Page 106 of Grand Love

“Don’t be like that,” I say, hushed. Her throat bobs and I give her a soft reassuring smile. Her eyes linger on me for a moment, then I spin her around, my hand on her back as I direct her into my office.

“Mason,” George whisper-shouts as we pass.

My eyes are wild when I turn on him. “What?”

“She wasn’t in there.”

My brow creases. “What?”

“Jasmine, she wasn’t in there!”

I rub my hand down over my face, looking into the office, then to Nina who is now sitting at my desk, and then back to George.

“Good job, mate,” I hiss.

“Mason, what am I to do?”

Ignoring him, I steal a breath and stride into the office, shutting the doors behind me. I opt to sit directly in front of Nina, leant back on my desk, leaving a small space between us. It makes me feel more in control than anything else and it’s a total dick move, but it gives me the viewpoint of the rest of the office.

Jasmine isn’t here and I focus my attention solely on Nina as she stares me down, her eyes sharp and poised. I know whatever she came here for is no doubt going to knock another inch off of me.

“I’m mad at you,” she deadpans. But to my surprise, her eyes waver, dropping down my body. I can’t help but smirk.

“When are you not mad at me, Pix?”

“I’m not your Pixie, Mason.”

“Why are—”

“You tried to buy my pictures,” she blurts out, her eyes becoming focused and locked on mine again.

Little fuck did tell her after all. I always wondered if he had, or if he would.

“So?” I shrug.

“So, I want to know why?”

“Why?”

“Yes, Mase, why?”

Why did I try to buy them? That was simple. “Because I wanted them.” And I will have them, one day.

“Exactly what I thought,” she huffs.

“I don’t see the issue. Did you really come here to have a go at me about trying to buy your photos?”

“No.” She stares at her lap before looking up at me through her lashes. “I told myself I wouldn’t get angry at you. I just find it hard to understand, that’s all. Your money won’t ever fix, gain or define situations, Mase. I’ve told you so many times not to do it.” Her words are getting faster and sharper despite the control she thinks she has. “A million pounds for a couple stupid photos. It’s embarrassing. It’s showy, and it’s ugly, and absolutely everything that I hate about you.”

I scoff and look down at her, opening myself up and hoping she finally understands. “You have no fucking clue, do you? Do you really think if it were just a couple of stupid photos, I would be willing to pay what I was?” My voice rises with my annoyance. “Do you think if they were just a couple of stupid fucking photos, that Joey would have told me no!” I snap.

“We weren’t even together at the time. You hated me!” She shakes her head as if she still doesn’t get it. “You didn’t want the photos, Mase. You wanted to prove a point. A power play over Joey. You don’t want me, but no one else can have me either, right?”

I push off the desk and crowd her, placing my hands on either side of her chair. “No. I wanted them because the thought of anyone else owning those photos makes me murderous. The thought that anyone else that isn’t me gets to wake up to that image kills me a little bit inside every day. It wasn’t about the money; it’s never been about the money with you.” I heave out a breath as I right myself, my chest rising and falling as I try to control my anger.

She looks up at me, her eyes glistening. “I don’t believe that.”

I throw my hands out to the side and snigger. “When have you ever believed me?”

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