Chapter 4

Entering the break room, I press a hand to my stomach as it rumbles.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, is worse than period hunger. It doesn't matter how much I eat, it feels like it's never enough. To make matters worse, I feel like my cravings during this time of the month are worse than when I was pregnant with Ari.

I open the fridge, dreading the sandwich I packed this morning. It's the last thing I want, but food is food.

"You've got to be shitting me," I groan, tilting my head back.

My sandwich is gone. Which honestly isn't that surprising, considering it's the third time this week my food has been replaced with something else.

Tears fill my eyes as I pinch the bridge of my nose.

I don't understand why he's doing this.

My stomach rumbles again, and as much as I would love to protest by not eating what he got me, I can't. Not today, at least. Reluctantly, I grab the container with my name on it and find that it's still mostly warm to the touch.

Shutting the fridge, I open the container and see that it's pasta with capers and grilled chicken.

Goddammit.

My mind flashes back to earlier when I was talking to Tristen.

"I'm so hungry," I groan.

"Me too. I totally plan on ordering lunch from the Italian place across the street."

"That sounds delicious. I could kill for some pasta right about now."

"Want me to order you some at the same time?" Tristen offers.

I bite my lip and contemplate it for a moment. Should I splurge and order myself lunch or take that money and save it away? "No, I better not. I brought my lunch with me today."

"Well, if you change your mind, let me know."

"Thanks."

He must have been nearby, and I hadn't noticed. Either that or he's convinced Tristen to spy for him.

No, she wouldn't do that. She doesn't even know that he and I have a past.

Shaking away the thought, I heat up the food before sitting down and devouring it.

After finishing the meal, I pull off the folded note from the top of the container and open it.

You look beautiful today.

-Mason

I crumple up the paper as my anger flares again.

I squeeze my eyes shut, I just don't get it.

"Hey, looks like it's my lucky day. I was hoping to catch a minute alone with you."

I open my eyes and see the man in question standing in front of me with a smile on his face as if nothing is wrong.

My eye twitches. "Is that so?"

"Of course. How was your lunch?"

"Horrible."

Mason frowns. "Really? The place across the street has excellent reviews. I know it's been a while since I've eaten there, but surely it hasn't gone downhill that fast."

"It was horrible because I didn't want it. Some man-child thought it would be fun to get rid of my food that I brought with me and replace it with something I didn't want."

Mason steps inside the break room and shuts the door behind him. "Okay, what am I missing? I heard you tell Tristen that you wanted pasta, so I made it happen. Did you change your mind?"

I scoff. "Did you ever think that maybe I didn't want it because it came from you?"

Mason frowns. "Olivia, what am I missing here? I've been trying to get your attention all week, and you've been avoiding me."

"Because I want nothing to do with you!" I explode. I stand up so fast I tip over the chair I had just been sitting in. "Let me make myself crystal fucking clear. Mason Williamson, I want nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing to do with you. Now, for the love of all things holy, leave my fucking food alone."

"Tell me why we can't pick back up where we left off."

I laugh maniacally.

"Are you insane?"

"No…" he says reluctantly.

"You have to be to think I would ever give you a second chance."

Mason throws his hands up. "What the hell did I do? I'm the one who woke up alone."

I point my finger at him and hiss. "You know exactly what you did. You turned your back on me when I needed you the most, and I will never forgive you for that."

Confusion covers his face as he shakes his head. "What do you mean when you needed me? Forgive me for what? Spell it out for me, Olivia."

I scoff, shaking my head. "I can't believe I meant so little to you that you ‘forgot."' I use my fingers to make air quotes. "As if it wasn't bad enough that you sent your mother to do your dirty work."

"My mother, what does she have to do with this?" Mason asks as he runs a hand through his hair.

"Just stay out of my way, Mason. As soon as this contract is over, I'll leave and you'll never have to see me again. You can go back to pretending I don't exist."

"Olivia, come on, fucking talk to me."

Licking my lips, I walk toward him until I stop right in front of him. "I'm going to say this one more time. I want nothing to do with you or your money, Mason Williamson. Do us both a favor and forget I exist."

I reach behind him, grab the door handle, and open it. I step around him and walk away with my head held high. I head straight to the restroom, and after checking to make sure I'm alone, I lean over a toilet and lose the contents of my stomach. Once I'm done getting sick, I stand on shaky legs and go to the bathroom sink and rinse my mouth out. Leaning against the counter, I study myself in the mirror.

My face is paler than normal, and the hurt I try so hard to shove down is showing in my eyes.

I'll never regret my night with Mason because it got me Ari, but I will always regret not giving her the father she deserves.

* * *

Leaning against the counter, I run a hand over my mouth.

What the fuck just happened?

I don't understand.

I genuinely don't understand.

Why is Olivia so hostile toward me? And what did she mean by me having my mother do my dirty work? I think back to the night we met.

We continue to spin around and around until I see her glaring our way, making me curse.

"Why don't you go freshen up? I see someone I need to acknowledge."

Olivia tries to hide her disappointment as we come to a stop. She nods and heads off toward the bathroom.

I'm such an asshole, I think to myself as I approach my mother.

"Mother."

She latches on to my arm. "That is who you think is an appropriate date? Rosalind said the dress she is wearing is from some department store that the less fortunate shop at. I really expected better from you."

I knew I couldn't bring Olivia over to meet her. Mother would not withhold her comments just because the girl was in her presence. If anything, she would be nastier.

"Mother, I did not ask your opinions on my date. I would suggest you refrain from telling them," I nearly growl at her.

I don't know why, but it grates on my nerves to hear her talk about Olivia that way. She has done nothing to deserve it. All she did was accept a date with me.

"Mason," she starts, but I hold up my hand.

"No. Don't Mason me. I like the girl I brought. She's not vapid like the women you hang around. Now I'm going to go spend time with her and forget this conversation happened. Have a good evening, Mother."

I walk away, ignoring her as she calls after me.

I kept them as far away from each other as possible. Did my mother corner her the morning after? Or is it something else?

Pushing off the counter, I leave the break room and run into Olivia. Her skin is pale and shiny like she was just sick.

Shit.

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly.

"I'm fine," she says as she steps out of my hold, refusing to make eye contact.

"Are you sure?"

She takes a deep breath and licks her bottom lip before meeting my eyes. "I really need this job, Mason. I can't afford to lose it, so please, just back off."

"Okay."

Olivia's shoulders sag as she nods. "Thanks. Now if you'll excuse me."

She brushes past me, and I turn to watch her leave.

I'll give her space, but that doesn't mean I'll stop trying to figure out what happened between us. What Olivia doesn't know is that I love a good mystery, and I can't stop until I know the full story.

Someone hurt her, and I'm going to find out who, because it sure as hell wasn't me.

* * *

"Hey, nice of you to join us," Brantley teases as I slide into the seat across from him.

"Yeah, yeah…" I mumble.

"I got you a whiskey, neat," Eli tells me.

I sigh. "Thanks."

"Max didn't come with you?" Brantley asks.

I shake my head and take a drink. "No, according to Iris, he had a revolving door of people today and needed a break. You know how he is."

The guys nod. It's no secret that my brother has a low social fuse and that it takes him longer to recover from social interactions than others.

"What were you two talking about?" I ask.

Eli chuckles. "Just Brantley's latest conquest."

"Who is it now?" I tease.

Brantley rolls his eyes. "She's one of my players' sisters, and before you say it, I know not to shit where I eat. I just like flirting with her, is all."

Brantley owns the professional ice hockey team in town.

"Uh-huh…" Eli and I both say in unison.

Brantley is a notorious flirt and doesn't take no for an answer. If he wants you, he will wear you down over time until you say yes. I've seen him do it time and time again.

"What about you?" he throws back as he takes a drink.

I tense. "What about me?"

"Eli told me you're still chasing after that employee." Brantley smirks.

I glare at Eli, who shrugs. "What? You are."

"She said something today that I don't understand."

Eli and Brantley both lean forward, giving me their attention.

"She said I had my mother do my dirty work and that she will never forgive me."

Brantley laughs. "You would never have your mother do something for you."

I tip my glass at him. "Exactly."

"That's odd. I thought your mother's reaction to her was extreme, even for her. I wonder what you're missing," Eli says thoughtfully.

"Have you thought about looking at her employee record?" Brantley says.

Eli glares at him. "Mason isn't using classified work information for personal gain."

Brantley shrugs with zero shame. "I would. Hell, go to her house and make her tell you. She can't run away then."

"Sure, and get slapped with a restraining order," I deadpan.

We fall silent.

"I hate to say it, but I think she made herself clear. She wants nothing to do with what you're offering," Eli says quietly.

"No means no. Even I know to respect that," Brantley adds.

I rub my face with my hand. "I know. Trust me, I fucking know, but I don't know if I can. There's just something about her."

"You know the best way to get over a woman?" Brantley says as he catches the waiter's attention.

"Don't say it," Eli groans.

"To get on top of another," Brantley continues.

I scoff. "That hardly worked when I lived in a different city. I doubt it will now that we're in the same area code."

"Then it sounds like you, my friend, have to play the long game," Brantley tells me.

"What does that even mean?" Eli shakes his head. "And should he really be getting relationship advice from you when you've never had a girlfriend?"

Brantley places his hand over his heart. "I give great advice, and for the record, I have had a girlfriend. Little Mary in second grade. I kissed her under the slide after she said she would be my girlfriend. The next day, I found her kissing Lewis in the same spot. I never recovered."

"You're literally the worst," Eli tells him.

"Can we change the subject, please? I would rather talk about anything other than women right now…" I confess.

The guys share a look that I don't even try to decipher.

"Sure, Brantley, are you going to end up with the number one draft pick or not?" Eli asks.

Brantley makes a noise in the back of his throat. "Of course I will," he says before jumping into talking about stats and hockey contracts.

While he talks, I zone out thinking about Olivia. I have to figure out what happened.