He takes a bite of his apple, not answering me, when his eyes meet mine, he raises them in question. “What’s he been busy with?” I ask again.
“Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about.” Heleans over the edge of the breakfast bar and kisses my forehead. “Have Maggie booked in for next weekend. I want everyone out for my birthday.”
“Will Mason be there?” I ask to his back as he walks away, as if he didn’t just drop that bombshell.
“Of course he will be.”
“Well, I won’t be.”
“Yes, you will, Pix?—”
“Ell!”
“Sorry, I forget.”
I roll my eyes, moving around the island and walking him to the door. “I’ll see if Maggie’s free, but I’m not making any promises. I don’t think Mason, alcohol, and me, is a good idea.”
“Could be a great idea.” He grins.
“Stop it.”
“Hey!” He throws his hands up in defence. “You guys made it through last week without killing each other. I have every bit of faith in you.”
“Well, that makes one of us.”
Mase
“Mason. Who is this girl? She just answered the phone.” He points towards the glass wall where the reception sits on the other side. “We cannot have her answering the phone. Have you heard her phone voice? It’s her regular voice but worse. Please tell me you have a plan here?”
George breezes into my office, his finger running across the inside of hiscollar. He’s become a solid fixture around here, and he gets shit done. The fact he has to deal with Jasmine makes me feel kind of shitty, but I don’t have the time.
“Did she leave yet?”
“No. She was late this morning. I made her stay on.” He shakes his head, and I laugh.
“George, you can let her get home. Yourself too. You don’t need to be here this late.”
“She needs to be taught some discipline, Mason. Why are you being nice?”
George is right, Jasmine probably does need some discipline, but I also know this week has been hard for her.
“Let her get home now.” I nod, letting him know it’s not up for discussion. “You too.”
“Okay.” He huffs, placing his hands on his hips and cursing under his breath. I lean back in my chair, waiting.
“If she’s going to be staying and I’m going to be training her, it’s far more responsibility. I mean, I probably needed an assistant six months ago, and?—”
“I will run it by Elliot, but I’m in agreement that you should be on a higher wage.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You have more potential than some of the staff higher than you. You’re smart, George. Too smart for reception?—”
“I love the reception.”
“I know, and we appreciate you.” I sigh, watching him, knowing I’ve probably never given him the praise he deserves. “You’re an asset to Ellis and Frey, George. I hope you know that. Someone I didn’t know we needed until you rocked up and started changing things up.”
“Thank you, Mason.” He blinks over and over, taken aback. “I…I was…”
