Chapter 26 - Sweet Dreams

When Kelsey followed after Mason, she only heard the water running from the bathroom. She assumed that he probably needed some time alone so she decided to take a plain blue shirt and a pair of black shorts on Mason's side of the room and placed it on the hanger. She then placed the hanger on the hook by the mirror so that Mason would see it after he showered.

Kelsey sighed and left the room to check on their guests. It wasn't very polite to leave their guests unattended. When she was downstairs, she saw the bellhop again, now dragging the cart out of the house with the luggages still on it.

"You're not staying?" Kelsey asked in wonder earning Victoria's attention.

"I'm afraid we're not, sweetheart. Not today at least." She responded as Kelsey nodded in understanding. It was not a good idea if they stayed anyway since the tension was still thick in the room. "How's he?" She questioned referring to Mason.

Kelsey shot her a tight smile before replying. "I think he just needs some time alone. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"I'm sorry you had to witness that, dear. We didn't even give you a chance to introduce yourself properly." Victoria sincerely apologized.

Kelsey shook her head and just smiled. "There are plenty of time to get to know each other, Mrs. King. I hope you found a hotel at this late hour."

"Don't worry about us. We'll just be staying at home. I'm sure Mama wants to see us anyway."

"Thanks again for coming. I hope to see you again." Kelsey said her farewell as Victoria pulled her into a hug.

"Yes, I hope that too." Victoria declared. "We'll be going then." She announced as Edward came out from the kitchen with a water bottle in hand.

"Have a good night, sir. Thanks for coming." Kelsey politely said as she bowed her head in respect. Edward eyed her and he couldn't help but feel bad about what he did during dinner. He had judged her too easily and didn't give her a chance. It was very rare of him to feel guilty but he just had this feeling that his son might have set all of these up. Based on what he was seeing though, Kelsey seemed like a nice lady. But he couldn't be too sure, he couldn't help but think that she might be after his son's money.

"I'm sorry about earlier. You shouldn't have seen that." He apologized but it didn't sound very sincere as Victoria's was.

"It's fine, sir. I should actually be the one saying sorry to you right now. Mason had talked back to you in such an impolite manner. I apologize in his behalf." She said and Edward could sense that she was being truthful. She sounded very sincere with her words. She continued to amazed Edward with her personality.

"We should get going." He announced as he wrapped his arm around Victoria's shoulders.

"Yes, of course. Have a good night." She said as they left. Ella and Lance then existed the kitchen with Lance's arm wrapped around her waist.

"We'll be heading home too, Kelsey. I'm really sorry about my father." Ella apologized and Kelsey only nodded in understanding. They hugged each other goodbye and the couple left.

Kelsey took a deep breath and entered the kitchen. She found Georgia cleaning around the kitchen and she helped her. After thirty minutes, they were finished cleaning up and Georgia said her farewell and left.

Kelsey checked the time and it was already 11:30 pm. She decided it was time to wash up and get ready to bed since she had to go to work tomorrow morning. She made her way to Mason's bedroom but figured that since his parents were not staying the night, it was okay for her to sleep in her room.

She went inside Mason's room and glanced around only to find it empty. However, she saw a shadow by the balcony and she thought that he might need a little more time to be alone. She knew that if she was in his situation, she would want to be alone and think by herself.

Kelsey quietly went inside the closet to take the clothes she needed for the night and silently escaped to the room across from Mason's to spend the night. She washed up quickly, got dressed and laid on the bed. She was replaying the moment when Mason and his father were having an intense argument and she couldn't help but feel guilty that because of her, because of the lie she had started, Mason and his father were arguing. She didn't want to ruin their relationship, not at all in any kind of way.

She was dozing off and was half asleep when she heard the creaking sound of the door opening. Her eyes were half opened and she saw Mason's toned figure strolling towards the bed. Kelsey thought that she was dreaming.

"Mason." She whispered as Mason sat down on the side of the bed she was facing. He shushed her and wiped the baby hairs that were blocking her forehead. "I'm sorry." She apologized catching him off guard. He didn't know why exactly she was sorry and he was curious to know.

"For what?" He asked.

"That because of me, you and your father argued." She explained with her eyes slightly opened. "That because of me, we have to lie to your family. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble."

Mason sighed and placed a hand on her cheek. He massaged it with his thumb and Kelsey couldn't help but lean into his tender touch. "It's not your fault." He said while shaking his head. "None of it is your fault."

Kelsey felt the tiredness kicked in as her eyes completely closed and she dozed off to sleep. Mason leaned in and tenderly kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, mon amour." He said as he pulled his hand from her cheek and left the room quietly.

Mason laid on his bed completely wide awake. He was lying on his back with his head placed on the palm of his hands. He heaved a sigh as he stared at the ceiling. "It's just an act, Mason." He whispered to himself. "It's just pretend." He repeated, trying to persuade himself to believe the words that were coming out of his lying mouth.

~ * ~ * ~

Kelsey woke up the next day and she was feeling very well. She didn't know why but she was feeling really great as if she had the best sleep she could ever have in her entire lifespan. She couldn't help but bit her lip when a smile was trying to escape her lips as she remembered her dream from last night. The warm and tender kiss that Mason placed on her forehead felt surreal. She suddenly felt her heartbeat racing and she abruptly sat up on the bed. She pulled onto her hair and repeatedly tapped her head with her hands to snap herself back to reality.

"Stop it, Kelsey!" She quietly hissed at herself and she let out a sigh. "It was just a dream. You're just being delusional." She told herself as she calmed her heart down by taking deep breaths.

"Sweet dream, mon amour." Mason's gentle voice rang in her head. She groaned in frustration and hit her head repeatedly again.

"Stop it, Kelsey! Seriously!" She warned herself.

There was a sudden knock on her door that snapped her out of her trance of thoughts. She looked at the door and found Georgia peeking in. "Good morning, sweetheart. I was just about to wake you up." She said as Kelsey glanced at the alarm clock by her night stand. It was currently six-thirty, meaning she had exactly an hour and a half to get ready for work.

"Thanks, Georgia. I'll just wash up then I'll come right down for breakfast."

"Alright. I'll see you then." Georgia replied as she gently closed the door and left her to prepare for the day.

She hurriedly showered and dressed up for work. After she was done, she went downstairs to eat some breakfast. She sat on the stool by the kitchen as Georgia placed a plate of bacon and egg with a toast on the side and some fresh fruits on another bowl. She was mindlessly eating when she suddenly thought of the eerily quiet morning with no yelling or screaming of Mason on his phone.

"Georgia, where's Mason?" Kelsey asked after swallowing the bread she was munching on.

"Mason left early today, sweetheart. He said he has a lot to do at work. But he did tell me to tell you that the driver will be waiting for in the parking lot at eight." She informed her.

Kelsey looked at her watch and she had 15 minutes to eat before the driver came. She hurriedly finished her food and thanked Georgia for the breakfast. She entered the elevator and pressed the button to the underground parking lot. Once the elevator door opened again, it was exactly eight in the morning and she saw a man in a black suit standing next to a white Audi.

She strolled towards the man and greeted him. "Good morning, ma'am." The man replied in politeness and opened the back door for her.

Kelsey smiled innocently at him and shut the door again. "Actually, you can leave now." She told him.

"Sorry, ma'am?" The driver asked in confusion.

"You don't need to drive me. I'll be fine. And don't worry, I'll handle Mason myself. Now go and leave. Thanks for your time." She ordered him while shoving him inside the driver's seat and shutting the door closed.

The driver rapidly placed the key in the keyhole and started the car and followed Kelsey, who was halfway to the elevator. He pressed the button to open the window and yelled at Kelsey. "Ma'am!" He screamed in panic. "Ma'am, please get in the car!"

"I'll be fine, you can go." Kelsey repeated as she sprinted towards the elevator.

"Ma'am, please! I'll get in so much trouble." He begged but Kelsey ignored him and stepped in the elevator when a group of people where exiting to get to their cars. She quickly pressed the button to the main floor and waved to the driver.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't get into trouble." She assured him as the door closed, leaving the driver in despair.

She smiled to herself and took the bus to the subway. Once she boarded the train she sat down and sighed. She missed riding the train and reflecting on life as she waited for her stop. It was nice that she had the opportunity to do it again. Even though she knew she was going to get in trouble later when Mason finds out that she, once again, had defied his orders. She was actually relieved that Mason wasn't there in the morning. She didn't know what to say or how to act around him after what she had dreamt of last night. She was just glad that she had the chance to think and ride the train once again.

~ * ~ * ~

After work, Kelsey was very much exhausted. She was planning on taking the subway to get home once again but the driver from the morning seemed to have other plans. The driver bowed at her then sent her a warning look as she opened the back door for her.

Kelsey felt tired so she decided to take the car instead. She also felt bad for the driver since she knew that Mason had a very bad temper. She got in the car and fastened her seatbelt. The driver started the car and pulled out of the parking lot and headed home.

"I'm sorry about this morning." Kelsey sheepishly apologized as she shot him a warm smile through the rearview mirror. The driver sighed and nodded in politeness. "You didn't get into too much trouble, did you?"

"Let's just say that I almost lost my head, ma'am." He nicely answered and sent her a tight smile. Kelsey had a horrific expression on her face and leaned closer to the front as much as she could with the seatbelt holding her back.

"Really? I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for you to get into trouble. Don't worry, I'll talk to Mason and explain everything to him that it wasn't your fault." She mumbled.

"It's fine, ma'am. I know Mr. King too well. He has a very bad temper, but he's a good man." He stated and Kelsey couldn't help but think how Mason's employees always described him as a kind-hearted man regardless of his cold and distant facade.

~ * ~ * ~

Kelsey punched the code to enter the penthouse and once it beeped and turned green, she turned the knob open and entered the house. She was lazily strolling to the living room to rest and relax before facing the monster and get an earful of nagging. However, a heavy weight came full force on her legs making her stumble but she quickly regained her balance. She glanced down and saw a beautiful little girl on the floor. She looked about five years old, the same age as Ace.

Kelsey gasped and quickly crouched down to check if the child was okay. "Are you okay, sweetie?" She asked and checked if she got hurt. The little girl rapidly nodded her head and giggled. Kelsey couldn't help but grin at her heart-warming laugh. But all too sudden, her grin turned into confusion when the thought hit her. 'Why is there a little girl in Mason's house?'

"Chloe! Chloe, where are you!?" Mason's loud voice boomed around the house. The little girl who Kelsey assumed was Chloe gasped in surprise and quickly stood up and ran away. Mason came out of the kitchen and glanced at Kelsey, who was still crouching down in the middle of the room, in bewilderment.

"Kelsey." He called out earning her attention. "What are you doing?" He asked with furrowed eyebrows as he eyed her suspiciously. Kelsey looked at her position and thought how stupid she must have looked. She quickly stood up and shot him a tight smile.

"I bumped into a little girl." She honestly answered, clearing Mason's confusion.

"Chloe? Where'd she go?"

"She ran upstairs when she heard you."

"Ugh! I am totally going crazy because of that kid. CHLOE!" He barked once more and was about to head upstairs when Kelsey held onto his arm and pulled him back.

"Wait, what's going on?"

"Sir Lucas said he has some business to do right now and no one would look after Chloe. So he decided to leave her in my care. I really home Georgia was still here." He replied in desperation. "Now if you excuse me, I need to find the little monster." He said heading upstairs. He was only half way when he turned back around and glared at Kelsey. "Oh, and after I catch her, we'll have our talk. You're not off the hook just yet."