So Close

The following morning when Mason came back to his place, his brother opened the door for him with a sorry look on his face.

"You punk!" Mason raised his hand to punch him in the face but Jason was quick enough to hold back his hand.

"Oh please don't," Jason said, holding Mason's fist before it could reach his face. "I'm sorry."

"You are sorry? Jason, you kicked me out of my apartment! I had to spend the night in a fucking hotel."

"You could have gone to grand....."

"Don't you dare tell me where I could have gone to! You have your own place why didn't you take your guest there?"

Mason angrily withdrew his fist from Jason's grip.

"Well, Daisy kicked me out," Jason said, taking a step backward for he feared Mason might try to hit him in the face again. He had a photo shoot later in the day, he couldn't afford a bruise on his face.

Mason looked like he was going to burst from anger, "you had a fight with your girlfriend, and you decided to go and hang out with another woman, and you thought it best to bring that woman to my house?!"

"She is no longer my girlfriend, I already broke up with her, but she doesn't want to come to terms with it, not to worry, I'm going to get my keys back from her," Jason said with determination as if Mason was supposed to applaud him for that decision.

"I don't care what you do. Just ha it at the back of your mind that next time this repeats itself, I'm going to report you to the police for burglary," Mason started to walk away.

Jason chuckled, "you can't mean that. I'm sorry bro, I didn't think it...."

Mason paused and turned to face him, "that's your problem Jason, you don't think! Next time....., There would never be a next time, can I have my keys back?" Mason demanded stretching out his right hand to Jason.

"But you gave them to me in case there is an emergency," Jason said not willing to give back the keys.

"Exactly! Emergency Jason, not for you to turn my place into a brothel!"

"Of course, it was an emerg....." Jason quickly swallowed his words when he saw the deadly look on Mason's face, this wasn't a time for jokes.

Seeing Jason wasn't ready to give him back the keys, Mason said, "you can keep the keys because I'm changing the locks. Again!" Mason stormed off to his bedroom to get ready for work.

"I'm making coffee, would you want some?" Jason called after him but Mason ignored him.

"There is something I would like to tell you about dad," Jason said. There was no response from Mason.

When Mason came out of his bedroom, ready to leave for work, Jason was in the living room holding two cups of coffee, he handed one to Mason.

"Thanks," Mason mumbled. He was still angry with him and making him a cup of coffee isn't going to grant him instant forgiveness.

"Deb called last night about dad," Jason said.

The moment Jason brought up their father, the coffee suddenly tasted bitter in Mason's mouth. He placed his cup of coffee on the coffee table between them.

"What about him?"

"She said, he suffered a heart attack last night and was taken to the hospital."

"All right," Mason said, his voice and expression void of any emotion.

"I'm going to see him at the hospital, wanna come?"

"No, you go ahead," Mason said shaking his head. "I have to leave for work," He picked up his briefcase to leave for work.

"He is still your father Mason," Jason said just before Mason opened the door to leave.

"Leave my keys with the security on your way out," was Mason's response before he shut the door.

As he got into his car he tried not to think about all that his father had done to him in time past and how that has affected their relationship. Their father has always loved Jason and while growing up he never failed to show that he preferred Jason to Mason.

Snapping out his thoughts, Mason turned on the radio in his car hoping to use it as a means of distraction as he didn't want to ruin his day with the thoughts of his dark past.

******

Ava sighed as she looked through her window and saw Mason's car arrive at the office premises. It was almost 9 o'clock, so she decided to go and make his coffee.

Mason had not yet arrived in his office when she brought the coffee, she was hoping to place it on his desk and sneak out before he comes in. But she wasn't quick enough as he walked in that moment.

"Good morning sir," Ava greeted him as Mason slowly walked closer to her closing the gap between them. He came and stood in front of her.

"I see you wore the pants. It looks good on you," he said, looking at her legs.

"Thank you," Ava nervously replied, she suddenly felt self-conscious. She wanted to leave, but Mason seemed to pin her to the spot with his eyes.

They both continued to stare at each other and then he said, "were you eating something before now?" Mason asked her.

"Um, ye... I was having my bre...." Ava found herself stuttering as he brought his right hand to her face, her cheeks blared with heat as his hand made contact with her skin.

Mason gently used his thumb to brush a tiny breadcrumb off the corner of her lips. "You had something there," he said.

"Th.... Thank you," Ava stuttered. She seemed to have lost her voice with him standing so close.

He still didn't move. Were his lips moving closer to hers or was she imagining it? Was he about to kiss her? Ava found herself moistening her bottom lip and she closed her eyes. But she quickly opened them when she heard the door open, and they both immediately moved away from each other.

Ava turned to find Nancy standing in Mason's office, starring daggers at her.

"Please excuse," she said to no one in particular before she quickly hurried out of the office.