Crash (A Billionaire Contract Romance)

Not Happening

“What the f**k?” I was wrong, I was very, very wrong. I honestly thought that Mason understood what I said. I stupidly trusted that for once in his life he actually listened.

Stupid, so stupid of me to think that, look at his track record. Now I have a brand new vase full of flowers, beautiful just like before, but this time they are purple, I love them but he really, really shouldn’t have.

Next to them sits a long slim box, it’s small, jewelry? A much bigger box next to it, this one I’m sure is more baking supplies. Tempting but again, he shouldn’t have.

It was slow at the restaurant today, so they sent me home early, I didn’t want to lose the hours but I’m the black sheep, the first to go.

It’s 2 PM, Thursday again. The weeks have been long, dinner with Jude and Sean is my only saving grace. Jude really is a great kid who was beyond excited to have his own room, they were already planning how to decorate it, I think there are going with the Marvel characters. Sean made spaghetti and meatballs, with a slice of garlic bread, it was delicious. I brought my stuff down to make more cookies, figured it would be good to start there. Every second of it was fun, Jude is coming over Sunday I think we’re going to make a pie.

Other than dinner this week has been long and dreadful. Everything Mason has to offer me haunts me. If it isn’t Mason its Brian haunting my every thought. I can’t really think of one without the other. I grab the card from the flowers, reading it.

Let’s fix a piece at a time. Together

See you Saturday

-Mason

P.S. I can still feel your sweet lips against mine

Too curious to not look, I open the jewelry box, my breath escaping me in a rush. A thin rose gold chain rests on a soft silk pillow. Three small charms hang off of the band. Each charm is small, delicate, matching in color with the chain.

The first is a curved puzzle piece, with a small diamond sparkling in the center. The second makes me laugh, it’s a tiny little box with tools etched in the side. The last is a beautiful peach charm with a little green leaf just barely poking off the top. He really liked that Peach Mousse Trifle.

I pick the bracelet up to get a good look at the charms. It really is beautiful. Too bad I have to take it back. Setting it carefully back in I snap the box closed.

Turning to the big box I peel the lid off, shaking my head I put the lid right back on. He bought me new pans, a new mixer, a mixing bowl, and that’s just what I saw from a glance. Setting the box with the bracelet on top, I gather it all up. Leaving only the flowers.

I put it in my car and search google until I find what I’m looking for, I might not have his number or his address but I do know where he works, Dixie headquarters here I come.

It takes fifteen minutes to get there, park, and walk to the front desk in the lobby on the first floor. The building Is massive, besides the back wall the lobby’s walls are all windows. The front desk is huge, tall, and long taking up a large portion of the middle of the room, a floating wall with Dixie Incorporation is behind the Thirty-something, women with tight curly black hair, caramel colored skin, with exotic-looking, green eyes. Her phone seems to ring often, her eyes scanning the room with a hawk-like gaze.

The box is heavy so I set it at my feet when I get to her desk.

“Hi, I was wondering if Mason Maverick is here?” She raises her eyebrows when I say Mason’s name.

“Do you have an appointment with Mr. Maverick?”

“No, but…”

“If you don’t have an appointment you’ll have to leave.” She dismisses me, looking down to her now ringing phone.

“He sent me this stuff I want to return it. Can I leave it here?”

“You’ll have to contact him. Take it with you, now please I have work to do.” She grabs the phone, stopping me from saying anything else for the moment, but I’m not budging. I’ll sit out here till he leaves if I have to.

This man needs a lesson in listening, respect, and boundaries.

She glares at me through her call, I glare right back.

“If you don’t leave I’ll be forced to call security.” I hear the doors open behind me, but don’t look back, I’m getting this s**t to Mason no matter what.

“Or you can call Mason's office, tell him Aria is here, and see what happens.”

“That’s not how it works, you have five seconds to collect your things and exit the building before I call security.”

“Aria? You’re the waitress at El Tentacion right?” turning towards the new voice, I see the man that was at the table with Mason, Lauren, and her minions a couple of weeks ago. He has a devilish smirk, wearing a fitted designer suit he’s extremely attractive, again he seems familiar somehow.

“Mr. Maverick hope your lunch went well.” The receptionist's voice comes from behind me. Mr. Maverick, Mason’s brother? Or a cousin? He’s definitely a few years younger than Mason, with darker features but I can definitely see the resemblance. The Maverick men are bad for women’s ovaries everywhere.

He doesn’t respond waiting for an answer from me. “Sure am, Sorry if your suit was ruined.”

“I needed a new one anyway! You’re looking for my brother?” He looks me over, taking in my work clothes, messy hair, and the box at my feet. He’s quick to scoop up the jewelry box on top. Opening he asks “Mason got this for you?”

“Unfortunately, he has a listening problem and I’m here to remind him of what we agreed, so If you could show me where he is that would be great.” I grab the box out of his hand as he holds the bracelet up, inspecting the charms.

“Why, it not expensive enough?”

“Really? I have no interest in knowing how much it costs, as is. It’s too much.” Grabbing it out of his hand I set it back down carefully closing the lid. “Now are you going to take me to him or do you want to take this s**t?”

“What’s in the box?” He makes a grab for it so I step in front of it, clearly ignoring everyone else is a Maverick trait.

“It’s none of your business, now will someone please call Mason down here or take me to his office?”

“Oh, I’ll definitely call him down here, I want to see this.” His smirk is big, he sees me as some drama to throw at his brother and he’s loving it. I’m positive he’ll get the show he wants too, and I don’t even feel bad about it. We wouldn’t be in this situation if Mason listened.

“Mason, I’m starting to think you need some lessons in seduction man.” He’s enjoying this, there’s a teasing glint in his eyes, and his smirk is still firmly in place. Mason says something because his brother laughs and says “While I have Aria down here, says she doesn’t want your gifts. I’m thinking she’ll like mine a lot better”. He laughs harder now before his phone disconnects.

“He’ll be down there in a minute max. I’m Jaxson.” He tries to shake my hand but I just raise my eyebrows at him.

“You’re trouble Jaxson and I want nothing to do with it. Go make yourself comfy. Your brother is going to be mad, I think you’ll enjoy it.” He laughs some more, moving to the side and leaning on the reception desk, where the girl from before just watches with a spark of jealousy lighting her eyes.

The elevator dings not even a minute after Jaxson’s phone disconnects, the doors opening up to my very own wet dream in person. He looks angry as he walks over, taking in the boxes with Jaxson and the receptionist clearly watching.

“Crash.” Standing taller I meet his anger with my own.

“We came to an understanding Mason, you’re breaking that.”

“Let’s go to my office.” I like the idea of Mason suffering a little with Jaxson to bear witness, I also just don’t want to do anything Mason suggests, in spite. Mature, I know.

“Right here is perfect.” He narrows his eyes at me, he is not happy.

“Aria.”

“Mason.” Jaxson is chuckling behind us.

“I didn’t agree to shit.” Finally, he gives in to me, listening and understanding I have a voice and he needs to listen to it. We’re going to do this here and now. But his response pisses me off.

Throwing my hands up I almost screech, “Leave me alone Mason, stop sending me flowers and gifts! Stop showing up all over the place, just leave me alone.”

“Why so you can hide in your kitchen, so you don’t have to feel anything?” he walks right up to me, crowding me back into the reception desk, just like always trapping me within the safety and comfort of his arms. “So, you can let life pass you by never living your life, never giving yourself a chance to be happy?”

“I will be happy in..”

“In five years, yeah I heard you. Until then Crash?” His face is inches from mine, his lips hovering so close but not touching. My body reacts like always, betraying me.

“Until then doesn’t matter, and it’s none of your business. Stop with it all Mason, I’m not kidding.”

“Because you think you’re broken.”

“I know I am.” He shakes his head unflinching. Placing my hands on his chest I grab a little of his dress shirt. “You deserve better than what I have to offer Mason.”

“You don’t get to decide that for me Crash.” He steps away from me, bending to grab the boxes. “Come on.”

“See you soon Aria!” Jaxson calls from behind us as I follow Mason out of the building but stop as he continues to a parking garage.

“I parked over here Mase.”

“Okay, show me.”

“I got it, you should put that stuff in your car.” I nod towards the box, I don’t know what he thinks but he didn’t change my mind, Mason and I are not happening. Maybe I’m weak letting fear control me, letting the past affect my future, but at some point, I have to choose my own self-preservation.

Mason Maverick creates feelings that could wash away the little glue I’ve managed to use to mend some of my pieces back together.

“It’s yours, Sweetheart. You’re taking it.”

“We’re arguing like children, I can’t accept your gifts, they were beautiful, thoughtful even. So, thank you, but no thank you. Stop with all this Mason, you have a lot of options to pick from, start looking elsewhere.” I wave my goodbye, hurrying across the street to my car, having a feeling I’m kidding myself, Mason Maverick has a role in my life and I don’t know if I can fight it for much longer.