Chapter 18

Mason stayed in his office at home because Georgia forbade him to go to work. She was concern that he might get sick again if he came back to work. He called Nina earlier informing her that he will once again skip the day and spend it at home. He, however, had asked her to fax her a contract that needed to be closed within the week and made several phone calls.

When he looked at his watch to check the time, it was already noon. His stomach growled in hunger as he skipped breakfast trying to avoid Kelsey. He knew he should apologize and try to clear up the misunderstandings but he was too prideful to do so. Mason King rarely apologize or say a little 'thank you' to others. He only did so to his family and closed relatives. Otherwise, you'll be close turning to a hard-stone sculpture before he could even say 'sorry' to you.

He made his way to the kitchen and saw Georgia setting up the table. He then realized that he haven't seen Kelsey since the morning and didn't see her as he made his way to the kitchen. Curiosity got ahead of him before he could even stop himself from asking where she is to Georgia.

"She went downstairs, dear. She wanted to get some fresh air. Did something happened between the two of you? She was in a foul mood this morning." Georgia informed him as he let out a sigh in exasperation.

"Just had some misunderstandings. What time did she leave?"

"Around 10 o'clock. She should be back soon." She said as she beckoned him towards the table to have a sit and eat. He obediently sat down and ate a spoonful of seafood fried noodles. But after a few minutes, he felt his appetite go away and he had only eaten a quarter of his food. He played around with it with his form as Georgia poured him a cup of orange juice.

"Come on, Mason, eat up. You barely even touched your food." She commanded as she eyed his plate.

"I think I lost my appetite. Is Kelsey still not back yet?" He asked looking around the room.

"No, I'm sure she'll be-"

"I'll just give her a phone call." He said as he stood up from the chair and cut Georgia off. He went to the living room and dialled her number. It rang four times before it went to voicemail. He tried again but got the same outcome. He frustratedly ran a hand through his hair and groaned in annoyance as he dialled her number once again. Still no answer.

"Georgia!" He yelled over. "I'm going down. I'll be back soon, I promise." He informed her not waiting for a response as he exited the door.

~ * ~ * ~

After her fight with Mason early in the morning, Kelsey decided to go for a quick stroll outside. She walked around the crowded city and when she had reached the park, she sat on a bench and watched the little kids play on the landscape.

She suddenly missed her family. Ace, Kyle and her mother. It had only been a few days but it felt like it had been a whole year since she had last seen them. She had never been separated from her family before. This had been the longest time she was away from them and she couldn't help but feel lonely and upset.

After spending a couple of more minutes on the park, she decided to head back to the penthouse. She had cleared out her mind and she felt better than before. She had her head bowed as she entered the building and bumped into a hard chest.

She braced herself for the pain she would feel when she falls down on the hard marble floor but two strong arms wrapped around her waist before she could do so. She opened the lid of her eyes only to meet with the same blue orbs as yesterday.

"Sorry." Brandon apologized as he let her go and she stabled herself to stand straight. "We really gotta stop meeting like this." He commented earning a chuckle from Kelsey.

"Agreed." She responded. "You heading out?" She asked wonder.

"No, I was just checking with the receptionist if our executive guests are still coming. I guess they're not." He responded as he took a pen out of his suit and wrote a note on a tiny notebook that was also placed inside his suit. He placed them back inside once he was done. "What about you? You going somewhere?"

"Actually, I just came back from my stroll to the park." She answered.

"Needed some fresh air, I'm assuming?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"I'm heading back to the kitchen, you wanna tag along?"

"Sure, I have nothing better to do anyway." She nonchalantly said as she followed after him to the restaurant.

"Your skill is pretty amazing. What else can you do?" He asked her in wonder as he remembered how she figured out a dessert based on her smell senses yesterday.

"I like to play around the kitchen ever since I was a child." She started opening up to him. She didn't know why but she felt comfortable sharing about her life to him. Somehow, she found herself trusting him even if they just met yesterday. As if he was an old friend that she hasn't seen for quite a long time. "I love to cook but my passion is really for baking if I must tell you the truth. The sweet aroma of cakes and ice cream just bring peace and joy in me, you know?" She described.

Brandon chuckled and responded. "Yeah, I guess that's what the kitchen brings to us. Joy and peace." He restated as he held the door open for her and they entered the restaurant. Right away, the delicious, mouth-watering smell filled Kelsey's nostrils. She took a long sniff which cause Brandon to let out another chuckle. She opened her eyelids and smiled at him sheepishly. She thought that she was too childish for her own liking.

To Mason's perspective, seeing his wife and one of his best mate beaming at each other looked as if they were cheating on him. Something inside of him burned and caused smoke to exit his nose. He didn't know the very reason why but he felt something heavy in his chest. He suddenly had the urged to go up to them and started punching Brandon.

Mason started making his way towards them breaking the moment that the two were having. He suddenly felt his possessiveness arise. He was usually calm and collected but there was just something inside of him that wanted to be let out.

He wrapped his arm around his fiancée's waist and kissed the side of her temple. "There you are, darling. I've been looking everywhere for you." Mason stated as the smile faded from both Brandon and Kelsey's faces. "Mr. Kane, I see you've met my soon-to-be-bride." He said nonchalantly.

Brandon let out a forced cough finding the situation a little awkward. "I didn't realize that she's your fiancée, Mr. King." He said as he glanced at Kelsey's naked left hand with no ring on it. "Please, I apologize for not asking." He told Kelsey and bowed his head in respect.

Mason noticed Brandon glancing at her left hand. He already ordered the perfect ring for her. He was going to collect it at work yesterday but due to his sickness, he wasn't able to. He shortly glared at Brandon before he cleared his throat and tightened his grip on Kelsey's waist. "Maybe, you should head back to work." Mason demanded eying the man in front of him down.

"Of course, sir. I apologize once again." Brandon said as he bowed his head again in respect and made a bee-line to the kitchen.

Kelsey glared at Mason and shook her head in disappointment. She then got away from his tight embrace and made her way to the elevators. "You're upset with me?" Mason asked with a despicable tone. Kelsey didn't respond as she pressed the button for the lift.

"You're the one who defiled my demands and you're getting mad at me? You left the house without my permission, you didn't even tell me where you were going. And then I find you downstairs flirting with my employee?" He scolded her as she sent him a dagger look.

'How dare he?' She thought as she felt her top ready to explode. She wasn't flirting with Brandon, he was merely trying to keep her company. And she didn't need his permission. He was not her father!

"I wasn't flirting with him and neither was he! We were just talking! And I don't need your permission! I am not a child, Mason!" She practically yelled at him as she entered the elevator up to the penthouse with Mason in tow.

"Then stop acting like one!" He screamed as the elevator door closed. She was furious to the point that she wanted to grab his hair and pull all them out of their roots. She was getting frustrated.

"I am not the one acting like a child here, it's you, Mason! You're acting like a child! You are not my father, so stop telling me what to do!" She screamed as the elevator made its way to the penthouse.

"Yeah, I am not your father. I'm just a guy paying you to obey my commands. Which clearly, you are terrible at doing!" He spat with venom.

"There you go again! You're rubbing it in my face that I am just someone who you picked up at some corner of a street like a prostitute!"

"Well, aren't you?" He retorted and silence fell upon them. Kelsey could feel the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She had never felt so dirty and low before. She couldn't even tell if she still have some of her pride and dignity left. Mason was staring intently at her while she was boring her eyes on her shoes. He saw that she was on the verge of tears and he suddenly felt bad for what he had said. "Look Kelsey, I-"

"No, you are right. I should be listening to all your commands. I shouldn't have left without your permission or flirted with your employee. I'm sorry, sir, it won't happen again." She successfully said without her voice shaking or her tears falling. The elevator dinged and the doors opened. She was then relief that she could get out because she suddenly felt suffocated. "Excuse me." She said as she stepped out of the elevator and head towards the door.