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Chapter 34 - Family Emergency

"What did you just say?" Mason asked in bewilderment. He narrowed his eyes at her, boring a hole on the back of her head.

Kelsey gulped to swallow the lump that was stuck in her throat. "Mason, this is going nowhere." She calmly stated as she fumbled with her fingers on her lap. "Don't worry, I will return the money that you deposited on my account. I've spent a bit of it to pay for Kyle's maintenance, but I'll make sure I pay it back. I'm just -"

"No." Mason cut her off with finality. He stood there with his eyes fixated on the couch.

Kelsey looked over her shoulder to glance at him. "Mason-"

"I said no, and that's final, Kelsey!" He loudly snapped as he whipped his head towards her direction with a deadly glare in his eyes. His eyes darkened as if he was possessed by a beast and Kelsey couldn't help but be terrified.

"Mason, please..." She begged quietly as the tears started brimming in the corner of her eyes once again.

Mason's eyes softened as he stared at Kelsey. Seeing her cry pierced something in his heart. He didn't like the feeling but he couldn't prevent himself from feeling hurt. But the event earlier came back to him as the picture of her and Brandon staring into each other's eyes flashed before Mason's mind. And just like that, the beast in him was shaken up.

"No." He simply answered, moving his gaze away from her. He knew that one look at her face and he might cave in to her demands. "Unless you find a loophole in the contract, you're not going anywhere." He said with finality as he left and went upstairs.

Kelsey released the breath she had been holding and let the tears roll down her cheeks. She placed a hand on her chest and took deep breaths to keep herself calm before she completely break down.

The sudden ring of her phone brought her back to reality. She quickly grabbed the item in her purse and looked at the caller ID.

Margie. It read.

She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and sniffed before pressing the answer button. "Hello?" She answered with a hoarse voice and she quickly cleared her throat.

"Hey, did I wake you up?" Margie asked with concern in her voice.

"No, no. I was already awake when you called. But why are you calling so early in the morning? Is there something wrong?"

There was a moment of silent behind the line and Kelsey knew that something was wrong. "Marg...Is there something wrong?" She asked again with a worried tone.

"It's-It's..."

"Marg, please, just tell me." Kelsey pressed on. If there was one thing she hated, it was suspense and that was what she was feeling right at that moment.

"It's Ace-"

"What happened to Ace? Is he okay? Where are you?" Kelsey questioned in panic as she took her purse. She slung it over her shoulder and jogged towards the front door.

"Your mother told me not to tell you about this. I'll probably get a beating from her again-"

"Margie! Where are you? Where is Ace?" She cut her off in annoyance. Kelsey shut the door behind her and made sure the door was locked.

"We're at the hospital." Margie replied and gave Kelsey the name of the hospital.

"Okay, I'll be there soon."

"Kelse-" Margie was about to say something but Kelsey ended the call. She rubbed her head soothingly and she couldn't help but hate her life at that moment. It just seemed that every bad thing was happening one after the other. She just really prayed that her brother was fine.

~ * ~ * ~

"He just ate something bad. But he should be fine soon. Here, I've prescribed him some medication to take care of the stomach ache." The doctor announced as he handed the prescription to Hilda.

"Thanks, doc." Hilda gratefully said, taking the prescription from her. Hilda glanced at the paper and rubbed her forehead in distress. Kelsey rapidly took the prescription off of her mother's hand and shot her a smile.

"I'll take care of it. Don't worry about it, mom." She assured her.

"You didn't have to come. I could've handled everything here. I specifically told Margie not to tell you." Hilda said as she sent an accusing look towards Margie who was sitting on the chair next to the bed that Ace was sleeping on. Margie shot her an awkward smile and looked away in embarrassment. "I didn't want you to worry because it wasn't even that big of a deal."

"Mom, stomach ache or even just a small cut on the finger, I will not hesitate to come and make sure that you are all okay." She told her mother in all honesty. "How's Kyle by the way?"

"He's doing fine, sweetheart. Just getting some rest from his previous chemotherapy. What about you, how are you? You're taking care of yourself alright?" She questioned her and Kelsey didn't want to add more to her mother's plate.

Kelsey shot her a reassuring grin and nodded. "I'm doing well, mom. Don't worry about me."

Hilda pulled her into a tight embrace and Kelsey felt at home once again. She really missed her mother and her brothers. "I missed you, mom." She whispered tenderly.

"I've missed you too, sweetheart. Please come over when you have time. The house isn't the same without you."

"I will, mom."

"You should go, you still have work. By the way, congratulations on your new job at the restaurant, honey. Just make sure that, that boy of yours is taking good care of you."

Kelsey only nodded as she was reminded of Mason and everything flashed in her mind. She quickly took her purse from the chair and said her farewell to her mother. She kissed her brother's forehead before leaving.

"I'll just escort her out, Mrs. Parker." Margie announced and walked beside Kelsey.

When they were near the drug store, Kelsey stopped from her tracks and took the prescription out. She handed it to Margie and got her wallet out. She glanced inside and the only option that she had was either used the money she had left or the money Mason gave her. Not wanting to spend another penny of Mason's money, she grabbed all of the cash she had left and placed it in Margie's hand.

"Here, for the medicine that Ace needs. And give the spare to mom." She told her. "Thanks, Marg."

"Thanks for what?"

"Thanks for looking after my family. It really means a lot to me." Kelsey wholehearted said as the tears started to brim in her eyes.

"Stop it." Margie scolded her and grabbed her hand. "You don't need to thank me. We're a family, Kelsey. And family look out for each other." Kelsey pulled her best friend, practically her sister, into a tight hug.

"I love you, Marg."

"I love you too, baby girl." She said as they pulled away from the hug. "Just make sure that the billionaire is feeding you. If you have a problem, any problem at all, don't hesitate to call me."

Kelsey was dying to tell her about Mason, but she didn't want to her to worry about her. Keeping the problem to herself was the best decision at the moment. Kelsey sent her a smile and nodded. "I'll go ahead. Take care, okay? Say hi to Bryan for me."

"I will."

~ * ~ * ~

Kelsey arrived at the restaurant thirty minutes late. She rushed quickly to the changed room to change into her uniform. It was a good thing she left her uniform inside the locker or else she would have had to go home and grab them and she wasn't ready to face Mason yet.

She got out of the room and head to the kitchen to report to the manager. She apologized for being late and was left with a warning that if it happened again, she was to stay before closing and help clean up. She didn't waste anytime and quickly went to work.

"What's wrong, Cal?" She asked as she noticed the boy who had a panic and stress expression on his face.

"Two of our waiters called in sick and this place is packed with customers. There's just not enough hands serving." He responded as he wiped a table clean and motioned a couple to the seats.

Kelsey glanced around the room and spotted a pad and a pen by the counter and took it. "Then I'll help." She announced as she waved the pad and the pen in her face. Cal laughed and smiled.

"Are you sure? Don't they need you in the kitchen?"

"There are too many hands in the pot. I'm sure they can handle it for one day." She assured him and she strolled to the table with a man waving his hand for their order to be taken. "What can I get you, sir?"

~ * ~ * ~

"This is exactly why I was against this proposition in the first place, but you said you've got everything under control. Now what?" Ricky questioned with a raised brow. Mason groaned in response and leaned his head back on the chair.

"I didn't know we would end up like this. I thought everything will go smoothly. I had no idea she was going to back out and demand me to put an end on the contract." Mason explained. They were currently in Ricky's office on the top of the restaurant. Mason came as soon as he woke up again in the morning and called in sick at work. The perks of being the CEO.

Mason was pissed, however, when he only found Georgia downstairs. Once again, Kelsey was gone and when he arrived at the restaurant expecting her to be there, she wasn't present. He tried calling her but would hang up after the second ring. He just didn't know what exactly to tell her.

"What exactly happened?" Ricky asked as he continued reviewing the budget for the month.

Mason sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I'm just...I can't...I feel like...Ugh!" He grunted in response and furiously rubbed with face with his hands.

Ricky looked up from his work and glanced at his friend with scrutinizing gaze. He studied his friend who was intensely running his hands through his hair and his face repeatedly. Right then and there, Ricky knew what was up with his friend. "You fell for her."

Mason whipped his head quickly towards Ricky that he felt his brain jolting against his skull. He stared at Ricky in ridiculousness and chuckled humourlessly. Ricky rolled his eyes at his friend and shook his head as he returned to his work. "What?! No, no. I didn't fall for her, Ricky." He told him but it sounded more like he was trying to persuade himself.

Ricky looked at him right in the eye and said in dead seriousness, "Then why are we having this conversation? Why do you care so much about this topic?"

"I don't! I just-"

Ricky put a hand up to halt him from talking. "Unless it's about work or having fun, I don't want to hear it." Ricky said dismissing the conversation. "You knew what mess you were getting yourself into when you came up with this plan. And frankly, I don't want to get involve. Talk to me when you've had it all figure out and you can bravely tell me and admit to yourself that you do love her."

Before Mason could retort and snap back at his friend, there was a knock on the door interrupting them. The door opened revealing a very tired-looking Kelsey who looked as exhausted as Mason was.

Kelsey wasn't ready when she saw Mason right there sitting on one of Ricky's office chairs. She cleared her throat and placed their order on the mahogany desk. She felt really awkward and she couldn't wait to leave the room and breathe properly again. She bowed her head and made her quick escape. But before she could exit the door, Ricky called her back.

"Sir?" She turned back and politely asked. Mason had his back facing her and she was much more comfortable to be staring at his toned back rather than his beautiful, yet fierce face. Although it was very irrelevant of her to be thinking such things at a time like this.

"Bailey informed me that you were late this morning, is there a reason for it?" He asked and ignore the glare he was receiving from his friend.

"I-uhm..." Kelsey didn't know what to say. She didn't want to lie to her boss but at the same time, she didn't want Mason to find out either. She was sure that if he found out that Ace was in the hospital, he would only tell her that there was no reason to break the contract since she needed his money now more than ever. She really hated her situation.

"Well?..." Ricky asked with a raised eyebrow as he patiently waited for her response.

"I just had some family emergency, sir." She answered as honestly as she could. Mason twirled around from the chair and studied her. He knew that she wasn't lying because of the misery on her face and it got him worried that something must have happen to her family.

"Is everything okay?" Ricky questioned as she turned her attention back to him.

"Yes sir, everything's fine. Excuse me, I have to get back to work." She excused herself and got out before Ricky could call her back in again. She shut the door closed and breathe normally.

Mason stood from his chair and was about to follow after her when Ricky asked him, "Where're you going?"

Mason glanced over his shoulder and answered him. "I want to know what happened. I need to make sure that she's okay." He was ready to left when he was halted once again by his friend and it really got under his nerve.

"And you're concern because..." Ricky inquired with his head tilted on one side. Now, he knew he got his friend cornered and soon enough, he would get Mason to admit his feelings for Kelsey. "You never cared, Mason. Not even when Claris' father was brought to the hospital when he had to go through a surgery."

"That's completely different." Mason argued as he was reminded of his ex-girlfriend and her prick of a father.

"I don't see any difference." Ricky retorted. "I'll let you off the hook just this once. Just make sure that next time, you have a better comeback that I can actually believe." He teased as he shooed his friend out of his office and patted his back. "Good luck on your feelings." He taunted as he shut the door closed before Mason started throwing punches at him.

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