Page 91 of Sins & Secrets

“Mason,” I hear a man call out and my smile falters only slightly as my steps are halted. We’re to be seen. Unwaveringly present.

“Father,” Mason says tightly and I stand there with a sweetness in my composure, tilting my head slightly as the breeze from the doors being opened again sends a chill up my back. My shoulders shudder and Mason wraps his hand around my hip, pulling me in closer.

I don’t flinch when his father looks at me. In a crisp suit complete with a charming smile, he appears to be an entirely different man than the one I met before.

“Miss Summers, you look utterly breathtaking this evening,” his father says and naturally my smile widens. It’s a shame a man like him can possess such poise and charm. I suppose everyone needs some way to survive and thrive.

My heart beats faster and my limbs scream at me to run, or worse, slap the bastard across the face for what he did only days ago, but instead I part my lips and respond sweetly, “I’m so sorry for the other day. I’m afraid I wasn’t well.”

He falters, the real emotions showing through and just when I think he’s going to hide it, when I think the mask that slipped will be forced back into place, he leans in slightly and says, “I doapologize as well,” and I swear it seems sincere. “I had no right to come between you two.”

Mason stiffens beside me, and my own composure threatens to dissolve. I’ve never faced this kind of mastery of manipulation before. I don’t know whether to react sincerely or how to play this game.

“I only want what’s best for my son.”

It’s only then that I realize our games are different. I’m no match for him, but in the same vein, he’s no match for me.

“Champagne?” a server asks on my right, breaking the moment and I instantly turn to her.

“No, thank you,” spills from my mouth easily and she’s quick to move on after the men each shake their heads.

I watch from my periphery as she leaves, walking easily without a care and holding the tray just so. The champagne doesn’t even seem to move; she’s learned to do her job well.

“Excuse me a moment, Mason,” I tell him, patting his forearm and waiting for him to release my hand. He doesn’t, though.

He holds me a moment longer than he should, quietly watching me and waiting for a reason. “I need to use the restroom,” I whisper to him as softly and flirtatiously as I can, feeling the number of eyes on us grow. It may all be in my head, because for all I know I’m losing it, and with every second my anxiety grows.

“Of course,” he says although the reflection in his eyes is something else. Something far more vulnerable and unwilling. He kisses my hand, bringing it to his lips and then releasing me without another word.

I force a smile to stay in place although it begs to fall. Everything in me is screaming that something is wrong. I walk as quickly as I can to the back of the room, deeper and deeper through the crowd of beautiful guests. I turn my body slightlywhen needed and ignore the conversations around me as I head to the restrooms.

I could just run. I could run away.

Away from all of this, and never stop.

I’ll find myself again, but not here. Not when I know I want the very thing that will bury me.

MASON

So close to having everything,

So close to nothing at all.

The teeter-totter rocks back and forth,

While knowing you will fall.

It’s all there within your grasp,

But the life has turned to stone.

You should have known, you foolish man,

You were meant to live alone.

“Iappreciate the apology,” I tell my father, although my gaze isn’t on him at all. My eyes are on Jules’s back as her hips sway and she leaves me.

When I first laid eyes on her, she blended in so easily. Each small motion was seemingly genuine. Not tonight.

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