Page 30 of Meet Mason, the Billionaire

“Hey there,” I said after accepting the call. “How was Vegas?”

“Crowded, dirty and hot and not in a good way.” She chuckled. “So, did I wake you?”

“Yes, but it’s all right. I know I promised you lunch when you got back into town.”

“Cool. Want to meet at Dr. Flav’s?”

“Yeah, I can manage that. Give me an hour.”

“Roger dodger. See you soon. I can’t wait to hear all about him.”

“About who?” I said innocently.

“Don’t be coy. I’ve already heard about the new guy from Junebug and Golga.”

“Those loose-lipped punks. I’ll kick their asses.”

“Everybody knows you’re all talk hon. See you at Flav’s. My treat.”

“Thank god because I’m broker than shit.”

“So what else is new? See you soon.”

“See you.”

I rose and went about my daily ablutions. I laughed at the fact that I never put on the outfit I’d laid out the night before. I slid into a pair of leggings and an oversized tunic shirt with a Cyrillic pattern and headed out the door about ten minutes late for my meeting with Sage.

I spotted Sage as soon as I walked in the door at Dr. Flav’s. Her shock of red hair makes her stand out. I came to her booth and gave her an ambush side hug.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey.” She hugged me warmly, and I sat down opposite her. “I took the liberty of ordering you a coffee.”

“I greatly appreciate that.”

“So, spill the tea on this new guy,” Sage said.

“I’d rather talk about your choreography gig first. How did it go?”

She blew air out her lips noisily, stirring her crimson bangs.

“That bad?” I asked with a sympathetic wince.

“Not quite that bad. I mean, I got paid seven grand for the gig so the trip more than paid for itself. It’s just that the director was a total creep. He shot down every idea I had in favor of strip club moves.”

“Well, it was a rap music video. There are certain expectations.”

“There’s plenty of awesome, even sexy dance moves that can be done without resorting to a strip club grind.” She arched her brows. “But it did get my name out there, and I cooperated with the debasement enough I can probably get another gig.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, spill. Where did you two meet?”

“At the Galleria.”

“No shit? That’s cool. Is he into art?”

“Not as much as I am, obviously, but he seems to appreciate it well. He also loves old shlock movies from the sixties.”

“God, he’s made for you. You freak.”

---