)

Grayson had just about settled into the booth when he was gently stirred from his light nap once more. This time, he found himself leaning on Alison, who was already wide awake. She had Mason's book in her hand, flipping through its pages, humming softly.

His eyes snapped open, and he quickly shifted away from Alison, putting a few inches of distance between them, now fully alert. He hadn't meant to doze off again, especially not so close to her.

His movement startled Alison, causing the book to slip from her hand and land on the table with a soft thud. 

A short, awkward pause hung in the air before Alison's laughter, like a sweet melody, filled the space between them. Grayson felt his cheeks flush and instinctively tilted his head to conceal his embarrassment. "How long was I out?" Grayson's voice, although serious, wavered slightly as he asked.

Alison's blue eyes slowly found their way to Grayson's. "Just long enough," was her answer, as she leaned back into the sofa.

Before Grayson could voice his concerns, Cora returned to their table with trays of food. She placed plates of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon in front of Grayson and Alison. "Sorry for the delay," she apologised. 

Following Cora came Gabriel, Rupert, and...Mason. Gabriel and Rupert were dressed in their typical grey and black suits, while Mason sported an oversized white t-shirt and long blue jeans, his light brown hair was tousled like he'd just rolled out of bed. 

"Why is he here?" Alison's voice was remarkably calm, the question seemed to be targetted for all 3 of them. 

"If a well-known author suddenly ends up in jail for his fraudulent writings, it would cause quite a stir, not just in Boston, but all over America," Rupert decided to answer as he took a seat beside Cora with Mason and Gabriel following suit. "I mean, your latest book help make it to number one on the charts," he said with a half-smile, seemingly pleased with his pun.

Rupert wasted no time, helping himself to a plate piled high with sausage and bacon, taking a hearty bite. With his mouth full, he turned to Grayson and Alison, encouraging them to join in.

"I'm not hungry," she replied and you could hear her tiredness.

Rupert, insistent, pushed a plate of fluffy pancakes towards her. "Eat," he urged, though it came across as somewhat forceful.

"He's right, Alison. You need some food," Cora added, turning her attention to Grayson. "And you too, Grayson," she said, pushing a plate of pancakes in his direction.

A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by Rupert's munching down his bacon. 

Grayson sensed a sudden vibration in the sofa, and he quickly realized that Alison's agitated leg was the cause. She was clearly irritated or frustrated, and he took a moment to study Alison's expression. 

She looked tired, but there was something more – she bit down on her bottom lip, as if holding back a flood of words, and her eyes glistened, on the verge of tears. It was clear she had a lot on her mind and sought not just for answers, but for closure.

Without drawing any attention or thinking twice, Grayson's hand found its way under the table and gently rested it on Alison's bare leg, putting an end to the vibrations. His thumb moved with deliberate tenderness, tracing soothing circles against her thigh.

Grayson cast a sidelong glance at Mason, only to find Mason's eyes already locked onto his. Then, Mason's gaze flickered toward Grayson's side - his left arm to be precise. 

Instead of withdrawing his hand, Grayson decided to have some fun/payback. He slowly moved his hand down to Alison's knee, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake. Alison shifted slightly and stole a quick glanced at Grayson's direction, which caught Mason's attention. Grayson continued and dragged his hand back up to Alison's thigh. His fingers gently fiddled with the edge of her pants, tracing over the rim. He knew he should stop, but the temptation to provoke Mason was too irresistible to resist.

Suddenly, Alison's fingers found their way to Grayson's hand, wrapping around his in a gentle, fleeting touch. Her delicate fingertips traced the lines and contours of his hand, sending a subtle jolt of electricity through him. Her palm pressed gently against his, their fingers intertwining briefly.

But just as quickly as it had begun, Alison released her grip, her fingers slipped away leaving a fleeting warmth in their wake. From the corner of his eye, Grayson caught a glimpse of a faint blush that coloured her cheeks, her blue eyes avoiding his in a bashful manner.

Grayson withdrew his hand, inwardly chiding himself for his impulsive action. He silently hoped that Gabriel, Cora, and Rupert hadn't observed anything unusual. Though he knew their interaction remained hidden beneath the table, he couldn't be certain about Mason, who always seemed to have his own thoughts.

His silver eyes shifted toward Mason, who wore a subtle but unmistakable frown. Mason's brown eyes took on a deeper, more intense hue that hinted at jealousy. It was precisely the reaction Grayson had aimed for, and Mason was aware of it too. What added to the satisfaction was Mason's knowledge that Grayson knew he wouldn't take any overt action; the situation with Mason and Alison was a losing game. Accepting this reality, Mason leaned back against the sofa and shut his eyes.

"As Rupert said, "Help" skyrocketed to fame, becoming a bestseller and putting Mason in the spotlight. Sending him to jail is a complex issue." Gabriel, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, finally spoke up. "However, the primary purpose for Mason being here, rather than jail, is to provide us with the passphrase necessary to access 'The Social Contract'." Gabriel's gaze flicked briefly toward Grayson before settling back on Alison. Grayson inwardly exhaled a sigh of relief, thankful that Gabriel hadn't divulged the fact that Grayson had located and provided the contract to them.

"I can assure you, Alison, I've tried everything, and I mean everything, to get Mason to speak," Rupert snorted like a pig, looking up from his plate, before resuming his enthusiastic consumption of a greasy sausage.

"We're giving Mason one last chance," Cora interjected, her tone resolute. "If he doesn't cooperate and provide the passphrase, then we'll have no choice but to let the authorities handle it from here."

Cora shifted her focus toward her bag, retrieving a bundle of papers and a laptop. "Alison, I want you to know that Hudson and William managed to secure your records and personal files. With these, there is a slight possibility that you can regain your freedom, or at the very least, reclaim your identity once I submit them to the authorities." She paused, her brow furrowing. "It's rather perplexing how the authorities haven't detected the disappearance of your records. It strongly suggests that Mason might have some influence within the government, so we need to be incredibly cautious."

Alison remained calm or tired, and seemed unfazed by everything. "Mason is a wild card, and we can't predict his reactions. That's why we can't be prepared for any scenario," she sighed. "Our main focus shouldn't necessarily be exposing him, but rather nullifying the contract as if it never existed."

Grayson's eyes widened slightly at Alison's words. She was letting Mason win. She was willing to let Mason off the hook entirely. She seemed less concerned about him facing jail time, court proceedings, or losing income from her books. Her priority was her own freedom and the opportunity to start afresh, even if it meant Mason continuing his life unscathed. 

While part of Grayson understood Alison's desire for freedom and a clean slate, another part was troubled by the notion of Mason escaping the consequences of his actions.

"I am aware that Mason actions have caused immense harm, not just to me but potentially to others as well," Alison continued. "But as far as I'm concerned, Hudson hired you to terminate the Social Contract, and nothing more."

Rupert snorted dismissively. "Kids these days," he muttered, finishing off the last bit of bacon. "I appreciate your concerns, Alison, but let the adults decide whether Mason is a threat or not, and what happens to him."

Alison raised an eyebrow, exhaled deeply, and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not playing games, Rupert," her blue eyes bore into his, sharp and cold. "You don't even have concrete evidence against Mason. It's all circumstantial at this point-"

"And what about your books?" Rupert, never one to hold back his opinions, chimed in, his tone critical. "Mason's making millions, and you won't see a cent of it."

Alison blinked, momentarily confused by the shift in the conversation, before responding. "Mason's financial influence runs deep, especially within the government. Sending him to the authorities would be like offering him a get-out-of-jail-free card," she said, her eyes narrowing in confusion as if it was obvious. "Besides, Cora and Gabriel can confirm that Mason's wealth isn't as substantial as it seems. A significant portion of it goes into buying out the authorities." 

Alison's lips curled into a knowing smile as she leaned forward with confidence, relishing the moment of needling Rupert. "Why do you think I'm here? I'm the one making the money for him. I bet I make more in a month than all three of your salaries combined." Grayson sensed that she had more to say on why Rupert's argument was futile, and he silently concurred that it was unwise to attempt to outsmart her.

"And let's not forget, Mason underestimated me too, thinking he could control my life. Look where that got him." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Listening to me might just be the wisest decision you'll make, Rupert."

The room fell into a charged silence as Rupert's face turned several shades redder. He exchanged glances with Cora and Gabriel, seeking their support or rebuttal. Finally, Gabriel, who had remained mostly silent throughout the exchange, decided to speak up.

"Point Taken."