“You’re safe, I’m not into date rape.” His snapping immediately makes me uncomfortable but surprisingly he apologises. “Sorry, pain relief, but they’re quite strong so they may make you sleepy in an hour or so.”
“I can’t be sleepy in an hour or so.” My protest falls on deaf ears.
“I think you can as you’re on my clock and payroll and I am partially responsible for your hand.”
“How’s your face?” I ask without apologising for the punch, although I really should. Violence is never the answer.
“Fine. A bit tingly and it rattled for a while last night,” he says with a smile, “but okay. Please take the pain relief.”
I swallow the tablets and wash them down with the water.
“Come on then, down to business.” He puts his jacket back on and seems to hesitantly allow me to get off the stool without help. He even lets me walk back to his office without a hand on me.
“You’re an eager beaver,” Sean calls as I come into his line of sight from where he is sitting in the waiting area.
“Mase, Mr Grainger has just arrived,” Nicola says when Mason arrives behind me.
“Thank you.” His smile oozes warmth and friendliness when he speaks to his secretary, assistant, whatever her title is. “Let’s get started then.” He gestures to his office for me and Sean. Turning to Nicola he adds, “Can you ask Arianna to join us please?”
Arianna rushes in about ten minutes later full of apologies and explanations about overseas calls but Mason brushes them away. He and Arianna discuss the areas of the building they want doing first which is essentially the floor we’re on, the top floor. Mason tells Sean that the flat is excluded from the design, but glances at me and smiles. So, the bedroom project really is just for me.
“Miss Carrington will be responsible for my office,” he tells the others who both raise their eyebrows. “The rest is yours Mr Grainger and of course you should use Miss Carrington to assist you, if and when required.”
“Fair enough,” Sean says with a shrug. “I would rather you called me Sean though,” he suddenly announces.
“We can do that, Sean,” Arianna agrees. “I’m quite happy to be Arianna, and you Miss Carrington?”
“Olivia,” I say with a smile.
“Mase?” the other woman asks Mason who is frowning, and I somehow know he wanted us all on formal terms out here, specifically Sean, I think.
“It’s not a problem if Mr Harding would rather keep a professional distance with formality, is it?” I ask Sean who simply shrugs his ease with either.
“For now, I’d prefer some professional distance.” Mason offers me a small smile while Arianna frowns in confusion revealing that when Mason told me that most people call him Mase, he meantmost peopleliterally and his need for professional distance is out of character.
“Can we see the areas then?” Sean is already getting to his feet. “Liv, bring a notepad and pen if you would, or your tablet.” I immediately notice Mason’s smile has disappeared, but why?
I grab the tablet from my bag and stand to follow Sean.
“How’s the hand?” Arianna asks, drawing everyone’s attention to it including Sean’s.
“Fine,” I lie.
“What happened?” Sean lifts my hand up to look at it, but I am unsure what to say to him.
“You banged it on something big and dense, didn’t you?” Arianna asks and I nod but the way she looks at Mason confirms that she knows that he is the big and dense thing.
Mason and Arianna lead us from one office and open plan area to the next discussing the purpose of each space. They also explain that the floor below us is virtually empty so once plans are drawn and agreed this area will be emptied completely.
Mason says, locking eyes with me. “Except for next door.”
“Next door?” Sean’s confusion is clear in his question.
“Yes, next door, but that’s not your concern.” Mason’s reply is beyond abrupt and curt.
“Next door is Mason’s flat, on the other side of the offices,” Arianna explains.
I notice her shake her head as she frowns at Mason, presumably for being a dick with Sean.
