Safety

Mason noticed Ava's stunned expression when she saw him.

After completing his shopping, he went to meet with one of his business partners before returning. And he's been hanging out at the shop for about thirty minutes now, waiting for her to close so he can take her back to her place.

When he first saw the bruises on her face, he wasn't sure what had happened, but something told him she had been attacked, he could tell from the fingernail marks on her new. He so badly wanted to know what exactly had happened to her. He was going to find that out soon, but for now, he didn't want her out late at night by herself.

"Thanks, but I can find my way," Ava managed to say after she has been able to recover from the shock of seeing him.

Mason knew it wasn't going to be easy convincing her to allow him to take her back to her place. He opened his door and stepped down from the car.

"I know you can find your way home, but it's getting late, and you shouldn't be out this late all by yourself," Mason said in a soft voice.

Ava was perplexed for a moment as she looked at him; first, he showed up at her workplace unexpectedly, and now he wants to take her home. What exactly did he want from her? They weren't supposed to contact each other after their deal was over, at least that's what the agency told her. Or did he change his mind and decide to come to get what he had paid for? How long has he been patiently waiting for her? Was that why he asked when she got off work?

Ava looked around, Nathan was no longer in sight, and neither were any of her other colleagues, the area suddenly seemed quiet, save for the few cars that were passing by.

Mason noticed the look of fear on her face, and he said, "I have no intention of hurting you. I just want to help." Mason felt disappointed that she would think he wanted to prey on her. But then he couldn't blame her because she barely knew him.

A girl walked past them and some guys Ava didn't know were lurking in the shadows, came out and started catcalling her. Ava turned to look at Mason and he was looking at her.

"Please allow me to take you to your place, being here by yourself isn't safe," he said.

Seeing how quiet the area had become, and with those boys lurking around, Ava decided to allow Mason to take her.

"Okay, thanks," she reluctantly said.

Mason's lips curled up in a smile, he walked around to the passenger's side of the car and opened the door for her to get in.

"Thank you," Ava said as she entered the car. Mason nodded in response, he helped her to close the door before getting in the car himself.

"So where do you live?" Mason asked her, even if he already knew her address. He didn't want her to think he was stalking her.

"Brooke's street, but you don't have to take me all the way there, you can drop me off at the next bus stop and I can catch a bus," Ava said.

Mason turned to look at her as he kicked start the car, "and why would I do that?" He asked her, Ava opened her mouth to speak but he said, "I'm going to make sure that you get to your place safely."

"You really don't have to...."

"I insist," They both locked eyes for a second before Mason looked away. "Would you want some music?" He asked her.

"No," Ava replied. She simply wanted to get to her apartment as soon as possible. Mason didn't say anything; he simply followed the instructions she gave him. She didn't want him to drive him to her house for several reasons, one of which was because of her neighborhood; she knew it would be dangerous for him to bring such a classy car as his to such a rough neighborhood as hers; he might get robbed, and she didn't want something bad to happen to him because he was helping her.

"So, do you mind telling me what happened to you?" Mason asked, breaking the silence.

"It's nothing," Ava said.

Mason looked at her briefly before focusing on the road. "I would like to know, what was the nothing that happened?"

"I tripped in the bathroom," Ava knew that was a silly lie, what sort of bathroom fall would give her so many bruises? But that was the first thing that came to her head and she hoped he bought it.

"Hmm," was all Mason said. She knew he didn't believe her, but she didn't care. There was no way that she was about to tell him that she was robbed.

"Sorry about that," Mason finally said.

"Thanks," Ava replied.

They both didn't say anything again until they got to Ava's place.

"We are here," Mason said. Ava was waiting to see any form of judgment from him for the kind of place that she lived, but there was none. His face gave out nothing about what he thought.

"Thank you for driving me back."

"It's my pleasure," Mason said. He stepped out of the car and came to open her door for her.

"Thanks," Ava said.

"I could walk you to your door," Mason offered as he looked around her neighborhood.

"I'm good," Ava replied.

Mason slipped his right hand into the pocket of his trousers and brought out a card that he handed to Ava.

"This company is hiring; why not give them a call?"

"I do have a job," Ava said wondering why he would be offering her a Job.

"I know, but just in case you decide to change jobs," Mason still held out the card for her.

"Why....?" Ava asked, wondering why he was trying to help her.

"Why what?" Mason asked her, even though he knew what her confusion was about.

Ava looked at the card in his hand, and decided to collect it from him without arguing, "good night," she said.

"Goodnight Ava," Mason waited by his car until she entered her apartment and her light turned on before getting into his car and driving away.

On his way out of Ava's neighborhood, Mason's phone rang.

"Mason, where the hell are you?" His younger brother Jason said.

"Is there a problem?" Mason asked him.

"We were supposed to have dinner with dad this evening, and you didn't show up," Jason said.