Page 14 of The Spare (The King Dynasty #2)
Chapter eight
New Roles
O pening my eyes I grimace, lamenting my sour mood as I apparently wake up on the wrong side of the bed. It's a drizzly Friday morning, and there's not much to see out the window of my bedroom.
It's been two days since I've seen Melody at the fencing venue, and I'm desperate to see her.
Knowing it'll make myself feel better, I pull out my phone and take a peek through the hidden camera in Melody's dorm, and as if it's just working out to be a shitty day all around, it seems she's not her best self today either.
She wakes up fifteen minutes late, and she's back from her run a lot earlier than normal which means she didn't do her usual nine miles.
To make matters worse, an accident en route to King Dynasty makes me almost an hour late and causes me to miss the early market, but once I'm there, I take an astonishing half a million dollar loss in one of my personal stocks. However, Melody's goes up almost thirty grand, so that's good news.
I'm sitting at the leather seating area in my office around noon, clutching a crystal tumbler of scotch and contemplating calling it an early day when Hendrix comes strolling in the office looking rather haggard-if I may say so myself. I eye him warily.
Damn, has everyone been dealt the shit end of the stick today or what?
Oddly enough, a spark of sympathy flickers to life where annoyance usually dwells.
"Hendrix," I say slowly, tilting my head and giving him a thorough assessment. Jesus, he doesn't look right. "To what do I owe the honor?" Other than his weary expression, though, he looks like his usual put together self. His three piece suit is impeccable as always.
He heaves a deep sigh, walking over to the drinks cabinet and pouring himself a whiskey. I take another sip and force myself to be patient as I'm not exactly jumping with joy to go back to the numbers after sustaining such a heavy loss.
"Mason, I hate to ask you to do this, but I need a favor."
"Oh, fuuuck," I growl as that sympathy flame effectively snuffs out. I wanted to go home and work out some of this stress, have a decadent dinner, then pleasure the rest of it away and go to bed. "What is it?"
He sits heavily in the chair opposite and groans, grabbing a hand to his nape and rolling his neck hard .
I grunt. "Isobel finally try to break your neck or something?" I chuckle, remembering the time she slapped him when she was pregnant. He deserved it that time, though.
He throws me an annoyed look that I return. "No," he snaps. "I've barely slept in a week."
I squint, taking a closer look. His eyes are bloodshot, and the expensive suit might actually be the only thing holding him up at the moment.
Hendrix tosses back the drink, downing it all in one go.
He coughs once, rubbing his hands harshly down his face and leaning forward to put the crystal tumbler to the table with a thump.
"Yeah, you look like it, too," I say.
"Isobel has been so miserable lately that she can't sleep which means I can't either. I'm up all hours of the night, rubbing her back, her feet, her hips. I just fucked up my drawing for the building on eighteenth street. And she just called me in pain."
"Damn, brother." I swallow the rest of my scotch and suck my teeth. "Sounds bad. Why can't she go get a massage, or have Marianne do it?"
His eye's snap to mine and I feel my balls shrivel tight. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? This is Isobel, Mason. You know better than that."
I tilt my head on a grimace, because, yeah, I certainly do. Poor guy. "So what's the favor?"
I need a smoke.
"I need you to go to tonight's Charitable Hearts Foundation in our place."
"Awwww," I groan, tossing my head back. Fuccck. "Hendrix, please-"
"I don't want to ask you, I really don't. But King Dynasty needs to be represented somehow-"
"What about Father and Madre?" I ask.
"Father just had his colonoscopy this morning, remember? "
I bite my cheek. Unfortunately, I hadn't.
"Did you call Madre to see how it went?" I ask.
He frowns. "No… I figured she'd let us know if something was wrong."
I blink. "Hm. Thought you two were closer than that."
He raises a brow. "Madre would let us know if something happened," he repeats slowly, letting me know he's really not in the mood.
I leave it alone.
Hendrix heaves another deep sigh. "Mason, you know I don't ever ask you to do these appearances. I know you hate them, but to sweeten the deal, and because I'm desperate, you may bring Melody."
His eyes narrow in obvious displeasure at the smile that curves across my face, but my glee is so delicious I don't have a prayer at trying to hide it. My brow arches.
"Really?" I say sarcastically. "Man. Desperate must be right." Standing up, I head to refresh my drink with a pep in my step, suddenly refreshed. "I graciously accept."
Hendrix grunts, pinning me with a stern look that eerily reminds me of Uncle William when he gave me the terms of paying his loan back. "As long as you remember our agreement-"
"I remember our fucking agreement, pendejo. Now go." Rolling my eyes I turn and lean my hips on the counter, raising my glass and taking another sip. "Go home and get some fucking rest before you do something stupid in your sleep deprived state that causes you to get a phone call from Father."
That bit of arrogance seeps through the exhaustion as he regards me. "Might I remind you he's a silent partner now, not the head?"
I scoff. Like that means anything. "You need not remind me, brother.
I am well aware of how convoluted your and our father's power dynamic is.
Truthfully, I feel sorry for you," I admit.
"But that's a conversation for another time.
Go home to Izzy and get some rest. I'll text you later and let you know how the night goes. "
"Alright. Try to have fun tonight? If not for yourself, then try to make it bearable for Melody." He stands, rolling his neck again.
I give him a pat on the back and walk him to my office door. When he's gone I pull out my phone and message Teresa, seeing if she could get something to Melody in time for tonight, and verify that Father is in fact doing okay, and then I message the beautiful woman herself.
Hey Mel, we've been summoned for a mission tonight. -Mase
Her response is almost immediate.
Oh? -Mel
Yes. Our presence is required at the Charitable Hearts Foundation ball. You're going as my date. -Mase
Fuck. It felt so good to say that.
But Mason, I don't have anything to wear! -Mel
Don't worry, I've already messaged Teresa. She'll have something to you in a couple hours. I'll be there by seven to pick you up. -Mase
I grab my things and then head out to prepare for tonight's ball. As I'm sliding into my car, my phone dings twice.
But you know I can't stand anything she dresses me in! –Mel
And what about my hair? -Mel
I scoff as my fingers fly over the keys on my phone. Though she can't stand dressing up for these events, she looks incredible every time.
Don't worry about your hair. Wash and wear it natural tonight. And smoke out your eyes. -Mase
My cock jerks in my pants at imagining the vision I no doubt will be staring at all night, and I rev the engine hard, pulling out of my spot and setting course to a jewelry store where I pick her out a diamond necklace that costs a small fortune and a matching diamond bracelet.
Still not satisfied, I walk over to the ring section to find her a simple diamond.
A princess cut wedding ring snags my attention.
The thought of sliding a token of ownership on the woman I've wanted for what feels like my entire life makes my body warm, and I fight a plethora of emotions as I stare at the glass case, wondering which one she'd like.
Knowing Melody, she'd want a ring she wears everyday to be simple, and I see just the one. It's perfect for her.
I motion the clerk back over.
"See something else, Mr. King?" she asks politely.
"That princess cut ring on the fourth row. How much is it?"
She pulls it off its stand and glances at the little tag. "Seventy-thousand, sir."
I nod, glancing at the other options. "And what about that singular infinity diamond? "
"Fifteen grand." She peeks up at me through her lashes, utilizing her seduction skills to try and garner more commission.
"I'll take them both. I need them sized, though. She's a six."
She nods, taking the rings to the back. And by the time she comes back I've picked out my wedding band. Feeling significantly lighter in the pocket, I pay for all the pieces and am back on the road headed home.
If I thought this morning was a torturous one, it's nothing compared to how I feel right now.
I'm in my own personal brand of hell being choked out by a little something called lust. It wrapped itself around me in an unyielding, merciless grip the moment she opened her dorm door dressed in a strapless baby pink floor-length gown with a sweetheart neckline.
A matching shawl graces her elbows, her skin gleams, and her eyes are smoked out perfectly. They drag slowly down my body, setting me on fire and causing my already stiffening cock to harden to the point of pain.
"You look…. amazing," she says, licking her bottom lip.
"And you look good enough to eat, butterfly," I say with a smirk. "All innocent in that pink."
She blushes, faffing nervously with the skirt. "Well, Teresa says I can't keep it. It's on a loan."
"Hm. What a shame," I retort. "Now, will you please let me in so I can give you your presents?" Her eyes snap to mine before landing on the three boxes in my hand and she opens her door further, stepping to the side so I can walk in.
I place the bracelet and jewelry boxes on the little side table and turn back to her.