Doll House: Book Three

seventeen | blueprint

Though Candy hadn't intended on telling the rest of the girls the truth about her feelings in the porn industry, she was glad that it happened.

"Cecelia would tell you to be honest with Hodges." Hazel suggested after Candy had poured her heart out.

"You're not Cece's mouth piece." Ivy flicked her hair then leaned in. "But, I agree."

"Do you want support when you go to his office?" Winter offered compassionately in a lower tone.

Candy sighed and shook her head. She did want the support because she'd never been good at asserting herself. Not with her mother's boyfriend. Not with her mother. Not with the men she confronted in this industry. Not with Mason and not with her own boss. It had always been easier to go along but she didn't want to involve the girls any more than she already had.

"I can do it." She stood up. "I have a scene to film so I'll do that then talk to him after." She looked around the room at the girl's expressions.

"Okay, but what're you going to say?"

Candy crossed her arms and shrugged, realizing that she hadn't gotten that far. It was hard enough admitting that who she was today was a result of sexual assault and survival choices. Now she had to explain why all that triggered her but she still wanted to keep her job? It was sure to confuse Hodges.

"Maybe I'll just give him the seductive look that I default to when a guy's sucking my nipples." She cracked which caused only Winter and Ivy to chuckle.

"Masking your feelings with sex won't solve your problems." Hazel cocked an eyebrow.

She was right and Mason had told her something similar before. He would know how to warm Candy up in this moment with a lusty embrace and a reminder that he could control her pleasure.

She shivered at the thought, grabbing her coat and attempting to distract herself before she called up an old fling for some satisfaction.

As Candy shut the penthouse door, she noticed a familiar face in the middle of the hallway approaching her.

"Hi, Hodges gave me this address." Monica stopped her strides.

Monica, the girl she'd caught Mason with, had the nerve to be here right now? Her presence suddenly made Candy miss the days when getting the Doll House penthouse address was like getting a MET gala invite. Impossible.

"Is it a bad time to talk?"

"It is. I was just leaving."

Monica nodded but continued to speak, "I heard you got the wrong impression from the other night."

"My impression wasn't wrong."

Monica sighed. "Can we talk for a minute?"

Candy wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to Mason's new girlfriend or whoever she was but this woman had come this far and perhaps she could set aside a minute. So Candy nodded and the two women stepped a bit closer together.

"Mason and I dated two years ago and when I came into town I wanted to get in touch with him because he was having marketing trouble for the bookstore. That was all."

"Why're you telling me this?"

"Well," she sighed. "I think you should go see him today. Maybe things will make more sense."

"I can't, he doesn't want to see me and I barely want to see him." Candy shook her head. "Plus, I have to speak to my boss."

Monica gave a tight smile. "He's upset because you're upset and you have every right to be. We met at his place just to keep things casual and I'm sure that even if you hadn't showed up, nothing would've happened between us."

Candy sighed and checked the time on her phone. He was most likely at the bookstore right now, finishing up some work for the day. This woman didn't have to stop by and say all of this so maybe there was some truth to these words and it was worth stopping by to hear him out so that they could have a more gracious parting.
                                    • • • • • •
Today was already panning out to be intense for Candy's emotions and it was about to get a hell of a lot worse.

She took a deep breath and entered the bookstore, instantly taken back to the day she had informally met Mason for the first time.

"Hello?" She announced herself since the store was closed to the public today.

"Back here." Candy followed his voice and spotted Mason at the counter, pen in hand as he worked on something near a short stack of books.

When she appeared closer, he looked up and did a subtle double take without changing his fixed expression.

"Monica stopped by the penthouse."

"Yeah, and what did she say?" He set the pen down and leaned forward on the counter.

"That I should come here." Candy said. "Because apparently my impression of the other night was wrong."

"Candy," Mason started softly, "I should've told you everything upfront and reassured you but then I would have to admit that this was something I really wanted."

"What do you mean?"

"I had no plans of fucking Monica because she knew exactly how I felt about you. Or at least she realized how I felt about you the moment that you got upset and left."

"So you weren't hooking up?" Sure Monica had stated that nothing happened but Candy needed to hear it all from Mason. She craved the truth now more than ever since she'd learned to be forthright herself.

"This is the last time I'm telling you this." He pointed to her sternly but took her hand. "Nothing happened. She's the marketing director for a Chicago company and offered to help me out."

"In what way?"

Mason smirked. "Well you know I love this place." He looked around then his eyes landed back on Candy and he slid a thick sheet of paper toward her. "So this is what she pitched."

Candy looked down at the blueprint sketch of the cozy bookstore, an exact replica of what they stood inside of at this very moment. But her eyes locked on the name.

"Candy's Cozy Bookcorner." A smile spread on her face.

"I guess she realized I love you too." Candy's eyes widened at those words. He loved her? He loved her enough to name the nameless bookstore after her. Nobody ever truly loved her. Some men liked her and some lusted for her. A lot of them wanted to fuck her but no one loved her. Until now.

Without a second thought she jumped onto the counter and planted a kiss on his lips. Mason wrapped his arms around her and brought her over to his side.

Candy didn't expect to start crying as she was engulfed by the warm embrace of Mason who always seemed to know what she needed.

"I wish I could stay like this with you all day." She parted from him. "But I have to talk to Hodges."

"Are you gonna tell him?" Mason leaned back.

"Yeah but I don't know what to say." She looked at the sketch then back at Mason. "Tell me what I should say."

He chuckled but shook his head. "You don't need me to tell you. You'll be fine, just be honest."

Candy repeated Mason's words and nodded but before she left she turned to him and smirked.

"But if I get fired..."

"Be ready for your first day stacking the shelves." Mason pointed to the unboxed books and winked at her then went back to writing while she smiled and walked out of Candy's Cozy Bookcorner to head to the Doll House Studio.