I shake my head, waiting.
“One point two.”
“One point two?” I frown, shaking my head, confused.
“Yeah.”
“One point two,” I repeat, willing my brain to function.
“Million, Nina. One point two million pounds.”
Bile rises in my throat.
Why does he have to do it? Some women would be humbled. But me? It makes me feel sick to my stomach.
“I shouldn’t have told you. I didn’t want to upset you, Nina.”
“Why didn’t you take it?”
He stares through me, thinking about it for a second.
“The pictures meant more.” He shrugs.
I nod, the irony breaking my heart in two. If only Mason could see that. He’s so desensitised to his own wealth, he doesn’t understand the value of the things money will never buy.
“I’m sorry, that he put you in that position, Joey.”
He shrugs again. “At first, I was pulling my hair out, literally. I almost gave them up at £20K.” His honesty makes me smile. “But then I felt powerful, to turn down that amount of money, especially Mason’s money.” He grins. “It felt good.”
“I can imagine. And I bet he didn’t like it much either.” I smile despite my annoyance.
“Nope. I had to tell him to leave. He probably wouldn’t have stopped at one point two.”
“He’s a damn idiot.” Hearing the colossal amount of money Mason can just throw around like pocket change makes the fire in my gut burn like a raging furnace. “You should’ve sold them.” I look up at him, knowing how much even a fraction of that money would benefit him.
“Probably.” He laughs. “You’re going to confront him about it aren’t you.”
“Yep.”
It’s been the longest day and as Elliot pulls up outside my apartment in his Aston Martin, I yawn wide, not feeling the evening ahead at all.
Scarlet has requested us all at the estate tonight. She wants to finalise the plans for the ball. With only a week to go before the event, she’s been crazy busy working on the small details. We have helped her through every bump she has found herself at so far and I know that tonight will be no different. Elliot, Lance, and Charlie have been heavily involved and a massive help. We all agreed not to tell Mason about the ball until a few days before. He should be planning it with us, but we all know he wouldn’t, and Scarlet refuses to give him the opportunity to disappoint her.
Lucy and Megan are already in the back of the car when I climb in, and I can barely see them past a sea of garment bags. “Really? Did you bring the whole shop, Luce?”
“If Elliot had listened and brought the Audi, we wouldn’t have a problem. Would weElliot.”
“You don’t get that purr in the Audi, baby. I know you love it.” He revs the engine, making me and Megan chuckle.
Elliot’s seat is jolted from behind, but he doesn’t acknowledge it. He just looks at me with a smile and gives me a wink.
“I think we should call Mason, you know, he’s been much happier in the office this week. He told me you kissed him by the way.” Elliot gives me a pointed look, waiting for me to do up my seat belt, and pulls out onto the road.
“What?” Megan’s head pops out from the back seat.
“You never said!” Lucy bolts forward.
“I didn’t kiss him! He kissed me. And it wasn’t even a proper kiss.” Not by mine and Mason’s normal standards anyway.
