Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“Mason, are you okay?” Ava Maxwell asked as she stepped onto the elevator and stared at me with a stunned expression. Derrick walked on next and busted out laughing.
“Fun lunch date, Quinn?”
There was no one else in the elevator and Derrick and I were good enough friends that I felt comfortable giving him the middle finger. Even though he was my boss, I risked it anyway.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he replied with a wink.
Hitting him on the stomach playfully, Ava asked, “Mason, why are you out of breath?”
I stood taller and took in another deep breath. “Meeting at one. Accident. Had to run three blocks.”
“Three blocks!” Derrick practically shouted. “You need to start running again, Quinn. You should be able to sprint that.”
Nodding, I replied, “Never enough time…with…work.”
Derrick gave me a serious look. “Rule number one, make the time. Work will wait, Mason. Life won’t. Nor will your health if you keep this up.”
His words seemed to ring loudly in my ears along with Kris and Annie’s.
When the elevator opened, I got out. “Why are you getting off a floor early?” Ava asked.
“Don’t want…the Johnson and Johnson people to…see me like this.”
They both nodded and Derrick called out, “Good call, buddy. Hey, keep up the good work, Mason. And hit the gym.”
I shot him a dirty look as the doors started to close. Right before they did, I heard him let out a roar of laughter.
“Asshole,” I mumbled as I raced to the stairwell.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
* * *
Saylor
A KNOCK ON my office door prompted me to look up. Ashley stood there, a slight look of fear etched on her face.
“Ms. Night, is there any way you can start Mr. Quinn’s meeting with Johnson and Johnson?”
I leaned back in my chair. “He still isn’t here?”
She shook her head. “No, he left the Ritz just after twelve-thirty, but then he called and said he needed to change his dress shirt since he stained it.”
My heart sank. Mason had been with someone at the Ritz on a weekday? I quickly recovered and smoothed out the forlorn look I was positive had just crossed my face. The urge to ask Ashley why Mason was at the Ritz was growing by the second, but I stood, straightened out my skirt and hair, and took in a deep breath. That bit of news only made my decision easier.
“Are they seated now?” I asked.
“I was about to seat them. Mr. Quinn said he wanted them seated at one sharp, but I didn’t want them in there without someone from Maxwell and Locke there as well.”
I grinned. “That was good thinking on your part. Do you have his notes?”
She held up the file and smiled. She needed to be promoted.
Walking towards her, I took the file and made my way to the conference room as Ashley followed behind me.
“Give me two minutes to scan this, then send them in,” I said. “I’ll give them a brief introduction on Maxwell and Locke, and hopefully he’ll be back—”
The door to the stairwell flew open, and Mason came running out. “Ashley!” he called out.
“In your office, sir.”
I rolled my eyes and huffed as Mason raced by me to his office. I started walking again.
Five minutes later, I had a smile on my face as I introduced myself to the folks at Johnson and Johnson. I’d decided to give a shorter intro on Maxwell and Locke as I was sure Mason would be walking in at any moment.
Sure enough, the door opened and he strolled in like he owned the damn place. I couldn’t help but notice the two women sitting at the table grin a little bit wider when they saw him. My mouth nearly dropped when one causally reached up and loosened the top button of her dress shirt.
Trying not to roll my eyes, I glanced over at Mason. My gaze traveled over him quickly before our eyes met.
He looked like he hadn’t slept at all last night. Must have been having fun with his latest toy. He pushed his fingers through his hair and my knees shook. For a brief moment, I was left speechless.
I couldn’t continue on like this. Working alongside a man I wanted more than the air I breathed. Only to have my heart broken every time I discovered him with another woman.
“Mr. Quinn, good afternoon,” I said. “Ladies, gentlemen, it was a pleasure meeting you all. Mr. Quinn will take over now.”
As I made my way around Mason, he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I guess that was his way of saying thank you for covering him while he finished his morning fuck.
I kept walking and pulled my hand from his.
“Good afternoon, I’m sorry I was late. I was stuck in traffic and had to make a mad dash on foot for three blocks.”