Chapter 4 - Mr. & Mrs. Winston

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.