Chapter 8

After we said our platitudes to the mayor and Ava, who pertinently made arrangements to visit the very next day, we made our way to the car along with Enid and Adam.

Mason opened the car door for me and helped me in the car only this time around he slid next to me in the back. At this point, my ruffled feathers had smoothened out a little over the exchange with Ashley, but I was still angry with Mason who didn't even bother to defend me. I wasn't an easy woman for him to speak that way about me. I didn't take it very lightly.

" You did an admirable job standing up to Ashley," Mason whispered in my ear breaking my thoughts and I turned to him before he had a chance to pull away. I could feel his breath on my lips, his perfectly straight nose brushed against mine. We locked eyes with each other, I could already feel the heat rising and pooling in my nether regions. All the anger that I felt towards him just moments before, tamed and I felt the urge to lean in and press my lips against his. But I couldn't. What if I was misreading all of that and he was just being nice to me? I set my lips in a thin line and turned to look ahead of me, leaving Mason hanging.

" You're angry," Mason whispered again. I was not, not anymore.

" No," I mumbled loud enough for him to hear but not Adam. Enid had already fallen asleep just after Adam had put the car in drive.

" You are a horrible liar. But yet you keep trying," Mason amusedly added as he leaned back into the seat. I hadn't had anything to drink but I could smell it on his breath that he had been drinking. Another face of Mason that I had yet to see, but so far I liked him. He seemed relaxed, and rather gregarious.

I hummed " Practice makes perfect" I turned to him smiling, hugging the clutch in my lap.

" Indeed it does," Mason mirrored my smile and rubbed his eyes with the arch of his hands. It had been a long day for him.

When Adam pulled in front of the house, Mason had drifted to sleep, Adam and I were the only ones awake and most likely sober.

" Mason," I gently patted his shoulder, calling his name. It was late and I wasn't in the mood to be all formal.

Mason hummed and languidly opened his eyes, still half asleep, still very much drunk. He smiled and cupped my face. I pulled back away from his touch, well aware that he wasn't quite himself.

" Always running away," Mason mumbled and straightened himself in the seat. I had no idea what that meant. I never ran away. I wanted to, many times, but always talked myself out of it, out of fear of the unknown.

Eventually, we managed to get Mason and Enid out of the car and into the house. Adam helped Enid to her room while I led the way to Mason's bedroom.

" We are going to the office. There is one more thing I need to do before I go to bed." Mason said as he took his arm off my shoulder, and with faltering steps made his way to the office.

" It involves you, Miss Abernathy," Mason said as he halted his steps in front of his office.

I had a vague idea what he wanted but I wasn't so sure that I wanted it. When I reached him he opened the door and walked inside turning the lights on, while I stayed in the doorway. I knew once I sign those papers, he would expect me to leave. I was free to do whatever I wanted and I wanted that, but I also wanted him.

" Miss Abernathy, " Mason called as he lent against his desk looking at me.

I took a deep breath stepped into the office and shut the door behind me. I couldn't force him to love me. I would've done it without a second thought if I could get him to feel just a fraction of what I felt for him.

Mason walked around his desk and pulled out a set of papers out of the drawer and placed it on the desk along with a pen. One side was already signed, all there was left to do was for me to sign.

I lifted the paper off the desk and stared at it. To him, it might've appeared that I was reading them. I wasn't. My heart broke into a million pieces at that moment at the realisation that he truly wanted me gone, out of his life.

Mason walked back around and leaned back against the desk " Once you signed it. I will send it to Mr Perry and you will be the sole titular of your inheritance. You will be free like you wanted." Mason sullenly added, shoving his hands in his pockets, and looking at me.

I heard him speak, but I was frozen inside and out. I didn't know what to do at that moment.

" Miss Abernathy " Mason called again " Is there anything that you find out of place?" Mason asked and pushed himself off the desk to stand beside me.

Feeling his breath on my cheek, snapped me out of my daze and was finally able to move and think. For one very brief moment, I was lucid around him. I let go of the papers and I turned to him and pressed my lips against his. I knew it was a desperate move but I was desperate. Desperate times call for desperate measures.