Mason Walton

I pushed the door to my hotel room open and stepped inside with a bored sigh. After breakfast, I went to Martin's office for a couple of hours before we both went out for lunch. Now that I was back, I needed something to distract me from checking my phone every two seconds and see if Katrina sent me a text or not. I took off my jacket suit and hung it before heading to the desk where my laptop was sitting. I turned it on and started catching up on some work.

One hour of working and I still couldn't take Katrina out of my mind. She was such a tease leaving a 'maybe' in the air before acting as nothing happened. I groaned pushing my laptop away and getting on my feet as I loosened my tie looking out of the window. With a sigh, I grabbed my phone from the counter about to call her when I received a text from her.

KJ: coffee?

MW: Where?

KJ: Le Petit Café. Ten minutes?

KJ: It's just coffee.

I rolled my eyes typing my response saying I'll be there. I didn't care if it was just coffee, I was happy I could spend some time with her. I took off my vest and tie wanting to seem more casual, but with a look in a mirror, I changed my mind. I put on a pair of blue jeans with a white button-up shirt which sleeves I rolled up. Once ready, I left the hotel in a hurry and googled the Café in order to find out where it was. Luckily for me, it wasn't that far.

Le petit café was a cozy-looking coffee shop with plants everywhere and a book corner. While scanning the place for Katrina I noticed it wasn't crowded, it was actually calm. My eyes settled on her, she was still wearing her sexy black outfit from this morning. She had her hair in a tight bun and her face was buried in a book. I took a deep breath before joining her at her table.

"Mind if I join you?"

She looked up from her book and smiled at me "Mason, hi!"

"Hi," I chuckled pulling the chair out and taking a seat. "How are you?"

"I'm good, I just got out of work so I thought I'd make some time for you before going home."

"Well, how nice of you," I smirked leaning back into my chair as a waitress brought us the menus "I was working myself when you texted, but of course, I left everything and came running." I winked at her earning the cutest blush ever.

The coffee and dessert we ordered didn't take long to be served. I was still staring at her not believing she agreed to meet me.

"You come here a lot?"

"Yes, I like it here. It's never too busy and... stop staring at me," She giggled tucking a loose curl behind her ear "Are you ready for the party tonight?"

"Yeah... kind of. I still don't know what to wear and Elsa is out of reach. I guess I'll just wear one of my suits."

"I can help you with that; I can take you to where Mr. Williams gets his suits and tuxedos if you want?"

"That would be great actually, but do you have time?"

"Sure... My dress is ready." She frowned reading a text she received.

"The boyfriend?" that I'm sure doesn't exist...

"No, that's Natalie she wants me to pick up her dress." She rolled her eyes and switched her phone off.

"Why do you have to do that? You're not her assistant, and even if you were, you're supposed to be done for the day... why are you even working as an assistant?"

Katrina smiled shaking her head "I know I'm done for the day, that's why I switched my phone off, relax, I'm still going to help you with your tux."

I leaned forward holding her gaze "you didn't answer my question. Why are you working as an assistant? Weren't you a law student?"

She let out a sigh "I didn't pass the bar, so I can't be a lawyer."

I took a sip of his coffee nodding "How many times did you try?"

She frowned "One time, why?"

"Look I'm not trying to upset you or anything, if you're happy with your job so be it. But you studied law for a reason, and you were a student of honor, so trying for the bar one time isn't enough. I know lawyers who only succeeded after three tries and some even more..."

"I'm not upset, I just don't want to talk about this right now. I'm happy working with Mr. Williams, he's a good man."

I nodded understanding and changed the subject. We talked for another hour, getting to know each other before deciding to go Tux hunting. Spending time with her felt good, I knew she wanted nothing to do with me, but I had this attraction toward her that I couldn't explain. I was always attracted to her but lost hope after graduation when I heard she left New York for college. I never believed in fate but I guess now I do. I strongly believe fate brought us back together for a reason, and I wanted to discover it.

I walked out of the fitting room trying to adjust my tie when I saw Katrina staring at me with her lips parted. I frowned closing the distance between us.

"Too formal?"

"Too perfect" She whispered so low I thought she didn't want me to hear "Your tie is crooked" She reached over and was fixing my tie while I was admiring her beauty and getting lost in her sparkly eyes.

Why won't you give me a chance Katrina??

"Mr. Walton? Katrina?"

We both turned around only to find Elsa staring at us in shock and... was that jealousy? Katrina dropped her hands at her sides as if she had been caught red-handed.

"Elsa? What are you doing here?"

"I'm picking up a gift for my dad... but what are you doing here? With her?" She asked me accusingly. I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head.

"You weren't around, so I had to help him out and do your job. You should be happy about it." I frowned at Katrina's attitude.  What's going on with these two?

"I have the day off! He's not your boss he's mine!"

"Oh, I would never ask my boss why he's out with someone. Unless..." She looked between us "Unless he's not just your boss?"

What the fuck? I groaned glaring at Katrina and looked at Elsa worried she might be hurt by the assumption, but I saw a blush! A damn blush! Elsa was blushing and fidgeting in place.

"Oh, I get it. Well, then I have to say I'm sorry Elsa, I was just helping him out nothing more."

"Stop it!" I held her arm turning her to me so and holding her gaze, "Elsa is my assistant, nothing more! So stop making assumptions and stop making her uncomfortable!" Katrina was glaring back at me defiantly her chest heaving aware of how close to her I was standing.

I turned my face and raised an eyebrow at Elsa, "Why are you still here? Go get your dad's gift." It was probably the first time I spoke this harshly to Elsa, but she had no right to question my whereabouts. She just nodded and left in a hurry without glancing back at us. I felt bad, knowing Elsa, she was probably in tears right now, but I couldn't follow her. It would only make Katrina doubt me even more.

"God, Kat! Where did you get that from?"

"She's all over you can't you see it?"

"She's not. She's my assistant. Nothing else!" I spun around and head back into the fitting room to change back into my clothes. I couldn't believe what just happened. Why would Katrina behave like that? Everyone knew what a playboy I became but they all respected me enough to know I would never cross that line. I walked out of the fitting room and handed the tux to the clerk. Katrina and I were silent until we were out and into my car.

"Mason... I'm sorry." She whispered looking at her fingers.

"I don't know what kind of vendetta you two have against each other and I don't care! That was my employee back there! Someone I work closely with every damn day! Do you realize how awkward it will be between us now?"

I didn't realize my voice was rising until I heard a soft sob escape her lips and cursed under my breath. I reached over and wiped the tears that were running down her cheeks "I'm so sorry Kat, I didn't mean to yell at you. I just got so angry and I had no right to take it out on you like that..."

She pushed my hand away taking in a long breath "It's my fault I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry, can you please take me home?" Her voice was cracking and I hated it.

It took us a while to get to her building due to traffic and even though the ride was awfully awkward, I didn't want us to get there. I wanted to spend more time with her even if it meant being mad at each other and not speaking. Her presence next to me was enough. What the fuck is happening to me?

"Thank you," She said as I parked in front of her building, "And I'm sorry again. I'll see you tonight."

"Hey, um I was thinking I should bring someone with me tonight."

She refrained from getting out and looked at me with a raised brow.

"I mean, since James is trying to play matchmaker and set me up with his daughter, maybe if I show him I'm with someone he would change his mind." I honestly couldn't care less about James; I just wanted to see her reaction.

"Yeah... that is a good idea. You should bring a girl with you as your plus one."

And bam, she crushed every last hope I still had.

I nodded "I'll see you tonight." I waited until she was safely inside before driving back to the hotel. I didn't know a lot of people in Boston but now that I had brought it up I needed to find someone who would actually go with me. I called Rita, Martin's sister, and asked her if she could do me a favor and be my plus one at a business party that I certainly didn't want to show up alone to.

"Do I get to pretend to be the future Mrs. Walton?"

I chuckled as we stepped out of the car and gave her my arm to hold onto "You absolutely can. That's exactly why I chose you." I winked and she giggled.

Nothing ever happened between Rita and me, we only messed around and flirted a lot. She was the perfect person to do this, she knew everything about me, including my crush on Katrina back in high school, and we were both comfortable with each other. No one would doubt us being a couple.

We walked inside and were greeted by Sarah and a very disappointed James as I introduced Rita as my girlfriend. He tried to hide it but couldn't, instead, he left us and went to greet other guests.

Natalie was nowhere to be seen, neither was Katrina. I got us drinks as we stood at one corner of the room watching everyone and making up stories about them. It was a game Rita and I loved to play together.

"Oh and this beautiful woman who just walked in, she's dressed to impress, and the man beside her is probably her fake boyfriend, she wants to use him just to spite the person she really loves."

I looked at the entrance trying to see the woman Rita was talking about but she was whispering something in her partner's ear so I couldn't see her face.

"Oh wait, isn't that Katrina Johnson?"

What?