MAVERICK
He destroyed the idea of fucking in my head. He showed me what it was like to be thoroughly fucked.
Every part of my body was sore, yet I had a smile of bliss on my face. After he was satisfied with what he had done to me, he got up from bed and went to the bathroom. He put on his sweatpants and went out of the room.
I might have fallen asleep. His side of the bed was still empty. I slid off the bed and stretched my body before I used the bathroom. Now I felt how sore I was- it was everywhere, between my thighs, my limbs, my breast, even on my shoulder where he bit me. I could still see the mark on his teeth. It wasn’t enough to bleed, but it still stung.
I went downstairs, looking for him, but he was not in the living room or the kitchen. The door to his study was slightly opened, and the light was on. Before I could get in, I heard his voice. He must be talking with someone on the phone.
My curiosity kicked in. I hid behind the wall and eavesdropped.
“No. That’s not the plan. I won’t come back until he retires.” He must be talking about his father and the board meeting.
“Divorce her.” What was he talking about?
My hand flew to my mouth to stifle my gasp, my breathing stuck in my lungs, and my eyes widened. A familiar pain settled in my chest. I started to get tears in my eyes.
“I’m not ready to have children. It’s out of the equation. I already told you about that. My priority right now is my companies.”
I couldn’t move. I wanted to run back upstairs and forget what I had heard, but somehow, I was rooted in my place, like I was glued to the wall.
He continued, “He made me do this and then left me hanging, and that wouldn’t change the fact that he forced me into this marriage. I’m not ready.”
Dread ran through my veins, overwhelming my senses. The message was clearer. He was still doing his part- my temporary husband, and I was his temporary wife with benefits.
Horrified, I let go of a muffled, shuddering breath as I walked away towards the hallway. I went back in the room and lay on my side. I tried to close my eyes and forget those words in my head, but the pain and trauma had clung to my heart.
A few minutes later, I felt the bed shifted. I pretended to be sleeping, but his hand slid to my waist, pulling me closer to him.
“Baby?” He pressed a kiss on my shoulder, and then he sighed. After that, his breathing became even. He must have fallen asleep instantly.
***
My mind was somewhere far away. I was barely listening to the professor. I couldn’t think straight. Every time I remembered his words, they taunted me. Maybe there was no future for us after all. Maybe we would just end up divorced.
Once the classes ended, I picked up my things and walked out of the classroom.
“Hey.” Cooper grabbed me by my elbow. “I’ve been calling your name, and you seemed lost. Are you okay?”
I blew a breath. “Yeah. I’m tired, and I have a lot on my mind.”
“Obviously. What is it? Relationship problem. Need my advice?”
I smiled. “What do you know about relationships, Coop? And by the way, congrats on your new project.”
“Thanks.” He put his arm over my shoulder and pulled me into a bear hug. “This is all because of you.”
“You’re wrong. I’m merely a bridge. You have an amazing talent that deserves to be out there for the people to see. I’m proud of you.”
We decided to grab a coffee near the campus before we headed home.
“So, how are you and your billionaire beau?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”
“You seemed not yourself.” I caught his worried expression, but I couldn’t tell him the real score between me and Lake. The NDA was still in play.
“Just had a lot on my mind. Terzo is MIA. I can’t contact him.”
“Probably on an island with a hot babe or dude, whatever he prefers.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” I hoped he was safe somewhere. I knew how dangerous his job was, but so did his entire life. I sipped my coffee until the entire coffee shop went silent. I looked around, and my gaze landed on Wallace, who was coming in our direction.
Crap.
And he saw me. I had a feeling my day had just gotten better.
“May I?” He gestured to the empty chair.
“It’s a free country, Mr. Winston.” I gestured back.
He looked at Cooper, who seemed surprised. “May I talk to her alone, please?”
Cooper fumbled to stand up and smiled tightly at me. “See you later, Mave.”
I nodded and smiled tightly. “Bye.”
Wallace took a seat across the table. I didn’t mind telling him to order his coffee. I was sure he didn’t drink in a coffee shop like this, and he was probably scared of getting poison.
“May I ask why are you here?”
He looked at me in the eye. “I’m sure you know it by now.”
“Lake.” Of course. Who else?
“Yes. I want you to convince him to come back to Winston Holdings. The seat is waiting for him, and he’s been working hard for this. He can’t just throw the opportunity out of the window.”
“You mean for me.” I wrapped my fingers around the paper cup because, honestly, he intimidated me, and my hands began to sweat. “If you haven’t noticed, you and Beatreigh raised a strong man. He has a mind of his own. What made you think I can influence him when his mother can’t even change his decision? He made up his mind not to come back, and I respect it. You should respect it, too.”
“Don’t underestimate your influence on him. He made it quite clear that this marriage will last, but he’s reckless and will drag the company to the ground with his twisted logic of this sham marriage and picket fence with you.” That’s not what he said last night.
“Then maybe for once, think about your son instead of the business and money. Winston Holdings doesn’t depend on Lake. It depends on the entire management and employees.”
“You don’t know anything about how we work.”
“Maybe.”
“He said you’re his home. He found a peace of mind in you.” Attaboy.
I smiled proudly. “Because I don’t dictate to him. I let him do what he wants to his capacity. I don’t clip his wings or put strings on his limbs. Lake can do so many things if you only trust him a little. He has dreams and plans, and all I do is be his cheerleader. I know we made many mistakes along the way, and you should accept your own.”
His face turned red, clearly pissed off- from a relaxed man earlier to a mad lion sitting before me. Now I got why he and Lake didn’t get along. He was not a leader but a dictator, an oligarch.
“What gives you the right to say that to me? You work at the bar, for Pete’s sake. You don’t belong in our society. I know you want my son’s money, and that’s why you claw deep into his heart because you know that’s his weakness, and you explore and enjoy it a lot, but I won’t ever let you ruin this family. I will get rid of you out of my son’s life. That’s guaranteed. You want money? I will give you twice of your arrangement.”
“I don’t want your money. Yeah. Maybe I married your son for money, and I know where I belong, not in the society you wealthy people built. I certainly would never climb into that club full of hatred, greed, and superficial people. I know where I belong. In your son’s heart.”
“Three million dollars. I know it’s more than your worth.”
I stared at him for a moment before I shook my head in disgust. “Your son offered his one-hundred and fifty million dollars, but I did not take it. What made you think I would take your offer? Even if you can surpass it, I’ll think a hundred times because your money can’t buy what I have with Lake.” I rose to my feet. “With all due respect, Mr. Winston. From what I see right now, even your billion dollars can buy out your desperation to get your son’s trust back, and your god complex doesn’t work on me either.”