Mason Walton

We've been in this meeting room for two hours now, and my focus was more on Katrina than Mr. Williams. I could feel Adam's anger radiating from where he was seated but I couldn't care less. I lead the meeting successfully and did exactly as he asked me to. I put aside my angst and convinced Mr. Williams to work with us. It wasn't my fault the client was questioning everything about our company and the way we worked. I was more preoccupied with Katrina's presence as an executive assistant to Mr. Williams more than anything else. Last I asked about her I was told she was studying law at Harvard and was excelling. So what was a law graduate doing as an assistant?

I looked at her skeptically for a few seconds but only earned a kick from Adam under the table. I looked at him pointedly and let out a sigh before straightening in my chair.

"Mr. Williams, as I told you before, a whole team will be working only and fully on your project. We've had the opportunity to work on huge projects like this one before and we never failed." I nodded at Elsa who handed him a folder containing photos of our biggest projects. "I'll be the leading architect on your project and I'll be reporting to you every other week."

"Are you prepared to fly down to Boston once a week to give me a full report?" he asked me expectantly.

That was not what I had in mind when I offered to report every week. I glanced at Adam who was smirking at me and probably waiting to hear my response.

"well, to be honest, most reports can be done over the phone and by e-mail, but if that's what you would like sir, than yes. I'd gladly fly over once a week."

Mr. William's smile widened and he looked at Adam grinning "That young man is a keeper Mr. Yilmaz. We have a deal" He stood up and we shook hands sealing the deal.

All I wanted was for them to leave so I could have a minute with Katrina since earlier as soon as I realized who she was Adam and Mr. Williams strode in after her. It was impossible for me to ask her anything.

Adam invited Mr. Williams to his office to celebrate and I watched Katrina as she gathered her things.

"Mason? Aren't you coming?" Adam asked with a frown.

"I'll be a minute" I said picking up my phone and bit a laugh as he rolled his eyes before leaving the room.

"Elsa, would you please give us a minute?"

Elsa looked from me to a surprised and may I add confused Katrina back and forth before nodding "Of course sir." She grabbed her tablet and notes and left us alone in a hurry.

"Katrina Johnson" I put my hands in my pockets and walked toward her.

She tucked a strand of her wavy hair behind her ear and smiled shyly "Mason Walton." She crossed her arms over her chest trying to act casual but it was clear she was nervous.

I leaned back against the wall "It's been so long hasn't it?"

"Yes it has... I think the last time I saw you was high school graduation."

"Exactly, and I waved at you and was making my way to you but you had disappeared."

"Oh, I..." she looked around as if looking for an escape making me smile. She was so adorable.

"Hey, it's okay" I chuckled "Don't worry about it. I just always wondered why you kept running from me throughout high school. It was hard keeping up with you to be honest."

Her smile faded and she just shrugged before leaning down to pick up her things "Well, it was nice seeing you again Mr. Walton."

"Mr. Walton? Where did that come from?"

"It seems we'll be working together now, it's only fair I call you Mr. Walton. It wouldn't be appropriate otherwise."

I frowned standing up "Are you running from me again?"

She froze at my bluntness and glanced at me "I'm not, I have a job to do and I don't want Mr. Williams to look for me and not find me."

"Alright, that's a fair explanation.  But at least tell me why you're working with him as his assistant and not in his legal team?"

"Mason, please let's discuss this another time I really need to go... I can't lose this job."

"Okay... I'm sorry. At least... at least give me your number, we're in need of a lawyer..." I grabbed a paper from the table and wrote down my number giving it to her.

She shyly took it and hesitated for a second before writing down her own. "Here you go Mason. It was nice seeing you."

I watched her leave with a ghost of a smile on my face. It wasn't a huge success, she was still running away nothing changed. But seeing her felt so good. She changed a lot, she had grown into a beautiful lady. Looking down at her number I immediately pulled out my phone from my pocket and saved it.

On my way to my office I saw Katrina talking to Anna, Adam's assistant. She was smiling and laughing and seemed so relaxed I thought maybe I was the reason she was nervous. She couldn't see me from where I was standing and when I heard Elsa's voice I felt like a creep watching her from here.

I turned slowly "Yes Elsa?"

"Mr. Walton, you have a meeting with Johnathan Webster." She said looking at me expectantly.

"I'm on my way Elsa, is Tara with him?" John was Tara's brother and her manager. I didn't get too well with him and hated when he came alone.

"I'm afraid he is alone sir." I nodded following her to my office seeing him already seated and sipping coffee. Next time I'll make sure to have Tara with us. Our company buys her art for our projects, and since Tara and I are friends, I'm the one who has to deal with her spoiled brother. Maybe next time I'll send him in Adam's way...

"Finally!" I whispered to myself as I set up the last candle. I looked over at Adam and grinned seeing how nervous he was. After work we both rushed to his house going through the back gate and set up a romantic dinner for him and Helena. He wanted to make up for everything as well as celebrate their anniversary. It was a good distraction actually because since I saw Katrina all I could think about was text or call her and I didn't want to spook her out.

"Stop whining, go get her, just give me time to set up the food."

I smirked walking to the front door and using my key to let myself in. knowing her, she was probably still in the twins room.

"Helena? You there?" I called out while taking off my suit jacket immediately hearing footsteps on the stairs.

"Mason" She gave me a small hug and messed up my hair just to annoy the hell out of me, she always did that. "I forgot you had a key and thought it was Adam."

"Well don't look so sad, I'm considered great company you know" I smirked rolling up the sleeves of my dress shirt.  I glanced at Helena and realized she was staring at me with the creepiest smile ever. I wondered what she was thinking about, I could always guess but not tonight, she had this glint in her eyes that was saying too much.

"I'm not sad Mase, I just miss him." she shrugged and made her way to the kitchen "Want some wine?"

"Yeah sure." I followed her with my hands in my pockets "I know you miss him Helena, but remember that major client from Boston who contacted us about a new project? James Williams? Well, we had an important meeting with him that we couldn't postpone and James couldn't make it until six pm so it's not really Adam's fault. And trust me, he wasn't happy about it." Of course that was a lie and we were just outside setting everything up for her surprise.

"Of course he wasn't" She rolled her eyes handing me a glass  of wine "And of course he sent you to keep me company until his meeting is over."

I took a sip before nodding.

"Well Mason it's not enough." She gulped her wine and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. I followed her and watched her as she sat near the window where she could see Adam when he gets home. it saddened me to see her so upset, but I knew everything was about to change.

"Hey look at me," I took a seat next to her and took her hand in mine "Don't be mad at him. He's doing his best to keep his and our dad's legacy to its peak. He's a good guy and I'm sure he hates doing this to you." I smiled weakly at her as she wiped her tears.

"I know he's a good guy Mason or I wouldn't have married him. But he promised to put us first no matter what. He promised to always be home for dinner, he promised to never keep me waiting. He bailed on me twice this month for date night! I know he's doing his best for the company but he's disregarding my feelings and it's annoyingly upsetting!" she took a deep breath after her outburst and closed her eyes. "He's not late every night, but still, being late at least ten times a month is frustrating."

I couldn't  take it anymore and pulled her into a comforting but silent hug. I knew she was right but Adam had no other choice and I knew he was trying to fix everything but it wasn't my place to tell her. I needed to distract her.

"Hey, do you remember Kat?" I asked her out of the blue

Helena raised her eyebrow not knowing who I was talking about, how could she? I grinned "Of course you don't. Katrina Johnson, from high school? Rings a bell?"

"Oh!! The cute shy girl you had a crush on! What about her? Spill the beans!"

"Katrina is still the same quiet and shy girl, well woman." I ran a hand through my hair "She works for Williams as an assistant even though she has a law degree." I paused for a second  "We talked a bit, she was surprised to find me there and we exchanged numbers..."

"Nice job Mase! I remember how much you tried to talk to her in high school, she would always run for the hills." Helena laughed heartedly, a sound I loved to hear.

"It's nothing like that Helena. You know, after what Celine did to me I gave up on love and serious relationships. I only gave her my number because I may have mentioned we may need a lawyer..." I looked down at my shoes knowing we didn't really need a lawyer.

"I know don't remind me of that bitch! She's the reason you've turned into the biggest playboy of all times!" She chuckled "But does Katrina have any kind of experience? I mean you know Adam wouldn't hire someone with zero experience. Especially when it comes to the legal team."

"I know, but she could always start as an intern, maybe an assistant to one of the lawyers and if she's any good she'll become a lawyer herself."  I received a text from Adam telling me he was ready and waiting.

"Would you like to get some fresh air by the pool?"

"The boys are asleep; I don't want them to wake up while I'm outside."

"Yeah... why don't you turn on the baby phone? Please I could really use some fresh air now."

Helena hesitated a bit, I knew she wasn't in the mood but she would never say no to me. She went upstairs while I made my way to the kitchen for more wine and waited by the door leading to the garden.

"I gotta use the bathroom, take that outside I'll be out shortly. And don't start drinking without me!" I lied to her and pretended to go to the bathroom as she walked out. Once she was out I went to the window and watched them with a smile for a few seconds "You'll thank me later sis" I made my way to the front door and left.

That's what I once wanted with Celine... I guess we can't always have what we want.