Ava sat staring at Mason. Did he just say what she thinks she heard? Who does this man think that he is, trying to order her around? She leaned back on her chair and folded her arms across her chest, daring him to do his worst. They both locked eyes for a moment before Mason looked away and picked up his cutlery and started to cut his steak.
"You should eat, you won't enjoy it when it gets cold," Mason said to her, this time his voice was calmer, and it didn't sound like a command.
"And I said, I'm not hungry, what part of that don't you understand?" Ava asked in annoyance. She was actually dying of hunger, but she was going to pretend that she wasn't hungry because she didn't want Mason to think that he could order her around like she was his child.
Mason looked at her for a brief second before he went back to eating his food. Ava stared daggers at him as he continued to eat his food, ignoring her like she didn't exist. She thought of standing up to leave, but he was her ride, they were in the suburbs of the city, far from where she lived. Should she try to take a taxi back to her place, it was going to cost much, and she didn't have such money to waste as she was saving up to pay Robinson the interest for the week before he comes to harass her, so she was stuck with him until he decides to drop her off. With how slowly he was eating, she knew it was going to be a long wait.
She looked at Mason, wondering why he was doing this to her. What was his problem? What did he want from her?
Mason cut a steak and picked it up with his fork before holding it out to Ava. She looked at him, perplexed, wondering why he was attempting to feed her.
"What are you doing?" Ava asked him in shock.
"Feeding you," he said like it was a natural thing to do.
"I don't want to be fed!" Ava growled at him.
"Then, I suggest that you start eating because I would be forced to feed you if you don't," Mason said. This time Ava could tell he wasn't making empty threats, he would really try to feed her if she refused to eat her food. She looked around and saw the couple next to their table were staring at them, probably wondering why she was refusing to eat the food her date was offering her. If only they knew he wasn't my date. I don't even know this man!
"So? Which is it going to be?" Mason asked her waiting for her response.
"Fine!' Ava grumbled as she picked up her cutlery and reluctantly started to eat her food, which did taste nice.
"That's what I thought," Mason said with a smirk as he went back to eating his food. Ava cussed him under her breath and he raised his head to look at her, letting her know he heard what she had said. Ava ignored him and ate her food.
****
"So what is the job that you have for me?" Ava asked Mason as the waitress came to clear their dishes after they were done eating.
"I want you to be my assistant?" Mason said before taking a sip of his water. He studied her face over the rim of his glass and he noticed she seemed surprised.
"Why would you want me to be your assistant?" Ava asked him.
"Because my assistant just quit, and I require an assistant," Mason replied.
Ava studied his face, "you are serious aren't you?"
"I'm a businessman, and my time is very precious to me. Do you think I would leave all I should be doing and come down here to play a prank on you?"
"But you don't even know me," Ava said.
"I know you well enough to know that you are in dire need of a job to pay off the numerous debt you owe."
Ava was shocked, how did he know she was in debt? "H… how did you…."
"I didn't think it was secret," Mason said with a shrug.
"Yes, but still..."
"Ava, you are in need of a job that pays well so you can pay off your debt, and I require an assistant..."
"I don't have any form of qualification," Ava interrupted Mason.
"I'm already aware of that," Mason said, not bothered by that piece of information.
"How did you know that?" Ava asked again surprised.
"Again, I didn't think it was a secret."
"And you say you haven't been stalking me?"
Mason blew out a frustrated breath, "are we back to the stalking thing again?"
"You seem to know every detail about my life."
Mason leaned closer to the table, "Ava, I only want to help. If you don't want the job all you have to do is say so."
"I'm not interested!" Ava said. Mason's eyes flashed with surprise, and she could see it. Was he expecting her to accept the job offer? Well, he's been let down.
He leaned back and placed his hand in his suit pocket, and brought out a card which he placed on the table. "Well, give me a call when you do change your mind. The job won't be waiting for long. The last job offer I told you about has been taken by someone else."
Mason stood up from his chair, "get your things and I will go drop you off."