<b>Chapter </b>97
Mason
“I know it’s not my ce to ask, but..” he paused and inhaled sharply, “You are engaged, what happens when Miss Brooks agrees to return your affection? Would you keep her as a mistress or break off your engagement?”
His question <b>was </b>followed by a deafening silence between us. He looked back at me with the same intensity.
I didn’t get the chance to give him a reply. The elevator dinged, and immediately, I stepped out. Julia’s face came into view.
“Mason.” She called out.
I began walking after we stepped out. “You promised to change the PIN back to the one it was before.” I did? She pouted her lips. Maybe she was trying to act cute, but it just didn’t suit her.
“I forgot.”
Daniel went in front of us and punched the PIN. The door opened.
“At least tell me what the new PIN is. I think I’m the only one who doesn’t know it here.” Sheined.
How is she unable to read between the lines? If I didn’t tell her the PIN to my apartment, isn’t it clear that it is because I do not want her to know?
“Why are you here?” The heater had been turned on, and <b>the </b>room was warm enough for me to take off my suit.
I threw it on the chair and tugged on my tie. <b>Daniel </b>was standing on the side. He wanted to stay with me for a while, but with Julia here, that would be impossible.
“Hmm… I would unm…” he paused.
“You can go wait in the study,” I said.
I returned my attention to Julia.
“Do I need a reason to be here?” She asked, crossing her hands over her chest. I began walking towards the stairs, and she followed
suit.
From the looks of things, she was here to pick a fight, and I do not have the energy to keep up with her. Not today<b>. </b>
“Yes. This is my personal space.”
“What’s yours is mine.” She said, from behind me, “And what’s mine is yours.”
“No.” I started matter–of–fact. “What’s mine is mine. You can keep yours.” I didn’t hear her voice behind me.
“But you brought Lydia to your personal space.” I paused and turned to see her standing in front of Lydia’s room, pur old room.
“That was…” I paused and sighed internally. Has she always been this hard to deal with?
“That was… I mean, there was a reason for that.” She didn’t reply for a second. Her eyes were fixated on the door.
“I want to see what’s in this room.”
11:09 Sat, 2 Augu
I squinted, and then rushed over as she tried to open it. Thank goodness the door was locked.
“You can’t.“I stood in front of her. This room was Lydia’s and mine. No one is allowed to go inside<b>, </b>not even her.
“Why?” She questioned.
“I don’t need to exin anything to you.”
“You do.” She raised her finger in front of my face, “I am your fiancée,”
The door is locked, and I will sooner eat grass than hand the keys to her.
“You can’t go in.” I stepped <b>away </b>from the <b>door </b>and began towards my room.
“Why?” She yelled from where she stood, stopping me in my tracks. “Why can’t I go in? Because it holds memories of you and her?” Her tone was usatory.
I turned to her, frustrated that she insisted on keeping this on, “Yes. Because it holds memories of us and it’s not for just anyone to step into.” I walked away, leaving her standing. I began unbuttoning my shirt when she stepped into my room.
<b>Her </b>eyes were misty.
“You… You still love her, right?” I pushed my hand over my hair, suddenly regretting my earlier words.
I do. But I can’t tell her that.
“You’re overreacting, Julia.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” I didn’t answer <b>her </b>question because I can’t. I don’t want to lie to her, but the truth will hurt her, so I walked <b>over </b>to her and held her hand,
“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” I said, leaving her at the edge of my bed. “I shouldn’t have.”
“I’m carrying your child, Mason.” She stated.
“I know.”
“I’m notfortable with Lydia. It makes me anxious whenever I think of her. Do you really need to…” She paused.
She <b>released </b>a breath, “I read the news about the coboration,” she began, and I removed my hand from hers.
“What coboration?” I asked even though I knew exactly what she was talking about. She leaned into me and ced my hand on her stomach.
“The one with Lydia. “I do not like the fact that she called her Lydia. Only those who knew her get to call her that. Julia didn’t know her, so it would be better if she stuck to calling her Alissa like the others.
“What about it?” If she noticed the irritation in my voice, she chose to ignore it.
“Will you be doing it?” Would I have signed it if I <b>weren’t </b>doing it? She drew circles around my chest with her fingers, and I felt my skin curl up in disgust.
“What’s <b>y </b>
your point?” I asked.”
UY S01,ZAug
“You already know this, but I’m notfortable with you and Lydia working together. It’s already enough that you have to see Ber most of the time, I can’t stand you two being together all the time,”
“So what do you <b>suggest</b>?” I held her by the shoulders and peeled her away from me. Keeping her at arm’s length, I adjusted on the bed so we’ll be facing each other.
<b>She </b>had a small smile on her lips. “Can you let this contract go?”
I scoffed, “Just this one. I met Lydia today and she…” her words trailed off. She shook her head, “It’s not as though I don’t trust you. I just don’t trust her.”
“You want me to pull out of the coboration because of your insecurities?” My voice was sharp.
“What I mean is that I’m sure something better wouldeter on. I can speak to my dad and he would help you get a better contract.” I stood and walked <b>to </b>the closet.
I picked out a shirt and wore it over my head. “What do you say?” she asked.
“Are you even listening to yourself right now?” I snapped at her. A lowugh reverberated from my throat. She’ll speak to her dad? That didn’t sit well with me.
She looked hurt as she rose to her feet.
“If you aren’tfortable with me working with Lydia, that’s your problem to deal with. Not mine.” I walked to the <b>door</b>.
“I’m going out. Daniel would drop you off.”
“I’ll just leave tomorrow.”
“No. Daniel. Will, Drop. You. Off” I emphasised every word.
Julia’s phone rang when we stepped out. She ced the <b>phone </b>on speaker. I walked behind her.
“Hey, Dad!” She tried to make her voice cheerful, but she didn’t do a good job. My words must have hurt her. But right now I didn’t
care,
“Julia<b>, </be over at this moment! You spent over 200 billion dors, for what?”
She removed the call from the speaker and walked further away from us.
I had one destination in mind as I pressed the elerator.
Mr. Johnson has been ignoring my calls and texts. It was either that he had been too busy, as his <b>secretary </b>said whenever I tried to book an appointment, or that he <b>was </b>avoiding me.
I suspected thetter. There was no need to be busy after the text he sent to me. This visit was an unexpected one, I didn’t call or text to try to arrange for <b>a </b>meeting with Him because I know I’ll be met with an excuse from his se
I had forgotten to take an umbre, but was d it was now drizzling, so I could easily walk through it.
My shoes clicked loudly on the tilted floor as I walked into the reception:
The secretary froze briefly when she saw me. “Is Mr. Johnson in?” I ignored the greeting she said.
11:09
Sat, 2 Augu
“Well, he…” her gaze flickers to the door, then back at me, “He stepped out a while ago.”
The door pushed open at that moment, and Mr. Johnson stepped out. He held a phone pressed against his ear, “I’ll be with you shortly… yes, 1-” he paused, his eyes widening when he saw me.
He looked between me and his secretary, who was now red as a tomato and unable to meet my eyes.
“I’ll call you back.” He ended the call and gave me his full attention.
“Hello! Mr. Woods, I didn’t realise you wereing.”
“You’ve been doing a good job of ignoring and avoiding my calls,” I said as I followed him into
“I have no reason to.”
“What did you find out?” Lasked not bothering with trying to prove that he was a liar.
his office.
“Miss Lydia lost her pregnancy during the fire incident, and she was in <b>a </b><ba </b>for over three <b>years</b>.”
?