Deflowered

Chapter 9

"What is he doin Mase?" Sam whispered as they both peeked through the cracked door of their father's study. Thomas Parker's and Christian Hamilton's parents cowered in their seats, watching his father fearfully tower above them as their eyes pleaded desperately for mercy, but even he knew there was none.

"He's teaching them a lesson." He hissed, so proud of having a father like him.

"But why?" Sam asked, his guileless eyes widened as Mason brought a pointer finger to his lips and snapped his mouth shut. Leaning in close without looking away from the unfolding scene, he wanted to watch with extreme focus the moment those parents realized they fucked with the wrong family.

"Because he loves us."

Jolting awake at the sound of his computer, contracts fell to the floor leaving a disorganized mess at his feet. A glistening sheen outlined his rigid features as he hastily wiped the sweat from his face.Interrupted by the ringing of his phone, he glanced at Sam's ID lit across the screen.

"Yes."

"What the fuck Mase?" Sam rarely used his childhood nickname.

"What Sam?"

"Did you put the family attorney on Kate?"

"The girl you impregnated?"

"My girlfriend." Mason narrowed his eyes as Sam's tone grew deadly. Never had he heard his brother speak with such threatening possessiveness. He almost felt proud.

"When did this happen?"

"It doesn't fucking matter when it happened. What were you going to do? Pay her off?"

"Well, actually yes." Mason replied in a nonchalant tone. This wasn't a new manner to handle business in their family. In fact, over the years they maintained a separate bank account specifically for these issues.

"Fuck Dad and you. You guys never let me do anything by myself. You always fight my battles for me. Leave her the fuck alone Mason."

"Don't act like you hate us dealing with your shit."

"I never have a fucking choice, but I have one now. Leave her alone or I'll never talk to any of you ever again."

"Sam..."

"Fuck off. Call off your dogs...Both of you!" Sam warned before hanging up. Staring at his phone with irritation, Mason threw it on his desk in front of him. Sam was known for his laidback personality and care free attitude. They all loved him for it but this change confused him.

God, now he had a pounding headache. Kathryn Baker, daughter of Baker Media owner Nicholas Baker was now his brother's girlfriend. Mason scrolled through the folders on his computer before locating Ms. Baker's file. She was 24 years old and a recent graduate of Brown University with a degree in journalism. Just hired at Chicago Times, he wondered if her pregnancy would hinder her aspirations at all considering she applied to VICE, an agency known for their extreme journalism. Cocking his head to the right, he then decided that if anyone could tame his brother, it is probably a woman just like her.

Monday never felt more excruciating than after being rejected by the only loyal and faithful woman in fucking Chicago. He amassed an entire empire by the tender age of 33, and yet, he failed to seduce the most naïve woman on the planet that ironically just so happened to be the most genuinely intelligent person he had ever had the pleasure to know. Pinching the bridge of his nose, the god awful memories of his outburst under the oak tree viciously surged through his mind. Extreme embarrassment speared anxiety through his chest as he remembered his impromptu confession. The words just escaped him, tearing through his filter and hungering for acknowledgement. He looked like a fucking idiot, stripped of pride and with a bloody fist evidence of his absolute lack of control. He bared it all for her, and she rejected him...but in her oh so sweet way he used to love. Now, he hated her.