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Because that’s what it is… a fucking charade.
The Maverik Steele the public knows and loves, he’s not real. He’s make believe, a pretend, a fake, an imposter. I keep the real Maverik locked away deep inside, shielded from the dark, nasty world that is my life.
“Who are you to assume the places I spend my time in?” I clip, clinging to my annoyance. It’s clear she thinks she knows because of what some gossip magazine reported.
Sure, I like to party and throw a few drinks back, but the paparazzi always gets the story wrong. Not to mention they go for the shot that always makes it look worse than it really is.
“Just be at the facility tomorrow at nine,” she sighs, making me forget my annoyance for a moment. The sound makes me wonder what other kinds of noises I could pull out of her if our situation was different. My dick stirs at the thought.
“I’m not really a morning person,” I chuckle, choosing to ignore the way the thought of seeing her sends a shiver of excitement down my spine. “I’m better suited for late afternoon, early evening.”
“Nine, on the dot, Mr. Steele. Tardiness will reflect on your timesheet.”
“Ms. Davenport,” I purr, playing her game of propriety. “We both know how this is going to play out. Why don’t we cut to the chase?”
“Howexactlyis this going to play out?” she asks, keeping her tone in check, but I get the sense she thought I might try this with her.
“You know how our industry works.” I pause, waiting for her to catch my drift. “You scratch my back… I scratch yours.”
“Our industry?” She scoffs. “I’m not part of that world—”
“You sure about that? Because I remember a particular charity event where you rubbed elbows with some important people in this industry.” I hear a quick intake of breath over the line, and I imagine her beautiful heart-shaped face with her pouty bottom lip tucked in between her teeth. Much like I’d seen her that night during our… conversation.
“Charity event. That’s all it was,” she clips, making it clear she isn’t part of the world I live in, even if her community center benefitted from the money it generates. “Still, I’m not sure how I can help you in this situation. I’m not the one with court ordered community service.”
“But you are the woman who can sign off on them, and then after a few weeks, the woman who can send the paperwork that ends it all,” I state, getting to the point. No sense in beating around the bush anymore. She knows what I want her to do.
“No, I want you to say it, Maverik. You’re asking me to lie for you.”
“We’d never have to see one another. We’d never have to speak again.” Something inside my chest aches at the thought, but I push it away. It’s the same feeling I got the night of the charity event. The night I fucked up any chance I had at getting to know the woman at the other end of the line. “Think of it as our little secret.”
“The last thing I want with you is a secret.” The disdain in her voice is clear and concise, and it stings. She thinks very little of me, and it bothers me.
“Fine, a little white lie.”
“A white lie is like me telling you I saw your last film and thought your performance was Oscar worthy.”
“You saw my last film?” I ask, feeling a smidge of hope bloom somewhere down deep inside of me.
“No, I was just making an example.”
“Damn, Willow, you are good at lying,” I chuckle. “So, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue for you.”
“I haven’t seen your film—” she starts, but I cling to the hope she’s given me, refusing to let her take back the words, even if she’s lying.
“You can’t take it back now. Unless you want to tarnish the vision, I have of you?” I have a feeling she doesn’t care how I see her, even if I wish she did.
“You’re incorrigible, do you know that?”
“Oh, come on, tell me how you really feel. No, wait. I’ll do it for you.” I clear my throat and then tighten it to do my best version of her. “Maverik, I think you are handsome, charming and clearly hung. I would be honored to lie for you.”
“Nine a.m., Maverick. On. The. Dot,” she grits, her voice dripping with heat. Damn, but I enjoy pissing her off. Probably more than is healthy.
“Fine, then. Name your price.”
“There is no amount of money in this world that could get me to agree to this scheme of yours.”
“Who said anything about money? You’ve got a rich daddy.”
