“Thank you. For everything.” I smile, wrapping her up in a hug.
Mase
Once again, I underestimate Nina Anderson and her ability to remain so strong. She made it easy. Easy for me to lie to her.
Lucy and Megan have been here for the past three hours, and never have I been so grateful that she has such good friends. I’m in my office looking up potential studios for her—I know what I need to do.
Make it right.
I’ve narrowed it down to three, and they are all above and beyond what she had before, but it doesn’t ease the weight of my guilt.
I print out the advertisements and gather up all the information.
The girls are all laughing when I enter the living area, and I pause, the sound grating on me. This whole time I’ve been worried about how Nina would deal with all this. I didn’t stop to think about how I would.
Can I do this?
How do I live with myself—with her, knowing I will have to keep it from her. There’s no way she would stay if she knew.
She doesn’t deserve this.
“Mase, take her to bed and make her forget about today. She’s considering stripping as her next form of income.”
I snap my eyes to Nina’s in mortification, but she gives me a reassuring look. “Calm down, Bossman. You know I would never.” She looks at Megan. “Why are you trying to wind him up?”
“It’s too easy.” They chuckle, and I plaster a forced smile on my face.
“Come on, bed,” I tell her.
The girls stand to hug Nina, and Lucy whispers into her ear, but it’s loud enough that I catch it. “He’s so hot when he gets aggy.”
“Thank god it’s a Wednesday,” Megan adds, and they all start to laugh again.
“Thank you, girls. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Nina tells them.
They disappear into the elevator, and she stands in the foyer watching after them. I slide up behind her and pull her to me.
“Mase,” her voice cracks.
Fuck.
“What am I going to do?”
She turns in my arms and stares intently into my eyes, searching for a hope that’s impossible to find.
“It’s going to be okay. I promise.” I close my eyes as the words leave my mouth, knowing I’ve broken every promise I’ve made so far.
“My little studio. It’s gone. It’s not mine anymore. It was all I had, and the only thing I could say I did on my own. What do I do now? Who am I without it?”
Panic rises in my chest, the hurt in her eyes gutting me.
I can’t lie to her.
I can’t do this.
“I need to go back into the office for an hour this evening.” I pull away from her, my feet faltering as I step back. “Will you be okay here until I get home?” I pick up my keys from the tray, then bend to slide on my trainers.
“What? You’re leaving?” Tears stream down her cheeks, and I can’t bear the look she’s giving me.
