My Heart's Choice (On Hold)

Chapter 29

Mason talked to a few of his dad's friends and business partners, introducing me as a friend in a very deliberatly subtle tone. And with the look of realization in their eyes I can tell that they are thinking of me as Mason's girlfriend. I guess that it is exactly what he wants.

We talk to a few guests before he pulls me to a corner talking to me in hushed tones.

"Rhea is trying to ignore us, but I know for sure that she is watching," Mason says.

"Uh, you want me to ask Nora?" I offer.

A smirk plays on his lips and he smiles to himself mysteriously.

"Ask her to bring them to talk to her dad," Mason says, rubbing his hands together.

I pull my phone out of Penny's clutch and text Nora telling her to take Rhea and Seth to see her dad.

Nora:
Okay. Got it ;) I'm on the move.

"She's going," I say to Mason.

"Good," he smiles, a hint of evil in his voice, "Ready to play the part of your life?"

He chuckles at my blank expression and pulls me with him. We cross the lobby and walk into a warm hall, with dinner tables laid here and there. I scan the hall and spot Nora talking to a man who I instantly recognize to be her dad, from all the bouchers mom has at home.
Behind Nora is Rhea and Seth and it appears that she is introducing them to Mr. Williams.

Mason and I walk towards the group, my hand in Mason's.

"There you are, boy. Mason! Come here," Mr. Williams holds his glass of wine in the air, holding his arms out for Mason.

Mason gives the man a brief hug and pulls back, returning to pick my hand.

"Ah, who's the young lady?" Mr. Williams smiles at Mason and it is hard to miss his Earth-like eyes, the exact same as Kenneth and Nora's.

Mason fakes a shy smile and I think I actually saw him blush a little. Wow, he is a very realistic actor!

He looks at me displaying a charming smile, which I return. His eyes look warm and amused and I try my best to imitate the look.

"Why do I have the feeling that I have seen that pair of eyes before?" Mr. Williams frowns.

"She's Dana, sir. Dana Sanchez," Mason says introducing me.

"Ah," Mr. Williams lets out a slight chuckle, "Sanchez."

He smiles, shaking my hand.

"I think that you have met her mother," Mason says to Mr. Williams.

"Yeah yeah, the good lady Mrs. Sanchez. And you have to meet her husband. Fascinating man. You ask him why the sky is blue and the grass is green, he has an answer!" Mr. Williams sounds excited.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Williams," I say with a smile.

"Oh, the pleasure is mine, young Dana. Enjoy yourselves," he says to Mason and I.

"Thank you Mr. Williams," we chorus and then to leave.

Mason halts for a fraction of a second to notice Rhea's reaction. All the hurt and pain is quite evident in her bright blue eyes. Her hair is a masterwork of elegant braids and sophisticated knots and her dress is a red gown, the colour of red wine. But all the glamour in her looks vanish at the hurt that dominates her eyes.

She manages to shoot me a death glare, right before Mason and I stir around to walk back to the lobby.

"That went well, right?" he turns to me, a look of satisfaction washing over his face.

"Right," I agree.

If he wants to drive Rhea mad with hurt he is indeed doing very well!

I stop in my tracks and Mason spins around to face me.

"What?" he asks, looking into my eyes, "What's wrong?"

"Everything," I say slantingmy head to one side to look up at him, "Everything is so wrong."

"What are you getting at?" Mason drawls, looking bored, leaning against one of the many pillars in the lobby.

"It's just wrong," I shrug, "Both of you want each other and both of you want to get back together but none of you are ready to let go of your ego and say sorry. It's that simple, Mason. Trust me!"

Mason lets out a sigh and I swear that I saw a hint of hurt pass through his eyes, and it is gone the next second.

"Listen, Okay? I'm trying to do this my way and I am trying to figure out what is going to work. Why don't you just give me a chance?" he asks, sounding genuinely pissed off.

"That's not my call, is it?" I ask rhetorically.

Mason watches me for a full second, his green orbs darting between my eyes, perhaps trying to read my look. His eyes are huge and round, with long and thick lashes fanning infront of them. They are beautiful, now that I've finally actually looked into them.

Stop looking at me like I am some monster. Please. Mason's voice plays in my mind.

I try to look past all his arrogant and dominant, monster-like facade and look into the human he claims he is.

Mason lets out a harsh sigh and runs his thumb and index finger over his eyes rubbing them. His fingers find their way to his nose and he massages the bridge.

"Just play along for now," he says, averting his eyes to examine the tip of his shoes.

"Okay," I shrug.

He gives me a tight smile, holding his arm out for me to hold. I take his arm and we walk to a table to sit down.

My phone vibrates with a text message from Nora.

Nora:
Rhea is headed your way.

Mason must have read the panic in my eyes for he leans over to take a peak at my mobile.

Our eyes meet in a single panicked moment. I see Rhea's red dress appear at the doorway and her shoes pound on the carpeted floor as she walks towards us. Her eyes are blazing with a storm of emotion and my mind screams that this is not good.

"Here," Mason breaks into a wide and loving grin, pulling his own phone out of his pocket.

He swings an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in closer, holding his phone right above us. I see that he has the front camera on. I stare at my own face and Mason's in his phone screen.

"Smile now," he whispers, still managing to hold his grin.

I smile at the camera and Mason snaps a picture. I see Rhea just two tables away, looking like she wants to kill me. But before I can think of a route to escape if she dares attack me, Mason's lips come crashing on mine.

I hear his phone snap another picture. And Rhea's footsteps come to a halt. Mason's arms wrap around my waist, pulling me in as he gently move his lips against mine.

Strangely, his lips feel soft and his nature is tender and gentle. It startles me for a second that I am infact kissing him back.

But it's all an act, right? I mean we have to convince Rhea that this is an actual kiss, right?

I hear a set of footsteps run away from the table and I assume that Rhea is convinced. I pull back from Mason's lips, my face burning with confusion. I release a breath that blows out of my mouth in a shaky whisper.

I do not realize until now that my heart is pounding so hard that I am sure Mason hears it. His eyes scan mine searching for something in them.

"She's gone," I assure him.

"Good," he nods, leaning away from me.