Chapter 29

Leah

I’m so turned on right now. What’s that say about me?

In a room full of wealthy, powerful, intimidating people, I’m awestruck by the way Mason and his boys have handled what Scarlett tried to make humiliating for them.

My heart breaks for Mason that he has a mother this ugly. But seeing her smile fall on that stage, and knowing it was Mason who stole the spotlight from her, makes me so damn proud.

And horny.

Ugh, I should be scientifically studied.

Scarlet takes the microphone from Nicole, recovering quickly, and gestures for the applause to die down. “Yes, well, this is a night for much enthusiasm, which I hope you’ll use when bidding on the silent auction items in the lobby.”

The room erupts in laughter. After Scarlett quickly closes the announcements, she and Nicole exit the stage.

I stab my salad. “The dressing’s nice.”

“Mmmm yes.” Gage holds a forkful of lettuce up to his nose and sniffs it. “I believe these leaves were picked at the peak of late spring, with the morning dew still dripping from the tips.”

“I do say, the thinly sliced radishes are a lovely touch.” Landon chimes.

Kerrington rubs his temples like he has a migraine. “When will any of you grow up?” He plucks a tomato out and eats it. “Pass the salt.” Once Gage hands it over, Ker growls, “I can’t believe how low Scarlet sank just now. I’m so disappointed in her.”

“Why?” Mason laughs. “We knew she’d do something.”

“Yeah, but damn.”

“I can’t believe Nicole did that on stage.” Landon shakes his head. “That’s probably gonna cost her, won’t it, Mase?”

“No price she can’t pay.”

I feel sick. “Is this normal behavior?”

“For these people?” Mason looks around as if assessing the room. “Yup.”

I can’t imagine growing up in a world where everything is so double-edged and poisonous. “I’m glad you’re out.” The minute the words leave my lips, I feel bad about it. This isn’t how life should be for anyone, but to say I’m happy that Mason has been disowned doesn’t feel right either. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what? You didn’t do anything.” Mason grabs my chair and slides it closer to him. “I like having you close to me.”

How much closer could I get?

A terrible idea pops into my head. Guess Mason’s not the only one feeling salty and rebellious tonight. And after seeing that stunt with Scarlett on stage, my fears about being Mason’s downfall have burned to ash.

Fuck these bitches.

With a quick shift, I sit on his lap. “This close enough?”

“Fuck me,” he says, banding his arms around my waist. “This is perfect .”

I stab his salad and feed it to him, hyperaware that people are looking at us.

“Way to command everyone’s attention, guys.” Landon shakes his head, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Damn, Mase, your girl is as rebellious as you are.”

“I know,” he says, preening with pride.

“Incoming,” Kerrington coughs.

A flash of white appears in my periphery and the next thing I know Nicole sits in my chair. “Hi, Leah. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

We shake hands and I notice hers are freezing and trembling. “You were amazing up there.”

“Was I?” She presses the back of her hand to her cheeks. “Oh good, I felt like I looked like a bumbling fool. My face kept burning, and I was sweating like crazy.” She gawks at Mason. “But to see your mother’s face when I said what I said will forever be one of the top greatest moments of my life.” She blows out a breath and steals Landon’s drink. “I’ve never felt so powerful before.”

“You can feel like that whenever you want if you just break away a little more,” Mason encourages.

“Ugh, I don’t think I can handle it. I’d be unstoppable.”

“Can I have my drink back, please?” Landon pouts.

“No.” Nicole drains it. “Ew yuck, I hate bourbon.”

Landon scoffs. “Then why’d you drink it?”

“Because tonight’s the night, asshole. I’m feeling defiant and wild.” Nicole stands and smooths her dress down. “Oh, and just so you know, Jackson is pissed . He’s going around saying you’re a camgirl.” Nicole laughs like that’s crazy. “He’s so pathetic. I mean, come on. A camgirl ? Mason would never.”

When no one laughs with her, she sobers up. “Oh my god. Are you serious?”

I’m so uncomfortable I try to get off Mason’s lap, but he pins me down. “Stay where you are, Princess.”

I don’t want to. I want to run. Hide.

Crawl under a rock.

Run into traffic.

Anything to save him from embarrassment.

So much for my confidence streak.

“Holy crap.” Nicole drops back down in my seat. “I mean, no judgement, right? You do you, but holy shit . Mason, if your mother—”

Inwardly, I’m squirming like a worm impaled on a fishhook. But Mason’s calm, powerful demeanor makes me rethink myself. He’s not ashamed of what I do. He fucking loves it.

And so do I.

“Scarlet,” he says in a deadly tone, “can think and say whatever she wants. It won’t change a damn thing. My girl is incredible, smart, and has more kindness and sincerity in her pinky than all the people in this room combined. Whether she flaunts her assets on camera, scrubs toilets, or is the CEO of a billion-dollar enterprise, Leah’s got more integrity than everyone in this fucking room. Including me.”

I think I’m going to pass out.

Nicole’s eyes shine, and her cheeks turn pink, even under several layers of her foundation. “Wow, Mase.” Her voice isn’t chipper and sweet anymore. It’s softer, more… real. “You’ve won.”

Won what?

There’s an exchange between them I don’t understand. Before I can ask, a server picks up our salad plates and replaces them with the main course.

“Nicole?” A man in a pink bow tie taps her shoulder. “You’re needed over at your table.”

“Oh, okay.” Nicole’s attitude goes back to light and bubbly. Fake. “Well, duty calls.” Before leaving, she kisses my cheek. “I’m really glad we met. Save a dance for me, will ya?”

She hops up and I’m back to trying to climb out of Mason’s lap. “I think I better sit in my chair. Too many people are staring.”

“Let them.”

Of course, he’d say that. He likes when people want what he has. But that’s not how this feels. “I don’t like being a part of your game, Mason.”

He stills under me. Then he drops his hands, silently telling me I’m free to get off his lap.

Except I don’t.

We’re all making a stand tonight, right? Staking our land. Claiming our titles.

Landon, Gage, and Kerrington are outcasts. They don’t give a fuck about any of this and, yup, Landon’s pulled DoorDash up on his phone already. Nicole just put a powerful woman in her place, slapping her pride by claiming Mason one-upped her at her own damn charade.

Mason, who has been dejected, humiliated, and disowned, still showed up because he kept a promise. He’s front and center, so everyone sees that not only is he out of the Finch’s good graces, but out of their family and their social circle. The table with only half the chairs filled, will be the talk of the night.

It’s incredibly gratifying to see how little they care about the opinions of others.

So, I stay on his motherfucking lap.

I like it here. I like the way he holds me in this position. I love knowing that half the women in this room probably wish they were me. And if being a maid got in me into Mason’s life, and being a camgirl was how we both shared our favorite kinks, then so fucking be it.

I have no regrets.

I’m not ashamed of who I am or what I do.

I love my life. I’ve worked hard for everything I have.

I’m not going to be a part of this game. I’m going to be a player in it myself.

And I’ll fucking win.

Mason must sense my change in attitude. “That’s my good girl,” he growls in my ear. “Know your place, Leah.”

Oh, I do. It’s on a throne. In the Mason-Leah Kingdom, I wear the crown and no one’s taking it from me.

Okay. Wow. I need a romance novel intervention. Clearly, I’m blurring reality with fantasy again.

“I ordered pizza.” Landon tosses his cell on the table. “And McDonalds. And cheesesteak subs.”

“Jesus Christ.” Kerrington looks up at the ceiling. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me till the end of time.”

Mason takes a sip of his drink and traces his finger in little circles on my thigh.

A figure stands to my left and I look over to see a stunning woman hovering over us. “Holy shit, I thought Mom was going to have an aneurism up there.”

“Grace.” Mason doesn’t sound thrilled to see her. “You probably shouldn’t be here fraternizing with the enemy.”

“She’s busy with Jackson right now.” Grace has black hair like Mason and the same shaped mouth. Dressed in all black, she looks like a dark fae queen.

Good grief. Someone please take my books away from me. I’m getting ridiculous .

Mason takes a sip of his champagne. “I’m sure she’s scheming, but there’s nothing left for her to hit me with. I’m out for good and it’s staying that way.”

“I swear the way you guys talk it’s like you work for the mafia.” I hold my hand out to Grace. “Hi. I’m Leah.”

“My future wife,” Mason tacks on.

My pounding heart almost explodes out of my throat.

Grace’s mouth falls a fraction, but she recovers quickly. “Can we not have any more surprises tonight? My anxiety meds aren’t strong enough for all this.”

“Here,” Kerrington slides over his glass.

Grace takes it and frowns. “What’s in it?”

“Rum and coke.”

She tips it back and starts choking on it. “Oh my god! That’s all rum!”

“Nah, there’s coke in there somewhere. Probably at the bottom.” He takes it back and drains it. “Okay, maybe it was at the top.” He goes into a coughing fit.

“I can’t believe Mom cut you out for real.” Grace shakes her head. “Dad said she was livid when she got your letter from the lawyer. She ripped the curtains off the dining-room windows in a fit.”

Mason shrugs. “She’ll survive.”

I swear I’m living in a movie.

“Dad hasn’t spoken to her since either. He’s sitting at a different table tonight and Mom’s made some stupid excuse for it.” Grace looks over at me and I feel like shrinking again. She probably thinks I’ve wrecked her family and is blaming me for everything. “Is it true you’re his maid?”

Wow, the camgirl and house cleaning secrets are both out. I can’t even imagine how that’s possible. I don’t recognize anyone here. How could they possibly know these things about me already?

“I did clean his house, yes.” I don’t like the way she looks at me. “But I don’t anymore.”

“Mmm hmmm. Why would you? You’ve got a goldmine now. No sense in wiping down floors on your knees, when you can be on them doing other things.”

Mason slams his fist on the table. “Grace, watch your fucking mouth.”

“What? I’m just saying she won’t have to work anymore if she bags you.”

“Actually, I plan to work no matter what.” I pluck a green bean off my plate and pop it into my mouth. “I like earning my money.”

“Yes, I’m sure. Daisy Red, isn’t it?”

“Ren.” I pluck another green bean and feed it to Mason.

He chews it with a wry smile on his face. It fills me with a stupid amount of pride.

Grace clears her throat. “Okay then.” She gets up and fusses with her long hair. “I’m going back over to my table.”

“Okay. It was lovely meeting you, Grace.”

Once she leaves, Gage starts the slow clap. “Well done, Leah.”

“She’s officially one of us now,” Landon says with pride, wiping a fake tear from his eye. “Our family is complete.”

Mason chuckles, his chest vibrating against my side. “Well, Grace tried.” He slides his hand up the back of my neck and tugs my hair, tipping my head back. Then he kisses me. “You did so good, Princess.”

“This feels awful.” My head is all mixed up. I wanted Grace to like me, but her attitude towards me was so ugly. “I acted like a bitch.”

“You only matched her energy.” Mason runs his hand up my thigh. “If she doesn’t want to be put in her place, she needs to drop her high and mighty attitude and eat some humble pie.”

“Speaking of pie. Our pizza’s here.” Landon gets up and heads out of the ballroom, returning a few minutes later with a stack of boxes and bags. “Time for some real food, guys.”

We dig into the pizza while Mason goes for a cheesesteak.

“We should just leave,” Kerrington says. “We’re being fake sitting here.”

“Nah, I want to dance first.” Landon stuffs a bunch of fries in his mouth. “I just need a partner.” Scanning the room, he narrows in on the direction Grace went in and leaves the table.

“He’s going to go poke the bear,” Gage warns.

We all turn and watch him swagger over to the Finch Family’s table. His hands are clasped behind his back as he talks with Grace, and then she’s up and following him to the dance floor.

Mason tugs my hair a little. “Want to dance, Princess?”

“Definitely.”

We make our way to the dance floor and Mason twirls me around. “I had to take ballroom dancing lessons in high school,” he explains. “Never thought I’d actually enjoy it, though.”

I spin into his chest and push away to twirl in the other direction. I have no clue what I’m doing. I’m just following his lead. “Well, it all depends on the partner. I think that goes for all aspects of life, don’t you?”

“Mmm hmmm.” He grins as I keep my posture stiff and straight when he slowly dips me. Mason gently presses a kiss on my neck again. Adrenaline and fizzy bubbles shoot through my bloodstream. Everything about this dance is what life is like with Mason. He leads, but I’m still the star. He alternates between fast and slow, always aware of what step to take next. His attention is solely fixed on me.

And he’s winging every bit of it.

“Marry me.” The words tumble out of my mouth. “Marry me, Mason Finch.”

He doesn’t miss a step as he guides me across the floor. “Aren’t I supposed to be asking you that question?”

“Says who?”

“Social norms.”

My stomach is a mass of butterflies. “Nothing about tonight is the typical ‘social norm’. Look around us.”

“I can’t,” he says, spinning us in a tight circle. “You’re all I see, Leah.”

It’s in this moment the world completely falls away. The music stops. The floor vanishes. The room evaporates, along with the air and all the people. It’s just the two of us. We’re all that exists. We’re all that matter. “Is that a yes, Mr. Finch?”

It’s crazy, I know. It’s too soon. It’s too ridiculous.

But I don’t care.

Mason dips me again, his mouth hovering over mine until I can’t bend any further. “Yes.” He kisses me in the center of the dance floor, and it feels so right, so perfect, so real. “You just made this the best night of my goddamn life, Princess.”

The joy, however, did not last long…