MAVERICK

I was furious to find my things outside the apartment building. The garbage truck could have collected them if I were only five minutes late. That douchebag was testing my patience, and that left me no choice but to take the room Genesis offered to me. It was out of my price range, but that’s the only apartment cheaper than anywhere.

Genesis helped me remove some of the boxes left by the previous tenant before she left for work.

My stomach churned when the alarm on my phone went off. It was a reminder of an appointment on my calendar. While the bills kept piling, I had zero balance left on my savings with a max credit card, and my grandmother was due for another checkup.

“Shit.” I went to my bag and fished out my phone.

My mind was telling me not to do it, but on the other hand, my pride couldn’t pay the bills, and deep inside, I wanted to get revenge against my ex. Maybe I was leaning more towards revenge.

I dialed the number, and it picked up right away.

“Boone.”

I cleared my throat before I spoke. “Does the half-million dollar offer still stand?”

I held my breath, but my heart began racing as I waited for a reply from the other line.

“Yes.” I cringed at his response. God, I wished I could take it back.

“Great. I have a list of demands I want you to relay to your boss.”

“It wouldn’t be you, Miss Bates, if you don’t have demands.” And one of them was no intimacy.

“I don’t recall telling you my full name.”

“Knowing who I am dealing with is part of my job. And I will forward them to my employer. Just send the list to the email provided in the card.”

“I want a cash advance. And that’s not negotiable. Rest assured, I will do the best of my ability to be a wife.” God, even the sound of it made me gag. What the hell did I put myself into?

“Very well then. I will send the money right away and the details of the contract. A lawyer will meet you with the NDA, contract, and the prenuptial agreement later today.”

I hung up the call, staring at the screen. What have I done?

My grandmother would never forgive me for my behavior, which would lead me down a slippery slope. I was nothing but those gold diggers I saw on social media. Maybe it was bad karma, judging people I didn’t know, what they’d been through, and the humiliation they had to deal with every day.

I wanted to cry, but my pride wouldn’t feed me and pay the bills.

Later that day, the ten thousand dollars arrived in my account, and I met the lawyers at the fancy restaurant in the evening.

After reading through the NDA and ignoring their ironclad prenup to protect their client’s wealth, I signed them right away because if I had been given another five seconds to think, I would have run out of the restaurant and needed the money. And besides, I didn’t want his family assets and inheritance but the amount I signed up for.

“Here’s the marital agreement for twelve months. Just as what is written in the NDA, you can’t disclose it to anyone.”

“I know what an NDA means.” I signed the agreement and dropped the pen. The two lawyers, Milus and Anders, did not miss to see my shaky fingers.

“Thank you, Miss Bates. Don’t worry. You did not sign away your rights to file a complaint when our client mistreats you or any domestic abuse throughout that marriage.”

***

I looked at myself in the mirror. I wore a new white oversized suit, applied a little makeup, and tied my hair in a bun. I bought a pair of shoes because I couldn’t go to my wedding day looking like a homeless person while my husband-to-be was wearing a thousand-dollar suit from a major brand.

I grabbed my bag and threw my stuff inside, including the small blue velvet box. I hadn’t opened it even if it arrived yesterday.

Every minute that passed as I drove to the city hall made my heart pound hard. I was not much of a crier. I thought life had taught me to be tough when my mother abandoned me to be with an asshole because her boyfriend didn’t want to take care of a kid.

The city hall came into view. Despite days of controlling my emotions, my chest finally gave up. I pulled the car over to the empty spot and screamed silently.

It just didn’t feel right. My grandmother raised me well, but what would it have left me if I had left the man alone to whom I now owed money? The fact that he was filthy rich, he could just hire someone to ruin my life or kidnap me and then dump my dead body in the river.

A knock on the window startled me. I took a deep breath and pulled myself together before I checked whoever was outside my car.

It was Owen in his fancy suit.

I grabbed my bag and unlocked the door.

“I was having a second thought that you might not show up.” As gentlemanly as he was, he opened the door for me.

“I still want to live.” I chuckled as I remembered what I had thought about not a moment ago. “It’s just twelve months in hell, and I’ve been in hell almost all my life, Owen.”

“You’ll be fine, Miss Bates. Trust me.” He stared at me, maybe realizing that I did not wear the dress his boss bought for me to wear for the hoax marriage ceremony.

I fixed my clothes and stared at him. “I don’t even know you to trust you. I’m sure you don’t give a crap about me if this isn’t your boss ordering you to be here.”

“I do care about good people, Miss Bates.”

“Just Maverick, Owen.”

“It’s my job to address you properly, Miss Bates.” He gestured his hand. “Shall we?”

I could literally feel my heartbeat against my chest as I walked inside the city hall.

“Relax,” Owen said as he nodded at the other guy in the same suit as his.

Gut tensing, I did my best to smile. “Easy for you to say. You’re not marrying an old stranger for money.”

For the first time, I heard him chuckle. His straight, pearly white teeth appeared as he smiled. Owen was a handsome, fine man, tall and muscly in his textured undercut hairstyle.

“Not funny.” Just now, I noticed he was wearing an earpiece like those bodyguards. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. You’ll be next after a couple is getting married right now.”

“Great. Now I’m feeling so nervous.” I followed him inside the small chapel and sat on one of the couches, but I still didn’t see my groom.

My heart could burst anytime in my chest, and I was about to ask Owen about my groom when someone took a seat to my left that smelled of expensive cologne.

“For you,” said the deep baritone voice from my left, offering me a beautiful bouquet of peonies, daisies, and white roses.

I shifted my eyes to the man in a navy blue Italian tailored suit. “No thanks. I’m sure my groom can afford a bouquet just right.”

I haven’t seen his face when he chuckled, but judging by his suit, his voice, his scent, and the flower he chose, he was not Wallace Winston. This man was definitely younger.

“And you’re not wearing my ring and the dress I picked for you.” He sounded almost disappointed.

In a single moment, I just changed my world, giving me a bitter taste of reality. My stare hardened as I met the man in the eye— stone blue eyes staring back at me, catching me off guard. He was not Wallace. Not even fucking close.

Shit.

With a single dark brow arched, patiently waiting for my reply, his stare was hard and focused, and all I could do was swallow hard.

“Maverick.”

LAKE

Damn. She’s fucking gorgeous. The picture in her background profile did not do any justice. She even looked younger than her age.

The shock on her face and those beautiful, expressive olive-green fox eyes were prominent. She even paled. By then, she realized she would not marry my father but me. She thought she was about to sell her soul to the devil by being Wallace’s wife.

I felt the desperation in her voice when she called Owen. I was there listening, and she had a confident and determined voice as she asked for money— not so much right now.

I took my time skimming at her heart-shaped face. Those eyes widened even more.

She put some makeup on her beautiful face and light lipstick on her pouty lips. Her nose was cute in celestial shape. Maverick was not that tall compared to the woman I slept with, but she seemed to be the most authentic among them.

“Maverick,” I called her name while patiently waiting for her reply.

“You tricked me.” Her face went white, cringing, realizing her mistake was too late to back out.

“Excuse me?”

“I thought—”

My heart instantly pounded as I watched her lick her lips. “I left the documents blank. When Owen told me that you thought you were marrying Wallace Winston, I told him not to correct you.”

“Why is that?”

“I thought it would be fun?”

“Fun?”

Silence stretched between us, and so did her stare.

“Mr. Winston and Miss Bates?”

“I believe that’s us.” I offered my hand as I stood up, fixing my suit with the other.

“I can’t do this.” She shook her head, her eyes flashing with emotion before she blinked them away. “I can’t marry you.”

“Give us a minute,” I told the staff as I sat down. “Maverick, you can’t humiliate me here. People know me, and I’m looking forward to this marriage.”

“Why?” She met my gaze. She looked terrified with a fiery exchange of rage.

“I’m taking over a CEO position from my father. That’s the truth. I ignored his condition for me to get a bride for months, and now he only gives me three weeks to fulfill that demand, or I will lose the position.”

“You have a girlfriend, why me? Because I need money? I’m desperate and a loser?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend. I’ve never been in a relationship since college. Can we talk about this later?”

“I will give back your—”

“You can arrange another appointment, Mr. Winston,” the staff said, interrupting us.

“Five seconds.” I raised my finger, giving them a warning instead. “If you marry me today, I will give you a house. You can choose it yourself.”

Hopeful, she stared at me for a second before she shifted her look at the people waiting for us and back to me. She then grabbed her bag and took something from it. It was the engagement ring I bought for her.

When she finally put it on, I let go of a shuddering breath of relief. I was desperate, too, and I had a feeling this contract marriage would be a roller coaster ride for twelve months.

The moment we stood before the officiant, Owen, my witness, had our rings, while my other bodyguard, Homer Huxley, was next to Maverick.

“We are gathered here in the presence of witnesses for the purpose of uniting in matrimony, Lake and Maverick.” The officiant probably said those words a million times. “The contract of marriage is most solemn and is not to be entered into lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously of its obligations and responsibilities.”

“Repeat after me. I, state your name.”

I held her trembling hands as we faced each other and instantly felt the softness, the warmth, and the jolt of electricity running through me. “I, Lake Archer Colter Talon Braddson Winston, take Augustine Maverick Morgan Bates II.” Then I slipped the ring into her finger.

Maverick did the same. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

“You have joined yourselves in solemn matrimony. I have now declared, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of New York as Deputy Marriage Commissioner, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

Owen and Huxley applauded us, and I couldn’t help but smile while Maverick hadn’t loosened up a bit but could pull off a slight smile on her lips. I held her hand tight, leaned in, and dipped my head to kiss her on the lips.

It was a quick peck on the lips, barely a brush, just a straightforward, gentle kiss because I wouldn’t expect a passionate kiss like a couple in love shared. Still, I felt every softness, suppleness, and wetness of her lips and the tiny gasp escaping from her, just enough for me to float away to make me forget that I barely met her five minutes ago.

I’d kissed many women, but I certainly did not feel the enthusiasm, excitement, or eagerness for another kiss until Owen and Huxley interrupted us with loud applause and a flashing camera that pulled us apart.

“Congratulations, Mr. And Mrs. Winston,” said Owen, grinning like an idiot as he gave the bouquet back to Maverick. “Just one last pose.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, but we had an audience, and this was my wedding day, after all, so I put my hand on her waist, pulled her closer, and smiled while Owen and Huxley were taking pictures of us.

“Okay. That’s enough. We can do it outside. Another couple is waiting to be wed.” It was me, excusing myself. My heart still pumped so hard even though the kiss was over minutes ago.

As we walked outside the city hall, Maverick went silent and tensed while Huxley went to take the car.

“I’ll take you to lunch.”

“I’m good.” That was all she said.

“We will be living under the same roof. I know it will be a huge adjustment for both of us, but we have to make it work. You need to be flexible to be with me.”

“I know. I know what I signed up for, but Owen should have told me before I signed everything.” She looked away as she breathed deeply. “But it’s also my fault. I should have met you first and didn’t depend on your people, but it is what it is.”

“So you’d rather marry an old man?”

Her eyes glared. “In my head. I prepared my mind and myself to have an older husband.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, Maverick, but my father no longer believes in marriage. And he’s not the man you always see on the screen. Believe me, you’d be grateful if you were married to me than to Wallace Winston.”

“Can I take a raincheck on the lunch?”

“Why? Do you have a place you’d rather be?”

“Um, yeah. Actually, after this, I’ll be free. Let me know where you want me to be. I’ll be there.”

I chuckled as I shook my head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I believe a honeymoon is not in the package deal, so let me guess, I’m staying in my apartment—”

“Maverick, you’re my wife now. Starting today, you’ll be staying at my penthouse.” I tipped my chin at Owen.

“Here’s your keycard, Mrs. Winston.”

She hesitated before she took the card from Owen.

“Take it, or you have to wait outside the building.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You have everything you need there. You don’t have to bring anything from your apartment. And we have a lot to talk about at home.” My phone just vibrated. It was probably my assistant, Venus, reminding me of my meetings.

“Owen will drive you wherever you want.”

“No. I don’t need him. I have my car parked over there.” She gestured over her shoulder shyly.

“Let me walk my wife to her car,” I told Owen. I knew the car she drove. It was old but still running. Even the word wife still sounded strange in my ears, but Maverick seemed the type of woman who obeyed and valued loyalty to her partner.

Huxley just parked my ride and waited while I walked Maverick to where she parked her car.

She unlocked her car door and murmured, “Thank you.”

“If you need anything, call me.”

“I don’t have your number,” she muttered, her voice shaky.

“Right. Give me your phone.”

Her phone was an old model, which twisted something deep inside me as I saved my number. “Why didn’t you wear the dress?”

“It’s too beautiful for a short ceremony.”

I smiled as I got her phone back. “You look stunning anyway.” Yes, she was. She could come to the ceremony in her pajamas, which wouldn’t change the fact that she knocked me out with her beauty.

“Thanks.” Her cheeks flushed.

“See you at the penthouse.” I went to the car as soon as she drove off.

“Do you want me to follow her?”

“No, OB. Let’s head to the office.” I dialed Venus.

“Mr. Winston, should I cancel your meeting?”

“No. I’m on my way. Buy a new iPhone model with 1TB memory, and put it on my personal account. Check a car dealer near the office.”

When I hung up the call, Owen was looking over the rearview. “What?”

“You’re buying your wife a car?”

“And how is it your business now?”

“Not my business, but I’ll still say it even if you don’t want me to talk. Take her with you. Let her be involved in the decision-making. She’d love that.”

“I got it. Now shut up.”

MAVERICK

I was still shocked, trying to digest what happened in the city hall earlier. How could I be so stupid and trust those people with a year of my life? How could I be so naive? Maybe Heath was right that I was naive and gullible.

I was about to take off my diamond wedding band and engagement ring, but it felt wrong when the truth was I was legally married to the billionaire’s son, Lake Winston. Was he rich, too?

“Crap.” How old was he? He was not that old, maybe two or three years older than me, and I didn’t know anything about that guy besides he was dating that model influencer Natalie Wise. “Does she know?”

“What does who?”

“Nothing, Nana. I was just talking to myself.” I looked at her sitting on the passenger seat.

“Are you sure you’re not busy?”

“I won’t let you go to the hospital by taxi, Nana.” She had been diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease five years ago. So she had to visit her doctor every three months. “And what kind of person would I be if I let go to your doctor alone?”

“Your mother doesn’t mind,” she said with dismay.

“Well, she’s my mother.”

We arrived at the hospital. After an hour of waiting, it was finally our turn. Dr. Webbs gave her a thorough checkup, and the nurse took a blood sample.

“Do you feel any short of breath, Augustine?”

“Don’t lie, Nana.”

“Why would I?” she said defensively.

Dr. Webbs smiled as he sat back on his chair. “I will know, Nana Augustine. You will continue your maintenance until I get the full blood work.”

“Uh-huh. Maybe you can prescribe me a pill with all those medicines combined.”

“There’s no such thing as that,” the doctor said.

“Whatever. I feel like I’m getting more sicker.”

“Nana, doctors are not magicians or God.” I helped her to her feet. “Thank you, Dr. Webbs.”

“See you in a few months.”

“No, thank you, doc. I know, Ricky. Can we go home now? Are you sure this will cover my insurance?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the rest.” She did not even know I was crashing at Rocco’s couches for weeks. She had more to worry about than my personal problem.

We finally got home. I cleaned up her house, and I made her some tea afterward. I came to visit her often. If only the school and Bazz were closer to the house, I might stay with her instead of renting an apartment. That way, I could watch her, but she was the one who forced me to get an apartment and get a life like every woman my age.

“Just live the crap alone, Ricky! I can take care of myself,” she yelled from the living room.

“You don’t even use the vacuum I bought for you.”

After two hours of cleaning, I went downstairs, put her clothes in the washing, and changed her bed linen and blanket.

“People these days. And don’t ever get that robot, or I will throw it outside the window. It’s ridiculous.”

I laughed out loud. “Fine. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Leave it to me, Ricky. Come and sit down with me.”

Oh, boy. I went to her and sipped my tea. “Are you sure you’re using the dishwasher?”

“Go on. Check it, and you’re the one paying the electric bills. Where’s your boyfriend anyway? Have you two broken up?”

“Yup.” I didn’t feel the anger in my chest for the first time.

“Good. He’s not good for you. You deserve a man with a brighter future.”

“It’s funny you said that, Nana. He just told me I don’t think of my future.”

“Well, glad you finally got out of that toxic relationship. Where do you stay now? You can come back once you finish your college. How many months more before you graduate?”

“Five. I got a new apartment with a nice roommate. She also works at the Bazz.”

“Maybe you should marry Rocco.”

Nana just caught me when I was about to hide the rings on my finger. “Why are you wearing those rings? That’s the big rock you got there, Ricky. Is there something you wanna tell me about?” Lake went overboard with buying an engagement ring for his temporary wife.

I’d never lied to her, but I wasn’t ready to tell her the truth and see the disappointment on her face.

“This is Moissanite. I just purchased this online.” I looked at the engagement ring. The cushion-cut diamond looked like around 3 carats with two small side stones. And then there was the diamond eternity, which must have roughly cost him thirty grand or more.

“Huh. That looks real.” I could see in her green eyes that she did not buy it.

“I wish. Who would give me a ring if I don’t have a man in my life?”

“Well. You should go. Do you have work today?”

“Nope. I’m off, but I have assignments to do.”

“Then go ahead.”

“Do you still have groceries?”

“Ricky, get out and have some fun.”

I rose from the chair and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Nana. Call me if you need anything.”

My drive back took me a while, and I wondered where I should go— to my apartment or his penthouse. Where was his penthouse, anyway?

The kiss, though. It was weird, in a good way. It felt like it was meant to happen like we were in love or a real couple ecstatic to get married. It just felt right, to be precise.

My phone suddenly rang in my bag. It was probably Rocco.

I answered it. “I’m off today. What do you want?”

“Mrs. Winston?”

Shit. I checked the screen. It was Owen. “I’m sorry, Owen. I thought you were my boss. Please call me, Maverick or Mave. Mrs. Winston makes me old.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“Fine. Whatever. How can I help you, Owen?”

“My boss wanted me to check up on you. He’s still stuck in the meeting.”

“Oh, I’m good. I just came back from my grandmother. I was heading to my apartment.”

“He wants you to be at the penthouse. He has your things prepared.”

“Meaning?”

“He got everything covered.”

“Is he always like this? Getting in control of everything?”

“Pretty much, ma’am.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

“You kept interrupting me, ma’am.”

“Stop calling me, ma’am. And I’m going to the penthouse if you don’t mind giving me the address.”

“I’m sending you the address right now.”

After I received the address, I saved it on my car’s GPS nav. It took me almost an hour to get to one of the tallest residential towers in Manhattan. The Central Tower stood tall before me, and I didn’t know what to do, where to park my car, which definitely didn’t belong here, or where to go next.

A knock on my window interrupted my thoughts. It was a valet asking me to move away. That was when I noticed a Cadillac behind me.

“Shit.” I drove away to find a parking space when I almost hit someone. “What the hell?”

It was Owen. This time, he left his suit jacket. He looked attractive and young. “Are you trying to run me over?” He got in the car. “Let’s go and turn right. Boss has a private parking area.”

“I’m so out of place. I honestly didn’t know what I was thinking and what the hell I got myself into.”

“You’ll be fine.”

I looked at him briefly. “So this is not the first time your boss asked you to find him a wife?”

“I have a list of candidates, but he turned them all down, even the woman—”

“He’s dating.”

“Boss doesn’t date. I don’t call it dating. They hooked up, no strings attached, and both parties are aware of their positions.”

“Wow.” I didn’t know it stung knowing my husband was still having hookups with another woman. Despite our clear arrangement, and we both agreed to be in an open relationship while we were still married, as long as it would remain disclosed, it still didn’t sit right.

There was a clause that we could agree on sleeping together as long as it was consensual, and that was before finding out I was marrying the son.

I parked my car beside the Audi R8, which should have belonged in the junk shop. “He collects cars. Why should I be surprised?”

“He collects, but he never shows off.”

“Are you allowed to say terrible things against your employer?”

“Of course.” He helped me out and led me to the private elevator door, which was unlocked with the keycard.

As soon as the door shut, classic rock music played. This was an advanced elevator, but it took a while to reach the penthouse.

It brought us to the hallway, and Owen unlocked the double door. It caught me by surprise how massive the penthouse was. It was welcoming, with high ceiling walls making the entirety look generous, spacious, and cozy with a modern interior design.

The massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the skyscrapers and city park. There was a staircase at the corner to the upper level, but what caught my attention was the neutral color of the walls, which contrasted with the upholstery, rugs, and different detailing of the furniture.

I expected masculine color, but Lake just kept on surprising me.