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Chapter 23 - Unexpected Surprise

"You're here!" Mason said excitedly and pulled the man into one of those manly hugs with a pat on the back.

"Yes, Madame Delilah invited me. She said you have a surprise."

"I'm sorry I didn't get to call you myself. My secretary called your assistant and said you were really busy with the deal with Global Tech." He explained himself.

"Don't worry about it. But remember Mason, I always find time to hang out with you and Ella."

"I know and I'm grateful for that. By the way, is Chloe with you?" He asked and Kelsey wondered who Chloe was. 'Was she the girlfriend, wife, daughter?' She wondered.

"Yes, I booked a room upstairs because she was really tired from our travel. She's very excited to see you."

"I'm excited to see her too. It's been quite a long time."

Mason then remembered Kelsey and pulled her to his side. She couldn't help but think how they were so close, so comfortable with each other. She really hoped he didn't recognized her. That was the last thing she wanted to worry about. "Sir Lucas, I want you to meet my fiancee, Kelsey Parker." He introduced them and Kelsey's heart stopped beating upon hearing the name of her father. She couldn't believe that he was right there, right in front of her. Out of all the places, she couldn't comprehend that they were to meet the night they validated that she and Mason were joining together by marriage.

Kelsey thought of so many ways of meeting him again but this was never on the list. She didn't even know if she could take the feeling of having her father so close to her again. "Good evening, Kelsey. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said as he extended his hand for her to shake. Kelsey didn't know if she should be glad that he didn't recognize her or be furious because of the thought that her own father couldn't even tell that her daughter was right in front of him.

She silently took a deep breath and shook her father's hand. "Nice to meet you." She inaudibly uttered and quickly retracted her hand from his hold. Lucas could feel the uncomfortable atmosphere but just shrugged it and sent her a smile.

"You have a lovely name, dear." He commented and Kelsey remembered how her father told her the story of his argument with her mother that if their first born was a girl, they shall name her Kelsey but Hilda wanted to name her Angel. "She's a beauty, Mason. If it is true love, never let her go." He added and Kelsey's inside was starting to boil by the comment. 'What kind of hypocrite is he?' She thought furiously.

Mason only nodded in response. A man in his early 30's came behind Lucas and whispered something to him. Lucas just nodded as the guy left. "I have to go. It seems that Chloe woke up and is not in her best mood. Congratulations again. I hope to spend a day with the two of you soon."

"Have a good night." Mason responded and Kelsey flashed a forced smile towards Lucas.

~ * ~ * ~

Mason noticed Kelsey's odd quietness during their ride home. She seemed upset and worried and he didn't know what to do. He wanted to badly break the silence, hence he started playing his iPod songs through the radio.

's a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry, be happy

"This is the song I like to listen to whenever I feel overwhelmed and stress at work." Mason said snapping Kelsey out of her thoughts. She glanced at him and was surprised to see a genuine smile on his face. Mason decided that he wanted to drive on their way home so he asked the limousine service to leave and got his car picked up at home by his driver.

"It's a very catchy song." She told him as she watched him in amusement swaying his head left to right as he drove.

"Ooh-ooh-hoo-hoo-ooh hoo-hoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Don't worry

Woo-ooh-woo-ooh-woo-ooh-ooh

Be happy

Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Don't worry, be happy" Mason started singing horribly earning a hard laugh from Kelsey.

Mason gazed at her and was happy to see her laugh. Her smile was just the most beautiful thing in the world and it was really contagious. "There's the smile I was looking for." He commented placing his attention back on the road. Kelsey looked at him and playfully punched his shoulder.

"Thanks for making me laugh." She gratefully said. "You know, I like this Mason better. He's very carefree and seems like he's having a lot of fun."

"So I've been told. Hey, I didn't really get to eat during the ball. What do you say we make a quick stop at McDonald's?" He suggested.

"You? Eating at McDonald's?" She asked in astonishment.

"I'm a normal human being too, Kelsey." He remarked as they made their way to McDonald's.

~ * ~ * ~

Once they'd arrived at home, Mason and Kelsey were both exhausted from such a long night. They were in front of Kelsey's bedroom door and were about to part ways. "Thanks for the McChicken and fries. And for making me feel a lot better tonight." She thanked him gratefully.

Mason couldn't restrain himself any longer. He cupped her face with both of his hands and pulled her in for a kiss. To say that Kelsey was surprised was an understatement. She felt the butterflies swarming around her stomach. She felt as if her whole body was on fire as she took in his manly scent and felt the heat radiating from his body.

He slowly pulled away, both of them slightly out of breath and rest their foreheads against each other. "We really have to stop practicing this." Kelsey managed to say.

Mason only smiled and pulled away to look directly into her eyes. "This isn't a practice. I just really wanted to do it." He announced and Kelsey's heart fluttered in response. She knew this was the dangerous part, the falling-in-love pace, and she wasn't sure if she was fine with it. It was her first time experiencing these kinds of feelings.

"Good night, Kelsey." Mason uttered before making his way to his bedroom across from hers. Mason gently closed the door and leaned against it. He placed a hand on his forehead and massaged it. He sighed and thought, 'No feelings, Mason. No strings attached.' He reminded himself.

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