Page 40 of The Associate

I hear the shuffling of feet around to the other side of the bed. The mattress sags and he sits down on the edge. His movements suggest that he is taking off his shoes.

The mattress rises again. “Where are you going?” I ask wearily.

“I am just going to lock the door. We don’t need to be disturbed,” he says as the lock clicks into place.

The shuffling of his feet making his way back over to the bed. His weight on the mattress sinking again and as he lays down. Rolling over to face him, I rest my hand across his waist and my head on his chest. I could stay like this forever. The one place I feel safe. The one place where I feel understood.

This man, Mason Hawthorne, is my happy place. The place I never want to leave.

Chapter 13

Mason

20 years ago

She is hiding around here somewhere; I can hear her giggling. She isn’t very good at hiding because she is always making noises. “Oh where can the little princess be hiding?” I call out.

A giggle comes from the closet on the other side of the door and I smirk. I know exactly where she is. The area is small, maybe three meters long, and only one closet spans the wall. One of the doors pops out slightly: there she is.

“Genevieve, where are you?” I call out again. “You are such a good hider, I can’t find you.”

“Hello Mason, darling,” Mrs. De Luca says as she comes around the corner. “What are you doing?”

I hold a finger up to my lips. “Shhh.” My eyes dart to the closet door that is moving slightly next to us.

Mrs. De Luca chuckles quietly to herself and nods. “Lunch will be ready in an hour, I hope my little girl doesn’t get too hungry before then.”

As she walks away I chuckle. “Now I better find the princess before lunch. I can’t have her starving now.” I make my way towards the foyer as the closet door behind me springs open.

“I’m right here, Mason!” She squeals. “I had one of the bestest hiding places. Now it’s your turn to hide!”

“Are you sure?” I kneel in front of her. “Do you think you can find me before lunchtime?”

“Yes! I’m the bestest finder and hider!” She jumps around in a circle.

“Okay then, count to ten and come and find me.” I ruffle her hair as she covers her eyes.

Her voice is loud as she starts counting. I tiptoe my way into the foyer, I don’t want to hide too well, but maybe something obvious to her. There is one little spot in the foyer where a large vase stands with an indoor tree. I push myself in between it and the wall and wait for her to come and find me.

“…nine. Ten. Ready or not, here I come!” she calls out and runs out into the foyer. “Where are you, Mason?”

I stand quietly and watch her through the leaves of the plant. Her eyes scan the room, searching for me. She turns and starts heading for the hallway where I had found her just a few moments ago.

Before she gets there I jump out. “Boo!”

I begin tickling her sides.

She squeals and starts squirming. “No! No tickles!” She laughs some more. “Not fair. You know I’m ticklish.”

I’m laughing to myself as she catches her breath through her fits of giggles. “Let’s go again!” She jumps to her feet and runs towards the front door, her shoes clicking on the tiles. This young girl is stealing my heart.

I start walking towards the front door, following behind her. I will never tire of hearing her laughter. It is like music to my ears. Knowing she is happy and having fun is all that matters to me.

Her father is plotting something though. He has started to become secretive, pulling the other boys into his office, but the only one he has talked to on multiple occasions is Rico. I am never pulled into his office, but that’s ok, because I would rather be out here looking after Genevieve.

When Sal leaves his office, he always watches me for a while. Watching what I am doing with his daughter.

I open the verandah door. I am instantly greeted with a scream coming from the garden area. I run as fast as I can down the stairs in that direction. “Genevieve!”

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