Chapter 15 You Will Beg #2
Maverick’s hand tightened around her waist and pulled her closer. His mouth covered hers before she could say another word.
The kiss quickly deepened, his lips moving against hers until Rose’s fingers curled into the back of his hair. When his mouth finally left hers, it moved along her neck, making her breath catch—
The office door suddenly swung open and footsteps echoed across the room.
Rose shot out of Maverick's lap so quickly that she nearly stumbled.
Her entire face turned bright red as she stood beside his desk, staring toward the doorway in complete embarrassment and shock.
Maverick's eyes lifted toward the doorway, and the irritation that had been building in his expression sharpened when he saw Lucious walk in.
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, it looked as though he was about to snap at him.
Lucious looked between them, then raised an eyebrow.
“Did I come at a bad time?” A faint, amused smile tugged at his mouth. “I can come back later.”
“No.” Rose's face was already burning. “I-I'm leaving.”
She didn't wait for either man to respond. She hurried toward the door, but just before stepping out, she glanced back at Maverick.
“I’m going home.”
Then she disappeared down the hallway.
Lucius watched her leave before turning back to Maverick. An amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Looks like someone needs a long honeymoon.”
Maverick’s expression darkened.
“Do you have nothing better to do?”
Lucius dropped into the chair across from the desk, looking far too pleased with himself. He coughed, hiding a laugh as he leaned back.
“Fine. I came here to talk business.”
“Then talk.”
Outside the CEO’s office, Rose hurried back to her desk and gathered her things, her face still burning with embarrassment.
Every time she thought about Lucius walking in at the exact moment he had found her sitting on Maverick’s lap, she wanted to disappear all over again.
She shoved the last of her belongings into her bag and headed straight for the elevator, determined to put as much distance between herself and that office as possible.
Her car was already waiting at the entrance. She climbed inside and drove home, but she had barely been on the road for a few minutes when her phone rang and Zoe’s name flashed across the screen.
“Are you on your way?”
Rose answered through the car’s hands-free system.
“Yes. I’m almost there.”
“Good. Hurry.”
Rose smiled faintly. “I’m coming.”
By the time she pulled up to the mansion, she spotted Zoe waiting near the entrance. Rose parked and hurried inside, only to stop dead the moment she stepped into the living room.
“What the hell?”
The room was covered in stuff.
Boxes were stacked against the walls, bags were scattered across the furniture, and decorations spilled out of half-open packages. Zoe stood right in the middle of it all, pulling things from one bag after another as though she had been preparing for a small-scale invasion.
At the sound of Rose’s footsteps, she looked up and immediately let out a relieved breath.
“Finally! You’re here.”
Rose laughed as she looked around at the chaos.
“You bought all of this?”
“Of course.” Zoe spread her arms proudly. “Everything we need is here.”
Rose grinned.
They spent the next two hours turning the mess into something that actually resembled a birthday celebration.
By the time they were finished, the living room had been transformed.
Red balloons floated near the ceiling, decorations framed the walls, and the room had taken on a warm, festive glow.
It wasn't the most extravagant celebration either of them had ever seen, but it felt personal—and that mattered more to Rose.
She stood beside Zoe, looking around at everything they had put together.
Zoe clasped her hands together, her earlier excitement replaced by nervousness.
“I’m really worried.”
Rose turned toward her. “About what?”
“Maverick.”
Zoe glanced around the decorated room as though her brother might suddenly appear and demand to know what they had done to his house.
“What if he doesn’t like it? What if he gets angry?” she asked anxiously. “I’ve never seen him celebrate his birthday. He doesn’t exactly seem like the birthday-party type.”
Rose couldn't help smiling.
“You think he’s going to get angry because we decorated the house for him?”
“You don’t know him like I do.” Zoe lowered her voice. “He gets angry over everything.”
Rose looked around at the balloons before turning back to her.
“Well…” A smile slowly spread across her face. “There’s only one way to find out.”
Rose’s voice softened as she looked around the room again.
“I want him to have at least one day that feels special. He spends almost all his time working, and I don’t get many chances to surprise him or celebrate something for him. Now that it’s his birthday, I really want him to feel special.”
Zoe studied her for a moment.
Then a grin slowly spread across her face.
“You seem really excited.”
“I am!”
Rose practically bounced on her feet, unable to hide her enthusiasm.
Zoe laughed and slipped an arm around her shoulders.
“Okay, okay. I’m leaving before you two lovebirds start getting all mushy in front of me. I can’t handle watching you two say ‘I love you’ every five minutes.”
Rose burst out laughing.
“Go away, then!”
“I was planning to!”
Zoe waved over her shoulder as she headed for the door and disappeared outside.