by Bru Baker
Mason’s eyes widened. Greg was a lawyer? He’d seemed like a nice enough guy when Mason had met him the night before, but nothing about him, from his casual clothes to his demeanor, had screamed “lawyer.” With his dark good looks and athletic build, Mason had assumed he worked outside as a contractor or landscaper or something equally physically taxing.
“No, it’s not something I can take to Anderson’s inhouse team.” Parker paused, listening intently. “No, nothing illegal. Well, I’d prefer if we could do it today. Time is of the essence, I’m afraid.”
Greg must have squawked at that, because Parker huffed out a sigh. “I know it’s already seven thirty, Greg. That’s why I called you on your cell and not at the office. Listen. Jill has yoga tonight. No, I know because she’s dragged me to it several times. At any rate, Jill isn’t home, and you’re just sitting there eating chips out of the bag and watching television.”
Mason could hear Greg’s laugh from the backseat. “Do you want to just meet me at my apartment? We should be there in twenty minutes or so. Eight, yeah. That’s perfect. Thanks, man.”
Mason waited until Parker had returned the phone to his pocket before poking his head between the gap in the front seats and peering between Parker and Anna curiously. “Is Greg really a lawyer?”
Anna laughed. “He is. He and the good Dr. Smith are ridiculously perfect. The lawyer and the doctor, both of whom play sports in their free time and spend their days off volunteering to save the world.”
“Yoga is not a sport,” Parker said, lips twitching. “Just because you couldn’t do it doesn’t make it not a sport, Parker,” Anna said reproachfully. “Not everyone can be that flexible, after all.”
She winked at Mason, whose cheeks immediately flushed. “I’m plenty flexible, I’ll have you know.” Parker sniffed. “I’ll let Mason be the judge of that.”
The car went silent as Mason and Parker both blushed. Mason scrambled to regain his seat in the back, doing his best to ignore the smirk on Anna’s face that could only be described as self-satisfied.
“DO YOU think we can trust them?”
Anna raised a manicured brow at Mason’s whisper. “Should we assign them code names, Mason?”
“Ooh, we could. Maybe we should. It might—” His excited word trailed off and he stopped midgesture, glaring at Anna when she snickered. “Oh. Right. Fine. Make fun of Mason. I’m only trying to help you and Parker take over an entire company. And what do I get? Mocked. That’s great.”
Anna threaded an arm around his waist, watching Parker talking animatedly with Margaret, Luke, Liam, and Greg. They were seated around the table in his kitchen, the same one around which Parker and Greg had drafted the plans for their proposed buyout of Anderson Industries two days earlier. Parker and Anna were putting their apartments up as collateral for the loan they needed to raise the capital necessary, and the two of them, accompanied by Greg as their legal counsel, had spent the morning at the bank making arrangements. It still wasn’t enough, but that was where the mysterious Nancy came in—her investment, paired with Margaret and Anna’s, the money Parker was fronting, and the bank loan, would tip the scales enough for them to make a reasonable buyout offer to Anderson’s board.
“They’re Parker’s closest friends,” she said, grinning fondly when Parker and Margaret started to argue. “And my sister. If we can’t trust them, then Anderson is lost.”
Mason laughed, resting his chin on the top of her head. He wasn’t quite sure of his place in all this, but he was glad to be with them. It felt right, like it was his destiny to have fallen in with Parker and Anna.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable being in on this?” Mason snorted. “Am I sure? Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” “I’ve never been as sure of anything as I am of Parker,” she said softly, and Mason nodded, falling silent as the two of them watched Parker and Margaret bicker.
StephenLot (09/13/2012 7:23 AM): Tell Pike to get his ass in here. He’s late.
AnnaFaulk(09/13/2012 7:24 AM): I haven’t seen him yet today.
StephenLot (09/13/2012 7:24 AM): He has a 7:30 a.m. meeting with Richard. AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 7:25 AM): It isn’t 7:30 yet. Am I to infer that you are also in this meeting?
StephenLot (09/13/2012 7:26 AM): Yes. Richard doesn’t like to be kept waiting.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 7:27 AM): Is that a warning for Mason or one for me?
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 7:28 AM): Mason just flew by my office. What is this meeting about? StephenLot (09/13/2012 7:30 AM): I thought I already said.
StephenLot has signed out. AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 7:35 AM): Richard’s morning meeting was Mason and Stephen. Abby said they just went in.
LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:37 AM): TY. I’m on with Liam too. He said Abby messaged him to ask why we want to know who Richard is meeting with.
LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:39 AM): He said he told her “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 7:42 AM): Tell Liam not to piss off Richard’s secretary, especially when she’s doing us a favor that could get her fired.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 7:47 AM): FYI, Abby just messaged that Richard had her put through a call from the CEO of Century.
LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:47 AM): FML. LiamTavish (09/13/2012 7:48 AM): The duck flies at dawn.
LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:48 AM): WTF does that mean?
LiamTavish (09/13/2012 7:49 AM): Mason thought we should have codes. To keep things… secret.
LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:50 AM): That only works if everyone involved KNOWS the code, idiot. LiamTavish (09/13/2012 7:51 AM): Abby said they’ve got Century on a conference call. And Parker was right. Stephen’s in there with them. LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:52 AM): Anna told me. Shit.
LukeJacobs (09/13/2012 7:53 AM): Thanks for the update. Stop bothering Abby.
LiamTavish (09/13/2012 7:54 AM): My pleasure. ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:15 AM): What if they’re torturing it out of him?
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:16 AM): They aren’t TORTURING Mason.
ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:17 AM): Why did my father want him in there, anyway? AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:18 AM): He’s in there talking about software development with Stephen and Century. Of course he wants Mason there.
ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:20 AM): Is Mason really that good?
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:21 AM): He really is. AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:21 AM): And he’s risking a lot to help us.
ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:22 AM): I know. ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:23 AM): What I don’t know is WHY. Liam, Luke… their jobs depend on this. But if he’s that good, Mason would be kept on. Why is he helping?
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:34 AM): I don’t have time to play nursemaid to an emotionally stunted oaf, Parker.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:35 AM): What Richard’s doing, it isn’t right. And Mason, he believes in doing the right thing.
ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:37 AM): Oh. AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:38 AM): FFS. AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:38 AM): I can’t believe we’re in the middle of corporate espionage and I have to hold your hand and be an Agony Aunt.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:39 AM): A lot of his friends here would lose their jobs if the company gets sold to Century. He only wants the software division. He’ll sell the other divisions off piecemeal. You know this.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:40 AM): He’s doing this to save their asses, Parker.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:40 AM): And also to save YOURS.
ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:41 AM): Yeah, I get it. AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:44 AM): No, I don’t think you do. He likes you.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:44 AM): And now I feel like I’m in middle school again. I’m not passing notes between you two in study hall, Parker. Work it out yourselves.
ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:50 AM): Father’s summoning. Wish me luck.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 8:50 AM): You don’t need luck. You have me and Mason. ParkerAnderson (09/13/2012 8:51): It’s Mason I’m worried about. He doesn’t lo
ok like he can lie to save his life.
MASON, it seemed, had quite a reserve of qualities Parker hadn’t seen. Not only did he stand, straight-faced, while Richard essentially told Parker he had no future at Anderson, he withstood some rigorous questioning from both Stephen and Century’s CEO about business practices in the R & D department and his own worth as an architect in it.
“Parker, you could learn a lot from Mason,” Richard said, clapping Mason on the back as they moved toward the door. Century was still on the phone, and Stephen had made no move to abandon his chair by Richard’s desk, making it clear the dismissal was for Mason and Parker only.
“He’s on the cutting edge of what’s going on out there with software, and that’s where business is growing. You’d have done a lot better by getting a software engineering degree before your MBA, instead of just focusing on business in undergrad,” Richard said, giving Parker a meaningful look.
Two days ago, Parker would have thought his father was just being critical, but today, with all the knowledge they’d gathered over the weekend tumbling through his mind, he could see it for what it was—a veiled allusion to the fact that Parker would soon have no place at Anderson.
“I hope you understand me giving the slot to Stephen, Parker,” Richard said quietly, pulling Parker closer when he shook his hand. “You simply are not ready to be at the helm of a company like Anderson.”
“And Stephen is?” Parker tried to keep his tone neutral, but he failed at the end, his voice wavering. “He’s younger than I am.”
“Maturity has more factors than age,” Richard said, releasing Parker’s hand.
“I see.” Parker and Mason passed through Richard’s private door into the outer office, conscious of Abby’s gaze. She hadn’t been brought into the inner circle, as the others had insisted on being called now, much to Parker’s annoyance, but as someone Liam trusted implicitly, she’d been told something was going on and it wasn’t good. She’d been able to give them more details about Century’s interest in Anderson, since as Richard’s personal assistant, she’d been the one to prepare the reports that had been sent over. It was thanks to her that they knew Century only wanted the R & D division, with a special interest in the software department. Abby would be one of the first to be fired, since the head of Century would be bringing his own administrative staff over. Parker knew Abby didn’t enjoy working for his father, who was known for his strict office policies and exacting standards. The entire company was afraid of Richard, but Abby had to deal with his temper and priggishness every day. Parker knew it couldn’t be easy on her. Even so, she hadn’t fully agreed to help until she’d realized how many other Anderson employees would be laid off. She was a good person, and someone that Parker would be happy to keep on if their buyout worked.
“Should I message Anna to let her know you’re on your way down?” she asked, hand poised over the keyboard. Mason nodded, but Parker shook his head, speaking in a thick voice that made him cringe and swallow in embarrassment.
“No. I’m going out for a minute. Mason can tell Anna I’ll be back in a bit.” Parker took off, long legs eating up the corridor as he strode purposefully out of the office. Mason watched him go for a second before turning to Abby, hand flung out in a hasty wave as he dashed after him.
“Message Anna?”
Abby grinned and opened a chat box.
AbbyLake (09/13/2012 9:31 AM): Parker’s in a huff and Mason just took off after him like a bat out of hell.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 9:33 AM): It figures they’d choose to do this when we’re in a hurry. MEN. *sigh*
AbbyLake (09/13/2012 9:34 AM): Do you think they’ll be OK? AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 9:35 AM): They’d better be. Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get them together? Luke and I had just about given up hope of Parker needing a computer tech so we could make Mason go take care of it.
AbbyLake (09/13/2012 9:37 AM): Seriously? You set them up?
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 9:40 AM): I didn’t set them up... I just pushed them together. And it wasn’t just me. Luke was in on it too.
AbbyLake (09/13/2012 9:42 AM): I’m surprised you didn’t just have Luke break Parker’s computer months ago.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 9:44 AM): I like the way you think.
AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 10:01 AM): Have they come back down yet?
AbbyLake (09/13/2012 10:03 AM): No. Should we be worried? AnnaFaulk (09/13/2012 10:05 AM): Only if you think Parker’s stubborn enough to do something stupid.
AbbyLake (09/13/2012 9:34 AM): So yes, then? >.<
“CHRIST, Parker. You’re a hard man to find.” Mason was
panting slightly as he bent at the waist and leaned his back heavily against the door to the roof, like his side was cramping.
“Did it ever occur to you that if I’m hard to find, it’s because I don’t want to be found?” Parker snapped, hands uncharacteristically tucked into the pockets of his trousers as he looked out over the cityscape. He often came up to the roof when he was at loose ends. He’d never told anyone, but he was sure that Anna, Luke, and probably even Liam knew. Obviously one of them had told Mason, which had Parker feeling perversely pleased.
Parker looked at him, taking in Mason’s flushed cheeks. He’d straightened out by now, his cramp apparently eased.
“If you’re that out of shape, it’s easier to take the elevator to the top floor. You’ll still have to climb the last set of stairs to get here, but I’m assuming you could handle that,” he said, turning back to look out over the skyline.
“I’m not out of shape!” Mason’s shoes scraped against the rough surface of the roof as he came closer. “I was just worried about you.”
“I wasn’t going to jump, you know,” Parker drawled, not turning around to look at Mason. “How was I to know? Anna said check the roof. She didn’t say ‘check the roof, Mason, he likes to lounge around up there’.”
“I am not ‘lounging around’,” Parker said, spinning and shooting Mason a look of irritation. The corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, though, betraying his amusement.
“Well, as long as you’re not contemplating jumping to your death, I suppose it doesn’t matter what you’re doing up here,” Mason muttered, toeing the tar paper that covered the roof with his loafers.
“My mother loved heights,” Parker said suddenly. He turned, looking back out over the city, watching the tiny cars swerve and slide around each other on the street below. “She used to bring me to this restaurant at the top of a huge skyscraper so we could have lunch and look out over the city.”
Parker shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, and Mason heard him blow out an unsteady breath.
“She died when I was five. I don’t have many memories of her, but I do remember that.”
Mason stepped closer, letting the door click against the brick Parker had left to prop it open. Parker was grateful he wasn’t trying to fill the silence with chatter. Having him close was comforting.
“My father, he was a different man when she was alive. I remember—” Parker faltered when Mason slid a cautious hand out to grasp at his elbow, and Parker slipped his hand out of his pocket and twined their fingers together, still not turning around. “I remember him being happy.”
Parker’s voice caught, and he took in a shaky breath. “Margaret says I can’t possibly remember those things, that I was too young when she died. She used to taunt me about it when I was a kid. She’d say the only proof that I even had a mother were the photographs of her. She said my memories were all made up.”
Mason squeezed their joined hands. Parker had known that acting against his father would be hard, but he hadn’t thought it might dredge up old memories that were still so difficult to face. For some reason, he needed Mason to know that Richard hadn’t always been a ruthless bastard.
“My father and I haven’t been close for a long time. I haven’t even gone to his place for Christmas the past few years because he and his new wife go skiing. Catherine said it was im
portant for them to have their own traditions as a married couple,” Parker said with a humorless laugh. “Still, standing there in his office this morning, it hit me that what we’re doing—what I’m doing—it’s a betrayal. He may cut me out of his life entirely after this.”
Mason’s teeth chattered as he shivered, and Parker looked up sharply, studying him carefully. Mason hadn’t grabbed anything on his way out, and the thin sweater he was wearing didn’t provide much protection against the chill in the air. Parker huffed out an annoyed breath and unbuttoned his suit coat with his free hand.
“I swear, if you try to put that on me like I’m a girl—” Parker laughed at Mason’s indignation, but instead of wrapping it around his shoulders, he tugged their joined hands, letting go of Mason’s once they were standing nose to nose with each other. When Mason didn’t move, Parker rolled his eyes and grabbed Mason’s hands. He guided them up around his waist, where they could rest between Parker’s coat and the warmth of his shirt-covered back.
“You looked like you were freezing.”
“I wasn’t,” Mason protested.
“Your teeth were chattering so loudly I could barely hear myself think,” Parker drawled, arching an eyebrow at him. Mason looked at him, and Parker was mesmerized by the shape of his lips. They were close enough to touch, and Parker was suddenly overwhelmed by the need to kiss him.
“They’re not now,” Mason said, breath hitching when Parker leaned infinitesimally closer.
“Maybe I should check.” The whispered words were all the warning Parker gave Mason before his lips closed over Mason’s, urgent and needy. Parker poured all his frustration into the kiss—the feelings of helplessness and anger, the guilt over what he was trying to do to his father. Mason ran his hands up the broad planes of Parker’s back, fingers splayed as he grabbed for purchase, sliding against the smooth fabric as the muscles beneath flexed and moved as Parker wrapped his arms around Mason, drawing him even closer.