These thoughts don't die

Chapter Nine

Emily

I stared at the machines, almost rusty and old, I turned them on and they were as loud as the last time  I came here, before my father passed away. 

I turned it off and turned to face Mason, he was standing beside me, a clipboard in hand, patiently waiting for my next move.  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

"I think we are done for now," I avowed.

"Are you sure Miss Emily?" Mason asked, his face filled with concern. 

I gave him a warm smile that reached my eyes. " Yes Mason that would be all for today and," I paused moving close to him." You can address me as Emily, enough with the formalities."

Mason nodded curtly, his demeanor calm and respectful. " Anything you say, Emily, I hope tomorrow is better."

"I hope so too Mason," I agreed, walking to the door.

Mason followed behind me. "Don't be discouraged by the turn-up today, hopefully, your uncle Robert will have time to set things up."

I smiled and turned like I had just received inspiration from above. " Yes, I hope so too, and also, your salary will be discussed later on, sorry I didn't remind him when he was around."

"It's all good Emily,"

I smiled and let out a sigh, still angry at my uncle, the acting CEO for not carrying out his deities properly. He was supposed to make sure I was well received and also to ensure the company was in order but instead, he and his executive team members had avoided today's meeting entirely. 

I knew he was a busy man and carrying the company matters on his head can be strenuous but first impressions mattered a lot, at least to me. 

Something in me felt like he was testing my patience or trying to get me angered on purpose, but whatever that feeling was I wouldn't succumb to it. 

I would handle it with a strong resolve and not let him succeed in seeing me break.

Mason glimpsed at his watch. "Let's call it a day then. Ready to head out?"

"Yes Mason," I said, breathing in then letting it out slowly, feeling the anger fade away slowly. "Let's hit the road 

*

*

*

The drive back home was quiet. The company chauffeur steered through the busy city streets of New York City with expertise yet ease, while Mason and I sat in the backseat. 

The lights from the billboards flashed on his face as we passed and he leaned back looking into the window glass, I could tell he had a lot on his mind.

 We stopped in front of his apartment first. Mason reached for the door handle then he paused for a while. He turned to me with a soft smile on his face." Good night Emily. Remember not to overthink things, it's not worth it, okay?"

I swallowed hard trying so hard to respond with my usual professionalism, but my gaze caught his, they carried so much passion and fire and it lingered on for a moment too long that I felt it would look awkward.

My eyes scanned his face slowly, I started with his dark eyes that carried so much warmth and lust then I progressed to his pointed nose and high cheekbones and finally rested on his lips, they were thin and pink, so succulent that I was tempted to move forward to kiss them softly but I had to control myself and stop lusting over my employee. "Thank you, Mason, good night," I managed to say, my voice softer than I planned.

He winked at me then stepped out of the car and closed the door. I watched him through the window, he turned back before waving at me for the last time, and then he disappeared into his building.

"You can continue driving," I commanded, still staring at the building wondering why I was feeling this way around him.

*

*

*

When I arrived home, the lights at the entrance hall were dimly lit and the familiar scent of lavender wafted through the air. Miriam, our housekeeper, greeted me at the door.

"Good evening Miss Emily, welcome home. "

"Evening Miriam, where is my mom?"

 "She is in the living room Maam,"

"Thank you," I said, taking off my high heels and carrying them in my hands then I made my way inside. I found my mother seated gracefully in her wheelchair with a novel in her hands. She looked up at me as soon as I entered, her smile instantly calming my restlessness and anger.

"Hi, Mom," I said, setting my heels down on the tiled floor.

"My baby, how was your day?" she asked, gesturing for me to sit beside her.

I sank into the seat, letting out a long sigh. "It was... exhausting, nothing much happened thanks to Uncle Robert."

"Tell me all about it, darling!"

" Uncle Robert and the executive team weren't ready to meet with me today. I spent hours at the factory reviewing operations, but without Robert, I couldn't finalize anything about the salary of my new employee Mason."

Esther tilted her head backward observing me,  concern written all over her face. " How is Mason?"

"He is fine, I dropped him off at his apartment."

Esther nodded, taking my hands in hers and squeezing them lightly. " I know you are angry and disappointed," she said looking into my eyes. "But I want you to know it is not unusual. When your father first started the company he encountered similar challenges not with Robert but with nonchalant people, they didn't share his vision, but they could see the promises and future of white nova robotics, and he would come back from work exhausted and thinking up."

"Wow! Is that so?" I asked in curiosity. I had always imagined my father Owen, had everything in order, I pictured him as someone perfect, confident, and unshakable.

" Oh yes!"Esther said with a small chuckle. "He struggled with so many things, the board members didn't trust him at all. He wasn't rich and White Nova hadn't gone viral so he didn't have people's trust, that was his little beginning he didn't let their lack of faith in him stop him. Instead, he worked harder, learned faster, and eventually proved himself, take a good look at White Nova Robotics, one of the big companies in New York, the company you would take over soon, he left his legacy for us  before the cold hands of death snatched him from us."

Her words pierced deep into my heart like a knight's sword, and  I felt a little bit of encouragement. " So you think I should keep working hard?"

"Yes baby, don't give up now, disappointment is a part of growth, Emily. If you never face disappointment and challenges how will you know how to handle them?"

I nodded slowly, her words sinking in. " I've heard you, thank you so much, Mom. I needed to hear that."

She smiled, squeezing my hand lightly. "You're a strong and smart girl, Emily. It's only a matter of time before you get the hang of it."

I smiled at her," I think I will go upstairs and take a cold bath. It's been a long day."

"Go ahead, love," she said. " That's the spirit!"

*

*

I walked into my room, dropping my heels to a corner as I began to peel off the layers of my workday clothes, leaving me bare and naked. 

I slipped into a blue night robe and walked into the bathroom, taking the robe off. I began to pour into the warm water a bottle of lavender-scented bath oil.

Immediately I sank into the water, and my tension and anger dissolved completely. I allowed the warmth of the water to cool my brain, soothing away the stress of the day.

Just when I thought I had gotten over the frustration of today, my mind drifted back to the factory, the moment I was alone with Mason.

How Mason had been by my side encouraging me never to give up.

The story my mother told me about my father struggling and having no one stand by his side during his little beginning touched me, and suddenly I was grateful for Mason and my mother.

Especially Mason, he never for once acted like he was tired of me. Even when I was fuming with anger he was calm and quiet allowing me to think and evaluate things.

And then the way he looked at me tonight just before he said goodbye. There was something about his gaze, something that made me wet.

I leaned my head back against the edge of the tub, shutting my eyes. Mason's voice echoed in my mind and head:

Don't overthink things, he said. 

There was something in his tone that made it sound sexy and lustful, and then a frown crept onto my face when I remembered how Miss Kim was outrightly flirting with him in my presence.

Mason was hot and handsome, it was hard not to fall in love with him.

He was older and more experienced. Even though I had never been with a man before I had always fantasized that the first man I would give myself to would be an experienced man who was good with his hands.

Mason looked like he was experienced, I didn't know when I began to caress my breasts already feeling my nipples harden at the thoughts of his lips and gaze, my fingers trailed down my chest down to my thigh.

Was I lusting over my employee?