"Mr. Walton, Mr. Yilmaz is waiting for you in his office." Elsa's voice pulled me out of my thoughts making me look up at her and nod. She was beautiful and elegant as always. Elsa and I started working here together, and even though I was her boss, I never tried intimidating her, I wanted her to be comfortable around me. I knew she would be a great assistant the minute she walked into my office for her interview. I remember how shy yet how professional she was.

"Thank you, Elsa."

I took one last look at Celine's newest photo on Instagram before locking my phone and going to see Adam. She was in Costa Rica with some old guy. It's been a year since we broke up but it still stung like a bitch every time I remembered her and I still couldn't understand why she needed to be with older men, maybe it was the fact she grew up without a fatherly figure. All the playing around and one-night stands didn't help, but I always played it cool in front of everyone and made it seem like I forgot all about her and became a huge womanizer.

Knocking on Adam's door I wondered what he could want from me this early, we had an appointment scheduled this afternoon for the monthly report and the new project if we get it.

"Adam?"

"Mason hi, come in, take a seat." He signed a paper and handed it to his assistant before relaxing in his chair. "How are you?"

I raised an eyebrow "I don't think I was summoned here to tell you how I feel. What did I do this time?" Being the 'playboy' of the family as Adam puts it, he always caught me doing the wrong things... of course, he never told anyone about my long list of stupid things I did.

Adam chuckled shaking his head pulling me out of my own thoughts "Nothing, well maybe you did something. Mason, I'm proud of you for all your hard work and success. And I've been thinking a lot lately, you're right. I need to spend more time with my family, so I'm giving you more responsibilities around here if that's okay with you of course."

"You're proud of me?" I frowned "Adam is this a joke?" How could he be proud of me when just last night he caught me having sex with Alina, the head of HR?

"Why would I joke about this?" Adam got on his feet walking around his desk until he was facing me and taking a seat. He looked serious about this, there was no way he was fucking around.

"Just last night you looked at me like I was an alien or an abomination! Why would I believe you're proud of me?"

"Don't bring up last night or I'll fire Alina right away. It was wrong of both of you! She's the Head of HR for God's sake! What were you thinking?" he huffed and ran a hand through his hair "Look, I don't care who you sleep with, as long as it doesn't jeopardize our company, so I'd be grateful if you can keep it in your pants within this building."

I nodded forcing myself not to laugh so I don't rile him up even more.

"Alright. I'm proud of the work you've been doing here, not your behavior" he pointed his finger at me in a warning manner "Now, I want to spend more time with Lena and the kids, and to be honest she's giving me a hard time. Not that I'm complaining, she has every right to."

Adam and Helena have been in love forever, both of them as stubborn as a mule didn't want to admit their feelings for each other. They struggled a lot to be together, and they managed to build a pretty amazing family. That's what I was looking for with Celine, but I was only met with deceit. My sister made him promise to never be a workaholic like our dad, to always be on time for dinner, to always have time for date night, and other stuff like that. At first, Adam managed just fine, he was well organized and business was slow anyway, but with time, he missed too many dinners and date nights to upset Helena Walton.

I hated seeing her sad or feeling lonely and stepped in asking Adam for more responsibilities in order to give him more time with his family. But of course, knowing Adam, he had to consult with the almighty Zachary Walton who dismissed the idea right away saying I wasn't capable of running an empire just yet. It hurt a little coming from my own dad, but I knew he was right, Celine messed me up in so many ways.

"Of course she does, and that's why I made that proposition months ago. But I'm curious, what changed your mind?"

"You changed my mind, Mason. You're always there for Lena, no matter what, you show up even when you're having a bad day. I don't bring it up but I know what you're going through, and I respect you for being so strong never letting your feelings get in the way of your work. I think you're more than capable of running this company on your own, but let's take baby steps. You'll get more projects, attend more client meetings, make decisions on your own... But that's only if you still want to."

"Even if I don't, I hate seeing Helena miserable so yes, I'll do it." A smile spread on Adam's face and he extended a hand I shook with pride.

"Then we have a deal. As you know, James Williams is coming from Boston to share with us the concept of his new project. I'll be there, but you'll be leading the meeting, and you'll have the final decision. If you see his project fit for our company you have to make the best deal with him."

"Are you... Adam, are you sure? I mean, not that I'm doubting myself or anything but it's James Williams we're talking about!"

"I know, make me proud."

I paced my office back and forth for a few minutes still trying to wrap my head around everything. Adam has always been my older protective brother, he always had faith in me. But I thought after his talk with my dad he was never going to entrust me with such responsibilities. This was huge for me and for my career. As much as it was exciting, I was terrified and I was suddenly hit with a wave of panic. I looked out the window running a hand through my hair feeling a bit nervous about the upcoming meeting.

I hit the intercom button impatiently, tapping my fingers on my mahogany desk. Elsa never left her desk unless it was very important or if I sent her somewhere, but it took her too long to respond and as soon as she did I asked her to step into my office. If I'm leading the meeting, I have to prepare everything for said meeting and it just occurred to me that I still didn't do anything about it.

"Mr. Walton?"

"Elsa, I need you to prepare conference room 2, I just checked and no one booked it for the day."

Elsa looked at her tablet confused "Do we have a meeting that isn't in your program sir?"

"No, I want it for our meeting with Mr. Williams. I want you to really up your game Elsa, prepare the prints, bottled water, juice, and... Why are you looking like you just saw a ghost? Are you feeling well?"

"Yes... sorry, Mr. Walton, it's just that... usually, those meetings are Anna's responsibility and I think she already planned it all."

"No, she hasn't. Today it's yours and feel free to reach her if you have any doubts about anything." I pulled my chair and sat down looking up at Elsa slightly amused.

"Elsa?" I bit back a laugh as she shook her head and nodded "I'm leading the meeting Elsa that's why."

"Oh!" only then she wrote everything down and smiled from ear to ear "That's a huge step sir, I'm happy for you."

"Thank you Elsa, and please don't mess it up."

Grabbing the phone, there was only one person I wanted to share this with, Helena. I smiled imagining her making her awkward happy dance when I delivered the news but hang up before the first ring. Good thing I remembered! Adam asked me not to say anything to Helena just yet since it was their anniversary and he wanted to surprise her. I was also tasked to go to their house and help him set up the patio, before going inside and making it seem like he was stuck at the office. I let out a frustrated groan and decided to get back to work. I'll tell her later.

I was saving the progress I made on my current project when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I said without looking up from my screen.

"Mr. Walton, everything's ready and your meeting starts in ten minutes. I was told Mr. Williams is already here but he's looking around."

"Well, it's his first time here, let him look" I chuckled getting up after grabbing my notes and phone. "Are you ready Elsa? This is our first leading meeting, you need to be ready for this."

"I'm as ready as I can be sir, but you're the one who's leading not me." She smiled and surprised me by reaching over and fixing my tie. "Here, now you're ready."

"Thank you, Elsa," I smirked and walked past her "I'll check the conference room while you get me coffee. Make it strong please." I winked at her and head to the conference room hearing the staff talking about a certain businessman wandering around our floors and speaking with the employees. It was a bit weird but it didn't bother me, he probably wanted to know how we functioned before signing a contract with us.

Good job Elsa, I thought to myself looking around the meeting room. The flipchart was ready, the pamphlets printed and stacked on the table. Everything was in place even the food and beverage. What caught my eye were the flowers, she had placed vases of flowers in each corner making me roll my eyes. But it was an effort I wasn't going to overlook.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know there was anyone in here, I would have knocked."

The softest voice I ever heard made me turn around wondering whom it belonged to. It was familiar yet unknown. Before me, was standing the most gorgeous woman on earth. No, in the galaxy. She was standing tall and slender, in her white skirt suit that clashed with her caramel-tanned skin. Her face was just angelic with her big bright brown eyes staring at me in confusion. Her plump lips called to me and I found myself walking toward her as a siren calls to sailors.

She cleared her throat breaking the spell, not entirely though, I was still taken with her beauty but did my best to stop staring.

"No, it's okay, don't worry about it." I gave her my famous charming smile in hope of scoring some points with her.

She smiled blushing but met my eyes again and gasped "Mason? Mason Walton?"

Oh uh... have I drunkenly slept with her and lost my chances? That would be so... I looked at her again, really looked at her eyes, her small lovely nose, her hair... and it hit me I never slept with her. I always wished to be with her since junior high though. I'll be damned!

"Katrina Johnson?"