We step out of the car and enter the office. The person who greets us directs us to a reserved table. I had no idea you could reserve tables here. It's clear that Mason comes here often.
"What would you like to eat?" he asks, looking at the menu.
"Recommend something, since you know the place better than I do," I reply with a smile.
"Alright, bring me my usual," he tells the lady who is waiting for us.
The lady leaves, and I realize that Mason's gaze is still on me. It's starting to make me feel uncomfortable.
"Stop staring at me," I say, blushing.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you truly amaze me. I mean, it's not that I didn't see that you were beautiful. I knew that when I saw you for the engagement dinner. But I don't think you had fully embraced your beauty. I'll have to watch out for men trying to steal my fiancée," he says, winking at me.
"Remember, we'll only be married for three years, and you won't go without sex for three years. Obviously, I won't either," I say, laughing.
"Yes, that's clear. However, for now, I'm not in a hurry for that. I'm a man who can endure," he says, smiling.
"Well, we could discuss that when we're married, right?" I say nervously about the topic.
"Although, if you want, you can have it with me. I have no problem with that," he says, winking at me.
"Very funny," I respond, serious and blushing.
"I'm just telling you to think about it. You know I'm open to it," he reminds me with a smile.
I shake my head at everything Mason is saying. It's best to change the topic.
"How was your day at work?" I ask while we wait for lunch.
"Well, that sounded like we were already married," he says, laughing.
"Fine, forget the question. I just wanted to change the subject," I reply, a bit annoyed.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to upset you. It just seemed funny to me, that's all. The morning was calm. How about you and your errands? You seemed off this morning. Are you sure everything is, okay?" he asks with a hint of curiosity.
"Yeah, everything's fine. I'm excited to start classes. You know I only have a year and a half left to finish my degree and take charge of the company, at least with your help in the first few days or months, depending on how slow I am to catch on," I say, jokingly.
"I'm sure you're very smart," he says with a sincere smile, at least that's what I believe.
The lady arrives with our food, and it looks delicious. I focus on eating because I don't know what to say about what he just told me. Besides, I'm not good at pretending, and on the tip of my tongue, I have the question about the girl I saw him with today or the person he was talking to on the phone last night, but asking would only reveal what I know. I take a deep breath and hold back.
I weigh the pros and cons. It's likely that the good relationship will be lost because I don't trust him, and I don't think I will in the future. When it comes to business and contracts, you can't trust anyone.
We talk about trivial things while having lunch. He tells me that his mother asked for my phone number because there were many stories left untold. He begged me not to visit her without him, so he could defend himself against whatever his mother might say to me. I agreed just to make him stop insisting, but obviously, I'll go without him. I'm sure it will be much more fun that way.
During dessert, I glance at the time and see that we've been talking about my studies, pending subjects, and professors he knows for almost two hours. We laugh about a university professor whom Mason thought had retired. I clarify that he still tortures his students, including me. That makes him laugh a lot because he said the professor was very kind to him. That must have been in a parallel universe because the one I know is a total pain in the ass.
His phone interrupts our laughter. He answers it in front of me, asking for permission first. As he nods, I hear him speaking with a man about a business partner. When he finishes the call, he looks apologetic.
"Would you mind accompanying me to deal with something at the office? I promise it won't take long," he says.
"Sure, that way I can see what I'll have to do in a couple of years," I reply excitedly.
"Then let's go," he says, getting up.
He asks for the bill and pays. Then we head to his car and make our way to the company. I don't even know the name of this company, so it will serve as an opportunity for me to investigate its relationship with my parents' company. I won't sit idly with these doubts. Curiosity is something I can't bear to carry with me.
When I arrive at the company, I am surprised to see the size, the building is very large, not that my parents' company is small, I just didn't expect them both to be so big, it's not that my parents' company is small, it's just that I didn't expect them both to be so big.
I look at the letters at the entrance and I realize that I have heard my father talking about them, in one or another contract.
My parents' company, or rather, my father's, since my mother has never set foot in the office in her life. The area in which my family is involved is technology, as it grows every day, we as a company grow with it. We increase productivity, as well as employees and everything that new technologies require.
On the other hand, Mason's family business has a consulting company, for all kinds. It has specialized departments in each area, it's quite organized. Mason takes me by the hand as he does every time we walk, wherever it is, he always takes my hand. We walk to what I think is the office, as we are about to enter, I see a very pretty girl, who is probably his secretary, I realize that when I see our hands joined, she stops smiling.
"Where is he?" Mason asks.
"He's waiting for you in the office," she replies, looking at our intertwined hands the whole time.
"Alright," he looks at me and says, "you're about to meet the idiot who claims to be my right-hand man but can't do anything right," rolling his eyes.
"Okay," I say nervously.
We enter what appears to be Mason's office, and I must admit, I envy what my eyes behold. It's beautiful. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the entire city, and I can already imagine how breathtaking it would be to watch a sunset from this place. It's a privileged view, indeed.
"Connor, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Paige. Darling, this idiot here is my 'right-hand man,'" he says, making air quotes with his fingers when he mentions 'right-hand man.'
"Pleasure to meet you," I say politely.
"The pleasure is all mine, beautiful," he replies, and I don't like the way he looks at me.
"Stop staring at her like that. I want a report on what happened with the unsigned contract," Mason impatiently requests.
Seeing him in 'boss' mode is intriguing. He looks very serious, and honestly, I've only known a smiling Mason until now. I enjoy watching Connor tense up just from the tone of voice my fiancé directs at him.
Mason places a hand on my waist and guides me to the chair at his desk. I'm about to refuse and insist on sitting by myself, but he doesn't let me say anything. On the contrary, he gives me a quick kiss on the lips and says,
"I'll sit next to Connor. We need to go over a contract," he explains, pointing to a seat next to his 'right-hand man.'
I take a seat and notice that Mason keeps his desk very organized. Everything is in its place, although it could be his secretary who maintains it that way. I think about what I can do in the meantime, as my boyfriend/fiancé is focused on the conversation. I decide to get up and take a walk.
"I'll go get something to drink," I inform Mason.
"I can ask Lyla to bring it for you," Mason says.
"Don't worry, it will help you work more peacefully. I'll be back in a moment."
He nods and returns his attention to the contract they're reviewing. I leave the office, and as I do, he stands up. When he realizes it's just me, he sits back down and gives me a contemptuous look. And I don't even know her; imagine if it were the other way around.
I walk aimlessly, looking around. The decor is very much in line with the image the company is projecting. I continue walking, not even knowing where I am. All I know is that someone bumps into me, causing me to lose my balance. If it weren't for a hand on my waist, I'd be on the floor right now. I raise my gaze and realize that the person I collided with is an attractive man in his mid-thirties. He looks at me with a smile and says,
"My apologies, miss. I truly didn't see you. I didn't mean to bump into you." Hearing his voice alone makes my panties wet.
What a sexy voice, husky and perfectly matched with his god-carved face. Why couldn't I be engaged to someone like him? I snap out of my thoughts when I notice him observing me with a smile, probably amused by my silence.
"I didn't see you either, sir..." I leave the sentence hanging, waiting to hear his name.
"Aaron, just Aaron," he says with a sideways smile that makes him even more handsome.
With his help, I stand up, feeling a bit dizzy. I smile at him.
"Sir, I think it's impolite not to give your name when I gave you mine," he jokes.
"Paige Harper," I say, extending my hand.
He takes it and kisses it as if we were in bygone times.
"Do you work at this company?" he asks curiously.
"Well, actually..." I can't continue because Mason shouts my name, looking for me.
"Paige!" I hear him approaching.
"I see you're being sought after. Anyone would when they lose sight of such a beautiful woman," he says quietly, smiling.
Mason arrives by our side, and upon seeing Aaron, he adopts a serious and boss-like demeanor. I remain silent, waiting for them to greet each other or whatever they're going to do.
"Mr. Miller, a pleasure," Mason says, extending his hand.
"Mr. White, I was looking for Miss Paige, weren't you?" he says, looking at me.
"Yes, I was about to inform her that she would be with you. The contract has been revised and is ready for signing," Mason explains.
"Very well, let's proceed," Aaron says, pointing to the meeting room, I believe.
We enter, and Mason sits me next to him, as if to show that we're something. He might as well urinate on me to make it clear that I belong to him. I remain silent as they sign and clarify some points. I sense Aaron's gaze on me. I've felt it ever since we entered, no, correction, since we collided.
I pretend not to notice him observing me. Mason stands up and says, "Well, we're ready with the contract," extending his hand to Aaron.
"Do you mind celebrating this deal? We could go out tonight if you bring your... friend?" he says, asking about Mason.
I feel Mason's hand on my waist, a gesture of approval. I roll my eyes because I can already imagine my fiancé's response.
"I'd like to introduce you to Paige, my fiancée, and soon-to-be wife," he says, smiling and kissing my cheek.
"Well, I didn't know you were getting married. I didn't even know you had a girlfriend. Strange, isn't it?" he responds with uncertainty.
"Well, you see, I've always liked to separate my personal life from work, but today we were having lunch together when I had to come here urgently. That's why we're here," he comments, tightening his grip on my waist.
"Darling, can we go?" I ask, noticing the discomfort between them.
"Of course, I'm done here. We can leave, sweetheart," he responds, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
I'm starting to realize that it's like the second or third kiss he's given me since we arrived at the office. We'll have to clarify this kissing situation.