Maverick and Vivi were sprawled on the couch, the soft glow of the TV casting playful colors across their faces. The children's show on the screen was a riot of movement, and Vivi was, as always, a whirlwind of energy. Her little body wriggled with excitement, her eyes wide and full of wonder as she pointed at the animated characters.
"Look, daddy! Dat bunny jump high like boing-boing!" she squealed, her voice bright and full of joy. "Oh no! Dat one fall down! Oopsie! Bunny silly!" She giggled, clapping her hands, completely caught up in the world she was creating around the show, her imagination running wild.
Maverick smiled, his heart warm as he watched her, the sight of her so fully alive and engaged a balm to everything else that had weighed on him in recent days. He reached out and gently tousled her wild, damp hair, his touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
"You sure have a lot to say, kiddo," he said with a soft chuckle, his voice affectionate.
"Uh-huh! I gotta say all da things or da story no make sense!" Vivi declared, bouncing up and down on the couch, her tiny hands waving in the air to emphasize her point.
Just as the serene moment settled around them, everything shattered like glass dropped on the floor.
The front door slammed open with a harsh bang that echoed through the quiet room. Maverick's secretary stumbled into the room, his face ghostly pale, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. His eyes darted around nervously, his usual composed demeanor replaced by something darker—something close to panic.
Maverick's body tensed, his instincts kicking in immediately. He pushed himself to his feet, eyes snapping to the man at the door.
"Hey, no cursing, please!" Maverick said quickly, his tone firm but calm. He reached over, his hand gently covering Vivi's ears before the secretary could say another word. "Vivi, cover your ears, okay?"
Vivi blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion, but she obeyed without question, her little hands coming up to cover her ears. She didn't understand what was happening, but her trust in Maverick was absolute.
The secretary swallowed hard, his voice shaky, barely above a whisper. "S-sorry, sir, I didn't mean to—"
Maverick raised a hand to stop him, his expression darkening. "What's going on? Why are you out of breath?"
The secretary took a shaky breath, trying to collect himself. He wiped his brow, the sweat beading there, and Maverick could see just how rattled he was. "It's… the news, sir. The internet. There's an article—it's gone viral."
Maverick's heart skipped a beat, a cold chill creeping up his spine. He knew it was bad, but not this bad. "About what?" he asked, his voice low, though there was an edge of concern slipping through the cracks.
The secretary hesitated, then said the words that hit Maverick like a punch to the gut: "About you."
Maverick's stomach dropped. His pulse quickened, and he leaned in slightly, already dreading what came next. "What's it say?"
The secretary swallowed hard. "It claims you suddenly have an illegitimate child. The story's everywhere online, spreading like wildfire."
Maverick's eyes widened, his mind racing. For a split second, the world seemed to stop around him. He blinked, trying to process the weight of it, his thoughts stumbling over each other like a pile of bricks falling down a staircase.
"How bad is it?" Maverick asked, his voice steady but the tension in his jawline betraying his inner turmoil.
"Bad, sir. Really bad. Brands are pulling their endorsements. The producers are worried the scandal might affect the series. Your projects—everything's on the line." The secretary took another breath, his voice lowering with the gravity of what he was about to say. "They're already asking questions on set. The studio's expecting a statement. And… it's not looking good."
Maverick's throat tightened, his mind reeling. The very fabric of his career—his entire life, it seemed—was hanging by a thread. The articles, the rumors, the accusations... it was all spiraling faster than he could process. But through it all, one thing stuck out clearer than everything else.
Vivi.
She was sitting there on the couch, her little hands still covering her ears, utterly unaware of the chaos brewing in the world outside. Maverick's heart clenched.
"Vivi…" he whispered to himself, as if the weight of everything could somehow be absorbed by just saying her name.
The secretary lingered in the doorway, his nervous energy crackling in the air, but Maverick's focus was no longer on him. The room, once filled with light and laughter, felt suddenly cold and heavy.
Everything was on the line now. The story, the scandal, the consequences—they were all there, hanging in the balance. But the one thing that Maverick knew, that he was sure of, was that no matter what the world said, he'd protect Vivi. No matter what it cost him.
Maverick stared at the floor, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. His mind was a storm of thoughts, each one spinning faster than the last. His career, his life—everything seemed to be hanging by a thin thread. The secretary's words echoed in his head like an alarm.
"Did someone leak this?"
"No proof," the secretary replied, his voice strained. "But Neville's gaming team has been tight-lipped. Someone is definitely stirring trouble."
Maverick's eyes flicked up, drawn to Vivi's curious gaze. She was sitting on the couch, her tiny hands still over her ears, but now she peeked through her fingers, her expression one of innocent confusion. "Daddy… what's all the noise?" Her voice was small, hesitant, like she could sense the tension but didn't quite understand it.
He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the knot in his throat, and forced a smile—one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just some big people noise, kiddo. Nothing you need to worry about."
He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her small frame, and whispered in her ear, "I've got you. Always."
For a moment, the world outside seemed to quiet, just for her. But the serenity didn't last long. The secretary cleared his throat, breaking the fragile peace. "Sir, we need to act fast. Damage control. Your team's prepping a statement now."
Maverick nodded, pushing the rising panic aside. He needed to be steady, for Vivi, for the work ahead. "Alright. Let me think about what to do."
The secretary left the room, leaving Maverick alone with his thoughts—and the weight of what was coming.
He sat down next to Vivi, gently pulling her into his lap, brushing a stray curl from her face. She was still chewing on her toast, crumbs scattered across her little shirt. Maverick took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"Hey, kiddo. We gotta play a little game," he said softly, trying to keep his voice casual, but with just enough seriousness to keep her focused.
Vivi blinked up at him, mouth half full of crumbs. "Game?"
"Yeah," Maverick said, smiling in a way that was meant to be reassuring. "It's called 'Hide and Keep Safe.' When there are too many loud noises outside—like big people talking on TV or strangers—you hide in the 'safe zone' with me, okay?"
Her big eyes widened, taking him seriously as if she understood more than she let on. "Safe zone."
"That's right," he said, pulling the cozy blanket from the couch and draping it over them. He made a little fort, a small space of warmth and security. "See? Safe zone is here, with Daddy."
Vivi crawled under the blanket, her little hands grabbing the soft fabric, and huddled close to him. Maverick wrapped his arms around her tightly, the world outside still buzzing with noise and chaos, but within the blanket fort, it was just them—safe, together.
"Don't worry, kid," Maverick whispered, his voice steady but full of unspoken promise. "As long as we're here, nothing can touch you."
And as Vivi settled against him, her head resting on his chest, Maverick felt the weight of the world outside the fort. But as long as they were in the "safe zone," together, maybe—just maybe—he could hold it all together for her.