Page 10 of Wicked Desires, Part One

Or maybe I'm just bad at talking to people. I have the feeling that it's a little bit of both.

Staring at my computer screen is starting to give me a headache, and I'm tired of being in the office alone. There's not even the chance Cora will walk in to say maybe all of five words to me.

I think about it for just a second before I get my phone and send the text. I know that it might be unprofessional and make me the temporary target of some bullying, but there's no one else I think I could turn to at this point.

It takes Mason all of a minute to get to my office after he reads my text. I don't know how or why since his office is a good five-minute walk through the building from mine. Maybe he was out on a stroll. Or perhaps he just sprinted through the halls until he got here.

From the way that he practically barrels through my office doors, it seems like he might have sprinted here.

"Mason," I say with a nod as he tries to compose himself. It's still more than a little strange to see Mason wearing anything besides sweatpants and baggy tee shirts, but the suit that he's wearing works on him well.

The goofy smile on his face helps, too. I know that he's been waiting for this moment for ages, and I know that he will be as annoying as possible, but who else am I meant to turn to?

"Tristan, what's up?" he says with a wave, strolling over to my desk and studying my face for a moment. I stare at him, trying to keep my expression blank for as long as possible, but I already know I've been caught. "What's going on? You don't seem too happy."

Mason was my roommate from my first year of college. And then the second. All the way to graduation.

It's a miracle that our friendship has survived all that time. At first, something about his louder, funnier, and more charming personality was grating. But surprisingly, he's not bothered by me. Not bothered by my quiet, more solitary nature. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it a little bit.

It took a while, but he managed to get to me. In all honesty, Mason was probably the best match for me while in college. He was the only one to ever manage or even put in the effort to invite me out to places. He ended up being a pretty good chef, and I didn't mind all the food that he made me test.

And there's something about Mason that makes everyone like him. He knows when to be serious, he's kind, and he always seems to know what people want to hear.

It's why he works here now. A higher-up position that requires traveling around the world, talking to people, and making friends with people who are hard to please.

The moment I heard from the board that we needed someone for that position, I called Mason, and he, of course, managed to get the spot. He's been working here for years, and he's excellent at his job, but... mostly, it's because I need a friend in this building. And I can't think of anyone else better suited for the job.

"I'm not doing too great," I finally admit, and the change on Mason's face is immediate. His features soften, and I see his shoulders relax a little as he takes a seat at my desk, something that he never really does.

"That's not good to hear," he says, nodding his head for a moment. I can still feel his eyes on me, and there's the odd feeling of being vulnerable. Mason's great at that. Making people feel like they can't keep secrets anymore. "Do... you want to talk about it?"

The seconds drag on, and I have to fight down the rising feeling that I'm doing something wrong by talking about Cora. She seems like a private person, but at the same time, I don't know who else I can talk to.

And there's something in my gut telling me that I have to talk about this.

"It's about an employee," I finally say, hoping that the rest of my words will come eventually. I have no idea what to start with, and it's an infuriating feeling.

Apparently, I don't know where to start when it comes to talking about Cora.

"Oh?" Mason leans in a little bit, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. There's the smile that he's trying to hide, too, and I'm already shaking my head.

"Not like that."

The disappointment is immediate. Mason's more than a little bit of a gossip, but he manages to get away with it since it's probably his only character flaw. He leans back in his chair with a sigh.

"Oh."

I nod, glad that part is out of the way. I don't know why Mason is so obsessed with me settling down or dating, but it doesn't matter. HE can probably help me with this situation.

"There's... my employee. My secretary. Cora," I start with. That part is easy enough, and it doesn't catch in my throat at all. That's a good sign, at least because, for some reason, everything about this is irritating me. Grating on me, for some reason.

Especially the board. I usually try to ignore them to the best of my abilities, but it's a pain in the ass when they push like this. They can't make any decisions without my approval and vice versa, so, more often than not, we just end up fighting until one of us loses patience and gives up.

But Cora is not one of those things I'm willing to give up.

"So, what's the problem with Cora?" Mason asks, catching my attention. There's an odd moment where I have to stop myself from immediately snapping at him. My face flushes hot for a moment before I suck in a deep breath and collect myself again.

"I don't think there's a problem with Cora at all. I think the board has a problem with her." With that, it looks like Mason's finally starting to catch up on what's going on. He's been with me long enough to see all of the board's little attempts at irritating me just because I did something that they didn't entirely approve of.

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