CHAPTER FIVE
LEXI
––––––––
“Lexi,” Mason growls behind me.
“She’s off the clock, Kingsley,” Craig says, and I turn to face the frog.
Emily has ended up with her prince, but that’s not what this is.
Bastard.
Who does that right after fucking someone? I know I am his PA, and I know I completely failed at keeping things professional, but at least I didn’t open my mouth and say something offensive.
Like, hey poor white girl, you aren’t good enough for me, so don’t get ideas.
If he thinks he’s important, I’m about to show him that he’s nothing but the man I work for.
“What’s up, boss?” I let my eyes dim as if he’s totally boring to me now.
Which couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Can we talk?”
“Can it wait until Monday?”
“No,” he grinds out.
“Well, I’m drunk and—” Mason grabs my hand and drags me off the dance floor.
“What are you doing?”
“Come with me, and you can thank me later.”
“Kingsley!” Craig calls out.
“Tell your boyfriend to back off, or I’ll make a scene. And remember this is Emily’s engagement party.”
Total bastard.
I glance around while trying not to fall over my very high platform heels. Sebastian is watching us with lowered brows, then shoots Craig a look.
“Cat’s out of the bag, I think, sunshine. Let go of me.”
“Now,” Mason warns.
Shit.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I call out to Craig. “Five minutes.”
Emily and Terri watch as we slip through the door to the balcony. I rip my hand out of Mason’s tight grasp as the door closes behind us.
“What are you doing?” I hiss, crossing my arms.
“I realize you’re looking for a prince, but I’m sorry to tell you, Ms. Grant, but you found yourself a tadpole. Craig Templeton has jumped on all the lily pads in Manhattan.”
I blink.
This man really loves analogies.
But I’m secretly pleased that my plan worked, and he’s jealous. Or is he judging me?
The motherfucker.
“Is that right? And how would you know that, Mr. Kinglsey? Jumped on the same lily pads after him?”
His eyes sizzle with fury, and his nostrils flare.
“In this case, it appears I’ll have gone first.” He lifts a brow.
How dare he!
My arms drop, and before I can slap his beautiful rude face, he catches my wrist.
“Uh, uh. Save the bondage for your prince.”
“Let me go,” I hiss again. “You need to stop this, Mason.
“Stop what?” He hesitates, dropping my arm.
“This obsession with me. Whatever this is.”
I get an eye roll for that. “Nice try. I told you what happened last night was a one-off. Don’t go thinking this is me being jealous. I am trying to save you from embarrassing yourself.”
Oh really?
“Honey,” I chime, with as much condensation as I can muster, “The fact you think I want more than just your nice fat cock is hilarious.”
Mason blinks, and his lips quirk.
“You think I have a nice, fat cock?”
Dear lord...the ego on this man.
We stare at one another for a long moment, sparks arcing between us, my anger just hovering under the surface but wanting to explode.
“I think a lot of things, but I can’t say them because you’re my boss,” I huff.
Mason tilts his head, sliding his hands into his pockets. He looks so handsome tonight in a pair of cream pants that hug his ass insanely well and a tan blazer. Handsome, wealthy and very stylish.
I bet he’d look much nicer with all of it on the floor though.
Not that I’ll ever let him know I want that.
Never again.
“Okay, then. Consider this conversation one where you have full immunity. Say whatever you want.”
I scoff.
“If you are after more compliments on your cock, you aren’t getting it.”
“But you think them.”
“You’re unbelievable, do you know that, Mason Kingsley?” I throw out my arms. “I fuck you in the office, and you think I’m after a ring. I’m not. For the record, I wanted to sleep with you, and so did you. The end.”
He doesn’t look convinced.
“Did you not for a second think I was risking my job in letting you do that?” I ask. “I could have said no.”
“Why didn’t you?”
I sigh. “Why do you think?”
“I think you think I’m going to fall in love with you like Sebastian did with Emily,” he admits.
I laugh.
Then I laugh even louder, while Mason looks more and more uncomfortable.
“Oh, my god.” I bend over, barely able to breathe at this point.
“Can you...can you stop that?” he hisses, grabbing me and pulling me further from the door. “Lexi!”
I wipe the tears from my eyes. “Sorry, can’t breathe. Oh, my god.”
“Fine. I might have been wrong,” he hisses, glancing at the door.
“What did I do to make you think I want to settle down or fall in love?”
“Forget it.”
His face has turned red, and I don’t think he’s embarrassed. More...something. I can’t place it.
I’ve never seen him look so out of sorts.
The prince comment flashes back.
“You think I wanted you because you are rich,” I say, and he nods.
“Most women do.”
“Wow, that’s really sad.” I shake my head. “Sorry, Prince Kingsley, but not this girl. You were just another frog to me.”
We stare at one another for another long moment, and I can see he doesn’t believe me. I’m insulted on one the hand, because what does that say about what he thinks of me?
Then again, a man with his kind of wealth probably has to be careful of these things.
Still.
He’s been a dick about it, and I’m not going to stand here and just let him disrespect me.
“Don’t believe me?” I shrug. “I’m probably going home with Craig.”
Mason straightens his spine as stiff as a rod. “No. You’re not. The guy is a playboy.”
What a joke. Last night he didn’t think I was worthy of anything more, but now he’s going all alpha male on me.
“Apparently, that’s my type.” I twirl around to leave, but before I can take a step, he tugs my hips, and I’m hard up against his body.
“I said no, Lexi.”
A shiver runs through me. I feel his erection against my ass and close my eyes.
“Make up your mind, Mason. You can’t have it both ways.”
––––––––
MASON
––––––––
THE FUCK I can’t.
Evidenced by the fact Lexi is in the back of my car and I’m the man taking her home.
She’s pissed at me for telling Sebastian, who then told Emily, about Craig’s recent behavior at the Obsidian Club.
I wasn’t about to stand back and let her go home with him. Which doesn’t mean anything.
I was looking out for her.
“See you Monday,” Lexi says flatly as she climbs out of the limousine. “Do not follow me.”
I hold up my hands. “Frog, remember.”
“How could I forget.”
Slam.
I lean back in the leather seat, smiling as I tell my driver to take me home.