Chapter 20

MAVERICK'S P.O.V

The continuous beep of my phone stirred me up from sleep. I hate it when I wake up interrupted not because I want to be awake. It was the weekend and I do not intend to wake up early. It has also been three days past since after the day I took Natalie with me for the rings. I have been working non-stop because I've had a lot to do. Thanks to Maya too, she had been of help. I had worked all night only getting to sleep by 3 am. I don't know how short but whirling on the bed yet made me think I had slept for a very short time. I grudgingly stretched my hand toward my phone to check the time, it was 8:30 am. Tsk! I stretched my body tiredly and sat up.

I opened my phone, there were tons of messages and notifications. Just one caught my attention. Damn! These bloggers were at it again. Being a public figure had never been easy, you have to deal with stories written about you, whether true or false. You have a semi-public life. As there is always someone waiting to either sell or buy your story. Sometimes I plead tired but sometimes I enjoyed the privilege that came with it. Especially the love you don't expect from people. People knowing you before you even say a word, sometimes, that stuff feelt so good, other times it was disturbing and annoying.

The feed headline read 'IS THE BILLIONAIRE ON A DATE AGAIN?' There was a photo of Natalie and I. Shit! I should take this down immediately but when I skimmed through the comments, I realized it had gone viral than I expected. But I still needed to do something. Was Natalie okay? How would she feel about this? She'll get used to it, sure but she'll also hate me for dragging her to the public. I hate this feeling. The last article that was ever published about my personal life was when Ruth left, she didn't even say a proper goodbye. She just signed the divorce papers and left them on my desk.

I hated how I felt that day. The media wrote that it was a heartbreak, that my wife left me. Sure it was a heartbreak, but when she was interviewed one time in Paris, she said she left because I cheated on her. It was crazy, but I managed to be well.

I wiped my face and sat up from the bed. Then I dialed Natalie's number. My mom gave it to me.

"Natalie on the line" her voice went when she spoke. She sounded alright and I immediately felt like hanging up.

"It's Maverick, how are……."

"What?" She snapped. She didn't even let me finish, I was going to apologize to her and let her know I'll do something about the published article. But she didn't even let me finish. Next thing I know she hung up with a word "don't call me again". I wouldn't blame her actions. She was young, and isn't that how young people act? They get angry everytime. This woman wasn't an exemption. She had a right to be angry.

I wouldn't call her back. I did enough to call her and want to apologize but then again, she was an angry wolf. I tossed the phone to the bed and stood up feeling a little weak. I staggered myself toward the kitchen to get water to drink. I always drank water every morning when I woke up. And took coffee afterward, it gave me some relief I didn't know how to explain.

" What's up man" Shit! I almost jumped out of my skin as I turned sharply to see the person. Levi was seated on the sofa drinking soda. What was wrong with him?

"Are you serious right now?" I sounded annoyed, I was annoyed. "Just barging into me, this is my house dude"

"What? I'm sorry. I just got here. You were asleep when I got here. I didn't want to wake you" he said smiling. Who was smiling with him? A scowl appeared on my face. I ignored him still and walked over to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water.

"What are you eating Levi?" I asked peeping into his plate and seating opposite him

"Stake," he said belching. That was loud and gross.

"Where did you get that from? Did you buy it?" I asked him.

"Well, I got it from the fridge. Why?"

The urge to beat Levi was building up. I bought that stake the night before with the plan to eat it in the morning but here it was eaten up by Levi. He didn't even have the serenity to think twice, knowing I loved stake so much.

"Like, my fridge?" I asked "c'mon man! I got that stake yesterday, you know what I hate the most Levi? And you know I love stake so much" I felt my eyes become teary. I loved stake that much. I remember crying all night when I was 10 years old because my mom refused to make stake for me, I almost fell ill.

"I'm sorry man, but it's only stake. I have cash here, I'll go get you another if you like" he explained with a voice full of defense.

"It's not just stake and you know that. So, you can go get another one please, and thank you. There's a store just close by" I said sounding angry and almost yelling at him.

"Waoh! Man, Chill. " he began "you know what? Imma go get you some stake. Jeez! I don't get you sometimes" He exclaimed then stood up and left to probably get the stake.

"I'll change my locks" I muttered as he left, enough for him to hear.

"I heard you Mav" he yelled from the door.

I felt tired already. So, I went over to the kitchen for coffee. I made the coffee, flat white, and pulled it into a cup, then took it up to my room. I needed to handle the published article. I didn't want anything concerning this wedding thing going viral especially not on the media. I took my phone after placing my cup of coffee on my nightstand and dialed Oscar's number. The guy who was in charge of the media department.

"Good morning sir," he greeted over the phone when he picked up.

"Have you seen the news?"

"Yes……..si..r" he stammered.

"I bet you have" I responded "Tsk, take it down before the end of today, I don't want to see anything relating to that again, do you understand me? Except you love to be jobless" I threatened him.

"I will do that immediately sir, I'll get to work " he responded sharply.

"Good" and then I hung up the call.

Three seconds went and the phone began to ring.

"Have you done it?" I snapped, picking up the call.

"C'mon baby don't be rude," the feminine voice said. Baby? Rude? Who was that?

"I've missed you my love" she spoke further and I was quiet. I couldn't place the voice.

"Who is this?" I asked furiously.