Page 106 of Mr. Almost

“Just to clarify, Mother, which girl are you speaking of?” Max asks, giving me a second to calm down.

It was pointless. The next words out of her mouth have me ready to strangle her.

“Both of them. Do we even know if the child is actually yours, Mason? Or did you just accept everything without question?”

“That’s none of your business. It’s a shame, really. My daughter is such a wonderful kid. She deserves a grandmother who loves and cares for her, but you will never be that, will you? You will always resent her and her mother,” I say, purposely avoiding Ari’s name.

“They aren’t a good look for you, Mason. You are the CEO of a major international company. You are frequently featured in business and social magazines. You have a reputation to uphold. If it was just yours, I would entertain this dalliance you have pursued, but you represent the legacy of your father. Of this family. He would be rolling in his grave to see you now.”

I shake my head. My father was a ruthless businessman, but he caredabout us boys. He didn’t have the best relationship with our mother, but he made sure that we knew he loved us. I don’t think my father would be pushing Ari and Olivia away. Sure, he would have had his reservations, but he would have welcomed his granddaughter with open arms.

“There’s no winning this, is there?” I finally ask.

“Sure, there is. Get rid of them and marry Victoria.”

I shake my head, pulling out the paperwork I brought with me. I push it across the table to her.

“Max is here as my witness, Mother. I cannot allow you to continue to be in my life the way you are now. You have repeatedly made comments about my daughter that are concerning. If it were just Olivia you were concerned with, I could possibly overlook it. You don’t have to approve of who I date. However, with my daughter being involved, I can’t take the chance. Let me make this very clear to you right now. There is nothing in the entire universe that you can do to make me abandon my daughter. She is mine without a doubt, and I will be by her side until the day I die. With that being said, if you show up at the hotel or any of our properties again, you will be arrested. I have put a trespassing order on you. Also, there is a restraining order for Olivia and our daughter. If you are found within one thousand yards of them, you will be arrested. Do you understand?”

Mother is reading over the paperwork calmly as I explain everything. It takes her a moment to look up at me. There is resignation in her eyes. Finally, I think I got through to her this time.

“So you’re choosing them?”

“I am.”

“Very well.”

“In the future, we might be able to revisit this, but for now, this is what is best for my daughter.”

“Of course. Thank you for stopping by.”

She stands then, gesturing us to the door. Once there, she opens it.

“I love you boys. I’ve always only wanted what’s best for you.”

Then she shuts the door in our faces.

“That was eerie. She was calm,” Max whispers as we make our way to the elevator.

“Too calm,” I agree.

“Maybe it’s for the best. Go home to your girls,” he tells me, getting into the elevator.

The trip down is quiet. We are both lost in our minds. At my car, we hug.

“Thanks for coming, brother,” I tell him.

“Always. Give Ari a hug from her favorite uncle.”

I laugh. “I think Eli is her favorite this week. He sent her a pony. Not a real one, but she can ride it in her room.”

“Of fucking course he did. Suck up. See you later.”

“You too.”

Getting into my car, I pull out my phone. There are no missing calls or texts from Olivia. It has me a little concerned. I know she was upset when I left earlier. I just couldn’t deal with it at the moment. I needed to deal with my mother first. Now that it’s over, I can celebrate Olivia’s win with her.

It doesn’t take me long to get to her place. I let myself in quietly, expecting everyone to be in bed. It’s only seven thirty, but I know Ari goes to bed early. That and Olivia has been passing out early too.

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