Chapter 20

Walking through the door, I cannot wait to tell Mason my good news. I hope Max hasn't let the news slip. I don't think he has, though.

"I'm home," I call out.

Ari is the first to greet me, running from her room to crash into my legs.

"I missed you, bug. Did you have a good day?" I ask, kissing the top of her head.

"Yep. Uncle Max is going to take me to the movies this weekend. He said it's a date."

I smile down at her. Ever since Mason took her on their daddy-daughter date, she has been talking about when they can go again. Seems her father spoiled her a bit. I'm not complaining, though. He was right. I want her to know how a good man acts so she doesn't end up with a bad one.

"That sounds great. Where is your dad?" I ask.

She looks over her shoulder.

"He's in my room."

Walking behind her, I follow her into her room. Mason is sitting in the middle of the floor as if they were having a tea party. He has a plastic crown on his head.

"Well, Your Majesty. You look dapper today," I joke.

He looks over at me as if he just realized I was there. I see it then. Something is bothering him.

"Hey, Livvy. Sorry, I didn't hear you come in."

He stands, coming over to kiss me. I kiss him back, but I'm worried. Ari clearly heard me, so it makes me wonder what's on his mind so much that he didn't hear me come in.

"It's okay. What do you think about going out for dinner? I have exciting news."

"Oh? What happened?"

I smile up at him. "I got promoted. Not only am I on the payroll officially, but they offered me a management position."

"That's amazing, Liv. I'm so proud of you," Mason tells me, kissing me softly. "Really, it's the best news. Can we celebrate tomorrow, though? Now that you're home, I have a meeting I need to get to."

Pulling out his wallet, he hands me one of his credit cards. "Order dinner on me. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He kisses me once more before he walks over and kisses Ari on the head. Within seconds, he's out of the apartment. It has me wondering if he was even here.

"Has he been like that since he picked you up?" I ask Ari.

She shakes her head. "Since Uncle Max called. Something about a meeting. It was boring, so I tuned out."

At least she validates what he said. I wonder what is going on that has him so distracted.

Pulling my phone out, I dial Chloe. She answers on the third ring.

"Oh no, are you okay? Did you break anything?"

"What? Chloe, are you okay?" I ask.

"I'll be right there, Mom. Sorry, I really need to go. My mom fell in the shower. Call me?" I hear her say to someone in the background.

I start laughing, realizing she is using me as a reason to get out of a date. He must be really bad.

When she finally comes back on the line to me, she lets out a sigh. "It's like you got my telepathic bat signal. Thank you."

"Why didn't you just text me to call you? You know I would have."

"I know, but I thought you were at work. So what's up?"

"I have amazing news and Mason dipped out, and I'm just confused."

"Hmm. Sounds like an ice cream for dinner situation. Meet at the usual place?"

I smile. We used to do this a lot more before Ari, but we have done it a few times since she was born. Anytime one of us had a particularly rough day, we would meet at Graham's Ice Cream Shoppe and eat ice cream for dinner. It's completely unhealthy, but every once in a while, it's needed.

"Yep. I'm going to grab some chicken nuggets for bug, then we will be there."

"Good thinking. See you soon."

It doesn't take long to get Ari ready to go. She heard chicken nuggets and ice cream and basically went feral for it. She was ready to go before I was. After the small detour, we walk into the ice cream shop to find Chloe already at a table.

"Hey, Richie," I call to the man behind the counter.

"Hey. Your usual?" he asks.

I nod, getting Ari set up in the booth with her nuggets. That's what I love about coming here. They already know us and make an exception to the no outside food or drink rule.

"Sorry. I needed some sugar," Chloe tells me as she eats her ice cream sundae.

"All good. I thought you were going to stop dating off the app."

She groans. "I met this one at the grocery store. He was cute and made me laugh in the produce section. So I asked him for coffee. Big mistake. He spent an hour talking about his car. I joked, asking if I'd have to take my shoes off to get inside. You know, like the Shania Twain song? He laughed and said that would be impractical. Then he informed me that if I were to get a ride with him, I would need to wear protective booties on my feet."

"Wow."

"Yep. So thank you for saving me from that. Now, enough about me. Tell me your good news first."

Richie brings over my ice cream then. Mint chocolate chip. So delicious.

Then he sets the kid's strawberry-flavored burst bowl with sprinkles in front of Ari.

"Thank you." She beams up at him.

He smiles back. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything else."

After he walks away, I look at Chloe. "I got hired on at the hotel. Not only that, but they want me to be a manager."

Her eyes light up. "Oh my god. I am so excited for you. That is amazing news."

"Right? I was worried they were only offering because of my relationship with Mason, but Iris assured me that she wouldn't allow Max to do that. Call me crazy, but I believe the woman."

"We should invite her to the next girls' night," Chloe adds. "She keeps Max on his toes. I noticed that at the hockey game."

"She was there?"

"Yeah. I guess they had some business stuff, but he didn't want to miss out on a game with his niece, so they compromised. She busts his balls. It's quite comical."

"I bet. I'm not sure it's professional to invite my boss or whatever she is to girls' night."

She shrugs. "If you say so, but you're going to marry into that family soon enough."

"What? No way. We aren't anywhere close to that yet."

"That's the point of dating, though, right? To eventually get married, have kids, and live together forever? You already have the kid."

"Sure, but Mason was off tonight. What if he's second-guessing everything?" I ask quietly, admitting my true fear.

"What makes you think that?" she asks.

Glancing over at Ari, I see that she is focused on her ice cream now.

"He didn't seem like himself. He left saying he had a meeting, but it was the vibe I got. Ari said Max called about a meeting, though, so maybe I'm overreacting?"

"Hey, Littles. Your daddy said he had a meeting tonight?" Chloe asks Ari.

"Yep. Uncle Max is going to meet him there. He didn't seem to want to go to the meeting, though."

"You're overreacting," Chloe tells me, point-blank. "Kids don't lie. They have no reason to. Sounds like maybe it's something he isn't happy about. Did he say he was coming back to your place after?"

"Yes."

"Good. Put Ari down early. Meet him at the door and ask him about the meeting. Relationships take time and effort. Communication is key. If something isn't working for you, speak up. If you feel like he is hiding something, ask him about it. Ninety-nine percent of fights can be resolved just by communicating."

"You're right. I am being crazy."

"That you are. Once he tells you, you can then drop to your knees and…" She glances at Ari to make sure she isn't paying attention before making a lewd gesture involving her hand and mouth.

"You are bad," I hiss at her.

"You love me, though."

I sigh. "I do love you. Thank you for always talking me down from crazy land."

"Thank you for saving me from bad dates."

"We make quite the pair, don't we?" I ask.

"That we do."

"Hey, Aunt Chloe, when can we go see Uncle Brantley again? I like those games we go to," Ari pipes in, making Chloe groan.

"I can take you to one without Uncle Brantley," she offers.

Ari shakes her head. "I like Uncle Brantley."

Chloe grumbles under her breath, "That makes one of us."

I smile at them both, loving the normalcy of the moment.

I don't know what I would do without either of them.

* * *

"Are you sure you are ready for this?" Max asks as we stand outside my mother's hotel room door.

"As ready as I can be. Let's get it done."

I knock on the door and wait. Knowing my mother, she will wait until a normal person knocks again. I refuse to participate in her games anymore.

Max goes to knock again, but I shake my head no at him. After several minutes, the door finally opens.

"Hello, Mother. What took you so long?" I ask.

"I wasn't sure I actually heard the door. You're lucky I checked. Why didn't you knock again?"

"You were expecting us, I figured you were busy."

What I really want to say is that I know she stood on the other side of the door, looking through the peephole. That's the kind of shit she would do.

"Come in. I didn't realize you were bringing Maxy boy with you," she says as she leads us into her penthouse suite.

Of course she would book the most expensive room in our competitor's hotel. It's not like she couldn't stay somewhere else. There are plenty of options. No, she is making a statement by choosing them specifically.

"We have things to discuss," is all I say to her, walking past her to the dining room table sitting in the middle of the room.

She reluctantly follows, a drink in her hand.

"Would either of you like a drink? The bar is right there." She waves at the bar.

"No, thank you," Max tells her, taking the seat beside me.

She shrugs, sitting across from us. "Are you ready to get rid of the girl and come to your senses?"

It's like she doesn't get what is wrong with that statement. She looks completely serious.

"Just to clarify, Mother, which girl are you speaking of?" Max asks, giving me a second to calm down.

It was pointless. The next words out of her mouth have me ready to strangle her.

"Both of them. Do we even know if the child is actually yours, Mason? Or did you just accept everything without question?"

"That's none of your business. It's a shame, really. My daughter is such a wonderful kid. She deserves a grandmother who loves and cares for her, but you will never be that, will you? You will always resent her and her mother," I say, purposely avoiding Ari's name.

"They aren't a good look for you, Mason. You are the CEO of a major international company. You are frequently featured in business and social magazines. You have a reputation to uphold. If it was just yours, I would entertain this dalliance you have pursued, but you represent the legacy of your father. Of this family. He would be rolling in his grave to see you now."

I shake my head. My father was a ruthless businessman, but he cared about us boys. He didn't have the best relationship with our mother, but he made sure that we knew he loved us. I don't think my father would be pushing Ari and Olivia away. Sure, he would have had his reservations, but he would have welcomed his granddaughter with open arms.

"There's no winning this, is there?" I finally ask.

"Sure, there is. Get rid of them and marry Victoria."

I shake my head, pulling out the paperwork I brought with me. I push it across the table to her.

"Max is here as my witness, Mother. I cannot allow you to continue to be in my life the way you are now. You have repeatedly made comments about my daughter that are concerning. If it were just Olivia you were concerned with, I could possibly overlook it. You don't have to approve of who I date. However, with my daughter being involved, I can't take the chance. Let me make this very clear to you right now. There is nothing in the entire universe that you can do to make me abandon my daughter. She is mine without a doubt, and I will be by her side until the day I die. With that being said, if you show up at the hotel or any of our properties again, you will be arrested. I have put a trespassing order on you. Also, there is a restraining order for Olivia and our daughter. If you are found within one thousand yards of them, you will be arrested. Do you understand?"

Mother is reading over the paperwork calmly as I explain everything. It takes her a moment to look up at me. There is resignation in her eyes. Finally, I think I got through to her this time.

"So you're choosing them?"

"I am."

"Very well."

"In the future, we might be able to revisit this, but for now, this is what is best for my daughter."

"Of course. Thank you for stopping by."

She stands then, gesturing us to the door. Once there, she opens it.

"I love you boys. I've always only wanted what's best for you."

Then she shuts the door in our faces.

"That was eerie. She was calm," Max whispers as we make our way to the elevator.

"Too calm," I agree.

"Maybe it's for the best. Go home to your girls," he tells me, getting into the elevator.

The trip down is quiet. We are both lost in our minds. At my car, we hug.

"Thanks for coming, brother," I tell him.

"Always. Give Ari a hug from her favorite uncle."

I laugh. "I think Eli is her favorite this week. He sent her a pony. Not a real one, but she can ride it in her room."

"Of fucking course he did. Suck up. See you later."

"You too."

Getting into my car, I pull out my phone. There are no missing calls or texts from Olivia. It has me a little concerned. I know she was upset when I left earlier. I just couldn't deal with it at the moment. I needed to deal with my mother first. Now that it's over, I can celebrate Olivia's win with her.

It doesn't take me long to get to her place. I let myself in quietly, expecting everyone to be in bed. It's only seven thirty, but I know Ari goes to bed early. That and Olivia has been passing out early too.

I'm surprised to find Olivia waiting up for me. She clicks off the TV, giving me her full attention.

Crawling onto the air bed, I lean down to kiss her. She kisses me back.

When I pull back and stand to strip out of my clothes, she gives me a sad look.

"What was the meeting about?"

"What? Nothing important," I tell her.

"Don't do that." She sighs.

"You had an amazing day. You were promoted. I don't want to take your high away with my low," I admit, crawling into bed with her in just my boxers.

"We are in a relationship, Mase. I need you to be on the same page as me. I don't care if I won the lottery, if you are having a bad day, then you talk to me. My win doesn't mean you have to deal with your loss alone."

I swallow hard, pulling her into me until she is lying on my chest.

"I saw my mother. She has been trying to get into the hotel, but we have security in place to keep her out. She wasn't going to give up, so I had to make a decision."

"What did you do?" she whispers, kissing my chest.

"I had a trespassing order put on her for all of The Williamson hotels. Then I was able to get a restraining order against her for you and Ari."

"That must have been hard."

"It was. I love my mother. She hasn't always been this bad. Still, I'm a parent now too. She is misguided in thinking she knows what is best for me. I don't know what is going on with her, but it doesn't matter anymore. My first priority is Arianna, and you're my second. That means that any threats to you have to be neutralized. It just so happens that she was the threat. I told her that in the future if she changes her attitude, that I would be willing to speak with her again, but that her relationship with you and Ari is done for good. I will never let her be in the same vicinity as you two."

"That's a lot. Are you okay?" She looks up at me.

"It sucks, but I'm happy. I have you and Ari. I couldn't want anything else."

She smiles. "I love you, Mase," she says for the first time.

I might have hinted at us being in love, and she's never denied it, but she hasn't outright said it until now.

"Say it again."

She giggles. "I love you."

"I love you too. Can I show you how proud I am of you now?"

She nods, a big smile on her face.

Turning her over, I start kissing down her body. She is so reactive to me. This is more than sex, though. Today was a turning point for me.

I am committed to Olivia. There isn't anyone else in this world for me.

With each kiss to her skin, I convey that message to her. My fingers caress as I make my way to her pussy. She sucks in a breath when I finally lick my tongue through her folds.

I love how she pulls at my hair, pushing me closer. I take the hint and eat her like she's my last meal. I don't give her any mercy. I need her to come once before I can even consider moving on. She needs to know that I will worship her every day for the rest of our lives.

She might not be ready, for a ring yet, but she doesn't get a choice. I will marry her one day. She will have my last name and then Ari will too.

When she finally comes on my tongue, I move away, kissing her on the lips deeply so she can taste herself. She moans against me as I kick out of my boxers. Reaching over under the couch next to us, I pull out a condom I had hidden there.

Pulling back from her, I smirk at her face. She looks high as well. I hope to always make her look that way.

Slipping on the condom, I fit myself between her legs. My feelings for this woman in this moment are so big. Larger than I ever anticipated.

"I love you," I whisper to her.

She flutters her eyes open as she looks up at me, a happy smile on her face.

"I love you too."

Slowly, I slide inside of her. Instead of the hard and fast pace we usually do, I keep a slower one. One that is more sensual. She must feel the difference in me because even her moans are softer. Her fingers digging into my shoulder are more tender. She is caressing me.

I never imagined I'd make love to a woman, but that's what I'm doing. We are connected more than physically in this moment. I'm telling her that I will always love her, and she is answering in return.

When she clenches around me, coming, I follow suit.

"That was mind-blowing," Oliva manages to breathe out.

"I thought you liked it rough," I joke.

She opens her eyes, looking up at me. "I like it any way as long as it's with you."

That's the best thing she could have said to me.

In that moment, I knew I made the right decision.

Olivia and Ari are my past, present, and future. I'll do anything to keep them with me.