LAKE
The painting and the naked man sculpture had finally arrived.
Since that fundraiser, Maverick and I have yet to talk about the company I wanted to start under her name. She also did not ask me who the woman we bumped into was.
I unboxed the sculpture while she was unwrapping the painting. “Where do you want me to put this?”
“In your bathroom or bed.” She tried hard not to laugh. The model may be naked, but the private part was covered, unlike the statue of The Thinker and David. Still, the ass was exposed.
“I broke the Knight. This serves a place here.” I put it on the coffee table and cracked her up.
“Well, this is your penthouse.” She shrugged. Her hands were on the frame. I didn’t know why she was fascinated with the painting of all the unique and impressive displays.
“Our penthouse, and that’s why I chose this one, aside from our donations.”
“Right. A naked man. If you are on a business trip, I’ll sit here and watch this little naked guy, hoping he would turn to human.”
“This is a bad idea.” I picked the naked man again and examined it. “What the fuck? How long exactly his cock is?” The tip of his cock was exposed between his legs as he was sitting, and I did not precisely notice that before.
Maverick barked out laughing, shaking her head in delight as she took it from me. “You broke the Guinness Book of Record, little guy.” She then looked at me. “You did not notice this before? Who’s the artist anyway? Let me guess, a guy with a huge ego.”
“No. It’s actually a woman. Knox’s friend.”
“Wow. And the model, does he exist?”
I smiled wickedly. “We’ll call him to get naked between us and measure his cock.”
“Stop objectifying his private part.” She hit me on my knee. “Where should we hang this?”
“We can put it in the house. You want in the nursery, then we’ll renovate a room and hang it in there.”
“I wasn’t serious about it, Lake. I was merely playing along.”
“We’ll find a place. This would look great in the house.” I ignored the clenching in my stomach. I didn’t know a disappointment would feel like crashing my chest. I guess it hit hard when caused by the woman you loved.
It had been two days since we talked about selling my share. I would be in the board meeting in three days and wanted to ask her opinion.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“There will be a board meeting on Thursday. I want your honest opinion about my share at Winston Holdings. What do you think should I do?”
“You’re asking the wrong person, Lake. I don’t have experience in that area.”
“You’re about to graduate with a BS in Economics. I think you’re the right person I should ask about, but I’m not asking you from your expert point of view but as my wife. I made a mistake by not involving you in decision-making about your life and future. I’m sorry, baby. I was planning on surprising you, and it would be humiliating if you declined.”
“Right. From the business perspective, if it is profitable, why risk selling it? From a son’s perspective, and with a valid reason, not involving an act of revenge against your father, if you want to get out of that cycle, then go ahead, but make sure you know where to invest your money.”
“I have a pretty good idea, and I also thought about the possible pros and cons, but I still need your help.”
“What kind of help?”
“You’re not going to like it.”
She only chuckled. “Figured.”
“What should I do to get your approval?”
She came close, sat on the armrest, and cupped my face. She smiled before she pressed her lips against mine. I thought it was sweet and thoughtful.
I kissed her back and wrapped her in my arms until I pulled her to sit on my lap. Then our kiss deepened as I delved my tongue into her mouth.
We made love despite not talking about why we fought. She was a good wife and a generous lover, and I abused her because she never said no nor asked me for anything. I regretted that action. I may not say it out loud, but indeed, I learned from that mistake.
She moaned into my mouth, and my hands came to her ass, squeezing it. Before we could get naked in the living room, she pulled her lips away. “Don’t distract me, Winston.”
“You’re the first one to kiss me. I thought we kissed, and then maybe it could lead to another, and I would love that very much.”
“I was about to say something.” She swallowed.
“Go on.” I looked her in the eye, and there was a hint of guilt in there. “What is it, baby?”
“I’ve been ungrateful and a bitch,” she started, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I was being unappreciative of your effort. I know you’re busy with work here and there, and I never commended you, which you deserve more. I mean, you work hard day and night, come home to me with a smile, do something to make me happy, consider my relationship with Terzo, and you still found time to spend it with me, and I did not acknowledge all of that.”
“Where is this heading?” I tried hard to hide my smile, but she saw it, and I knew exactly where this was heading.
“I’m sorry for being a bitch. You have no idea how much you changed my life to be better. I should have said it a long time ago.”
“It’s not too late. Come on, tell me, Maverick.”
“This is not a joke. I’m here pouring my heart out.” She pouted and played with my hair.
“I know, baby. Thanks for telling me.”
“To add to that, I’m on board with whatever you are planning.”
“Really?” I knew she would say that.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I’ll register a business LLC, and then once you graduate, you will focus your time on running the business from the ground, but know this. The investments will be in your name, and we will invest it in-”
“Tech and Software, e-commerce, real estate, digital marketing. I won’t run it, babe, but I will work in the company.”
“Yes. See? We made it without arguments.”
“Teamwork, and you involved me in your decisions.” She sighed. “I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
I was already beaming because I’d been anticipating this would come up.
“You read my mind.”
“I figured you would ask me about the woman at the art exhibit.”
She nodded silently. “I did not check her on social media, but I have the feeling that you two were in a relationship.”
“Yes. She was my last girlfriend before my father told me to break up with her and that I should focus on building my bright future. He told me that if I am successful, women would fall in line to date me.”
“And he was right on that part, but not the kind of woman he expected you to marry.”
“I don’t care. I’m happy with the relationship we have.” I paused for a moment to compose my words without sounding like a dick. “I don’t want you to ever create a bridge into communicating with her. She’s not the woman you think she is. She may look sweet and-”
“Beautiful and blond. You never dated unattractive, have you?”
“Back then, I dated anyone I found attractive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I’m a Braddson and Winston, so you know.” I shrugged, as I didn’t want to be cocky. “I find you fucking hot.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Back to Aurelia. At that time, I was a narcissistic, self-centered son of a bitch. I was popular, and I didn’t care who got hurt, something like that. She liked to bully girls and humiliate them in public. She’s the embodiment of a mean girl. If she talks to you, she always has an agenda. I don’t want you to get hurt. If you care for me, you have to believe I’m saying this because I care so much about you, and I can’t watch you get hurt again.”
“I believe you.”
Before I could continue, my phone vibrated.
It was my mother. I answered and put it on the speaker: “Mom, Maverick, and I are listening.”
“Bunny, you’re not going to believe this.”
“Since when have you started gossiping?” I chuckled.
“It’s worth gossiping, honey. Guess who the CEO of WLMedia is?”
“Aurelia Mitchell.”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I didn’t until you told me.”