man standing before hundreds of people was my husband, and we shared a bed.
“I still failed many times. To tell you the truth, I almost gave up this project, but my old Brit friend.” He chuckled. “The person we should be thanking for, who received less credit, Rusher Radcliff, over there.” He gestured at the man sitting in front. “He pushed me hard, reminding me of a quote. You can fall a hundred times and get up at one hundred and one. This success is not mine alone. This is our success. Thank you.”
“Beautiful.” I joined everyone in applauding him.
“That’s our boy,” Beatreigh said beside me.
We enjoyed the food on the menu. When everyone started to talk about money and business, Moses cleared his throat. “Guys, let’s talk about something like a video of dancing cats. Enough of business. Talk about it in your emails.”
I chuckled. “Thank you because I can’t relate.”
“Of my God. I love the new pictures you uploaded. Your photographer is awesome,” Sadie said, “and I followed you on Instagram.”
I tried hard not to giggle. Cooper was a perfectionist when it came to his work. Filming and shooting those collaborative ideas took almost half a day.
“Thank you. I’ll follow you back.”
“That’s her friend, Cooper Greene,” London said.
“Yes. He’s still in college with me. Photography is his passion,” I said proudly, promoting my friend’s work.
“I’ll DM if he’s available.” She looked at London and Estelle. “Great job, girls.”
After the wonderful dinner, I excused myself to the powder room.
I hadn’t reached the door, and someone already grabbed my arm, making me yelp.
“So you are the social climber gold digger Lake’s fake wife.”
“Excuse me?” I stared at the blonde woman in her early thirties, who had a thick foundation and too much lip filler.
“Said the woman with fake boobs.” Jeez. Why did I have to say it out loud?
“Bitch. You’re the reason why Wallace and Lake are not talking. You should have stayed away from him. He deserves better than a working-class bartender.”
“Let me ask you this. Why are you with Wallace? For money, right? Don’t act like you are better than me. We both know he doesn’t care about you, but maybe you’re a good lay. And girl, find a man of our age.” I walked away, and she wouldn’t just let me go.
“Hey! I know about your dirty little secret and will tell the world about it.”
I turned around. “And what is that?”
“Wallace told me that Lake paid you to be his wife.”
I felt a bucket of cold water thrown into my face. I gasped, rooted to the spot, unable to give my reply.
“So it’s true then.” She made an evil laugh to mock me.
“Shut your mouth, or I will put you where you belong, Lydia.” Lake came to my side, making me exhale a breath. “And so what if I paid her to marry me? Better than pay her to fuck me.”