Mason had his left arm under his head as he lay on Nancy's bed with his face towards the ceiling. They had both just finished having sex. Mason had thought it was going to help ease the stress that he was going through. But he still couldn't get himself to relax. His mind seemed to be thinking of several things.
Nancy came closer to him and placed her palm on his chest, "that was awesome," she said breathlessly.
Mason chuckled, his eyes still on her ceiling.
"What are you thinking about?" Nancy asked him.
"A lot of things," Mason replied.
Nancy kissed his cheek, "is the issue with the board of directors, one of them?"
Mason let out a slow breath, "it's not just about them, my granddad is with them on this as well, and it's frustrating."
Nancy was quiet for a second before she said, "then, why don't you give them what they want?"
Mason turned his head to look at her, "getting married? Hell no."
"But why not? That's the only way you can secure your position at the company. So just get married and everyone will be off your back," Nancy said it like it was such an easy thing to do.
"No, I will only get married when I know that I'm ready. And I have no plans of doing that anytime soon," Mason replied.
"Why is that? Is it because you think you don't have a woman you can make your wife?" Nancy asked.
"Well, there is that."
"Well...," Nancy adjusted herself on the bed so she was facing Mason properly.
"Well?" Mason asked, waiting for her to say what she wanted to say.
"Why don't we get married?" Nancy said with a smiling face.
"What?!" Mason wasn't so sure he had heard her correctly the first time.
Nancy continued, "well.... I don't see why not. We both understand each other. We would make a great team," she looked so pleased with herself as if she had said something wise.
Mason was looking at her like she was insane. At first, he thought she was joking, but when he looked into her eyes, he could see that she wasn't. She was dead serious. He took her hand off his chest. "I should leave," he said, as he started to get off the bed.
"What? Why?'' Nancy looked confused, that wasn't the response she was hoping to get from him. Mason picked up his clothes and started to put them on.
"Was it because of what I said?" she asked in confusion.
Mason finished dressing up and he said, "It's beginning to get late, I should head back home."
"You can spend the night," Nancy said, still trying to figure out the reason for his sudden switch in moods.
"Goodnight Nancy," Mason said before he walked out of her bedroom. Nancy got off her bed, threw on a robe, and ran after him. 'Mason wait," she said as he was about to open her front door. Mason turned around to face her.
"Are you leaving because of what I said?"
Mason gave her a weak smile, "No, I just need to head home."
"Mason, I was joking, you don't have to get….."
"Nancy, you've done nor said anything wrong," he came closer to her and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Goodnight," he said in a soft voice, and then he turned around and walked out of her apartment.
As Mason drove out of Nancy's driveway he knew he needed to stop what was going on between them. They were supposed to just be friends with benefits or so he thought until now that he just realized that Nancy now appears to have feelings for him. He had noticed the signs for a while, but he ignored them because he believed he was wrong. But now that she's suggested they marry, he realizes he's been correct all along. He had feelings for Nancy, but not enough to date or marry her. When they began their relationship, he told Nancy that he wasn't looking for anything serious because he wasn't ready to commit to a relationship, and Nancy agreed. They've been getting along just fine until now when he's realized she's fallen for him.
Mason was distracted from his thoughts when he realized he had left his wristwatch at Nancy's house; he considered returning to get it but decided against it. She would bring them to him at work.
When he looked at the time on his phone and saw that Ava was about to close from work, he decided to drive down there instead. He needed to know how she was doing.
****
Ava was sorting out some new shoes with Nathan. "These should go over there," Ava said pointing to one of the shoe shelves. "Nathan, did you hear what I said?" Ava asked Nathan who seemed distracted.
"Mr expensive suit is here," Nathan said.
"Who?" Ava raised her head and she saw Mason standing at the door. Her heart nearly came out of her mouth, as she became scared and thought of running into hiding. For the past week, she hasn't seen him, and so Ava had ruled out the fact that he could be stalking her. Now seeing him standing in the store, she just realized that she wasn't wrong. This guy was actually stalking her.
"What is the problem?" Nathan asked her when he saw pale she has suddenly become.
"Um…. I…." Ava stuttered. "If he should ask of me, could you please tell him I didn't come to work?"
"Why?" Nathan asked confused.
"Tell him I no longer work here," Ava blurted out as she ran to hide behind one of the shoe shelves.
Nathan wanted to say something but he quickly shut his mouth when he saw Mason walking toward him.
"Welcome sir, what would you like to get?" Nathan asked Mason smiling.
Mason returned his greeting with a nod, "I'm here to see Ava, could you be kind enough to call her for me?"
"Oh Ava," Nathan said smiling.
"Yes Ava," Mason repeated, wondering why the young man was smiling so much.
"Um, Ava isn't here," Nathan said trying to seem convincing.
"I see, could you by any chance know where she is?" Mason asked.
"No. She no longer works here," Nathan said.
Mason narrowed his eyes as he looked at Nathan, something seemed off about him. He was lying. Mason could tell from the way that he kept blinking his eyelids and how his eyes seemed to be darting around nervously. What was he up to?
"Is that so?"
"Yes. But you don't have to worry, we have some new arrival which I can show to you," Nathan said.
Mason was about to tell him not to bother when he caught sight of someone's legs behind one of the shoe shelves.
"Do you mind if I take a look around myself?" he asked Nathan.
"Of course sir," Nathan replied. "I'm sure you would see something that you like."
"You bet I will," Mason said.