Chapter 6 #2
Mason never worked on the days he had Ellis. I wonder if it has anything to do with Sunday. If I’m being honest, this suits me better. Last week was an emotional roller coaster.
“Did Ellis go down okay?”
“Yeah, he did actually.” He smiles proudly. “How was work?”
“Same old.” I shrug, then remember Rochelle’s comment. “Hey! Did you have anything to do with getting me a job at the hotel? My manager seems to think I’m there as a favour.”
A devilish smirk takes over his face. “What a favour that was.”
“Eww! That’s gross, Ell. She’s catty! She actually told me she hates me today.”
“She always did use her claws. Rochelle’s alright, you just have to learn how to tame her.” He waggles his brows.
“Oh god,” I snort. “I’m disappointed. You don’t still go there, do you?”
“Only when I have to, and you’re welcome by the way.”
I shake my head, leaving him in the lounge and going to the kitchen. Elliot follows, taking an apple from the fruit bowl.
“Did Mason mention anything about Joey today? He turned up when he dropped Ellis off on Sunday and then he just left. I think he was pissed.”
“Nah, Lowell’s had his hands full in the office this week, that’s all. Don’t take it personally.”
“Hands full with what?”
He takes a bite of his apple, not answering me, when his eyes meet mine, he raises them in question. “What’s he been busy with?” I ask again.
“Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about.” He leans over the edge of the breakfast bar and kisses my forehead. “Have Maggie booked in for next weekend. I want everyone out for my birthday.”
“Will Mason be there?” I ask to his back as he walks away, as if he didn’t just drop that bombshell.
“Of course he will be.”
“Well, I won’t be.”
“Yes, you will, Pix—”
“Ell!”
“Sorry, I forget.”
I roll my eyes, moving around the island and walking him to the door. “I’ll see if Maggie’s free, but I’m not making any promises. I don’t think Mason, alcohol, and me, is a good idea.”
“Could be a great idea.” He grins.
“Stop it.”
“Hey!” He throws his hands up in defence. “You guys made it through last week without killing each other. I have every bit of faith in you.”
“Well, that makes one of us.”
Mase
“Mason. Who is this girl? She just answered the phone.” He points towards the glass wall where the reception sits on the other side. “We cannot have her answering the phone. Have you heard her phone voice? It’s her regular voice but worse. Please tell me you have a plan here?”
George breezes into my office, his finger running across the inside of his collar. He’s become a solid fixture around here, and he gets shit done. The fact he has to deal with Jasmine makes me feel kind of shitty, but I don’t have the time.
“Did she leave yet?”
“No. She was late this morning. I made her stay on.” He shakes his head, and I laugh.
“George, you can let her get home. Yourself too. You don’t need to be here this late.”
“She needs to be taught some discipline, Mason. Why are you being nice?”
George is right, Jasmine probably does need some discipline, but I also know this week has been hard for her.
“Let her get home now.” I nod, letting him know it’s not up for discussion. “You too.”
“Okay.” He huffs, placing his hands on his hips and cursing under his breath. I lean back in my chair, waiting.
“If she’s going to be staying and I’m going to be training her, it’s far more responsibility. I mean, I probably needed an assistant six months ago, and—”
“I will run it by Elliot, but I’m in agreement that you should be on a higher wage.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You have more potential than some of the staff higher than you. You’re smart, George. Too smart for reception—”
“I love the reception.”
“I know, and we appreciate you.” I sigh, watching him, knowing I’ve probably never given him the praise he deserves. “You’re an asset to Ellis and Frey, George. I hope you know that. Someone I didn’t know we needed until you rocked up and started changing things up.”
“Thank you, Mason.” He blinks over and over, taken aback. “I…I was…”
I tip my chin up at him as he fights to find his words, willing him on.
“I haven’t really ever found my footing anywhere I’ve worked in the past. The last place I worked I was treated pretty terribly actually and didn’t feel like I could show up and just be me.
You and the guys haven’t ever made me feel that way.
I mean, you can be an asshole, but you’re an asshole to everyone, and I feel like I can tell you when you are.
We have this love hate thing nailed down by now. ”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “I suppose we do.”
He smiles. “I appreciate you too. For just letting me be.”
“Wouldn’t want you any other way, George.”
I nod my head at him when I catch his eyes shining and focus back on my screen.
“How was Ellis today?” He walks to my desk, picking up the photo of me and Ellis from the day he was born.
“Fussy. He has teeth coming.”
“You don’t normally come in on the days you have him. Is everything okay?”
Nothing is okay. “Yes, George. Thank you.” I tear my eyes from the screen and look at him, noticing he’s reined in his emotions. “Did you need anything else?”
“No. Sorry, I’m lingering.” He places the frame back on my desk and slips out of the office.
I reach for the photo George had just been holding.
Ellis is wrapped up in his blanket, holding tightly onto my finger. Nina took the photo; she took so many photos. They’re all I have of her from the past year.
Pulling out my phone, I scroll back to the day he was born. Torturing myself as I look through the images of the three of us.
It’s late when I finally leave the office, and instead of going home, I opt to go to the twenty-four-hour gym that’s down the street from The Montwell. When Ellis isn’t with me, I try to spend as little time as possible at the penthouse. I prefer it that way.
I’m just pulling into the gym’s car park when Scarlet’s name lights up my screen.
“Hey, Scar.”
“Hi,” she says, sounding sad.
“What’s up?” I frown.
“Dad’s headstone,” she sniffs into the phone.
“Scar.”
“They called, said that the soil is settled enough. We can have it put on now.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. It’s been over twelve months and we’ve been putting it off due to the soil and the insane amount of rain we’ve been having. I never remember waiting so long for my mother’s headstone to be placed, but time flies when you’re a kid. “That’s good,” I tell her.
“Yeah… God, this place is lonely sometimes.” She laughs, but I can tell she is crying.
“Do you want to come to mine tonight? You could come for the weekend?”
“I can’t, I’ve had a bottle of wine already.” She sniffs, but there’s still light in her voice. “Could you come here?”
I scrub my hand over my face, gritting my teeth. “Scar, I…”
“I know, you can’t.”
“I want to.” I do.
“One day,” she deadpans. “I need to go, Mase. Speak to you soon, okay?”
“Scar.”
She hangs up. I chuck my phone into the footwell, punching my steering wheel and making the horn blare.
“FUCK!”