by Violet Paige
He flipped the tablet back on.
I stared out the window. We’d be on the ground in Dallas in a few minutes.
Lachlan Corporation was exactly how I pictured it in my head. It was in a high-rise in downtown Dallas. Mason’s office took up the top three floors of the building. It was impressive and dominant. Not unlike its owner.
We walked next to each other through the halls. I had to remind myself this was not a place we could hold hands, no matter what Mason said about the openness of our relationship. It was hard to be so close and not be able to touch him.
The staff seemed genuinely happy to see him back in the office. It had been a few weeks since he had been in Dallas.
“And this is the boardroom.” He shoved the heavy wooden doors open. I peeked inside.
“Nice. Do you sit there?”
There was one chair at the end of the table, the rest flanked the sides.
“Yes. That’s my seat. Come on, I’ll show you my office.”
I followed him through the hallways. There were paintings and sculptures. He had spared no expense outfitting the suites.
We walked into a corner office. He closed the door when I passed over the threshold. “This is it.”
There was a sleek black desk on one end. A round conference table in the center, and a couch and chairs at the far end.
“Two flat panels?” I questioned.
“One for games. One for the business channel.”
I nodded. “Of course.” I knew he followed baseball almost as closely as the Dow Jones. I walked toward the desk. It was intimidating. Maybe it was the shiny surface and the darkness of it, but it looked powerful. I knew Mason would look powerful sitting behind it.
I was afraid to touch it. Afraid my fingerprints would show up like neon lights.
Before I could move to the chair, I felt Mason’s hands circle my waist. His mouth was on my neck, his teeth nipping behind my ear.
“You know what I’ve never done in here?” His palms moved to my thighs, dragging my skirt upward.
“Oh no. We’re not. We can’t. All those people are out there,” I protested. “They’ll know what we’re doing.” I could already feel the heat moving to my core. I craved him as much as he craved me.
He laughed. He didn’t seem thrown off by the employees in the hallway.
My head rested on his shoulder, while his fingers massaged between my thighs. I was melting in his hands.
“We can’t. Really, Mason. I’ll never be able to show my face here,” I whispered then moaned when I felt his fingers feather across my skin.
He turned me toward me. I saw the look of desire in his eyes. The pure want. The hunger. He picked me up, gently setting me on the desk.
“You know how many rules I’ve broken because of you?” He picked at the top button on my shirt.
“How many?” I watched as my shirt fell to the side.
“I think I’ve reached too many to count.” He kissed my throat, his hands running through my hair. “And this one. This rule I’m going to have to break.”
My skirt was shoved up to my waist. I circled his hips with my legs, drawing him to me.
“What rule is that?” I could feel the tightening sensation building between my legs. I began to work the buckle on his belt.
“Mixing business and pleasure. Right now I don’t know where one ends and the other begins.” I saw the wolfish grin on his face. He was enjoying it. My body. The desk. The prospect of what we were about to do.
I groaned into his neck as his fingers pinched through my bra. “Mason, this is bad.”
“So, so bad.” He took my face between his hands, kissing me hard and fast. My tongue met his in a fury. “God, I want you.”
“Sir? Mr. Lachlan?”
My eyes shot to his. The panic crawled over my skin. He smiled and pointed to the intercom on the desk.
He leaned across me and hit a button. “What is it, Mark?”
“There are two board members here. I thought you might want to see them while you’re in town.”
Mason struggled to breath. He stretched out the front of his pants with his palms. “Give me a second, Mark. I’ll be down. Get them coffee or something.” He tapped on the button a second time.
I covered my laughter with my hands. “You’re going to see your board looking like that?” I raked my eyes over the bulge between his legs.
He sat next to me and took a deep breath. “It’s going to take me a second.” He smiled. “I guess we’ll have to break the rule another time.” He pulled me toward him and kissed my forehead.
He hopped off the desk. “Wait here for me. Mark will get you what you need.”
I buttoned the top of my blouse and rearranged the panties that he had attacked with his amazing fingers.
“Ok, I’ll be right here,” I called after him.
I wandered to the other side of his office where the remotes were situated on the coffee table. I didn’t know which one operated which TV. I clicked the power button and the Texas Rangers popped up on the screen on the right. They were playing an afternoon double-header.
I settled into the leather chair. I needed to steady myself after the almost desk sex.
“Sydney?” A guy with red hair and glasses stood behind me.
I swiveled in the seat. “Are you Mark?”
“Yeah. Nice to meet you in person.” He extended a hand.
“It is. Thanks for all of your help this week getting everything set up for me.”
“Did your computer show up?” He pushed his glasses back on his nose.
“Yes. Last night. I haven’t had a chance to set anything up yet since we flew out so early this morning. I’m sure everything’s good on it. I can let you know tomorrow.”
“Have you met the other two PR team members, yet?”
I shook my head. “No, where is the PR office?”
“First floor of our three suites. Would you like to walk down there? I can take you. Introduce you to the team.”
“Do you think Mason will be long?” I asked. I wondered if I should refer to him as Mr. Lachlan, but that seemed awkward and forced.
“He’s in with two board members, and it’s been awhile since they’ve seen him. No telling.” Mark looked at his feet.
“Ok, let’s go. It’s not like he can’t find me. Let me text him first.”
I pulled out my phone to let him know I had walked two floors down to meet my co-workers.
It was funny actually putting a face to a voice. Mark was genuinely nice and helpful, but I could see why he irritated Mason. He wasn’t sure about much, and he certainly wasn’t confident.
He led me past a reception area and a break room. “When you’re in the Dallas office, I guess this is where you’ll be. Unless Mr. Lachlan has other plans.”
I shook him off. “No, I’ll be right here.” I tried to assure him. I wanted him to think of me like everyone else, although it hadn’t taken everyone long to figure out that wasn’t the case. I felt warm every time I thought of how he called me his girlfriend this morning.
“Jackie and Chelsea, meet Sydney. She’s new to the team. I’m sure you read my memo.” Mark tried to sound authoritative.
I stopped in the doorway. Holy hell. They were stunning. They were like two models pulled from a swimsuit catalog. I had to force myself to pick up the bottom half of my mouth and form words.
“H-h-hi.”
Jackie smiled first. She had pitch-black hair and crystal blue eyes. Her hair was parted in the center in smooth waves. “I saw your memo, Mark.”
“Oh good. That’s good.” I felt bad for the guy. He was completely out of his element with the PR team. “I’m going to run upstairs for a second, Sydney.”
“I’m fine. I can find my way back no problem. Thanks, Mark.”
He headed back to the third floor.
Chelsea spun in her chair. Her hair was layered in blond highlights. She had soft pink lips and wide eyes. “Thank God, you’re here.”
I found her introduction a little odd. “Excuse me?”
“We’ve been working on this Padre story all morning which makes no sense since you are in the ‘Padre office’.” She used air quotes.
“What story is that?” I walked closer to her computer to see what was on the screen.
I looked over her shoulder. “The natural habitat story. It’s ridiculous.” She exhaled in exasperation.
I scanned the document she was typing. “Where is this habitat?” I asked. I hadn’t heard of anything on the island.
Jackie stood next to me. “See? I knew it would have been easier if you had done this from the beginning. We have no idea where anything is on the island. Neither one of us has ever been to South Padre.”
Chelsea hit print. “Why don’t you read it first and then you can help us with it?” She handed the pages to me.
I couldn’t be reading this right. I looked at both of them. “This is for the sound site where the campground was supposed to go?”
“Yeah. I don’t even know how we’re supposed to make this sound sexy.” Chelsea looked bored.
“But, what happened to the campground?”
Jackie shrugged. “No more campground. It’s all about some bugs now. We have to write about how wonderful it is we’re saving some kind of locust species. Lach Corp is going to fund a habitat and summer courses for a nature camp.”
“No. No. That’s not right,” I argued with them. “The sound site is for the Cove residents. It’s for Shawna and Lindy.” I searched their pretty faces, but they had no clue what I was talking about.
Neither had been to the island. They had never sat at Shawna’s table or listened to Lindy’s munchkin voice.
Shawna and Lindy were supposed to move in less than a week. Lindy was excited about the cats and Shawna was looking forward to real playground. No, these two models had it wrong.
“Can you at least show me on a map the location you’re writing about?”
Jackie opened a second window on her computer. “Here. This is the address we have for the story.”
It was the abandoned junkyard. My stomach clenched in spasms. No. Mason wouldn’t abandon them.
“Ok. And where are the Cove residents supposed to go?”
There had to be a backup plan. He was the kind of man who always had a plan B.
Chelsea ran a hand through her choppy locks. “That’s the challenge we have. We have to make saving bugs sound more impressive and important than relocating the residents. We’ve got to bury that angle and fast.”
“Who said you needed to do that?” I steamed. “Does Mason know?”
“It came from upstairs,” Jackie reported. “Of course he knows. The request came from him. I tried to tell him it’s not going to be easy.”
“No, it’s not.” I handed the half-written article to Chelsea. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
I didn’t care that they were both staring at me. My face was white. I could feel the blood draining and the perspiration on my palms. I tore out of the PR office and raced to the elevator bay. I hit the button, smashing it harder with my finger each time.
I stared at the numbers above the door until finally it opened. I jumped inside, realizing I didn’t pay attention to a damn thing when I walked in this building. My focus had been on him. His eyes, how they fired bits of cobalt when he gave me the tour. His voice, how it growled in my ear when he pointed out the names of the different departments. His skin, how it smelled like a powerful, confident man. A man I couldn’t take my eyes off of.
There were other companies in this building. I think I remembered Mason mentioning law firms, accounting firms, and even an oil company, were co-residents of his. One day he planned to buy the building. For now he was still a tenant. I tapped L for lobby, hoping I would recognize the floor when the elevator deposited me on the level. I rushed from the elevator and headed for the set of revolving doors.
I walked out of the office building not sure which way to go. I fished through my purse looking for my sunglasses. The rays shot around the tall buildings, and for a second I felt so disoriented I considered sitting down to get my bearings, but I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t be still long enough to let it sink in what had happened. If I kept moving, I could keep it away a little while longer. Long enough to get home. I didn’t know my way around Dallas. I held out my hand for a cab. When one pulled up to the curb I hopped in the backseat.
“The airport,” I choked.
“Yes, ma’am.” The driver took off.
I pulled my ticket from my bag. The return flight wasn’t until ten. I had to hope I could fly standby on an earlier flight.
I walked to the ticket counter and handed the woman my voucher. “I was hoping I could fly standby.” I bit hard on my lower lip.
She studied me for a second. “Let me see what we have here.” Her nails clanked on the keyboard.
I waited while she mumbled to herself. “How about the three o’clock?”
I felt the hot tears roll over my cheeks. “Is there anything earlier?” I sniffed. I was not going to break down in the airport. I refused.
“Honey, you all right?” She peered at me.
“I’ll be fine. I just really need to get home.”
“Hold on.” She clanked some more. “The noon flight?”
I nodded. “Yes. Can I do that one?”
“It’s a two hundred dollar change fee.”
I dug through my wallet for the credit card that was an emergency-only backup. This was an emergency. I had to get home. Away from Mason. Away from the super models in PR. Away from Lachlan Corporation, or as Jackie fondly referred to it, Lach Corp.
I handed her the card. “Just get me on the flight please.” At this point I would be willing to pay another hundred dollars to make an earlier plane back to Padre.
It took off in an hour. I returned the card to my wallet after she ran it through the scanner. I heard my phone ring. Mason. I clicked ignore, and shoved the phone in the side pocket of my bag.
“Here you go, honey. I hope everything’s all right.” She handed me a new ticket.
“Thank you.”
I walked toward the security checkpoint and put my bag on the conveyer belt.
“Ma’am, your phone is ringing.” The guard pointed to my bag.
“I can take care of that.” I picked it from my purse and powered it off. I didn’t need to talk to him. I needed to get out of here.
23
Mason
I looked at the phone in my hand. The calls went straight to voicemail. Damn it.
“Mark, what were you thinking taking her to PR?” I yelled. “I told her to stay in my office.”
“She’s on the PR team, sir.”
I threw my hands in the air. I should have told her. “Find out where she went, damn it!” I knew I was yelling and screaming like a dictator, but I felt all the control I had was lost.
“How am I supposed to do that?” Mark was plastered to the wall next to the door.
I sat in the chair. She was gone. No one had seen her in the building, and Jackie and Chelsea said she ran out of their offices like she was being chased.
I didn’t know whether I should stay in the office or go out on the street to search for her. She could be at the airport. She could be in a coffee shop. Hell, she could be anywhere. I picked up the note she had scribbled on my desk. She signed it with three X’s. She had told me once they stood for more than kisses. They were kisses laced with fire.
“I need James Booker on the phone now.” I glared at him.
“Got it.” Mark raced out of the office.
It had been a long time since I had used his services, but this was urgent. Sydney could be anywhere in the city. I couldn’t stay if she had left, and I couldn’t go if she had stayed. I felt caged. Worse, I felt helpless.
The intercom crackled. “Mr. Booker’s on line one.”
I yanked the phone in my hand. “James.”
“Sounds li
ke you have something urgent.” The retired detective had a slow drawl.
“I do.”
“What can I do for you, Mason?”
“Can you meet me at my place? I’m headed over there now.”
“Sure can. See you in twenty minutes.”
I barged past Mark and the rest of the staff. I turned to face him. “If you see her, call me immediately.”
“I will, sir.” Mark shrank against the potted palm next to his desk.
I flipped the lights on in my penthouse, and threw the keys on a side table. I was going to show all of this to Sydney. I wanted her to see where I lived. See the view I coveted from this floor. It felt stuffy even with the air conditioner running. These windows didn’t open. It wasn’t like the condo in Padre, always circulating with salt air.
I looked around, it wasn’t anything like Padre. This place was cold and unfeeling.
I opened the bedroom closet and stared at the two racks of white shirts. Some had been monogrammed with my initials on the cuffs. Others were designed with a close fit by my tailor.
I shut the door when I heard a strong knock. I crossed the hardwood floors to get to the door.
“James, come in.” I showed the tall man into the penthouse.
“You sounded out of sorts, Mason.” He took the Stetson from his head and placed it next to him on the couch.
“I am. I need you to find someone for me.”
“Another missing family member?”
I shook my head. I had used James’s services last year when I wanted to make sure Grey was Dad’s grandson. James had done all of the investigative work for me. I could trust him.
“It’s a girl.” I pulled up a picture of Sydney on the beach. “I brought her with me to Dallas this morning. She might be headed back to South Padre.”
The older man eyed the picture. “Pretty thing.”
“Yes, gorgeous. And I have no idea where she is.”
“Why is she missin’?” He eyed me.
“She’s upset.” I paused. “With me.” It didn’t seem to faze James. He only wanted details if they would help him find Sydney. “She was at the office and got some news. She took off and no one knows where she went.”