Chapter Four
Liv
I’ve sent numerous texts to Mason since I all but ran out of the office after lunch. My last one begging him not to come tonight was met with “Not happening. See you at seven.”
I was mortified. For him to completely pull me under his spell with just a command and a touch has me second guessing my independent woman title. Never have I ever let a man control me so easily. Now, I have to spend the night with him and my asshole family.
It’s six o’clock and I don’t think I can be any more pissed off at my sister for making me get here early to take pictures. Pictures of what, exactly? All of us together? One big happy family? I thought pictures were reserved for the engagement shoot and wedding. I really don’t think it’s necessary, but at least I didn’t have to ride in the same car as Mason. My plan is to take off the minute this ship gets back to the dock.
Six months. Six fucking months they have been engaged and didn’t bother to tell me. The excuse of waiting until I started dating someone is bullshit too. Evelyn knows that I wanted to stay focused on my career. She knew I wasn’t looking to date anyone. No, she was just too chicken to tell me. Not only did they keep it from me but my parents did as well. All the weekend dinners we had. All the holidays spent together, and no one said a fucking word to me. The more I think about it the more livid I become.
I decide that letting Mason come with me as my date was a good idea. My sister thinks I’m bringing a boyfriend. Wait until who she sees who it is. There will be a barrage of questions thrown my way. All their answers I had hoped to discuss with Mason this afternoon…to get our story straight, but that didn’t happen. I ran from the situation like a child. When I got back to my condo, I replayed the entire events of the afternoon and could have worn a hole in my carpet with all the pacing I did. He heard everything I said to Janette, and that bitch laughed the entire phone conversation when I called her from the car. Not only did he hear all the embarrassing fantasies I have had about him but he didn’t tease me about them. I thought all the comments he made about me, and to me, were just to make me uncomfortable. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would act on any of them. When he came into my office and commanded me to do those things, I couldn’t help but submit to him. It’s like a switch flipped and I was no longer in charge. I can still feel his hands on my thighs, the scrape of them on my breasts. My body still tingles with excitement, but we almost got caught and that scared the shit out of me.
I shudder at that last thought because for just a brief moment, after walking out of FVS, I considered breaking that rule. The one I have for myself not to sleep with a co-worker. Especially not my assistant and especially because he is my boss’s son, even if I do have some feelings for him.
The wind whips around me, bringing me out of my haze of embarrassment. It’s chillier than a normal June night, but the setting sun looks stunning against the water surrounding the boat. There is plenty of noise from the newly renovated Waterside district, and I wish I could just go party with all of them instead of enduring tonight. I don’t know if I’ll be able to contain my facial expressions when I see everyone. I wonder how many knew. I’m not looking forward to the looks of sympathy from those who feel as though it should have been me, but hopefully with Mason by my side, it’ll make things much easier.
As expected my sister and my ex-boyfriend/future brother-in-law are waiting at the entrance to the ship talking to who I assume is the photographer. The large camera is a dead giveaway. He starts to strategically place them so the water is a beautiful backdrop to their photos.
“Liv!” My mother’s voice booms as she gets closer to me. She’s dressed in a modest high neck, black dress that comes down to her toes. It’s sleeveless and adorned with a large red necklace. A vision at fifty-five years old, I hope to look as good as her in thirty years.
I guess I was right when I said I wouldn’t be able to keep how I really felt off my face because her steps falter. “Mother.”
Tilting her head to the side, she looks apologetic. “Liv, you must understand why we didn’t want to tell you.”
I pull her in for a quick hug. “Yes, Mom. While I understand why I just feel stupid.”
She leans back from my embrace. “You shouldn’t feel…”
“Liv! Mom!” Evelyn screams from thirty feet away, clad in a black lace mini dress that, if she bent over, the entire world would see her vagina. “Let’s get these pictures done.”
Taking a deep breath, I try to reel in my emotions for one night. My red heels click on the pavement as I near my sister and Trey. I inwardly laugh because he isn’t aging well. At twenty-six years old, he is already balding with a receding hairline – the icing on the cake. Evelyn fixes her hair while Trey meets me halfway going in for a quick side hug.
“You look nice, Olivia.” He compliments and I hate the way my full name falls from his mouth. It’s nothing like when Mason says it. When Mason calls me Olivia, I can feel it deep in my soul, like he is seducing me with just my name.
I take a big step back. “Thank you. I guess congrats are in order?”
Trey looks back to Evelyn then to me. “She looks so much like you.”
My brows furrow along with the drop of my jaw. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s nothing.” He shakes his head as, once again, Evelyn beckons us over.
It’s just before seven o’clock when the photographer finally finishes and lets us get on the boat. I’m not sure why I needed to be here that early since I was only in just three pictures. I’m very annoyed and my first mission is to find the bar. There is one as soon as I enter the ship. After ordering a gin and tonic, I reach into my clutch to find my phone.
No messages.
It’s almost time to leave the dock and Mason is nowhere to be found. Maybe he decided not to come after all. Even though I told him not to, the thought guts me. I no longer want to do tonight alone.
Putting away my phone, I pay the bartender and turn around coming face to face with my aunt Beatrice.
“Hey, Aunt Bea.” I kiss her on the cheek.
She smiles brightly. “Olivia. I’m so happy you came. I wasn’t sure.”
The horn of the ship blows, letting us know that we are now leaving the dock.
“Why is that?” I ask, doing a detailed scan of the room, hoping like hell Mason didn’t listen and he is here.
My aunt responds. “Because your younger sister is getting married before you, and to your boyfriend.”
Taking a deep breath, I correct her. “Ex-boyfriend, Aunt Bea. Ex. Meaning no longer together.”
She tsks. “I know this, dear. I just didn’t know if it would make you sad. You are getting older. It’s going to be harder for you to find someone who wants a career driven woman. In my opinion, a woman should be at home waiting on her husband, having children, cooking, and cleaning.”
My brows furrow. “This isn’t the fifties anymore. Why can’t I have a man who values a woman who wants to earn a living doing what she’s always dreamed of doing?”
Without another word, she walks away but someone else takes her place.
“I completely agree.” His rugged, deep voice penetrates the air around me.
“Mason.” Turning toward him, I brace myself for an onslaught of emotions. “And what is it you agree with.”
He leans in, his soft lips, bordered by stubble, come in contact with my cheek. Seems he is already in full-blown boyfriend mode. “That this isn’t the fifties. A determined, sophisticated woman is very sexy. Even if she is a pain in my ass sometimes.”
I can’t help my smile. After suffering over an hour of snide comments it’s refreshing to hear him say that. Taking in his appearance, I’m rooted where I stand. I’ve seen him in casual clothing and business casual for work, but this is different. So very different. His broad shoulders fill out his tailored suit. Black in color and accentuated with a red shirt and tie that combines both colors, it brings out the deep brown of his eyes. Though he skipped the razor, his hair is perfectly placed so it seems as though he just ran a hand through it. He looks delicious.
“Good to know.” I comment just before my sister interrupts our perusing of one another.
“Mason!” She screams over the music, her fiancé in tow behind her. “Please tell me you’re not the secret my sister has been keeping! You two are dating?”
His eyebrows furrow before responding. “We are.” His arm comes around my waist, securing me to his side. “I guess both Marx sisters are good at keeping secrets.”
Evelyn slaps Mason playfully with her diamond clad hand. “Oh stop. How long have you two been hiding this little affair?”
“About a month.” He answers before I can. That wasn’t what I was going to say but now we have to go with it. “Not too long. She was going to bring me to the family dinner soon and tell everyone. You just can’t keep something as amazing as this under wraps for too long.”
Both Trey and Ev notice the little jab he makes about keeping something so big a secret. I attempt to keep a chuckle from passing between my lips.
“Well.” Trey breaks the tension. “Just wait until your mom hears, Evelyn.”
Mason grabs my hand, spins me in a circle and says, “She’ll have to wait a bit longer. It’s time to dance with my lady.”
Leaving the happy couple behind, Mason pulls me behind him, gently nudging his way through the full dance floor. A small spot is open, and he takes the opportunity to pull me close to his body. My skin instantly heats as his right hand grasps my left and the other wraps around my back. We’re body to body, chest to chest.
“You look amazing, Liv.” His lips brush my cheek again. “This dress is putting so many thoughts into my head. Ones that aren’t anywhere close to G-rated.”
A blush creeps up into my cheekbones and I look down at our touching bodies. “Thank you.”
A fingertip captures me underneath my chin, bringing my eyes up to clash with his. “Don’t look down. Accept my compliment like a strong woman. You are beautiful. You know you are.”
His thumb begins to run along my lips, the descent with his own eminent. I close my eyes, bracing for the kiss. The one I know needs to happen to make this look real. The one I’m dying for. It’s just a breath away and there is nothing that can stop…
“May I cut in?” Trey’s voice, the one I used to love but now cringe at the sound of. “Well, we. Evelyn will dance with Mason.”
“I don’t know…” Mason starts but my pushy sister steps between the two of us.
“Don’t be silly.” She insults. “She’ll be fine. It’s not like he wants to steal her away from you.”
This causes both of them to laugh and despite being against this we allow it to happen. Trey takes me into his arms as Mason does with Evelyn, only this time I keep my body far away from his. Once we float away from the other couple, Trey begins to talk.
“So, Mason is your boyfriend?” Trey asks, attempting to get closer to me.
Annoyed, I stiffen my arms to keep him at a distance. “He sure is. A pretty amazing one at that.”
“You know.” He leans into me. “Everyone who has seen this little charade thinks you’re lying.”
“Really?” I scoff. “I don’t give a shit.”
“Yup.” He pops the “p”. “Everyone but me. I KNOW it’s a lie.”
Praying to the God above that Mason decides to reclaim me again, I ask, “How do you know?”
He slithers closer, like the fucking snake he is and whispers, “Because no one could ever compare to me, Liv.” His slimy finger trails down my arm. “You could have had it all with me but you gave it up.”
I push off him, gaining as much distance as I can within a crowded dance floor. “Don’t touch me.”
“My God, Liv. She looks just like you.” He repeats his earlier statement, stepping closer. “I should have gone after her first. It would have made for less wasted time.”
Tears begin to prick at the sides of my eyes. He was never so callous before. “I’m sorry I wasted your time, Trey.” I turn to walk away. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
He grabs my arm, pulling my ear to his mouth. “It wasn’t all wasted. You definitely give better blowjobs than her. At least you swallowed.”
I snatch my arm away, slapping him across the face. “You’re fucking sick.”
My feet can’t carry me away fast enough. I can hear gasps and Trey calling me a bitch as I run toward the door that leads me to a staircase. Lifting my dress so I don’t step on it, my heels click against the metal stairs. I glance into the windows of the overfull second level, bypassing it and continuing my trek up the stairs.
The realization hits that I am stuck on this damn cruise for the next one hundred eighty minutes, surrounded by those I love who don’t think I’m good enough, those who betray me, who are overly opinionated and sick fucking ex-boyfriends. I just don’t get it. What the hell is wrong with these people?
Stepping on to the top deck of the Spirit, I find it’s completely open. Only a couple of people are up here. I spot another bar in the corner and make a beeline for it. I’ve never been much of a drinker, and I know just two more drinks will have me tipsy, but it will help the tension I feel. When I’m stressed, I have a glass of wine but that just won’t do tonight.
“Gin and tonic, please?” I request for the second time tonight. The bartender nods and starts to make my drink.
I look around the wide space as I wait for my beverage. There are tall tables with chairs, some couches, and beautiful views of the city that looks smaller the further we drift away from the shore. A couple stands at the edge. I don’t recognize them but they look happy, and it makes me feel so very lonely. I don’t understand why I feel this way. I’ve done just fine for the past year or so without a steady relationship.
Maybe it’s Mason. Maybe it’s because for the first time in a long time, I want that extra connection with someone now in my daily life. God, he is a pain in my ass, but when he isn’t around I miss him.
Jesus. I can’t believe I just had that thought. I miss Mason? No, I don’t miss him. I’m just still reeling from his touch this afternoon. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone’s hands caress my body. The callouses were everything I’d imagined, but it’s not Mason I miss, even if he is a great guy. If you pull back the layers of sarcasm and a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen whenever he is in the same room as me, you get a pretty amazing guy. From what I can tell he is smart with his money, does everything I ask him to with one hundred percent effort, is fully focused on his career but will drop everything to help someone who needs it. He’s good looking and takes care of himself mentally, by always brushing up on the latest education, and physically, by eating healthy and going to the gym. He is independent. I’ve never seen him ask for any favors from his father and he loves his mother. I’ve heard him send her flowers a few times. He’s dominating when it comes to sex, based on what he demonstrated to me this afternoon, and he showed up for me tonight. In a world where almost everyone I know seems to be letting me down, he showed up, and that makes me want him more than anything else.
“Uhm.” I turn to the bartender after that last thought. “I’m going to need a shot of tequila with that.”
The bartender places it in front of me. My fingers grip the small glass of amber liquid, forgoing the lime and salt and pour it down my throat. It burns but the heat takes the edge off that I have tonight. I grab my unfinished gin and tonic before making my way over to the railing to look out toward the water. More thoughts of Mason penetrate my mind.
I can’t want Mason, can I?
I can, and I do.