by Kailin Gow
“Don’t be silly, chile’. Flaunt it,” he replied. “Mason is going to eat you up looking like this, girlfriend. You’ll land yourself one of the most sought after bachelors in the world.”
“You’re mistaken,” I said quickly. “I’m not here to land Mason. Furthest thing from my mind.”
“Why not? He’s clearly into you. He never asks women out to public events—never.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been connected with the Beast’s for all their events. I know,” Jerry said.
“Well, you’re wrong on this one,” I said defiantly.
He wasn’t listening. “Saving yourself for the other brother? Callum? He’s a dish…well, he was before that accident. I was a Callum fan before, but now he’s pretty pathetic. But Mason, he’s looking better every day, honey.”
“Um, Jerry, Callum is not even mildly attractive to me. He’s rude and arrogant, completely offensive to both me and my mother. In fact, I’d be likely to slap him if I ever see him again. At least he isn’t around here while I’m doing my project.”
“That one lasted a long time in the news,” Jerry said. “That’s part of what makes him so pathetic now. Not sure how anyone could come back from that.” Then Jerry put a diamond clip securely into my hair, making me flinch for a second as the tines pressed into my scalp. Then he released it and all was well.
As I looked at myself in the mirror, Mason walked into his office, which had been my makeshift beauty central station.
“Wow,” Mason said, looking at me with his mouth open. “You are a vision.”
Jerry gave me a knowing look and packed up his tools of the trade. “Well, see you girl,” he said, kissing each of my cheeks. “And, good luck,” he added with a wink.
“I’m not easily impressed, but I am right now. You’re wearing the Helen Chu Cosmetics, and they’re perfect for the day and equally so for at night. Not that you even need them, of course, because your face is perfect.”
His words left me in a state of desire, caution, and excitement. And almost speechless. Before I knew it, we were off to the gala, ready to arrive in his sporty black Jaguar coup.
Chapter 6
Charisma
Mason and his frat brothers were clearly all quite successful. I was shocked to see that their gala was being held at the Beverly Hills Polo Club. Shouldn’t have been, I suppose, but I was. If any of them were half as successful as Mason, whether they were from old money or not, it was likely going to be a room filled with influential people. And all I was aware of was Mason and I. It was strange to feel such a draw to him, but I did. What we had in common excited me, plus, he was gorgeous and complimentary. By every outward appearance, he was the complete package.
“So, are you close with all these guys?” I asked Mason, glancing around at all the dressed up men with ornately made-up women by their sides.
“No, not really. We’re business close. Callum’s really who they are all tight with.”
“Do they know the same Callum I met?” I asked jokingly.
Mason looked at me with an appreciative smile. “They do, but they like that type of thing.”
“So, Callum paved the way for you to get in. Isn’t that how this brotherhood stuff works?”
“Charisma, you’d think it was that simple. They wanted him right away and were pretty unprecedented in their pursuit to get him to pledge back in the day. When I enrolled at USC for undergrad, I naturally chose this option, referred by my big brother and all, but it was a hell of a lot harder for me. At first, anyway.”
“At first? Sounds like an interesting story behind it.” I said.
Mason shrugged in a casual manner. “Within a year, I became the President and really helped to put a lot of guys on the map, I suppose, focusing on them getting noticed by the right organizations down the line for work, connecting them with alumni that were significant in their fields, that kind of thing. As it turned out, Callum really was only good at being the face of the party boy and kind of a poster child—nothing too serious when all was said and done.”
“This may sound harsh, considering all that’s happened, but wasn’t that basically what he was for Beast Company, too?”
“Not harsh, and you’re right, but Father was constantly trying to get him to change it up. He just didn’t grasp it, or didn’t want to, anyway.”
“So, Mason, who is this exquisite beauty?” some guy said, walking up to us. He spoke with his jaw clenched and still managed to show a pearly white smile. Kind of creepy, to me, anyway.
“Samuel, let me introduce Charisma Chu,” Mason said. He grabbed my arm gently and said, “Charisma, this is Samuel Johnson.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Samuel,” I said, extending my hand. He grabbed it and then handed his drink to the woman he was with to cup his other hand over mine.
Gross and rude, dude. Keep your hands to yourself.
I pulled it away and smiled and then introduced myself to the lady he was with. It was his girlfriend, it turned out.
“So, have you two been dating long?” Samuel asked.
I didn’t know what to say, but it turned out that I didn’t need to say a word. Mason was more than glad to answer, “Not too long.” I smiled at the mysterious smile on his face. He could have said we were engaged if it protected me from this Samuel joker hitting on me or acting so creepy.
“You’d better grab her quick, Mason, or I might just take her,” Samuel said.
That was so rude. I looked at the woman next to him and she didn’t seem to care. I had friends like her—she was settling, which was sad. No one should settle. “Well Samuel, you can’t grab me if I can run faster.”
He was shocked and then laughed, calling me a firecracker.
“Mason, will you take me over there to get me another glass of wine,” I said, batting my eyes.
“Of course,” he said. He turned to Samuel. “If you’ll excuse us.”
No sooner were we walking away than he was laughing. “You’re good.”
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you. I can’t stand guys like that,” I said.
“No, you actually made my night. That was good, certainly out of the norm for Samuel,” Mason said.
After getting our drinks, we just stood in the corner talking and occasionally talking to someone that would invade our bubble, but I had the distinct feeling that Mason wanted people to see me, not talk to me. He wanted me all to himself, and it was kind of endearing. Maybe a bit possessive, but it didn’t seem like it was for bad intentions. Plus, if these other guys were a lot like that Samuel, I was glad to keep my distance.
Mason reached over to me and grabbed my wine glass. “Care to dance?”
“I’d love to,” I said, smiling at him.
Hand in hand, Mason guided us toward the dance floor and turned around, pulling me into his arms in a graceful manner. His hand was pressed firmly against my lower back and our bodies were so close that I could feel his heart’s beat. It was so soothing and I felt really safe and aroused by our close connection.
“You’re driving these guys crazy. They can’t keep their eyes off you,” Mason said to me.
“And how would you know, Mr. Beast. You aren’t taking your eyes off me, either.”
He smiled and leaned in. I thought he was going to kiss me but he went to the left of my head and right to my ear.
With a soft whisper that tickled my skin, he said, “You truly are exquisite. Unlike anyone I’ve ever laid eyes upon before.”
“Are all the Beast men so charming?” I asked.
“I think you know that isn’t the case,” Mason said with a crooked smile. “But those of us who honor our family do try our best.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. That was a curious and intriguing statement.
“There is a lot of pride by most of us in the Beast name and legacy. I love the business and from the time I was fifteen, I dove into it, eager to learn everything I could and excited about the potential of continuing on in excellen
ce, as both my father and grandfather did.”
I watched his lips as he spoke and felt empowered by his words. “I understand,” I said. “We’re not from old money, like you, but I’d do anything for my mother and the business. She’s worked hard and I want her to be proud of me in all that I do.”
“I am pretty sure you’ve succeeded. Your mother is highly respected, and I can already tell that you are, too.”
“Now those are words to sweep a woman off her feet,” I said in a merry laugh. It was such an intimate conversation and the way that his hand made my lower back tingle had me discombobulated. I wanted to talk and talk, but I also wanted to…well, I couldn’t let my mind go there. It was far too soon to have thoughts like that.
“What do you say we go? I promised you that I’d get you back to the office early tonight and I don’t want to back out, or else you may never agree to go anywhere with me again,” Mason said.
I was having so much fun, but Mason was right.
“Okay then, so long as you think you’ve made your presence for long enough,” I said.
“I think they’ll understand. It’s really about the money, anyway, nothing more.”
***
Mason and I were standing side by side, looking out of his office window at the beautiful Newport Beach city below us, the ocean off in the distance, barely visible by the bright white of the full moon that was out. Maybe it was the moon or maybe the amazing evening, but for the first time in a long time, school work was far from my mind.
“This really is a special view,” I said. “You’re fortunate.”
“I count my blessings every day, of course, but more than fortunate, it’s hard work that gets someone here. I have no doubts that you’ll have just such a view at some point in the future.”
“Maybe from this office,” I teased.
“A Chu invasion of Beast Company. I can’t say that I’m opposed to it,” Mason said. Then his hand reached under my chin and he softly turned my face toward his and leaned in and kissed me.
His lips were urgent and gentle as they brushed against mine. I gladly responded, taking in the feelings of the moment and realizing that it felt absolutely perfect.
“Is this okay?” he finally asked, pulling slightly away from me.
I nodded my head down, not certain if I could talk. Then he leaned in again and kissed me harder, wrapping his arms around me. They didn’t move, only holding me tightly as we kept kissing. I was surprised at how receptive I was to it, how much I wanted it.
Again, Mason pulled back and put one of his hands on each side of my face and leaned in closer to me. In a soft voice he spoke while staring me right in the eyes. “I know that we’ve only really known each other for a few days, but I can’t stop thinking of you, Charisma. Even on that night, I was so drawn to you that it drove me crazy.”
“I feel the same way,” I said. It was true; I thought about him a lot.
It was only when he said, “I think I’m falling for you,” that I got scared. What did that mean? And how could it be? That was too quick. But my fears subsided by another kiss and when I finally left Beast Company that night, I could feel his kiss lingering on my lips for the entire ride home. Even after I showered, his presence was still there, somehow becoming a part of me from just a single night.
Chapter 7
Charisma
If my school work topic the night before had been on the perfect kiss, I would have nailed it. But as fate would have it, it wasn’t and that made it an impossible endeavor. I ended up drifting off to sleep with thoughts of Mason’s scrumptious lips on mine and I woke up with that thought still there. I was dreamy and had a permanent smile. I didn’t think anything would be able to wipe it off my face, either. Was there such a thing as an after-kiss glow? If there was, I got it. Hey, after-kiss glow would be a great name for a lipstick color, too. I’d have to remember that.
Driving out to Costa Mesa where I was to meet my mother at the factory, I thought about Mason the man. I loved it that he placed such high priorities on work and family. Having always been just Mom and me, I’d always wanted to have more of a family, but talking with Mason made me realize that it came with its challenges, too.
And what a gentleman he was, too. Funny how two guys could be raised in the same environment and turn out so differently. I had no doubts that Callum Beast never had been and never could be a gentleman. Too self-absorbed and arrogant for that. Probably still was, deformity and all. But enough about him. Why bother when I can think about Mason?
“Hi Charisma, you look happy today,” Jenna said. She was the greeter at the factory, the one who signed people in and handed out visitor passes, things like that.
“I am happy, Jenna.”
“Must have been a good night,” she said with a sweet smile.
I just winked and kept on walking. Let everyone wonder. I didn’t mind.
I walked over to my desk and put my things down and then picked up the phone to buzz my mother. She’d been at the factory since 6 AM, just like she was most every day.
“Charisma, hi, did you have a good night?”
“It was great,” I said.
“Wonderful. Now, come to my office. Our new employee is here and waiting for you to show the ropes.”
“Okay,” I said. After she hung up, I couldn’t help but notice how strange it was that she didn’t ask any other questions. It was not like my mother. Maybe she was reserved because of the new employee. That must be it.
It didn’t take long for me to find out why, and it was quite a shock.
***
“Hi,” I said and I froze. No, not today, I thought.
“Charisma, you remember Callum Beast, I assume,” my mother said.
“Yes,” I managed to blurt. “But what is he doing here, in your office?”
“He’s our new employee,” my mother said. She was smiling, a bit amused and very controlled. I had to blink to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. Nope—this was real.
I looked at Mother and then at Callum. It was the first time I’d seen him and the stories about what happened to his appearance were not at all far-fetched. That accident had really altered him. He barely resembled the man from the party and the timid look on his face was almost heartbreaking. And I emphasize almost. But there he was, eating humble pie at the very place he called “cheap.”
“Callum, Charisma will show you all the ropes and give you an overview of everything. She knows just as much as I do, maybe more. I’m sure you’ll get a grasp of it quickly, you’ve grown up in a world that understands the importance of the cosmetics industry.”
I remained quiet while I listened to Mother talk. She could have been having some fun taking revenge on him for what he’d done, but she wasn’t. I should have known she wouldn’t; she was too good of a woman. Instead of spite, she treated him with respect and kindness like she did all the company’s employees and everyone in general. That was her, not me. I wasn’t so quick to be that kind.
After Mother had finished what she had to say, Callum and I went back to my office. I opened the door and walked in, standing by it until he passed, and then shut the door behind me.
“Have a seat,” I said.
He sat down in the red chair that was on the other side of my desk and I walked around to the other side of my desk, but didn’t sit. I stood there and looked at him. Adrenaline started to run through me and it made me feel like shaking, but I controlled it.
“Is this some kind of joke? Did you not have enough fun humiliating my mom and this place at the Beast Company party? Why are you here? What do you intend to do? Steal our formula and expose any secrets you think we may have? See if we really make knock offs and cheap Made in Chu crap? Please, go home and play with your floozies. We run a legitimate hard-working business here, and we don’t have time for your stupid little games.” I knew there was no way he could answer all those questions and that I’d just completely unleashed on him, but I didn’t care. I didn’t have any
trust for him and I was going to make sure he damn well knew it.
That was when Callum sat back down in his chair, bent over and began shaking. What? Was this some kind of ploy?
I didn’t walk around my desk, but did call out. “Are you okay?”
He just shook.
When I’d said those things, I’d expected him to fight back and come up with some hateful words that would prove I was right. Instead, there he was, looking weak and timid. Pathetic, really. Now I felt bad. So help me, if he was yanking my chain, I’d deliver him that slap I said I wanted to just yesterday.
“Hey what’s going on?” I cautiously asked, walking around the desk and kneeling down to check on him. “Why are you shaking like that?”