Mr. President

"You know as well as I do that the investment would go bust."

"Is that so?" she asks. "The Board listens to me. On paper, Red Lion Aviation looks good Mason. They're profitable and expanding. You slammed them for having poor safety ratings, but you should know that they've cleaned up their act. They're in good standing now. They're even adding new flights this year beyond Southeast Asia. A sizeable investment in Red Lion could change the future of Kane Price."

"Yeah, it could shutter our doors," I say.

"You're wrong," she continues. "It could increase our reach. We could break into US markets, and profits could reach unprecedented levels. We'll turn a billion dollars into a trillion."

I laugh. I don't laugh because it's funny … because this situation is anything but funny … it's downright infuriating, but I laugh at the irony. Here she is talking about increasing profits by such a wide margin, when I know the opposite would happen.

Still don't believe me?" she asks. "Well, I don't need you to believe me; I just need you to do as I say. If you don't, there will be consequences. I'll be sure to make a big deal about it with the Board."

Fuck. It's a catch 22. She has me by the balls and she knows it. What can I do at this point? I feel like I've got my neck in a rope and the longer I'm with Lorna, the tighter it gets. I'll hang myself if I'm not careful.

I realize there's only one thing left for me to do.

I grab my keys and wallet.

"I'm coming over," I tell Lorna before hanging up the phone.

"Now that's more like it," she purrs.

But she has no idea why I'm coming over.

I have to end this marriage.

180

Becca

It's as if I'm under a spell. A spell cast by Mason Kane. Have you ever been so captivated by someone that you don't mind spending every waking minute with them? Well, that's how I feel about Mason. It's strange to admit, but it's true.

Sure, his ego is sometimes too big for his own good, but with that comes confidence.

I feel his intoxicating draw as soon as he steps next to me … his warmth, his strength, and his cologne—a mixture of leather, and spice, and seduction. And don't get me started about his suits. Anything would look good on a body like Mason's, it's true, but his suits elevate him to the next level. It's as if James Bond has handpicked his entire wardrobe. Classy and perfectly tailored. It's delicious.

There's something about him … his power, and success, and drive. He's driven in a way that few men are, and I find that incredibly sexy. When Mason walks into a room, he commands it, almost without effort. People turn, and stare, and want to know this man.

Many want to be him.

In that sense, he's my opposite. I was painfully shy in school. I'll admit it. I've gotten better over the years, but I've always admired people who don't have that level of social anxiety.

God, just listen to me.

I'm gushing on and on about a man who's technically my stepfather.

I shouldn't be feeling this way … but I have to admit that I do.

I think I'm really falling in love with this man.

I'm lying on my bed in the soft light of my room and I realize I better start packing. I promised Mason I'd come by his apartment later, and stay the night.

I tap my cell phone and check the time. It's almost 8 pm.

I jump up and rummage through the top drawer of my dresser … where I've neatly stashed an enviable collection of lingerie. I decide to pick out something a little … naughty. I grab a sheer, black lace set. You can't go wrong with black. It's sexy and classy, and flatters everyone who wears it. If you don't believe me, you can ask Aubrey Hepburn or even the stripper down the street at Scandals. And if you ask men, most will pick black. Yes it's true, more men, if given the choice, will choose black even over red.

Next, I spritz myself with a little perfume, something ultra feminine—a floral scent that is sexy, like walking through a secret garden of jasmine and orchids, and rolling around in a bed of roses. I dab some perfume on the pulse of my wrists, on my neck … and even a dab in between my thighs. The fragrance is impossible to miss, which is a good thing. When it comes to Mason, I want to be unforgettable.

I also need to also think about clothes for the morning. Maybe we'll splurge and grab breakfast at Norma's—their Papaya Mango Brown Butter Cinnamon crepes are seriously to die for. I'm not even exaggerating. If you haven't tried them hun, I suggest you do sometime.