Page 47 of The Run In

Glancing at my watch, I saw I had less than ten minutes to make it to the meeting.

“I’m three blocks away. I’ll just get out here since I can make it there faster on foot.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

“No worries,” I called back before setting off in a jog. An older lady walked right in front of me, causing me to trip over her dog and bump into another person who spilled her drink all over me.

“Son of a bitch!” I shouted.

“Sorry, dude!” she called out as she continued on her way as if her smoothie or whatever the hell it was hadn’t just destroyed my expensive suit.

I reached for my phone and called Ashley. “Mason Quinn’s office.”

“Ashley, I’ve spilled something on my suit, and I’m two and a half blocks away and out of the car.”

“Out of the car?” she asked.

“Accident,” I panted out.

Shit, when’s the last time I went running?

“Running. Can’t talk.”

“Do you need a full suit, sir?” she asked, calm as a cucumber. I’m glad one of us was.

“No…new…shirt.”

Did she just giggle?

“I’ll have it ready when you get done with your morning workout.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bloody hell, Ashley. I…was…just thinking…how much…I like you. Don’t make me…fire you.”

“No, sir.”

I hit ‘End’ and tried to pick up the pace. By the time I got to Maxwell and Locke, I was panting like I’d run a damn marathon even though it was only three blocks.

“Mason, are you okay?” Ava Maxwell asked as she stepped onto the elevator and stared at me with a stunned expression. Derrick walked on next and busted out laughing.

“Fun lunch date, Quinn?”

There was no one else in the elevator and Derrick and I were good enough friends that I felt comfortable giving him the middle finger. Even though he was my boss, I risked it anyway.

“I’ll take that as a no,” he replied with a wink.

Hitting him on the stomach playfully, Ava asked, “Mason, why are you out of breath?”

I stood taller and took in another deep breath. “Meeting at one. Accident. Had to run three blocks.”

“Three blocks!” Derrick practically shouted. “You need to start running again, Quinn. You should be able to sprint that.”

Nodding, I replied, “Never enough time…with…work.”

Derrick gave me a serious look. “Rule number one, make the time. Work will wait, Mason. Life won’t. Nor will your health if you keep this up.”

His words seemed to ring loudly in my ears along with Kris and Annie’s.

When the elevator opened, I got out. “Why are you getting off a floor early?” Ava asked.

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