<b>Chapter </b><b>138 </b>


    Mason


    “What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked, wondering if she’d be free for lunch or dinner; either would be <b>fine</b>,


    “Why are you asking?” I adjusted so I was facing her, her eyes were pinned in front of her. “What’s happening tomorrow?” she asked.


    “Let’s go out.” I held my breath, wondering what her next words would be.


    She turned to me, struggling to contain a smile, “Mr. Woods, are you asking me on a date right now?” Her voice was soft as she spoke.


    I nodded. This wasn’t an eptance, but it wasn’t a refusal either. “Yes. Join me for dinner tomorrow.” <b>I </b>said with more boldness this time.


    “I’ll have to check my schedule. I’m not promising you anything.” She lets out a breath, “Alright. That would do.” I epted, “text me when you are free, I’ll pick you up.” I felt a sense of aplishment.


    My stomach turned from excitement, after five years, I got to take the woman I love on a date. I could barely curtail the wave of joy that rushed through me.


    “I will.”


    “About Mnie and Liam, I can hold you to your words to join us next week, right?” I asked, trying not to sound too desperate. The truth was that I was happy when I learnt that Lydia would be apanying me and the kids today. My happiness was short–lived when I heard she would no longer go with us because of work. Then the ultimate blow came when the kids refused to leave with me.


    That was when I decided to convince Lydia, so I went to herpany, only to realise that she had left to see Pius<b>. </b>


    “Yes. I won’t fail them this time.” She held my eyes, the silence that engulfed us palpable. Her gaze was raw and deep, and under those eyes, I didn’t need to hide myself.


    I bit my lips, trying not to allow my delusional thoughts to take control. She didn’t see me in any way other than the father of her kids, and this look meant nothing to her.


    “We are here.” She said, her words breezing past my ear as my lips settled on her bottom lip. How did we go from being angry at each other to now staring with so much longing in our eyes?


    “Aren’t you getting off?” She asked, snapping her hand at my face. That simple act was enough to pull me out of my thoughts. It was all in my head, I am the one longing and yearning.


    She wanted me to get out of her car. Realising I had been ogling at her, heat rose to my cheeks.


    “I’ll send you a text after checking my schedule.” She said, and I found myself nodding, ‘whatever you say.’ Her words were mymand. I’ll follow them as long as it doesn’t include me leaving her life.


    “Alright.” I alighted from the car and stood rooted on the floor until she drove off. I ced one hand on my


    chest, which was ramming against my chest.


    55 voucher


    I walked into my office, unable to hide the smile on my lips. “You seem so happy, tell me, did we get the contract?” Daniel asked as I entered the office.


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    “Why else would your smile be this wide?” He asked. “I saw youe down from a car I recognise as Lydia’s. Is she the reason why you are smiling so much?” Daniel was always nosy.


    “I should probably give you more work so you don’t have any time left to spy on anyone,” I said, leaving my zer on the hanger and walking towards the leather chair behind my table.


    “That’s not what I mean, it’s a good thing.”


    “Are you?”


    “My lips are sealed.” He made a zipping gesture over his lips, “I won’t tease you anymore.” He said. I opened myptop and turned it on.


    “But you came earlier than you should, I thought you’d be with the kids? Does this have anything to do with Pius?” He asked, and I nodded, leaning into


    my chair.


    I had almost forgotten about him. “Yes. That bastard.” I fist my palm as I remembered. I should have made sure to change the shape of his face with my fist, even when Lydia held me back.


    “That fool would have tried something if I had gone there even a minutete,” I said, grateful I had caught him even before he got into the act.


    “What do you want me to do to him? Or will you just let him go?”


    I’ll sooner eat stone than let him go. I leaned forward and sped my hands together, my mind spiralling in different directions as I thought about various ways to make him pay. His evil ns may have been aborted, and


    yes, he didn’t hurt Lydia, but he still made her worried, and for that, he’d pay a million times.


    I turned to look at Daniel, who had a straight look in his eyes, ready for my next order. “Give him something he’d remember for the rest of his life. Make sure he doesn’t ever have a reason to get close to ady.”


    Why will I give him a lesson he can forget soon when I can give him a memory of a lifetime?


    “Alright, boss,” Daniel said with a slight bow. That same moment, amotion at the door caught our attention, the door burst open, and the one person I didn’t want to see strode into the room. Behind her was my secretary, her hand passed over her hair, a frustrated and tired look etched on her face.


    Seeing her distressed, she already looked about, not being able to stop Julia from barging into the room, I had her leave without any words. She was already trying her best; it was Julia who was too stubborn.


    Daniel looked between us, from Julia to me and back to her.


    “Mason, you have been ignoring my calls.” I inhaled sharply, feeling an ache rise in the back of my head. I wasn’t ready for this. Daniel had a small mocking smile on his lips as he stared at me.


    <b>11:51 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>5 </b>


    69


    5/5 vouchers


    <b>I </b>squinted, was he mocking me? It seems he wanted to spend the <b>rest </b>of the month counting the <b>stars</b>.


    “What do you want?” I asked with a frown settling on my face. The door opened and closed, signifying <b>that </b>Daniel had left. Now, it was just me and Julia in the room.


    She walked forward, clutching a purse in her hand, “Mason, how can you live without me when each <b>day </b>feels like I’m losing my mind. I knew I was wrong and you had all the right in the world <i>to </i>be angry, but don’t <b>you </b>think it’s time you put all that behind us and start afresh?” Her voice was weak. Her eyes looked red and had deepened.


    “You shouldn’t be here, Julia,” I said. After our breakup, I gave the order not to allow her in. She was on the cklist. Now that she was standing in front of me, I could vaguely guess how she got in after seeing her struggle with my secretary.


    Julia was a determined woman who believed she could get whatever she wanted if she put her mind to it. She was driven, I liked that, but I’d prefer she focus that energy into something else, not me.


    “Mason, please, let’s talk about us.”


    “There’s nothing more to talk about. We are done.”


    “I lied because I wanted to keep you, I didn’t expect it to push you further away.” She walked around the table. I grind my teeth, trying to hold myself back fromshing at her.


    I’m doing all I can to understand her, I truly am. I know how it feels to lose someone you love, and that was the only reason she was still standing here. Healing is hard, and it’s hard to let someone you love go. I understand perfectly because I’ve been there.


    However, when they repeatedly push you away, then you should respect their decision; if not, it bes unhealthy.


    “I don’t want to lose you forever, I can’t leave without you.” Her knees hit the floor with a thud, and she grabbed my hand, tears rolling down her cheeks.


    I felt my skin crawl at her touch and pulled my hand away from hers. A sense of anger mixed with irritation hijacked me.


    Without another word, I grabbed my phone from the table and called the security team. Julia needs to be removed since she was reluctant to use her legs.


    As she was pulled out of the office, her loud scream and cries threatened to defend me.


    “Mason, I can’t let you go.” Were herst words before the door shut in her face?


    “You will learn to,” I said under my breath before resuming my work.


    Later that night, I received a text from Lydia.


    Lydia: Hey! Mason. About our date, how does Tuesday evening sound?


    I stared at the message, reading it for the fourth time to make sure I wasn’t mistaken and that it truly was


    from Lydia.


    I can definitely wait for two days. After sending a text <i>to </i><i>her</i>, I dialled Daniel<i>. </i>Everything <i>for </i>that day <i>had </i><i>to </i>


    be perfect.