Chapter Six
Mason
“Alright, so let’s start this off. How old are you?”
The woman across from me crossed her long, toned legs, laughing lightly at my first question. “Age is just a number, but 45.”
I tried giving her a grin as Hunter, who sat beside me, laughed too. She gave him a smile, then turned her attention back to me. Kristen was a powerful potential client. As far as I could tell, she had a witty personality that might come on too strong for most average guys, but could easily attract smart businessmen. The analysis came so easily to me, now. I hardly seemed to have to think about it anymore.
“What do you do for a living?” Hunter asked.
“I’m a CEO of a fashion house.”
“Why are you looking for love?”
She rolled her eyes. “I have a lovely asshole ex-husband who cheated on me with some models. He always liked the younger girls, but about a year ago I had had it. I wouldn’t usually admit this...” she leaned over, confidentially speaking to me. Her eyes took me in now, and I wondered if she had leaned over to present her large—likely fake—breasts to me. I stayed attentive. “I was really hurt, more so by the model he cheated with than by him. It was his loss.” She gave me a wink.
“Exactly.” I smiled back at her.
“Well, I simply want a real man in my life, is that so much to ask?” She eyed me again, eyes glancing downward a little.
I folded my hands over my desk and nodded at her. “Sure.”
I instinctively rattled off the next question. “What is your biggest fantasy?”
“Oooh,” she said, “Let’s see...”
I had asked Harper that question not so long ago. Harper’s fantasy had been about me—at least, that’s what I had fantasized as she had described the scene. She wanted me to wine and dine her and treat her like the beautiful woman she was, appreciating both her body and mind.
And I had, in reality. I had taken her under the soft glow of stars, beneath nature’s greatest glories. I had opened her up to me, mentally and physically, willing her to trust me and give me everything. And she had, given me everything.
I could hear Kristen’s voice in the back of my mind, the words now incomprehensible, muffled. Harper’s voice was much more clear, describing to me things she had never said to anyone, trusting me. But the lies had been too much for her, and I couldn’t stop missing her, wanting her near me.
“Asher,” Hunter mumbled, nudging me with his foot.
“I’m sorry, what?”
Kristen blinked. I realized she had asked me a question. Her face was a little flushed, as she stared at me.
Natalie entered, making us all jump in surprise as she gave Kristen an apologetic smile. “Asher, I need you for a moment.”
I excused myself as Kristen composed herself, watching me as I walked through the door. Avery Gaines stood before me, arms crossed. She didn’t back down as I closed the door behind me,
“Wow, you look like shit.” Avery quipped as she stood in front of me. She was definitely one to speak her mind, which was likely exactly why she was still single.
I exchanged a glance with Natalie. She nodded, walking off to attend to her own business.
“I guess I deserve that, it’s been a rough few days. I’ve been trying to get in touch with Harper for days, but she won’t take my calls or answer my texts.” I paused, waiting for some information from the usually talkative Avery, but she didn’t say a word. She knew Harper better than anyone I knew, but she didn’t seem willing to share anything with me.
“Why am I here? I thought Natalie wanted to talk to me about next week. She said you wanted to speak with me.”
I stared at her for a moment, trying to comprehend her words. “I—I wanted to make sure you were paid and I was hoping that maybe you could get something to Harper for me.” I produced two envelopes from my pants pocket, handing them to her. She observed them.
“Why two envelopes?”
“One is for Harper.”
“I’m pretty sure money isn’t going to help this situation.”
I shrugged. “Give it to her anyway.” I stood and waited for some sort of response, but got nothing other than her hard stare. “As far as the other mixer, I interviewed a really nice, genuine guy. He’s outspoken, fun. I think you two would hit it off.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “The last one really didn’t go so well, and I don’t exactly have a desire to compete with a roomful of pretentious girls.”
“Well, if you’re serious about finding love, I can make arrangements. You won’t have to go to a mixer, I’ll just make the introduction and let you two go at it from there.”
She paused for a moment, chewing on her lip. “No, this just really isn’t for me. Thanks though, Mas—Asher.” She took Harper’s envelope in her other hand, toying with it before handing it back to me. “I think maybe you should bring this to her in person. She’s at work, Lucky’s Bar on Third Ave.” Avery looked deep into my eyes as she delivered her last words to me, “Mason, she really cared about you and you really screwed things up. It’s funny, you find love for others and know exactly what they need to do, but you can’t even follow your own advice.”
With that, she turned and walked away. I felt her words stinging, even minutes later. She was right. Harper didn’t want to talk to me, and it was because of what I had done. I had to tell her how I felt, to apologize for the deceit and try to make things right.