Chapter 7 Zoe, Your Brother Is Terrifying! #3
Zoe immediately felt a familiar wave of fear. Although there were only five years between them, Maverick had always behaved like the overprotective older brother who could scare the living daylights out of her while still protecting her like a parent.
Seeing the expression on his face, she awkwardly laughed and hurried to defend Rose.
“I mean… she was just… you know, something bad happened to her last night. That’s why she made a mistake and went into the wrong room. It was an accident. Just take it as a silly mistake and don’t punish her.”
She looked at Rose with concern before turning back to Maverick.
“She looks terrified. If you punish her, you’ll only scare her even more. Please, just let her go. Her dad must already be worried about her by now. She should be home.”
Maverick pulled his hands from his pockets and looked at Zoe.
“Let her go?” he repeated again, his voice calm.
He paused for a moment before adding, “I married her. She’s my wife now.”
Zoe’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open in disbelief. “You gave her this big of a punishment for one night’s mistake?”
Rose immediately nodded, unexpectedly relieved that someone had finally understood how overwhelmed she felt. For once, she wasn’t the only one who thought Maverick’s reaction was excessive.
Maverick noticed her agreement with Zoe, and his expression darkened.
Without taking his eyes off Rose, he reached out and slid an arm around her waist, pulling her firmly against his side.
“It was a mistake, Mrs. Bishop?” he asked, one eyebrow raising.
His displeased gaze remained fixed on her as he leaned closer to her neck.
“Then let me remind you just how serious a mistake you made.”
The moment he lowered his head toward her neck, memories of the previous night and that morning rushed through Rose’s mind. She immediately raised a hand to cover her neck, instinctively trying to protect herself from him.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she blurted out quickly. “I was just joking. We’re best friends!”
Maverick didn’t look convinced, but he eventually pulled back. His expression remained stern as his eyes searched hers, the intensity of his gaze making Rose stiffen despite herself.
She tried to hold his stare, but the longer he looked at her, the more nervous she became.
Just then, his phone began ringing on the table.
Zoe quietly exhaled in relief. The interruption had come at exactly the right moment.
Maverick reached for his phone, glanced at the screen, and answered.
“Leo?”
Rose had seen Maverick with his personal secretary, Leo, many times over the years, so she immediately recognized the voice that came through the phone.
“Mr. Bishop, your private jet is ready, and I’ve arranged everything for your three-day business trip. The car is waiting outside to take you to the airport.”
Rose and Zoe exchanged a brief glance.
Maverick ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket. When he turned back to Rose, his expression had already settled into its usual coldness.
“I need to leave the city for three days for work,” he told her. “It’s short notice, but I’ll be back soon. I’ve also arranged for your things to be brought here as soon as possible.”
Rose’s face immediately brightened.
The thought of having the man who had been driving her crazy, making her heart race, and pushing her to the brink of insanity out of the house for three whole days filled her with an almost overwhelming sense of relief.
She nodded eagerly.
“Then you should leave quickly so you can catch your flight. You shouldn’t be late. Whatever you have to do must be important.”
Her voice was far too enthusiastic.
Maverick’s eyes narrowed.
“You want to see me gone?”
One eyebrow lifted, and a threatening edge returned to his expression. He looked almost as though he were daring her to say yes—just so he could decide to stay and spend the next three days at home with her instead.
Rose’s confidence vanished.
“No!” she said quickly, her voice suddenly awkward. “That’s not what I meant.”
Maverick continued staring at her.
“I just meant…” She stumbled over her words before forcing a small smile. “You shouldn’t delay anything important. That’s all. If you leave early, you’ll come back early.”
She paused before adding more softly, “I’ll be waiting here for you.”
Something in Maverick’s expression softened.
His eyes lingered on her face, clearly pleased by her words. Then, without saying anything else, he leaned down and kissed her.
Rose startled.
The kiss was brief this time. Maverick didn’t linger or deepen it. His lips remained against hers for only a moment before he pulled away.
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
Rose and Zoe watched him disappear from view. A moment later, the front door closed behind him.
Silence settled over the house.
Rose and Zoe stared at each other.
Then Rose finally let out a helpless cry and collapsed against Zoe’s shoulder.
“Oh my God. I was scared out of my fucking mind. Your brother is so intimidating and scary. I can’t even tell you how terrified I was.”