Worst Fear 129

He may have looked away quickly, but I’ve been with Mason for a long time to know it was him. Why was he in the same restaurant and acting sneaky like that? I refused to believe this was a coincidence. 

However, I was grateful that he didn’t try to speak to me. That was enough. 

The next day, I found a pack of my favourite snack. It was a surprise he still remembered. I smiled as I munched on it later that evening while reading a novel online. 

“Who brought these flowers!” I inquired as Mia pushed a bouquet into my hands. “I don’t know.” She said and shrugged her shoulders, “You seem to have so many admirers, and I’m not surprised about that.” She added before she walked out. 

I squinted, bringing out the attached note, a part of me wondering if it was from the reporter. What did he snap and send this time? 

All my worries vanished when I opened the note. The beautiful handwriting caught my attention at first, then the content. I caught myself smiling as i read it. 

“I think about you all the time, beautiful Lydia.” I read out loud, tasting the words on my lips. His Initial at the bottom proved my thoughts were right, it was from him. 

“M” Marcus would not send this. It has to be Mason. 

Now seated in the car, I leaned my head to the side, remembering all Mason has done. I felt my chest flutter. I couldn’t believe I was getting butterflies like a high school student. 

“You’ve been smiling so much since you got the flowers. Who sent them? I saw a note attached to it. What did it say?” A curious Mia asked. 

My cheeks grew warm. Why was she asking that? “Well, it’s nothing important.” I adjusted my seat and tried to school my expression. 

“But your face says otherwise.” Mia, who is seated beside me, turned to me with wide eyes, “It seems you got a new lover, or…” she paused, stroking her chin, “maybe I can guess the sender.” She eyed me suspiciously, “It was Mason, right?” 

“What are you saying?” I scoffed, looking away from her, “Why would he send me flowers?” I slapped my face, my heart was racing. This felt good and bad at the same time. 

“Oh, really, then why are you blushing so hard?” She giggled, no doubt, having so much fun teasing me. I straightened, deciding to change the topic. 

“What’s on the schedule tomorrow?” Lasked frienging seriousness 

“Trying to divert the topic, are we now?” Mia asked in a mischievous voice. 

“Mia, do you want to walk home?” I asked, hardening my She raised her hand over her head in surrender and leaned back. 

“We have a meeting tomorrow.” She said, scrolling down the iPad she held. 

I pretended not to listen as she went on, but the truth was that I wasn’t listening. I knew the schedule by heart. At noon, we’ll be meeting with Mason and Mr. Gladdins for a collaboration we were doing. 

My phone beeped. I picked it up just as the driver took a turn, entering the lane that led to my house. It was a message from Mason. I tapped on it, staring at Mia from the corner of my eye to see if she was looking at me. She wasn’t. 

Mason: Hey, how did your day go? Want to chat later? 

I stared at the message, passing my hands over the keyboard. “Yes, I want to chat.” I deleted it, it seems too direct and desperate. 

 

“Ma’am, we’re here.” I raised my head to see the driver looking at me. I didn’t realise we got home already. 

Mia stepped out with me. She wants to have dinner before going home. “Who sent you a message?” Mia asked as we walked. I quickly placed my phone inside my bag. 

“You are too nosy,” I said, increasing my pace; she did the same. “No employee does that to their boss,” I said, with kicked seriousness. She grabbed hold of my hand instead and pulled herself to me. 

“That ended the moment we drove in. I’m home, and the contract doesn’t bind us here, so fill me in.” She said excitedly as we walked in, and I found myself laughing with her. 

The next day, at noon, Mia and I left for the meeting. We got there first. 

“I can believe they are late.” Three chairs surround a round table. Two bottles of wine were placed on top, along with three glasses. 

Mr. Gladdins was the first to arrive. He walked in with his shoulders on the same level as his head. He came in alone, around the table, his eyes assessing 

Mia and me at the same time. 

I stood, offering him a handshake. He held my hand longer than I wanted, a small smile plastered on his lips. “You are an absolute beauty, Miss Ali His voice is deep and firm. 

“You have good eyes,” I said, taking my seat, not giving any man the pleasure to receive thanks for a beauty that was mine. 

He looked towards Mia. “You brought your secretary?” No, I don’t like that tone. Demeaning, like he was trying to drive home a point. 

“Yes.” I tried to remain polite, although nothing about him pleased me. Well, I am not a believer that first impressions matter a lot. I think continuous impressions do the trick. So far, I do not like this man. Something about him just didn’t sit well with me. 

Mr. Gladdins was about to speak when the door opened. I turned to see Mason entering the room. 

He wore a black Italian suit. His hair was combed back, and a few strands fell forward. He looked regal and a little too handsome. 

My heart skipped a beat as he came closer. He stopped by my side, “Miss Ly- Alissa.” He extended his hand. Mia nudged my side, and I broke free from the spell he seemed to have cast on me. 

I stood, pushing my chair backwards, “hi…” Hi? Are you serious, Lydia? 

“Mr. Mason Woods.” I shook his hand, my palm disappeared under those big ones. 

Now seated, Mr. Gladdins was the first one to speak, “Why don’t we send the secretary outside?” Of course, I wasn’t going to like anything that comes from that mouth of his. 

“This meeting is secret from now on, and we don’t want words going round.” Well, we have nothing to fear. I trusted Mia like I did myself. She wouldn’t go about saying things she shouldn’t. That I’m sure of. 

“There is no-” 

“Fine, they’ll wait outside.” 

Mason and I spoke at the same time. I jerked my head towards him, lifting a brow. If he doesn’t trust his P.A., I did mine. 

“Good, that’s settled then.” Mr. Gladdins said, looking from Daniel to Mia. I sent Mia an apologetic look as she left, then glared at Mason, who hadn’t spared me another look after shaking my hand earlier. 

This jerk, forget what I said about him looking handsome, he wasn’t, at all. 

Two hours later, we were still discussing the terms of the contract. It wasn’t anything hard, I never thought it would take this long. And just as you guessed, Mr. Gladdins was the problem. He seemed to disagree on everything. 

 

“How about we take a short break?” He asked. 

Are you kidding me? Take a break? What did he think this was? His playground, where he could decide the rules? Hell no. 

“We shouldn’t-” 

“That sounds like a good idea.” 

Once again, just as I start to disagree, Mason has agreed. I ground my teeth together as I stared at him. Why the fuck was he doing this? 

“Thirty minutes should be enough.” He added. What was I unaware of? Why did Mason seem to be quick to agree to whatever Mr. Gladdins says? I never pegged him as one who would blindly agree to anything. 

“I don’t think that is necessary,” I said, not ready to let this go this time. “We are all busy people with packed schedules. We can’t spend all day here 

“We also need time to think, don’t you agree, Mr. Woods?” He asked, and Mason nodded. I couldn’t possibly go against the two of them, so I di 

We’d be working together for a long time if we agreed, that means seeing each other, so it would be best if we are on good terms. 

“I’ll be back in ten, I want to quickly grab something.” Mason excused himself, leaving me and Mr. Gladdins alone in the room. 

I didn’t want to have to speak to him, so I picked up my phone and walked to the side, placing a call to my mom. Mom sounded busy, hence we had little time to chat. 

Immediately the call ended, I heard silent footsteps behind me, before I could turn fully, a firm hand gripped 

Mr. Gladdins? 

me by my waist and pulled me close to him.