Chapter 93 - Missing Maverick

It was a tiring day again for Stacey. She parked her car as usual and entered her house. She thought that she could smell Maverick's amazing cooking but she was disappointed to find a messy lifeless house. Take-outs are everywhere and bottles of empty beers are on the floor. The house felt cold too like her. She felt cold and empty. Just how many days has it been? She's sure that it wasn't that long but she missed him like it's been centuries. 

She dragged her body toward the sofa as she dropped her bag and kicked her shoes. She sighed as she stared at the messy coffee table. It's been a while since she was broken-hearted. But those heartbreaks were nothing like this. She suddenly thought that she didn't want to go on with her life if Maverick would say that he will never come back to her. So then, while Maverick wasn't saying such words, she will wait for him. 

"Oy! Stacey!" She heard her cousin calling and entering her house but she had no energy to get up. "What the hell? This is messier than my house! Hey, what have you been doing?" Caleb stood next to the coffee table staring at his cousin who seemed to be not herself. "Get up! We have dinner with everyone in the Hotel." 

"I'm not hungry." 

Caleb sighed as he pulled Stacey's arm. 

"Hey! You are being like this because of that man?" 

"Why?" She looked at him coldly. "You were like this too when she left you." 

Caleb's eyes dilated from her words. It hit him right in the spot and she was right after all. He was miserable as Stacey. Caleb sighed. 

"At least, act like yourself for this dinner. We are dining with the Royals." 

"Royals?" She creased her brows. 

"Victoria wants you there." Caleb patted her head. "Gather your shits and dress up." 

"Why is Victoria dining with the Royals?" 

"Who knows?" Caleb shrugged. 

Stacey sighed as she took her purse and dragged her body upstairs. 

Caleb looked around the mess as he shook his head. He never thought that she's messier than before. Just what did Maverick do to make her like this? He swore that he's going to beat him up. He went to the storage and took two garbage bags as he started removing the cartoons, cups, and boxes from take-out. The time that he's done at least cleaning the living room and removing the garbage, Stacey came down wearing an elegant dress and shoes. 

"You look~~good," Caleb said to compliment her. But with her gloomy face and gloomy aura. It wouldn't work without any confidence. 

<><><> 

Victoria never thought that she could dine in with the King and with the Duke. This is the first time and she grew comfortable with them. Kenzo was speaking with them formally and like a real grandson to them. She almost thought that he was their grandson. But is it possible? 

After dinner, they went to another presidential suite and everything looked so beautiful and expensive, even the furniture. There's their first photo from the beach hung near the electric chimney. 

"This is ours?" She asked. 

"Yes." He patted her head. "It's not temporary, love." He took her to their bedroom and she looked happy. "Also, you are protected here and my office is just near." He smiled. 

"I have to pack up a few clothes." She mumbled, getting worried about their house.

"You don't have to." He grinned and took her to their very own walk-in closet. 

Different types of dresses are hung that still have tags. From cocktail dresses to long gowns. Then his suit was also arranged by colors. Everything was beautiful and perfect. But then, she remembered her friend Stacey who was forcing herself to eat and to be happy in front of everyone a while ago. She joked and laughed. She felt worried toward her and she knew that it was because of Maverick. 

"What's wrong?" He asked. She sat down on the round sofa and removed her shoes. 

"I was just thinking about Stacey. Can you call Maverick and ask to see her?" 

Kenzo's eyes were downcast. He knelt in front of his wife and placed his hand over her lap. 

"Sure, love. But it's not just because of Stacey?" He sighed and looked up at her. "I don't want to open up on what happened. I know that you are not fine and I won't ask. But," He smiled at her. "You are the strongest person I know, Victoria." 

Victoria bent down and leaned her forehead to him. 

"I want you to cuddle with me." 

"I will. I will wrap you up in my strong big arms until both of us fall asleep." 

The couple enjoyed their big bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. Victoria feels safe whenever she's wrapped in her husband's arms. She loved his smell, his breathing, the way he touched her, and the way he talked about jokes. She just loves him and yet she could never forget that she nearly got raped in her house because of the bastard. She closed her eyes and shook her head as she tried to get it away from her head. She exhaled slowly and felt her husband rubbing her arms. 

"Don't worry, love. I'm going to make sure that he'll pay big." He kissed her temple. "Let's choose nice comfortable pajamas." 

They got up, put their robes on, and went to the door that is joined to their walk-in closet. She smiled at the silk pajamas and pointed to the black one. He took his pair of pajamas that matched her and he helped her dry herself. 

"Would you call Mave?" She asked and she never thought that he already asked him. 

"Yes, baby." He kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. I will give him some beating." 

She giggled and thanked him. They get on the bed and Kenzo calls Maverick and puts it on speaker. Maverick answered right away since Kenzo knew that Maverick wouldn't decline his call. 

<><><><> 

After the dinner party, Stacey went to a bar with Caleb. Although Caleb was tired, he couldn't let his cousin drink on her own. He only ordered some ice tea while Stacey was drowning herself in alcohol. She's even tearing while drinking. Caleb's heart breaks seeing her cousin like this. So, he called his friend Maverick. When he couldn't contact him, he started texting him with curses after breaking Stacey's heart. 

"Stacey, please stop," Caleb said softly but Stacey didn't stop drinking. Caleb doesn't have a choice but to take a photo of her wasted. It's one way to make Maverick guilty of leaving her. Caleb looked at the photo for a while. It's heartbreaking seeing Stacey miserable with tears. He then sent it to Maverick. Caleb patted Stacey as she stopped drinking and wiped her tears. "Let's go home?" Stacey shook her head. 

"I'll take care of her." A familiar voice said and he turned to see Kaisley with two of her bodyguards. Stacey turned to Kaisley. Her lips wobbled and Kaisley hugged her as Stacey started sobbing.

"Are you sure?" Caleb asked Kaisley as she nodded. "I'll escort you to her house. It's quite messy but I'll clean it." 

At the time that they took Stacey back home, Kaisley was the one attending her and helping her to dress up. Caleb was cleaning her living room and kitchen when Maverick called. He quickly answered it. 

"Cal," Maverick's voice was husky. 

"Why, Mave? At least see her." 

"I can't." Maverick sighed. "She's one of the most important people to me. I can't risk you. You know that there are assassins who want to kill me." 

"Yes," Caleb sighed. "Talk to her. She deserves it. And the house is a mess. She's always drinking and not eating well." 

"I'll talk to her. Can you hand your phone to her?" 

"Yes," 

Caleb went to Stacey's room and knocked. He then opened it and found Kaisley tucking Stacey on her bed. Her bedroom looked clean and it didn't look like she slept there. Kaisley gave Stacey a bottle of water as she drank on it. Caleb extended his phone to her. Stacey was puzzled at the moment but she took it quickly hoping that it was Maverick. 

"Mave?" She asked with a hoarse voice. 

"Hey, darling." 

"Come home, please." She pursed her lips to avoid crying, but tears were rolling down her cheek. 

"I can't." Maverick sighed on the other line. "I can't contact you like this. I have to protect you and keeping you away from me is the only thing that I can do." 

Stacey started sobbing. 

"I don't care! Take me with you! Mave, I can be strong and fight them. I just~~I don't know what to do without you." She said, almost like a whisper. 

"Stacey! It's not the end. You can find someone else." Maverick said it like everything was nothing. It strikes through her already broken heart. She covered her mouth as tears kept on rolling down her cheeks. "You don't need me, Stacey. You are a strong independent woman. Also, it's better than I am away from you. I can't risk you." Maverick's words sounded harsh but he wanted her to wake up and not to love him further. "Stacey, I can't risk you. Do you understand me?" 

Stacey hung up and gave the phone back to Caleb. Then, she lay down and pulled the sheet over her head and she kept on sobbing.

Caleb's heart breaks as he sighed. 

"I'm sleeping here," Kaisley said. "It's late too." 

"Alright."