Chapter 31 - Reappearing Guest

Mason felt the day dragging on. He was in a bad mood and had been barking and yelling at everyone in the office. When Ella stopped by at lunch to remind him about the movie premier, Mason couldn't help but groan in annoyance as he was, once again, reminded of what had happened early in the morning and he felt like a complete douche.

It was already four-twenty-three in the afternoon and Mason was to leave the office at exactly four-thirty, ordered by his annoying sister.

Nina entered the room with a stack of documents in her hand. "Mr. King, these are all the documents you wanted. Also, your car is already parked downstairs." She informed him and he only nodded in response.

"Great, just leave the documents on my desk and I'll review them tomorrow morning. You may leave early today, Nina." He dismissed her. The usually home time was 5:30pm, but since Mason had to go to the premier, he didn't need Nina staying until home time when she had no work to do. They finished analyzing the contracts for the day and Mason thought it was reasonable enough that they get an early break.

"Yes, sir." Nina responded as she left the room to gather her stuff and leave. Mason rode the elevator and got into his car. He drove and was almost home when he remembered what happened earlier. He just couldn't face her right now. He felt ashamed of himself and guilty. He wanted to apologize for making her feel bad, but his pride was controlling his actions.

He decided to make a u-turn and headed towards Ricky's condominium. He strolled inside and the workers greeted him a good afternoon. Since his family owned the condominium, the workers were all expected to know the boss.

Mason rode the elevator all the way to the top floor before the penthouse. He punched the code on the box and the door made a clicking sound as the light turned green. He went inside and took his tie off as he plopped himself down the couch.

"Who are you trying to avoid?..." Ricky teasingly asked with a smirk on his facade. He was leaning by the wall near the living room with his arms tucked across his chest.

Mason glared at him and locked his jaw, finding his friend very irksome at the moment. "No one." He coldly answered.

"Who are you trying to fool, Mason? C'mon man!" Ricky chuckled as he plopped on the one-seater couch next to the main couch. "You only come here for two reasons. You're either hiding from your family or one of your exes, or you need some boost. It's too early for a drink so I'm betting on the hiding."

Mason hated the fact that his friend knew him so well. It was good when he had problems and didn't have to further let explained it to him. But at times like these, it was annoying that he could read him like an open book.

"So...who is it?" Ricky pressed on the matter as Mason groaned in annoyance. Mason shot daggers at Ricky through his sharp eyes. Ricky only watched and studied his friend and it seemed to have clicked in his mind. Ricky was so proud that he had the skill of a mind reader and could read anyone like an open book. The perks of majoring in psychology before he took interest in cooking. "It's your fiancée, isn't it?" He guessed with a knowing smirk. "Not even married yet, but you two seem to be getting into a lot of arguments lately."

Mason was amazed by his friend's weird skill. He was certain that Ricky was some sort of a witchcraft in another lifetime. That was the only valid explanation of his freakish ability on reading people's minds.

"What'd you do this time?" Ricky kept on pushing on the subject and Mason couldn't control his irking feeling as he threw the throw-pillow on Ricky's face.

Ricky caught the pillow before it hit his face and snickered. "Okay, okay! You don't wanna talk about it. I get it!" He said in understanding. "So, are you going to the premier tonight? Lance called me this morning to remind me about the event." He asked and Mason heave a heavy sigh.

"That's why I'm here. I need to get ready for tonight." Mason nonchalantly replied as he rested his head against the head board of the couch.

"You can do that in your own house, so why are you here?" Ricky flipped the conversation back to the topic. Mason, who was utterly and completely annoyed, growled and stood up. He left Ricky by himself, who was laughing hysterically, and headed to one of the guest-rooms that became his own room since he used to spend the night at Ricky's when he wanted to get away from his problems or when he got too drunk to drive back home.

Mason just really wished that Kelsey would talk to him during the movie premier. Or he might as well kill himself for being an obnoxious jerk and didn't consider her feelings. He didn't know why he was getting all worked up because she was upset. Kelsey had an affect on him and he didn't like it one bit. The last time he grew attached towards a girl nearly drove him insane. He didn't want to go down the same path and lose himself in the process.

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Once Mason was finished preparing for the night, he drove home to pick up Kelsey for the event. Although they had some misunderstandings, he wanted to make sure that she didn't go alone on the premier. He wanted to escort her and made sure she was going to be okay. She usually got nervous in these types of events because of the crowd and the paparazzi.

Mason rode the elevator and came up to the penthouse only to find out from Georgia that Kelsey had already left with the driver he hired to drive her around. He grew more frustrated by the minute. He quickly left and made his way to the theatres where the event was being held. He parked on the driveway in front of the door and flashed of cameras met him. He got out and gave the car keys to the valet boy.

Mason pasted a fake grin on his face as he entered the doors through the red carpet. The paparazzi roared with questions as he walked by. Most of the questions were about his engagement and his fiancee. He ignored all of them but one question seemed to have ring and got stuck in his mind.

"Are you really in love with her?"

It had never occurred to him to watch over his feelings or even examine himself. He was not ready to settle and he learned from his past not to commit the same mistake he had made.

Once he was inside, there was a crowd of people in their gowns and suits near the door of the theatre. They were greeting each other and catching up. As Mason passed by, he was greeted by many of them, mostly those who knew him personally because of business and some were only trying to suck up to him. He only shot them a forced smile and entered the theatre room.

The room was partly dimmed but not to the point where one couldn't tell colours apart. Mason glanced around and tried to find Kelsey, only to find the man he least expected to attend the party. It was no other than Brandon Kane, the man he once called a good friend until he flirted with his fiancée.

Brandon seemed to have sense Mason's glaring and he looked up to meet his gaze. Brandon's smile faltered but quickly pasted a fake grin to ease the tension away. Brandon was talking to a woman who looked beautiful behind with the pastel pink dress hugging her curves that Mason soon learned was his fiancée. Brandon nodded his head towards Mason's attention and Kelsey turned around to check who Brandon was fixated upon.

Mason's jaw locked when he discovered that it was indeed Kelsey talking to Brandon. He strolled towards them and quickly placed a possessive arm around her waist. "Mr. Kane." He coldly greeted.

"Good evening, Mr. King." Brandon replied and Kelsey could feel the tension thickened between the two man. Kelsey shot Brandon a tight smile before she decided to separate the two away from each other.

"We'll catch up some other time, Brandon. Thanks for keeping me company. Excuse us." Kelsey politely said before dragging Mason with her.

"Why were you talking to him?" Mason asked with gritted teeth as Kelsey felt his grip tightened around her waist.

"Am I not allowed to talk to him?" She shot back as she remembered how Mason practically called her a 'whore' the last time she was caught talking to Brandon.

"Didn't I tell you not to talk to him?" Mason stopped her and met her gazed. His eyes darkened as her body was completely pressed to his and he couldn't help but feel turned on.

Kelsey's heart skipped a beat and the air was currently stuck in her throat with Mason's very close proximity. He lifted her head by hooking his index finger under her chin and placed a possessive kiss on her lips. Kelsey was completely caught off guard and blushed automatically made its way on her cheeks.

"You're mine, Kelsey." He growled while his forehead was rested upon her. Kelsey could feel the shiver run down her spine by his declaration of her being his. She could feel the butterflies roaming around her stomach and her heart was quickly pounding against her chest. She couldn't breathe and she felt her legs buckling below her. If it weren't for Mason's tight hold upon her, she would've met the ground a while ago.

A cough interrupted them which seemed to snap Kelsey back to reality. She slowly pulled away from Mason but he kept his arm wrapped around her waist. "Are we interrupting?" Lance asked with a knowing smirk on his face. He had his arm wrapped around Ella's shoulders who also had a teasing smile on her face. Ella couldn't help but think that they looked adorable together and she really wished that the two would end up together. Ella could see that her brother was becoming more mature and something had changed in him since Kelsey came.

Kelsey's cheeks reddened even more if it was possible. She tried to hide her flushed face by pressing her head on Mason's side. Mason chuckled at her cuteness trying to hide her blush. "Congratulations, man. I'm sure the film will be amazing." Mason said as he shook Lance's hand.

"Thanks, I'm glad you two made it." Lance uttered in appreciation and shot them a smile.

"Can I borrow Kelsey for a minute?" Ella butted in as she glanced at the flustered woman still hiding her face from them.

Kelsey glanced up, only to be greeted with Ella's suspicious look upon her. "Sure, just make sure you bring her back to me. Don't lose her, Ella." Mason demanded of his sister and she only nodded in response.

"Yes, yes, I'll bring her back, Mr. Possessive". Ella teased as she untangled from Lance and took Kelsey's hand as they made their way outside the theatre.

When they were outside, Ella took her by the shoulders and studied her with scrutinizing eyes.

"What?" Kelsey asked feeling uncomfortable by Ella's stare.

"What was that about?"

"What was what about?"

"Oh don't try playing innocent with me!" Ella nagged in annoyance. "That kiss was something else. I saw it! Are you, perhaps, falling for my brother?" Ella asked excitedly with a raised brow.

Kelsey bit the corner of her lip as she thought it through, she was certainly developing feelings for Mason, which was really bad because everything was suppose to be an act. When she didn't answer in a few seconds, Ella knew the answer already.

"I knew it!" Ella yelped in excitement. She jumped for joy in giddiness and couldn't help but feel happy for both her brother and Kelsey. They was something about the two of them that just clicked. Perhaps it was chemistry or maybe it was destiny that brought the two of them together. "Oh, I'm so happy for the both of you!"

Kelsey grabbed a hold of her and tried to steadied a leaping Ella. "Would you relax? It's not that big of a deal. I might have a little crush on your brother but that doesn't mean he feels the same way about me." Kelsey admitted as she remembered the number one rule of Mason. 'Don't fall in love with me.' Could it be that she wasn't the only one who was feeling that there was something special between the two of them.

"Oh, hush up! I know my brother, it is safe to say that he likes you too. It's so good to see that my little brother is finally growing up!" Ella once again jumped in joy.

"I don't know..." Kelsey said anxiously. "I don't think that-"

All of a sudden, Ella's grin faltered and her jumping was stopped. She watched the one person she last wanted to see. "What is that witch doing here?" She interrupted in frustration as she glared at the woman she couldn't ever seem to take a liking on.

"Who?" Kelsey asked in bewilderment as she swirled around to see the person Ella was talking about.

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