Page 68 of Monsters

“I’ve given it enough thought. Take care, Gemma.”

The call ended, and I was left in a moment of shock. Everything was happening so fast I could hardly keep up. I had to lower my head between my knees to quell the unease in my stomach. If Mason was behind this, even if it had been with misguided intentions, he was now ruining my career.

Inhaling deeply, I released a few steady breaths before righting myself and scrolling through my contacts. When I reached Christina’s name, I pressed call.

After four rings she answered, “Gemma,” she greeted softly.

“Hey, Christina.” My heart started a heavy beat. “Before you hang up on me, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior on the weekend. I don’t know what possessed me, but in any case, it was unacceptable.”

“Don’t apologize,” she said sounding defeated. “After all that, you were right.”

“What do you mean?” I cautiously asked.

“Mason was never interested in me. He left pretty much straight after you pulled out of the drive. When I asked him where he was going, he told me to delete his number. It was like he had staged the whole thing.”

I swallowed hard.

My gut feeling had once again been correct. If Mason was no longer in Maine with Christina, that meant he could very well have been in town watching the violent interaction between David and me.

But why punish David?

I would have thought anyone trying to hurt me would bring a smile to Mason’s face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to be that way, Christina. I really didn’t. Mason is a dangerous man and seeing him with you and Evie and knowing what he’s like, sent me over the edge. You deserve so much better than someone who only wants to use you.”

“Perhaps one day you can tell me a little bit more of the history you two share, and I’ll understand. For now, he’s just another douchebag to add to the ever-growing list.”

For the next few minutes we chatted about small stuff, the tension still not yet cleared. When I ended the call promising to be in contact soon, I grabbed my handbag and headed downstairs to reception.

“Where are you going?” Carleen asked, looking more frazzled than earlier. All phone lines were buzzing, her hair poking up in places courtesy of the headset. “I have all of these reporters phoning, asking if I knew about David’s sexual fetishes. Why would they be asking me such a thing?”

The look on her face made me have to stifle a smile. She obviously hadn’t seen the papers. “Let the phones ring out,” I instructed. “Cancel the rest of David’s meetings for the day and close up.”

“Close up?”

“I’d do it sooner rather than later before those reporters end up banging on the glass demanding answers.”

“Jesus! What did the guy do?”

There was one thing I was certain of. “I don’t think it was all him.”

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