Loose Ends

CHAPTER ONE- THE NIGHT

SOFIA’S POV

My heart was racing really fast. I kept squeezing my hands--one with the other, watching every second on the clock. The few times I would take my eyes off the clock was to peep at the door, awaiting Mason’s arrival.

I was overly excited, I almost couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t wait to tell him. Our greatest desire was now right here with us. After a long period of waiting, it was finally here!

“We’re done ma’am,” the decorator reported.

I turned around. She indeed had done a stellar job. Each inflated balloon brought to mind the future that was now very close. Two shades of brown and cream balloons–the color pallet I carefully chose to make this big announcement to my husband. I nodded, approving of their job and the caterers and decorators picked their bags and left.

Everything looked perfect, even better than I imagined. After five long years of trying, I finally get to tell my husband the good news. Mason was the best thing to ever happen to me and not having a child was the only thing our perfect union lacked. I was overly excited to share that our wait was finally over.

I practiced my speech, staring at the window and waiting for his car to drive in. It was almost 8pm, which was about the time Mason returned home. He worked like a clock and only stayed late on days the office had something huge. I had called earlier to confirm that it was a regular day, and if my calculations were right, he was to walk in any moment now.

I paced around the living room, counting down the seconds, and slowly, seconds became minutes and minutes became hours. My anxiety did not decrease a single bit. I became increasingly worried that he did not show yet, even at 11pm. I called Mason a hundred times, but there was no response. I felt my heart gradually become too heavy for my chest.

“What is going on? This is very unlike Mason.”

I knew Mason too well. He was a hard worker, but today was a special day for both of us and even though I didn’t want to be too obvious, I did throw hints that I wanted him to return early. I waited another fifteen minutes, but the anxiety was killing me, I could no longer contain it.

I picked my car keys, ready to go in search of him. My phone came buzzing on the table. I picked it up and immediately recognized the caller. It was Claire, Mason’s assistant.

“Hello? Claire?” I responded with the anticipation that had built up in me, but I got no response. “Claire?” I called and a couple more times after that. I only picked on movements are labored breathing over the phone.

I completely lost my mind. ‘Had there been an accident?’ I fled out of the house and drove speedingly to the office, checking the road for any accident scenes on my way. It was almost the middle of the night and the roads were almost empty–a very smooth ride all the way to Carter Finances.

Mason’s vehicle was nowhere in sight and all the windows reflected no light, except for the windows of Mason's office on the third floor. My heart was pumping faster than my body could carry. Every step I took towards his office filled me with terror. I quaked greatly.

‘Were they robbed? Was Mason okay? Why didn't Claire say anything over the phone?’ As all my questions went unanswered, tears streamed down my cheeks. It was now a pattern for my life to down the hill after it arrived the peak. First, it was my father and now Mason.

As I drew closer to the office, I tiptoed. The door was slightly opened and I didn't want to be caught in a terrible situation, Incase the robbers were still around.

“Mason,” a heard a soft call. It was not difficult to place the voice. It was Claire's. I could pick it anywhere because she was my assistant before she became Mason's. Her voice was weak, but not in the way that suggested she was in trouble. It was immediately followed by moaning.

I held the door knob. The opening through the door was too small to see anything going on inside. My ears were telling me something else, but my heart would no believe. Mason was a prankster. He liked to play jokes. It was our seventh anniversary and I still hadn't gotten over the death prank he pulled on me on our first anniversary.

I smiled broadly, realizing I had fallen again for one of his classic pranks. I waited at the door to catch my breath. I wasn't about to enter and revealed to him that he had gotten me and really good. I had a surprise of my own and didn't think of his pranks.

“I could do this all night,” I heard Mason’s voice.

“Well, it’s your fault you still have to return to that woman.” Claire responded.

I couldn't tell if this was still part of the prank, so I stayed put, slowly releasing the door knob.

“I've been wanting to leave her for the longest, but you wouldn't leave without the company,” Mason's voice grew stronger.

“Because I worked for this company and poured my life into it, Mason. I'm the reason this company is here. I know it, you know it and even that lousy wife of yours know it.” Claire snapped.

My entire space started to spin and my head felt like it had been met with a mallet from behind.

“I can't just make any sudden moves, if she suspects, it's all gone to waste.” I heard their steps approach the door as Mason explained to her. I pulled away from the door a little bit. “If you would just be a bit more patient, all of that is about to change, but she cannot…”

Claire flung the door open and froze on the spot at the sight of me. Mason, who was following behind her noticed me standing right in front of the door. We were all overwhelmed with the element of shock.