Chapter 18

Mason

Mid-meeting, I glance at my cell to the text I haven’t responded to yet.

Leah : Oh yeah? Going public, are we?

She has no clue how loaded that question is for me.

I haven’t answered her because there’s no response that doesn’t give me away. But I hate keeping secrets, and I don’t want Leah to ever think she’s one of them.

Glancing around the room at my team, I realize just how close I am to having everything I want. It’s like being on a tightrope, inches from the final platform, and I’m scared a gentle breeze will blow, threatening to knock me off and make me fall.

“—profits this quarter are the highest they’ve ever been. Projected sales look outstanding.”

I glance up at one of my best friends, Kerrigan. “Good call on the expansion, Ker.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s going on with the new developments in—” My attention cuts to my cell again when a notification comes through.

Daisy Ren is live .

I quickly stand, my chair gliding away until it hits the windowsill. “Excuse me gentlemen, I have to take this.”

They don’t need me here, anyway. I know how successful our company is and I have no concerns with its future. Storming out of the conference room, I click on the app and log in.

All the blood rushes to my dick when I see my girl holding a dress up to her body. The camera’s angled to focus on her neck down, but I’d recognize that hourglass figure anywhere. My hands flex on instinct, eager to touch every inch of her again.

Leah’s in a dressing room I don’t recognize. A cream-colored pouf serves as a chair behind her, and there are gold hooks with little birds mounted on teal walls. It’s a vibrant backdrop. A perfect choice to go live in.

“You like this one?”

Several fuckers respond and it makes me wonder how many of them are watching from their offices just like me, and how many are jerking off in their mommy’s basement right now. No matter where they are, their attention is on Leah, and I love it.

How she manages to angle the camera so no one can see her face is beyond me. I’m worried she’ll slip up. It’s not like she brought her bunny mask or all that extra makeup with her.

Or did she?

Leah dips down, her long waves falling over her shoulders, framing her beautiful face. Pink lipstick hooks my gaze and I stare at her mouth. Her perfect, full, plush, kissable, fuckable mouth.

She’s got a white lace mask over her eyes that looks like something from a dollar store. “Mmmm, I think this dark purple one is my favorite.” She pulls another dress out and holds it against her chest. “Or should I go with white?” She switches between the two fast enough for her audience to catch a glimpse of her bra and underwear.

I’m so turned on, my palms sweat.

She flashes off her creamy thighs and gives us a peek of her tits spilling out of her red bra, and I swear to God I could come just watching her tease us like this. I’m lucky enough to know how fun those tits are to suck on, how hard her thighs can squeeze my head when she comes on my tongue. How the taste of her is the single most exquisite flavor I’ve ever known.

But seeing how luscious she is on screen and knowing I’m the lucky sonofabitch who’s coming home to her in a few more hours starts a war inside me. I don’t think I can wait that long to see her again.

Another notification comes through, dowsing cold water down my spine.

Nicole : Got a minute?

Not for her. I swipe up and watch Leah unzip her dress slowly to shimmy out of it.

Another text pops up.

Nicole : Please, Mason. I need you.

God. Damnit.

“Mason.”

I turn around like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. “Yeah?”

“We just need to you sign off on a few more things, then we can get back to work,” Landon says.

“Be there in a minute.”

I glance back at my cell just in time to see Leah blow a kiss to the camera. “See you later, guys.”

She cuts the live feed and I feel like the floor’s turned to a waterbed. My legs are wobbly. Standing in the hall with a hard-on that could smash concrete, I look around to see if anyone’s watching, prepared to readjust my cock before heading back into the conference room when my phone dings again.

Nicole : Ticker

My dick deflates immediately. Dialing her number, guilt slams me from all ends. Ticker is Nicole’s safe word. Or, as she says, her emergency code word.

She answers on the first ring. “Hi.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Can you meet?”

“I’m out of town. What’s wrong?”

“Have you had a chance to read over my proposal?”

Rage spikes in my veins. “Are you fucking kidding me, Nicole?” I could kill her for this. “I thought you were in trouble!”

“You said you’d help me.” Her tone shakes. “You promised, Mase.”

“I know and I will. I’ve just been preoccupied lately.”

Her shaky voice turns instantly venomous. “With business, or pleasure?”

“Bye.” I hang up on her before I lose my shit.

Marching back into the conference room, I feel the weight of three men staring at me with hope.

They’re most likely thinking I left to take the call we’ve all been waiting for.

I shake my head and plaster a fake smile on my face. “Sorry, boys. That was just a personal one.”

The wave of exhales and sagging shoulders makes me feel even worse.

I haven’t told them that the deal is practically done. That the paperwork was drawn and most of it is already signed. And I won’t say a fucking word until all parties complete the last documents and I have copies of everything in my possession. Disappointment hurts when things fall through at the last minute. That level of letdown is nothing compared to what we have riding on this deal.

If all goes well, I’ll be a very rich man. And so will my three best friends, who took a chance and trusted me to make some bold expansions with my company, using their money to do it.

Gage, Kerrington, and Landon took every dime they had and let me work magic with it. They’re tight lipped, trustworthy, and terrified that this big risk will cost us everything. I refuse to let that happen. BanditFX might be my company, but it wasn’t built without the support of these three men sitting with me right now.

My cell goes off again.

I don’t even want to look. If it’s Leah, I’ll crack. If it’s Nicole again, I’ll explode. And if it’s my pain in the ass mother or sister, I’m going to toss my phone into on-coming traffic. Very few people have my personal cell number, so the list of possibilities is short.

“Answer it,” Kerrington demands.

Sweat blooms down my back as I pull my cell out and stare at the screen. It’s a New York area code.

But it’s not my mother’s number.

It’s…

I answer fast and keep my head down. “Mason Finch.” I stare at the table because I can’t meet the eyes of my colleagues until I know for sure that we’re golden.

“Mason, it’s Harris.” Loud music plays in the background, making him hard to hear. “The documents are all signed. My secretary should have emailed everything to you.” More loud noises and people laughing and screaming fill my ears as Harris yells, “Anyway, everything’s in order. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”

He hangs up.

Holding my breath, I pull up my email and open the documents, just to be sure. It’s all there. Everything we’ve negotiated. Everything we’ve hoped for.

I look up and the first set of eyes I see are Landon’s. “We got it.” I look at Kerrington next. “It’s done.” I beam a big cheesy smile at Gage. “He’s signed everything.”

The four of us let out with a chorus of yells and howls—just like we used to after every success we celebrated together in college.

“Holy fucking shit, man. I can’t believe we did it!” Gage falls into his chair and buries his face in his hands. “We’re rich.”

“Filthy rich,” Kerrington laughs. “Jesus, I feel like I’m floating. Are my feet touching the ground?”

“I can’t hear you, my ears are ringing,” Landon drops into his chair. “I think I’m going to pass out.”

A billion dollars will do that to a person.

Kerrington marches over to the sideboard, where glasses and a pitcher of water sit. “Why can’t this be vodka? We can’t toast with water.”

“I think if I drink alcohol right now, I’ll throw it up.” Gage pales. “I have no clue how to handle this level of success.”

“We should buy a boat,” Ker says.

“Fuck that.” Landon grins. “We should buy a whole ass island.”

“I can’t feel my face.” Gage slaps his cheeks. “Being rich is making me numb.”

I grip his shoulders and squeeze. “Get used to it, man. Because this is just the beginning.” Splitting a billion-dollar payout is only the start for us. My first taste of blood turned me into an animal desperate for more of it. Now my three friends are experiencing the same thing.

“Thank you,” Kerrington says from across the table. “Fuck, Mason. Thank you.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful here. If you guys hadn’t trusted me with your money, I wouldn’t have had the resources to pull any of this off.”

“Who would have thought BanditFX would go from a simple cyber company to…”

“A multifaceted tech empire that’s about to give Google a run for its money? Me. It was me.” Landon puffs up with pride. “Totally me.”

Gage shakes his head, laughing. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to invest in Facebook?”

“Don’t talk about the book of faces in my presence,” Kerrington fake shivers. “I’m still scarred from college.”

Laughter fills the room and I’m so goddamn happy I could fly.

This deal didn’t just bring us to the next level of business, it’s opened doors and new possibilities for each of us.

And now I finally have the freedom I’ve always craved.

“Gotta go, boys.” I beeline for the exit.

“Hey wait! Where are you going?” Kerrington tosses his hands up. “We have to celebrate!”

“I’ll see you all at dinner tonight. Cancel everything for the rest of the day.”

“What about a press conference?” Gage argues. “This deal is huge for the tech world, Mason. There’s going to be publicity about it.”

“You can handle it.” I have every confidence in all three of them to say and do the right thing in front of an audience. “Besides, you’re prettier than me.”

“Mason, you’re the owner of BanditFX. We’re silent partners. We can’t just show up and start talking.”

Shit, they’re right. BanditFX is my baby, not theirs. And this deal might have been for all of us, but it’s my face, my name, my reputation that’s been in the spotlight all along. “Set it up and send me the info. I’ll be there.”

Just as I swing open the door to leave, Landon shouts, “Dinner is still at eight, right?”

“Yeah!” I yell over my shoulder.

Running out of the building, I call Leah first, but it goes straight to voicemail. I try two more times and leave messages, plus a text, and still, I get no response. I’ve just had the best news of my life and I want her to be the first person I share it with.

Sounds crazy, I know. But Leah will be thrilled for me. Not jealous or petty or threatened or snobby or basically any of the things my siblings would be. Jesus, my brother is going to have an aneurism when he finds out.

My cheeks hurt from the smile on my face. My chest is tight. It’s hard to breathe. Generational wealth is great, but there are always so many strings. I’m cutting them all, immediately. I’ve secured my future and can walk away from my family now.

It’s what I’ve always wanted. Yes, I love my family, but I don’t like them. The feeling’s mutual, trust me. Grace might be the only exception to that rule, but even she makes me question her motives half the time when she’s being sweet.

Could I have ditched the Finch family and lived on an average salary? Yes. Did I want to? Absofuckinglutely not. I like having the finer things in life. And I am willing to bust my ass to get them.

My mother can officially take my trust fund, and all her stipulations that come with it, and shove it up her ass.

It feels like it takes a hundred years to get back to the hotel. The traffic is horrendous. The lobby is crowded. The elevator moves at a glacial pace. Reaching our floor, I jog to our suite.

The place is empty.

Only the faint scent of whatever Leah sprays on herself that smells so damn good remains in an otherwise pristine hotel room.

Sitting on the edge of the made bed, I dial her number, and it goes straight to voicemail again.

Fuck.

The excitement and adrenaline drain out of me. Sitting in the silent hotel suite, I stare at myself in the mirror and for the first time in a long time, I remember how truly, utterly, and painfully alone I am.