Page 17 of Mr. Almost

“You have to be to think I would ever give you a second chance.”

Mason throws his hands up. “What the hell did I do? I’m the one who woke up alone.”

I point my finger at him and hiss. “You know exactly what you did. You turned your back on me when I needed you the most, and I will never forgive you for that.”

Confusion covers his face as he shakes his head. “What do youmean when you needed me? Forgive me for what? Spell it out for me, Olivia.”

I scoff, shaking my head. “I can’t believe I meant so little to you that you ‘forgot.”’ I use my fingers to make air quotes. “As if it wasn’t bad enough that you sent your mother to do your dirty work.”

“My mother, what does she have to do with this?” Mason asks as he runs a hand through his hair.

“Just stay out of my way, Mason. As soon as this contract is over, I’ll leave and you’ll never have to see me again. You can go back to pretending I don’t exist.”

“Olivia, come on, fucking talk to me.”

Licking my lips, I walk toward him until I stop right in front of him. “I’m going to say this one more time. I want nothing to do with you or your money, Mason Williamson. Do us both a favor and forget I exist.”

I reach behind him, grab the door handle, and open it. I step around him and walk away with my head held high. I head straight to the restroom, and after checking to make sure I’m alone, I lean over a toilet and lose the contents of my stomach. Once I’m done getting sick, I stand on shaky legs and go to the bathroom sink and rinse my mouth out. Leaning against the counter, I study myself in the mirror.

My face is paler than normal, and the hurt I try so hard to shove down is showing in my eyes.

I’ll never regret my night with Mason because it got me Ari, but I will always regret not giving her the father she deserves.

MASON

Leaning against the counter, I run a hand over my mouth.

What the fuck just happened?

I don’t understand.

I genuinely don’t understand.

Why is Olivia so hostile toward me? And what did she mean by me having my mother do my dirty work? I think back to the night we met.

We continue to spin around and around until I see her glaring our way, making me curse.

“Why don’t you go freshen up? I see someone I need to acknowledge.”

Olivia tries to hide her disappointment as we come to a stop. She nods and heads off toward the bathroom.

I’m such an asshole, I think to myself as I approach my mother.

“Mother.”

She latches on to my arm. “That is who you think is an appropriate date? Rosalind said the dress she is wearing is from some department store that the less fortunate shop at. I really expected better from you.”

I knew I couldn’t bring Olivia over to meet her. Mother would not withhold her comments just because the girl was in her presence. If anything, she would be nastier.

“Mother, I did not ask your opinions on my date. I would suggest you refrain from telling them,” I nearly growl at her.

I don’t know why, but it grates on my nerves to hear her talk about Olivia that way. She has done nothing to deserve it. All she did was accept a date with me.

“Mason,” she starts, but I hold up my hand.

“No. Don’t Mason me. I like the girl I brought. She’s not vapid like the women you hang around. Now I’m going to go spend time with her and forget this conversation happened. Have a good evening, Mother.”

I walk away, ignoring her as she calls after me.

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