City of Sin (12 page)

Mason

"What about that one?" I pointed to a red dress on
a mannequin. The mannequin wasn't nearly as curvy as Bee. She would look
absolutely amazing in it. And it was perfect for the gala. It wouldn't look too
bad on the floor of my bedroom either.

"Why the hell are we here again?" asked my brother,
Matt, leaning against one of the display cases.

"I told you."

"You don't usually do this to get laid. What does she
have on you?"

"Nothing."

"If you ask me, you like her," he said.

"I don't like her. I just want her."

Matt crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You're
right. You don't like her. You like her like her."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It's the step between like and love."

I laughed. I didn't fall in love. And Bee certainly wasn't
going to be the girl that made me change my ways. "I have no idea why I
asked for your help. She'll look good in anything. This dress is perfect."

"Do you know her size?" Matt asked.

"Yeah. I pulled a dress off the rack."

He frowned at me. "Why exactly do you know her
size?"

"I had Vargas get some information on her."

"You do realize how creepy that is, right?"

I shrugged my shoulders. It wasn't creepy. It was efficient.
And it was what was winning her over.

"So what else did you find out about this girl that you
almost love?"

I lightly punched his shoulder and tried to ignore him. He
was right though. I never tried this hard. Hell, I never really had to try at
all. Women heard my name and flocked toward me. It was one of the only benefits
of being a Caldwell.

"Do you at least have a picture? I want to see the girl
that stole my brother's small, shriveled up heart."

"She didn't steal my perfectly normal sized heart. But I
do have a picture." I pulled out my phone and clicked on my open tabs. I
wasn't sure where Vargas had gotten this picture. But it had been on the front
page of the report he had given me. And I found myself constantly looking at
it. Just because she was nice to look at.

"Damn, she's hot."

"That she is."

"So what does she do?"

"That's a weird question coming from a guy who doesn't
do anything."

"Hey, someone had to take over the family business. And
Dad doesn't need my help yet. He's made that perfectly clear. He hates all my
suggestions. I'm pretty sure he's still holding out hope on you taking it
over."

"Yeah, that's not going to happen."

"How are you doing anyway? I can't imagine being cut
off."

"I'm doing fine. Because I have a good job." And I
still had some of the money left that my dad had given me. Once I ran out, that
might be a different story. I knew the clock was ticking. I needed to land my
first account before I lost my apartment.

"Still. Thousands is different than millions. I do not
want to know what living is like without being able to take a bath in 100
dollar bills whenever I want."

He was right. I wasn't used to having to watch my cash flow.
I probably shouldn't have been buying this dress for Bee. But I wanted to.
Not
because I like her.
"I said I'm doing fine."

"How is the new venture going?"

I didn't want to talk about it. I never failed at anything.
But I wasn't even close to having enough cash to start my own ad agency. And
without my father's name backing me, no one was willing to give me a loan. My
side business helped. It was currently the only cash coming into my new
business. What I needed was more clients. Pilfering my father's new hires was
easy. I needed more access to high-level employees. But I didn't want to spend
my time growing that. I wanted to be starting my own company, not introducing
men to sluts. After spilling the news to my dad that I had other plans for my
future, he had basically said he was done with me. That was a year ago. I
thought I would have started the agency by now. It was still a while off at
this rate, though. "It's going slower than I'd hope."

"Well, when I'm in charge of MAC International, I'll
reinstate your allowance."

"I don't need it," I said. "I'm going to do it
without Dad's money."

"Eh. It'll kind of be my money then."

"Still." I didn't want handouts. Especially not
from my little brother who hadn't really worked a day in his life. I was sure
he was capable of running MAC. He had majored in finance at Harvard to appease
my father. But the money was his only motivation. He didn't really want to run
a finance company either. I didn't want to live like that. I wanted to prove
that I had what it took to make it on my own. My dad would see.

"You didn't answer my question. What does this girl
do?"

"She's a secretary at Kruger Advertising."

"Really? Mom and Dad will be thrilled about that,"
he laughed.

"I don't really care what they think."

"Clearly. Maybe that's why you're falling for her.
Because she's the complete opposite of who our parents expect you to wind up
with."

"Maybe."

"I knew it! You are falling for her."

"I didn't say that..."

"You kind of did. How much access do you think she has
to files at Kruger?"

"I'm assuming she has clearance for everything."

"So, there's your answer."

"What?"

"You're not going to want to take your clients with you
from Blue Media. They're a huge conglomerate. Burning your bridges with them
wouldn't be helping you. But taking Kruger's clients? That's a different
story."

"You want me to use Bee to get access to Kruger
Advertising's client list?"

He shrugged. "You said you didn't love her. So I don't
really see what the problem is."

I looked down at the dress I was holding. Matt was right. I
was already getting Bee to trust me. It would be easy to convince her to get me
access to the documents. Or at least I could steal the information from her
computer without her knowing. If I had a list of clients, I'd be able to get a
loan even without my dad cosigning. I might not even need a loan if I could get
one of Kruger's large accounts to sign with me right away. I shook my head.
That seemed dirty. Even for me.

"Unless you do love her..."

"No. I don't even like her." But I did. I couldn't
stop thinking about her. That's why I was at the store buying her a dress.

"If you say so."

"And that's actually a really good idea. I'm not sure
why I didn't think of it." Because I was distracted. Bee had thrown me off
my game. And I didn't want to risk losing her over something stupid like that.
Matt had no idea how to start a business. His advice wasn't exactly something I
was looking for.

"You were blinded by love."

"Stop saying stupid shit."

"When do I get to meet her? I haven't met any of your
girlfriends since you were still living at home. Have you even had a girlfriend
since high school?"

"No. And you don't get to meet her. Because she's not my
girlfriend."

"You do realize that I have tickets to the gala on
Saturday, right?"

I cleared my throat. "That's not where we're
going."

"Isn't it, though? Every important person in the city is
going. Which includes me. And you. And apparently a lowly secretary from Kruger
Advertising with a pretty face. It's a genius move actually. Showing her the
riches and glam and then wooing her into bed with you. Well played."

Shit.
I did not want him to talk to Bee. He'd ruin all
my plans. I didn't want it to be just a one night. I wanted to be able to have
her whenever I felt like it. "We're actually going to that winter festival
thing."

"I've never heard of it. Which means you probably made
it up. So I guess I'll see you at the gala. Can we please go get something to
eat now? I'm starving."

Damn it.

Bee

"Do you have plans with your new boyfriend
tonight?" Kendra asked. She already had her jacket on and was most likely
heading to a new club or bar since it was Friday. I couldn't think of one
Friday night she had stayed in since I met her.

"He's not my boyfriend. And no, we don't have
plans." I actually hadn't heard from Mason since he had stopped by with
lunch on Wednesday.

"Want to go out with me then?"

"Not especially."

"You do realize that you're being rude, right? Come on,
we're going. No more excuses. Besides, if you want Mason to want you, you have
to appear unavailable."

I did want Mason to want me. I had waited for him to text me
all day today and yesterday. After lunch on Wednesday, I had texted him and
thanked him for the sandwich and soup. But he had never responded. For some
reason it made me want him even more. I knew he was probably doing it on
purpose. Which meant maybe I should appear unavailable on purpose. I could use
some advice from Kendra. I was so out of the dating game that I didn't know
what I was supposed to be doing.

"Okay," I said and switched off my computer.

She looked surprise. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah. Let's go." I stood up and grabbed my coat.

"Okay..."

"I thought you'd be happy, not suspicious."

"But you always say no."

"Well I think I need some guidance."

"That sounds about right. Let me text Marie real quick
to see if she can come too. Girls night!" She pulled out her phone and
typed out a message to Marie.

I popped my head into Mr. Ellington's office. "Is there
anything else you need tonight, Mr. Ellington?"

"Not tonight, Bridget. There are a few important changes
I want to discuss with you next week, though." He was looking at me in
that creepy way again.

"About my position?"

"More than just your position. I have high hopes for
you, Bridget."

My back got slightly straighter. He looked creepy, but maybe
he was talking about an actual promotion.
High hopes.
I couldn't help
but smile. Kendra was right, he just always looked creepy.

"Have a good weekend. And please close the door."

"You too, Mr. Ellington." I closed the door. I
didn't want to say anything to Kendra yet. I knew better than to get my hopes
up. But I couldn't help but think I may have finally landed my first advertising
job. Maybe Sword Body Wash hadn't liked Jenkins' idea after all.

"Good news," Kendra said. "Marie's meeting us
there." She linked her arm in mine and we walked together toward the
elevator.

***

I was on my second cosmopolitan. Whenever the three of us
went out together, we liked to pretend we were straight out of Sex and the
City. Although it was anything but the truth. I was a homebody. Marie was
married and barely had time for us. Kendra though...Kendra probably was close
to being a Samantha. She was good at living in New York. She encompassed the
confidence I wished I had.

"Bee," Marie said and waved her hand in front of my
face.

I tended to space out when I had too much to drink.
"Sorry, what did you say?"

"Have you slept with him yet?"

"No. Not really."

"Right, and Kendra and I are dying to know what exactly
that means. Spill it."

"We did other stuff."

"Like what?"

"He was so forward. I excused myself to go to the
bathroom while we were at dinner and he followed me. Into the ladies'
room."

"And..."

"He went down on me."
Did I just say that out
loud?
I needed to stop drinking. My filter was disappearing fast.

"After knowing you for 30 minutes? I guess the rumors
were true."

"What rumors exactly have you heard again?"

"Basically that he's a sex god."

"That's not a thing."

"Well, did you like it?"

I could feel my face flushing. It was the most amazing thing
I had ever experienced in my life. "It was good, yeah."

"Mhm. Does that mean it was better than Patrick?"

"Patrick and I never really did anything like
that." I felt overheated just thinking about Mason. And now my stomach
seemed to flop over at the mention of Patrick. I took another sip of my drink.

"Patrick never went down on you?" Kendra asked.
"Why were you with him again?"

"Because we loved each other."

"Back to Mason," Marie said. "Did you two do
anything else?"

"We may have done more stuff like that in an
alleyway."

"See," Kendra said. "Kick Ass Bee. She appears
more once she's had a few drinks."

I liked that nickname.

"What has Kick Ass Bee been doing with Mason since your
first date?"

"Nothing really. He hasn't even kissed me again. He said
he was willing to take things slow."

"Because that's what you want?" Marie asked.

"He thinks that's what I want. But I kind of just want
him. And him not texting me back is driving me crazy."

"Well, what did you say to him last?"

"I thanked him for lunch."

"I think you need to let me borrow your phone
again," Kendra said and put her hand out.

"No, I got this." I pulled my phone out of my purse
and looked to see if he had texted me. He hadn't. I started typing: "If
the silent treatment is a new dating game, it's brilliant. Because I've never
wanted you more than I do right now. More than I wanted you in the bathroom.
And the alley. More than I've ever wanted anyone before." I pressed send.

"What did you say?" Marie asked.

"Here." I slid my phone toward Marie and Kendra.

"Oh my God," Kendra said. "Did you seriously
send this?"

"Yup." I took another sip of my cosmo.

"Way to just throw it all out there. What happened to
pretending to be unavailable?"

"Oh, crap. You're right." I grabbed the phone back
and typed: "But Kendra said I'm supposed to be unavailable. So ignore that
last text. And thank you for the roses. I actually love roses." I pressed
send again. "All fixed."

Kendra grabbed the phone out of my hand and looked down. She
started laughing. "Bee! No more drunk texting for you."

"Let me see," Marie said and grabbed my phone. She
started laughing too. My phone started buzzing in her hand. "He
responded."

"What did he say?" I asked.

"He asked if you were drunk." She smiled at me.

"Was it that obvious?" I grabbed my phone back.

Sure enough, his text said: "Bee, are you drunk?" I
bit my lip. I couldn't hide from the truth now.

"Maybe a little," I wrote back.

A second later my phone buzzed again. "Where are
you?"

"At a bar with Kendra and Marie. Girls night!"

"Which bar?"

"He's being weird," I said and put my phone back in
the middle of the table. "I think he's stalking me."

Marie laughed. In just a few seconds, my phone started
ringing. "Aren't you going to answer that?" she asked.

"Is it him?"

"Yeah."

"I don't want him to hear drunk me. I'm rambling too
much."

Kendra grabbed my phone. "Hello, Mason." Her eyes
flicked toward me. "She's absolutely wasted."

Silence. I rolled my eyes at her.

"I think a ride home would be good."

"Kendra!" I said.

Ignoring me, she continued. "We're at the Tiki
Lounge."

Silence.

"Okay, great. See you soon." She hung up.

"What did you say to him?"

She laughed. "You literally just heard the whole
conversation. I told him you were plastered and that you could use a lift. He
was still at work, so he's just down the street."

"I don't want him to take me home. He's going to try to
seduce me."

"I think you should let him," Marie said.

"You are both terrible people. We're taking things slow.
He's going to think I'm an alcoholic."

"Then I'll tell him all you do is sit at home at night
and watch T.V. That should clear everything right up."

"Don't tell him that! Crap, do I look okay?"

"You look great," Marie said. "Besides, the
lights are probably going to be off anyway."

I grabbed my phone off the table. "I'm just going to
leave before he gets here. Tell him I got sick or something."

I hopped off the bar stool before either one of them could
stop me and walked as quickly as I could toward the exit. I didn't want Mason
to see me like this. I grabbed the door handle and almost ran outside. As soon
as I turned the corner I ran straight into someone.

I instantly smelled his cologne. Which made my knees feel
slightly week. His hands were securely on my hips. I looked up at Mason
Caldwell's handsome face. All I wanted was for him to lean down and kiss me.

"What are you doing here?" I said without moving. I
didn't want him to take his hands off me.

His lips curled into a smile. "I'm taking you
home."

"Your home or my home?"

His eyebrows lowered slightly. "Your home."

"I think I'd rather see your home." Apparently
cosmos made me ridiculously forward.

"You're drunk."

"And you're handsome."

"Let's get you home." He let go of my waist and
draped his arm across my shoulders.

I felt safe next to him. I liked how tall and muscular he
was. I let my head rest against his shoulder.

We stopped on the curb and he put his hand out for a taxi.

"We can just take the subway," I said. "It's a
block away."

"I don't ride the subway."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "I just haven't in a long time."

"Do rich people not ride the subway or something?"

"I guess you could say that." His arm tightened
around me.

I wasn't sure if I had felt this warm since winter had
started in this stupid city. "Why did you come?"

"Because you're drunk."

"Marie and Kendra would have taken me home."

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe."

"Safe? Hmm. I assumed you didn't actually like me. You
never texted me back." I breathed in his scent.

"I'm here, aren't I?"

I looked up at him. He had told me he wanted to be the reason
why I stayed in New York. I was beginning to think his dirty words and cool
demeanor were all just an act. He did like me. If he didn't, he wouldn't have
come here to take care of me. Patrick had never really taken care of me. Even
when I was sick, he just avoided me. Mason wasn't the same as him. Mason was so
much better.

A taxi stopped in front of us. He opened up the door for me
and held my hand as I stepped inside. I didn't want him to take me home. I
wanted this to be the start of the night, not the end. I slid into the middle
seat to ensure that he'd be right next to me.

He smiled as he climbed in next to me. "West 96th
Street," he said to the taxi driver.

The car immediately pulled off the curb.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to your
place?" I put my hand on his knee.

"You have no idea how much I want that. I want all of
you, Bee. But not like this. You've had too much to drink." He tucked a
loose strand of hair behind my ear before wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
"You're not even going to remember this tomorrow morning."

Is that why he's being so sweet? Because he doesn't think
I'll remember?
He really was a good guy. He just didn't want anyone to
know.

"Maybe," I said and rested my head against his
shoulder. "Can you text me back now?"

"From now on, I'll always text you back."

"You know, you don't always have to act all macho. I
like this side of you too. I like everything about you." God he smelled
good.
Who smells this good?
"Except for the fact that you go to
tons of strip clubs. You shouldn't do that. It's gross."

"Oh, they're much better than strip clubs. But I haven't
been to anything like that since we've met."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Why?"

"We're here." He unwound his arm from around my
shoulder.

I instantly missed the warm feeling. He got out of the taxi
and held his hand out for me. I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet. His
fingers stayed intertwined with mine as he leaned down and told the cabbie to
wait.

He walked me to the front door of my apartment building. I
looked up into his eyes. He hadn't frequented any underground clubs recently
because he liked me. He didn't have to say it. I wasn't sure why he wouldn't
say it, but he didn't need to. I could tell by the way he was looking at me.
The same way he always did. Like he desired me. I desired him too.

I grabbed his collar, pulling his face toward mine. When our
lips touched I felt that spark go through me again. My whole body seemed to
tingle as his tongue collided against mine. He pushed my back against the brick
wall and deepened the kiss. He pressed his whole body against mine, pinning me
against the wall.

And then suddenly he stepped back, leaving me completely
breathless. It felt like I had waited forever for him to kiss me again. I
didn't want it to be over so soon. "Mason, I..."

"Your super has a package for you," he said,
cutting me off. He looked down at me as he ran his hand through his hair.

"What?"

His Adam's apple rose and fell. "Goodnight, Bee."

He turned away before I could say goodbye.