“So, let me get this straight. You bailed on coming to my place for dinner last night so you could go to some stuffy grand opening of Mason Remington, your brother’s friend’s hotel, and while you were there, Mason specifically told you to come to his office tomorrow. Which you think is for an interview in his office at eleven in the morning?”
Lisa slumped on the couch in the morning across from her boyfriend, Ross, rubbing her eyes to get rid of the sleep hanging over her. She should not be doing this, lying to him, not after all he had done for her.
Ross always provided generously for her an apartment, clothes, and money, just whatever she needed; even though after graduating, she’d made an effort not to rely on him for support.
It was a miracle that she completed her master’s degree and graduated with honors. Much earlier, Ross and Chris had pointed out that it was a perfectly useless degree. Chris had wanted her to pursue a business degree. He wanted to bring her into the “family” business. But she wasn’t sure yet what she wanted to do.
She loved baking but hadn’t found the courage to start a business with it. What is she even doing? The people she’d graduated with had already moved into jobs. They were making careers. She was still deciding what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
On the other hand, Ross took care of her as well, ensuring she had everything she could want. He frequently bought her clothes and shoes and sent his maid to stock up her house with the needed groceries. She barely cooked or ate. She often ate out or at Amber’s, her best friend’s place.
She felt like a liar, a deceitful person. This made her feel guilty; she had the luxury of taking her time to make decisions. She should tell Ross about what she thought Mason’s invite was about, but how and on what grounds?
Being a close family friend doesn’t explain why he would demand she come to see him in his office so unexpectedly. And, knowing Ross, he was always the one who had to have a proper explanation for everything.
How was she sure the kiss meant anything? Or was she thinking he suddenly had feelings for her or would even consider her for a relationship; for all she knew, he just found her attractive and wanted nothing more than a few shacks with her, which she wouldn’t have minded either way.
“Hello! Earth to Lisa,” Ross said, calling her out of her thoughts.
“Yeah?”
“I asked you a question?”
“Oh yeah, pretty much, yeah,” she replied.
“Lisa, is there something you aren’t telling me? The guy is a freaking billionaire, I get that he is your family’s closest friend, and you grew up together, but it doesn’t add up. If it was for a job position, no offense, but he could hire a more qualified person for the job. Why the hell you?”
“Why me? So, you think I’m unqualified just because I’m rich and I technically don’t have problems in my life, right.” Lisa asked, frustration making her voice edgy. She knew it didn’t make sense, and there was no point trying to defend it, but he looked down on her, making her feel like she had always felt all her life. Useless.
“It was just a question, Lisa, don’t turn this around on me.”
“Seemed like a pointless question to me. I didn’t have to tell you. I just felt it necessary because we are in a relationship and wouldn’t want you finding out from someone else,” she said in a tone more upset than before.
Ross rolled his eyes. “He wants you; likes you even. I know it, I see the way he looks at you. And why wouldn’t he? You’re young and hot, and I bet you’ve starred in his fantasies a time or two over the years.”
Lisa wrinkled her nose. “You are making it sound different from what it is, Ross. It is just a job. I mean, what else could he be? Chris probably asked him to do it.”
“So, nothing ever happened between you two?”
“Yes,” she said, her mind immediately returning to the kiss they had shared a few hours ago.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake. Don’t lie to me, it’s not like you haven’t lusted after him since you were a teen. And it’s not like you wouldn’t have succumbed to him if he had ever acted on those desires. You are no longer a child at the age of twenty-two. You don’t want to spend any more time with me. I understand that you are only with me because of our families, but we get along well, and I adore you, Lisa.”
“Ross-,” she said, worry evident in her tone. She knew she had to tell him how she really felt sooner or later. Just then, a call came in on Ross’s phone, which he picked up and answered while heading into the bedroom to talk properly.
It was probably about work. Ross Mackenzie was from a very well-to-do family like hers, only more affluent. His dad was late but had his clothing line, which was one of the biggest names in the fashion industry today. Ross was an only child; his mum was like every typical wealthy widow. Spending money and traveling every other day.
He was good-looking, too, blond with nicely tanned skin, and his nose was almost perfectly formed. His strong jawline was covered in black stubble, and his lips were full and dark pink. He had a nice body but, in all, couldn’t come close to Mason, whose entire physique, who looked like artists had carved him in heaven.
She was still thinking about Mason’s body’s magnificence when Ross returned to the room to sit beside her. He was done with his call, and she was guessing it was something that required his attention.
“I have to go now, but can we talk when I get back? I am not in support of this whole thing, but I won’t stop you from actually giving it a trial. Especially if it’s a job,” he said while rubbing her hand in his.
“Thank you, Ross.”
Ross kissed her just then, slow and gentle, and everything Mason was not. She and Ross had had sex a couple of times, but it was always fast and unexciting. Ross didn’t take his time exploring the corners of her mouth like Mason did. Neither did his being close cause her instant wetness. She always made it a habit to ensure she didn’t sleep over and vice versa. They would talk for a while, eat or watch a movie whenever they were done, which she would eventually sleep through mid-way.
She couldn’t quite place it, but she never felt connected to Ross and probably never would. She only stayed with him this long to make her family and Ross happy. He pulled away, looked at his watch, then leveled a pointed stare in Lisa’s direction.
“You’ve got less than three hours to get ready before you have to leave. I suggest you get off the couch and get ready. I’ll call you later. Good luck”
And just like that, he was out the door and gone. She would end things with Ross eventually, and if a relationship comes out of her soon-to-be involvement with Mason, then so be it. If not, then she was ready to accept whatever he could give her.
“What am I even going to wear?” Lisa muttered to herself; yesterday’s events still baffled her. She was practically walking into a disaster waiting to happen.
Lisa got out of her car and handed over the keys to the valet. She was driving a CRV, nothing fancy; she just needed to get somewhere, and she despised having to wait for a driver. She was in front of Remington Atlantic and couldn’t help but appreciate the positively gorgeous weather. The wind ruffled her hair, hinting that the little chill was inevitable. The days were getting cooler than usual.She hurried into the high-rise building and dug out her security pass. To get by the turnstile leading to the elevators. She was given the pass when given a tour of the offices when it opened a few years earlier, but she hadn’t had to use it very often since she was usually with Chris when she visited.She checked her watch when she got on the elevator. It was five minutes to eleven, and she was one of those people who was always early. Being late made her anxious, especially with being unsure of the outcome of the encounter she was about to have. She figured, at least, to make a good first
The firm but gentle command washed through her, causing a haze of confusion.Her eyes widened as her gaze found him; she rose, her legs shaky, and she rubbed her hands down her thighs in an attempt to steady herself. Then she took that first step and walked around his desk to where he was still seated in his executive chair.He reached for her hand, and once his fingers intertwined with hers, he dragged her down onto his lap. She landed clumsily, but he adjusted the chair to create more room for her, so she was nestled against his chest and tucked into his side.He went for her neck with his free hand and gently dragged her face, so she was looking directly at him. Their eyes were matching, and their faces were just an inch away from each other. On the other hand, he held her back, pushing her closer to him.“The relationship I’m proposing is quite different,” he said. “I’ll not have you agree to it without knowing exactly where you stand and what you can expect from it.”“How awfully
Instead of driving back to her apartment, where she knew Ross might be waiting, she stopped at a park just two blocks from where she lived. She was going to have to tell him her real feelings now; she knew in her heart that she had already accepted Mason’s proposal.There was no way she could say no to him. She didn’t have the guts.At this hour of the morning, the small park wasn’t usually packed. Children, nannies, and little preschoolers are the majority of those present. She had tucked the contract into her bag and gripped it to her side as she walked to an empty bench farthest from the playground, where she could be sure of some solitude.Mason’s imperious demand that she comes work for him resurfaced in her mind. She could as well live off the men in her life for as long as she wanted, but with the money Chris had put into her schooling, she needed to figure out her next step and also to make herself feel better about the fact that she wasn’t wholly reliant on Chris and Ross.Ove
She arrived at her apartment precisely 5 minutes after leaving the park. She let herself in, closing the door behind her.She stood alone, leaning against the door, her heart thumping wildly, the heat between her legs aching as she remembered the day's events. She had had a crazy day. She took off her shoes and walked from the sitting area and into the bedroom, lying on the bed in a jump. She was still going over everything in her head when she heard a knock on her door.It had to be Ross, she reasoned. He came a bit early, but that just made everything faster. She'd tell him today without a doubt.“I thought you would not be coming until 6. You finished work early?” She said as she opened the door to meet an angry Mason. She stumbled as she attempted to move backward nearly sprawled on the floor. Mason lunged forward and caught her before she could fall. His hands remained firmly wrapped around her arms even after she'd steadied herself. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, and she
Ross poured them a glass of wine and slid it across the bar to her as he listened to her narrate her lie. Lisa stirred the spaghetti sauce and gave the noodles a quick poke.“Well, I agree with him there. You didn’t go to grad school for nothing,” he said dryly. “But a personal assistant? I think there is more than meets the eye to this.” She remained silent, not rising to that particular bait.“So, you have decided to do it, right?” Lisa sighed.“I haven’t decided anything for certain yet. I have until Monday to make my decision.”Ross shrugged. “But if you ask me. He’s rich, good-looking, and single. He has no doubts and just wants you. You don’t even need a job or money.”“Money isn’t everything, you know.”“Said by someone who is indulged by her older brother, who also happens to have too much money to know what to do with.”Lisa couldn’t deny that Chris did a lot for her. He’d purchased this apartment for her, and she didn’t need a roommate, except whenever Amber needed the sleep
Lisa stood in the doorway of Mason’s office on Monday morning, staring at him while standing outside, his dark blue eyes and exquisite figure beneath his well-tailored suit, which she was sure he was ripped in all the right places.She was torn between wanting to tease him and not wanting to, and she was still to make her decision, but she figured it wasn’t a good idea to provoke him; the last thing she wanted to do was upset him.“I’m here,” she said gruffly.He pulled her toward the room’s sitting area just opposite his desk.“Would you like something to drink?” he asked.She shook her head. “I’m fine.”He helped her down on the small leather couch and then sat beside her, taking her hands into his.“Listen to me Lisa, I do not want you to be nervous around me. I gave you a very detailed and precise outline of what our relationship will be like to avoid any confusion. I want you to be free and not feel frightened or intimidated.”She stared back at him, looking straight into his eye
“If we do this thing…Chris can never know. I mean, if he ever found out he’d never accept it. I’m sure you must have given this a thought, Mason. He would never understand. To him I’m still his baby sister, someone he’s hugely overprotective of, I cannot even imagine his reaction if he were to find out about us in the kind of relationship you’re proposing.”“I had no intention of him knowing the private details of our affair,” Mason said calmly. “All he needs to know is that you’re working for me. I am very discreet, and I certainly have no desire for my private life to be blasted all over the media as it was when Sarah and I broke up.”“He won’t take it very well,” she murmured. “And I don’t want to lie to him.”“You’ll only lie by omission. And if we’re discreet, the only speculation will be whether we’re having an affair. What about Rob?”“Rob?”“Yeah, your boyfriend.”“You mean Ross, well I’ll handle that. We’ve been together a while. I can’t just end things out of the blue.”“And
Mason held the contract in his hand and stared at the front page, speechless as the reality of his new connection with Lisa dawned on him.Reflecting on how successfully he managed his approach, he considered the exact path he wanted to take with Lisa.He just had one method of doing things. He was as straightforward and clear in his interactions as he was in his career. Even in a relationship, there was no room for feeling.As a result, he was still unsure of what aspect of himself he would show Lisa and whether or not she would embrace him. Whatever aspect he chose to display, he had to do so with grace and in such a way that he didn’t absolutely overwhelm her and scare her away before he even entered the room.He chose women who were aware of the situation. They knew what was required of them and what they may anticipate in return. Lisa was Chris’s baby sister. Beyond that, she’d been a girl he’d watched grow up. Hell, he’d attended her high school graduation. She had a unique pers