Stay Out Of Trouble

Ava stood embarrassed as she watched Maddie argue with her boyfriend. If Rickie didn't give her his credit card why then did she take it, and then lied to her that he asked her to go shopping?

"I already told you, the shop has a no-refund policy," Maddie said when Rickie kept insisting that she returned the items they bought and get his money back. More person's attention was being drawn to them. Not being able to take the embarrassment anymore Ava grabbed the shopping bags from Maddie and took them back to the cashier.

"Please we would like to return these items," Ava said to the cashier.

She gave Ava a stiff smile, "I'm afraid that won't be possible, we have a no-refund policy."

"I understand, but there is a kind of issue with the credit card we used in paying for them, and so we need to get a refund. Besides we haven't even left the shop yet," Ava explained in her sweetest voice, trying to patronize the cashier.

Slowly shaking her head to the side, the cashier pointed her to the non-refund sign hanging at the entrance of the shop.

"Please, isn't there a way....." Ava trailed off when she noticed the shop security walking Maddie and her boyfriend out, because of the scene they were making. She grabbed the shopping bags and followed them outside.

Ava stood with the shopping bags in her hands as she watched Maddie and Rickie continue to argue in raised voices on the walkway. How did they get into this? How did they get here? What was Maddie thinking, taking Rickie's card without his consent?

"If I don't get my money this minute, I'm calling the police. I'm sure you both would like to explain to them what you were doing shopping with my credit card without my consent," Rickie threatened, his eyes conveying how serious he was.

"Oh please, you shut it. You cheat!" Maddie spat.

Rickie's face immediately conveyed guilt as Maddie called him a cheat.

"I want my money back," he said, his voice a bit lower now.

"Rickie, please calm down, I'm sure we can sort this out," Ava pleaded. Should he go ahead to call the police, they both would go to jail as what Maddie did was theft and Ava was an accomplice.

"Do you have my money?" Rickie asked, referring to Ava.

"No, but...."

"I'm calling the police then," Rickie started to type on his phone.

"Rickie please hold on... " Ava turned to look at Maddie for help but she didn't seem to care, her set, she called Rickie's bluff. What was wrong with her? Doesn't she realize the gravity of trouble she had placed them in?

"What is going on here?" Ava heard a familiar baritone voice say from behind her. The voice of the person she least expected to see here, the last person she would want to witness this. She slowly turned around and found him standing right in front of her, looking ruggedly handsome as always. He still had his office clothes on, just that he had discarded the suit, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone, slightly revealing the hard muscles of his chest. Ava swallowed hard as she took in the god in human form standing in front of her.

How come she didn't notice how good-looking he was at the office earlier? Could this night get any worse? Now she has to explain to her new boss the reason she and her friend are involved in an argument with Rickie. Credit card theft. Way to go Ava.

"Is there a problem?" Mason asked again.

"These two ladies stole my credit card and decided to go shopping with it!" Rickie spat.

Oh just perfect! Rickie knows how to hit the nail on the head. Now, her new boss thinks she is a thief, God help her if he doesn't sack her by morning.

"Leave Ava out of this, I'm the one who took your credit card," Maddie said to Rickie.

"But you both went shopping with it, you both planned to steal my card."

"Oh please, I didn't steal your card, I took it! And as far I'm concerned, It's very little compared to everything you've done to me," Maddie scoffed.

"You must be delusional if you think you deserve a penny from me, I want my money back or I'm calling the police."

"How much is it?" Mason asked.

"Two grand," Rickie replied. "What? Do you want to pay me the money? Who are you anyway?"

Ignoring his snide remark, Mason brought out his phone from his pocket and started typing on it.

"Your account details?" He asked Rickie.

"He really does want to pay," Rickie said with a chuckle.

"You shouldn't give him any money," Maddie said to Mason.

"Mason, you don't have to....." Ava didn't know how they were going to get out of the situation, but she didn't want Mason to pay. It's embarrassing enough that he had to witness this, now he wants to pay Rickie the money.

"Are you going to call out your account details or what?" Mason asked impatiently, in a firm voice.

Seeing he wasn't joking, Rickie called out his account details and Mason immediately wired the money to him.

"You ladies should thank this gentleman if not, you would have had your ass being dragged to jail tonight!"

"Is there something else the ladies owe you?" Mason's voice, a deep growl, as he stepped closer to Rickie staring him down, his height making Rickie look suddenly small.

"Are we good here?"

"Yeah, sure," Rickie chuckled nervously as he turned and scurried off.

"Are you ladies okay?" Mason asked both Ava and Maddie his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, thanks," Maddie responded. Ava slowly nodded her head.

"Thank you for giving him the money."

"Thank you," Maddie said as well.

"You're welcome. Come on, I will take you ladies home," Mason said.

That's it? He isn't going to ask why they stole Rickie's card? Ava wondered.

"Oh, that would be nice of you, thank you," Maddie said and she followed Mason to his car. It was either her brain was faulty or she took leave of it because Maddie was clearly acting like she wasn't using her brain.

"Um, no you don't have to bother, we will find our way," Ava said, she gave Maddie a side-eye.

"I insist on taking you ladies home," Mason said giving no room for further argument.

Mason held open the front door of his car for Ava and she reluctantly got in, while Maddie got in the back seat.

The ride to their place was a relatively quiet one, and when they arrived Maddie thanked Mason for his help before getting down leaving Ava in the car with Mason,

"I'm sorry, you had to see that, we didn't actually steal his card, it was all a misunderstanding," Ava explained to Mason.

"It's okay Ava, I understand," Mason said, no form of judgment in his voice.

"I would pay you back for...."

"You don't have to bother paying me back."

"No, I can't just allow you to....."

"I'm supposed to give you a shopping allowance when you start working for me, it's in the contract you were given. So consider this to be part of it."

"And what if I didn't use the shopping allowance to get office wears?"

"Well, it doesn't technically state that you must have to use the entire money on only office wears, so long you get the wears that you are required to put on at the office. And I know some office wears are in that bag," he pointed at the shopping bags Maddie carried to their apartment.

"How do you know that?"

His lips curled up in a smile, "I just know."

"Thank you, Mason, I don't...."

"It's fine Ava. See you at work tomorrow."

"Thank you," Ava said again before she got down from the car.

"And Ava?"

"Yes?"

"Do consider putting on the nude pants to work tomorrow, it suits you."

"How did you....?"

"Goodnight Ava."

Ava stood, with a confused look on her face.

"You should go inside, and don't forget to sign the contract."

"Good night Mason," Ava said, before walking inside her apartment, it was either Mason stalked her, or he was a magician to have known she bought nude pants.

Mason kept smiling as he watched her walk into her apartment. For once he was glad his brother had locked him out, if not he wouldn't have been able to save Ava and her friend tonight.

As Mason was about to drive away, he saw Maddie running towards his car.

"Is there a problem?" He asked after bringing the car to a stop.

"No. I just wanted to thank you for your help. I'm grateful for your help. And also to let you know that Ava had nothing to do with this, she had no idea I took my ex-boyfriend's card without his permission."

"It's fine."

"So, you aren't going to fire her?"

"No, I won't. But you have to promise me you would keep her out of trouble."

Maddie made a cross sign on her chest, "I cross my heart."

"Good."

"You were the one who paid for our meal weren't you?"

Mason didn't deny it, and neither did he affirm it. "Goodnight Maddie."

"You were also the one who paid for Ava's hospital bills," Maddie said smiling.

"What hospital bills?"

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, the other day at the hospital when I bumped into you....."

Suddenly recalling where he had met her before, Mason smiled, "oh, that was you."

"Yes, it was."

"Well, I'm glad I could be of help. Goodnight Maddie and do stay out of trouble."

"Goodnight Mason," Maddie said as she watched him drive away.