“So, you liaise with either of us on the offices,” Arianna says to me and Sean, but mainly Sean I think as he is the lead designer on this job.
“Except mine, that is between Miss Carrington and me,” Mason reiterates.
“Do you have anything in mind? Specifics?” I ask them, referring to the office space we’re looking at and hoping to deflect any attention from me, Mase and his flat.
“Not as such,” Arianna replies before Mason picks up.
“No beige. I hate beige rooms.” He frowns, making me laugh, not smile but proper laugh out loud until I realise that I am the only one laughing and he is staring at me intensely. The way his genuine disgust for the colour beige comes through is genuinely funny to me, but it could just be that I like this side to Mase, the one that makes me laugh with his likes and dislikes, his funny little faces and expressions.
“I, erm…colours, patterns, accessories?” I hope to get some ideas whilst recovering from thoughts of which of Mason’s many sides I like best.
“Nothing too intense,” Arianna says. “It needs to be a suitable workspace. We don’t want bright orange walls and fluorescent green carpets.” She smiles.
“Of course,” I reply and am reminded of Mrs Tyrell and her Dante’s Inferno sunroom. “Avoid the nine circles of hell,” I mutter with a smile to myself.
Sean and Arianna frown at me unlike Mason. “You read as well then?”
“Yes, sometimes,” I admit with a blush as we move on. “What about walls?” I blurt out and know I sound like an idiot. “As in do you want them leaving as they are? Do you want anywhere more or less open plan, lighter?”
“Ah, I see. My office needs to remain enclosed, private,” he tells me before turning to Arianna.
“Mine too, although I would like it to be a little brighter, but the rest can be open plan or enclosed.”
“Can we have information of how many workstations you require and how many of those need to remain in close proximity to each other?” Sean asks. “Maybe Liv and I can put some mood boards together,” he suggests, a suggestion that seems to irritate Mason judging by his sullen expression.
“Super. I’ll get that information for you.” Arianna is already leading Sean away asking, “So how long will you be here for, initially?”
“How do you feel?” Mason asks once we’re alone.
“Okay.” I honestly think I may be less than okay when a sudden dryness to my mouth and a fuzziness in my head washes over me.
He takes my arm. “Why don’t I believe that?” Without waiting for an answer, he leads me back towards his own office.
“How do you feel about accessories?” I sound extremely random, even to my own ears.
“Couldn’t give a shit about them, but I’m not opposed to them, in moderation.” When we reach Nicola’s desk he pauses. “Next door, Nicola.”
“I really need to make a start, on work,” I tell Mason who is eyeing me with concern or caution as we enter his flat.
“Start in here, in my bedroom.” He smirks.
“Mason, maybe your bedroom is a bad idea. I appreciate the offer, the opportunity,” I begin but he closes the distance between us and shakes his head.
“No, please. Look at the space, see what you think and if I make you uncomfortable being here, I will go back to my office.” His offer sounds genuine, but I feel uncertain about what I do want, what I am even doing here, with him. “I won’t let what happened with us effect anything, I promise. I told you yesterday that I can’t forget what happened, but I can stop being a dick about it and not taunt you with the details.”
I smile at his words and I appreciate the equity of them, yet I am more grateful that he has again said that he can’t forget what happened between us because I know I’ll never manage to either.
“Thank you,” I reply with a small smile and a blush I can feel spreading up my face.
My phone rings and pulling it from my pocket I can see it’s Sean. “Hello,” I answer. “Yes of course. I’m next door.” I immediately regret sharing that information with my colleague. “I’ll come now,” I say trying for cool and professional rather than flustered and busted. I turn to Mase. “Sean needs me next door. I could come back after he’s finished with me,” I suggest, and again Mason’s face changes, but into a scowl now. “Or not, if you’d prefer.” I’m confused by his swinging moods and can’t help but wonder what I’ve done or said wrong now.
“It’s fine, sorry, yes come back when you’re free. Nicola has a key, I’ll let her know that you’re—”
“Coming to check out your bedroom,” I say as I interrupt and finish his sentence.
We both smile at my words but the atmosphere between us has changed again. It’s tense and highly charged. So, it’s no surprise when Mason’s hands reach for me, nor when he cups my chin and tilts it so that I am gazing up at him.
“Mase,” I whisper, and he smiles at his abbreviated name leaving my lips for the first time.
