Two

         Mason sat at his desk wondering what his problem was. He didn't want anything to do with that crazy woman but his hands were itching to grab the remote and turn on the TV so he could watch her interview. Never in his thirty two years had he met someone so brazen. She said and did things without a second thought. He'd asked the woman he first thought was Miss Becker why they had swapped clothes and the answer he'd gotten had surprised him.

Apparently the real Miss Becker had found them talking about not having anything to wear to a date and she'd offered her dress. Who in this day and age did that? The rich and famous people he knew didn't behave that way. They donated money to various charities. They didn't swap dresses. Especially expensive, designer ones. As if that wasn't enough, she'd offered that girl a job in case he fired her. Which was the only reason he hadn't fired her. Because he didn't want to give in to that demented woman.

In the last twenty four hours he'd done things he'd never thought he would ever do. First, he should have fired that employee but he didn't. Second, he had actually gone to the internet to look up Miss Becker. Something he'd never done before. What was more surprising was that every time he saw a photo of her with a another man, he felt irked. Why would he feel that when she meant nothing to him? And why did he resent her lifestyle so much?

She had no sense of self preservation. Her life was splattered all over the internet. He was sure that he could find her number and address if he looked hard enough. She was the complete opposite of him. He preferred privacy while she wasn't afraid to tell the world what she was doing every hour of everyday. A woman like that, how could she think that there could ever be something between them? Her kind of opposite didn't attract his kind.

But even so, he still hadn't been able to get her off his mind. He'd gone through most of her photos especially the ones she did in bikinis and lingerie like a fifteen year old. And hours later, he was considering turning on the television to watch her interview. Him. Mason Adler who had never watched or read anything that wasn't business related in his life. He was contemplating on watching a stupid interview. What was wrong with him?

"Get your head on straight Adler" he told himself closing the tab of Evangeline Becker and slamming his laptop shut. In his attempt to purge her from his mind, he grabbed the papers in front of him only to find that they were her bio info. He'd asked Jack, his assistant, to bring them to him because he'd felt that it was his fault for not recognizing such a famous person.

In all honesty, he hadn't had time to read up on her. He'd been swamped with work all week and he barely had time to make it to that meeting. It was also a blow to realize that she been right about him not taking the publishing company seriously. To him, that was his father's hobby. It didn't even bring in half the money his other businesses did. That's why he didn't pay attention to it. The fact that she made him feel guilty about it was infuriating. He liked his life the way it was before meeting that crazy sexy woman.

"Screw it. Ten minutes tops" he told himself turning on the TV. From the looks of it, the interview had just started.

"Tell us more about your new book" the anchor asked.

"It's a romantic comedy. You all know that whatever genre I decide to write there will always be a little romance. That's a given"

"And we love it. Your ability to make us laugh, cry, love. It's amazing Eva"

"Thank you. I always try to make it realistic unless it's a fantasy novel and then I really don't know how far I can go"

"Speaking of fantasy novel, there are rumors about Love me being the first book in a series. Is that true?"

Eva laughed "If it were I wouldn't say anything. My agent is already demanding more books from me. I can't afford to even give her a hint that I have other ideas"

"Okay darling, we won't pressure you. Just take your time"

"You will be the first to know if there will be a second book or not. If and this is a big if, I happen to turn Love Me into a series, I would make sure to write all of them before releasing them. I hate waiting for a whole week for an episode so I wouldn't make you guys wait a year or two for another book"

"That's why we love you. You're so considerate"

"Oh please, don't flatter me. My ego is already about to burst"

"Okay, then. Let's move on to your love life. Normally, we always know who you're dating but this time around you've been quiet. Are you taking a break?"

"I haven't found the one yet. Why would I take a break?"

"Does this mean there's someone special?" Mason realized that if he didn't want to hear more, he should have stopped there. If she happened to ask, he'd just mention a thing or two about the interview so she wouldn't call him a snob again. But he couldn't take his eyes off her. The way she laughed made him want to be the reason she was laughing. It didn't even cross his mind that he was planning on seeing her even though he'd promised to keep a distance from her. He was too busy waiting for her answer about her love life.

"Yes. There is someone special"

"Who?" he asked just as the anchor asked "Care to tell us about him?"

"I don't know. This one is kind of special and I want to keep him to myself"

"I never thought you were the kind of person who held back. I'm surprised"

"Are you teasing me?" Eva asked pretending to be mad. It annoyed Mason that he found it cute and jealous at the same time. She'd never defended anyone or tried to shield them from the public. Why start now? Who was so special that she wanted she protect him? 

"No, please tell us who he is. The more you try to hide him, the more we are dying to find out"

"Okay, all I can say is that he's handsome, successful and really hot"

"Could you narrow it down so we can have guesses? This suspension is killing us"

"Can't a girl have some privacy?"

"If that girl is you, then no. We just want to see you happy, so tell us who this mystery man is" the anchor was good. Mason had to give her that. She wished Miss Becker happiness while trying to pry into her private life. Even he himself wanted to know who that man was. Suddenly he understood why people liked watching this kind of things. They were meaningless but for a while, they allowed you to get immersed in someone else's life, completely forgetting your own.

"Fine. He's also a snob" Eva said then turned and looked at the camera. Feeling as if she was looking at him, Mason grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. He realized that it was too hot and stood up loosening his tie.

"Is the AC broken?" he asked himself heading to the corner where the fridge was. As he was opening it, he remembered the way she looked in just her underwear and heels. She'd gotten undressed in front of him as if it was something she did everyday. How could she do that? And why hadn't he turned away? Taking a bottle of water, he guzzled it down thinking that he had to keep his distance from her. He'd met her once and already she was driving him insane.

Carrying some of his work, he decided to go home early. That was the one place he knew she couldn't invade because she'd never been there. What was happening to him was just temporary. Tomorrow he would wake up and forget everything about that woman. He had no time for her unless she wanted to publish her book with him. Looking forward to a quiet night, Mason stepped out of the lift in his apartment building and froze mid-step. There at the door, were his parents, waiting for him.

"You're finally home. What took you so long?" his mother asked when she saw him.

"How did you find me?"

"We threatened to bury Jack alive if he didn't tell us" his father replied smiling.

"Why won't you guys let me settle down?"

"Are we holding you back?"

"Yes. Every time you show up at my door I want to move to a new place where you won't find me but you keep showing up and making me move so I don't have time to settle down"

"Shut up and open the door. I need to use the bathroom"

"Seriously, I'm going to build a fortress with an electric fence"

Pushing him aside, his father said "That will be even better son. The harder you make it for us the more fun it is. Right honey?"

"If I so much as find a drop of pee in your pants you'll do laundry for the entire month"

"Mom!" Mason exclaimed walking inside. This was why he kept avoiding his parents. They didn't care if he was around or not. They were too open for his liking. You'd think after growing up with them he would have gotten used to their openness but that wasn't the case. The more he understood how relationships worked, the more embarrassed he became.

"What? Did you have dinner? I need to hurry before Eva's interview"

Mason froze "What?"

"Eva B. She's a writer and I love her books. I wish you would meet someone as lively as her. That way you would stop being such a grouch"

"I am not a grouch and her interview was over an hour ago"

"Oh no, really? I told your father to come tomorrow but he wouldn't listen. Now I'll have to wait until the weekend to watch a rerun. Oh honey why didn't you record it for.... Wait a minute, did you watch it?"

Fuck!

"What are you talking about?"

"The interview. Did you watch it? How do you know it was over?"

"I'm going to my room. Make yourself at home" he said turning around to go up the stairs but his mother moved in a flash and blocked his way.

"You never watch anything other than business news. Why did you watch that interview? Are you perhaps interested in that lovely girl? Tell me son, do you like her? I know someone who can get in touch with..."

"Jesus mom, stop it. I'm not interested in anyone and even if I were, you would be the last person to know"

"Is that so?" she asked placing her hands on her waist and cocking her head to study him closely. Knowing he was about to get caught in his lie, he stepped aside and rushed up the stairs. His parents didn't know the meaning of the word boundaries. They pried and pried until they found out the truth. It was one of the reasons he kept moving. Thank God he hadn't brought a woman home or they would have been planning a wedding at that moment.

When he realized what he was thinking about he stopped. Since when did he bring women home? His mother intruded in his life as it was, why would he want to bring another woman in to the mix? Most importantly why was he thinking about that crazy woman? Had he gone insane? He must have. Otherwise why would he think about someone he disliked someone much? No. That shouldn't be it. He shouldn't feel anything towards her. Whether it was like or dislike, it shouldn't be there. He wanted nothing to do with her.

"Then stop thinking about her dammit!" he yelled at himself kicking his bedroom door close. But it was all in vain because ten minutes later, he was lying in bed going through her photos online "What's gotten into me? What kind of spell did you put on me that I can't stop thinking about you Evangeline?" he continued looking at her photos for a while longer. He must have fallen asleep because the next time he opened his eyes, his mother's face was inches away from his. Since it was something she did all the time, he sighed and asked "What?"

"Nothing. It's just that I can't believe you came from me and your father. You're so weird"

"I'm the weird one? Are you sure the hospital didn't make a mistake and give you the wrong baby?"

"You were born at home. Remember?"

"Right. Can you get off me? I need to go the bathroom"

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"No. Why are you asking?"

"Because you always need to use the bathroom whenever you're trying to hide things from me. Whatever it is, just tell me. I'm your mother and I will accept you the way you are"

"What is it now? What did you find?"

"Your phone. You were looking at Eva's photos before you fell asleep. Any man would be having a sex dream about her but you didn't have any reaction. I've been watching you all this time and there was nothing. Not even a slight twitch"

"Oh God" he pushed her away groaning.

"I don't get it Mace. How can you not be attracted to her? She's sexy and the photos you were looking at were provocative. How are you not turned..."

"Stop right there mom!"

"What? Do you have any problems with your....."

"No, no, no. There is nothing wrong with me. I am perfectly fine so please stop asking"

"I am your mother who gave birth to you and changed your diapers. There's nothing I haven't seen so stop being so shy"

Mason closed his eyes and hissed in a breath then asked "Why did you come into my room? Did you want something?"

"To tell you that dinner is ready. Let's go before your father comes looking for us"

"You go on ahead, I'll be right down"

"Don't take too long" she said over her shoulder. He waited until she was gone then collapsed on the bed wondering how he'd lived all his life like that. Had she always been so intrusive? She expected him to tell her everything as if he was still a teenager. And even if he was that open, shouldn't he be talking to his father about these things?

"At this rate I'll end up in a mental hospital within the week" he murmured to himself getting up. While he always liked the food his mother prepared, there was always a price to pay when she was around. Chances were he would wake up tomorrow and find his furniture rearranged or the house painted a bright color. According to her, he lived a very dull life. His grey and black decor represented his life which his mother was determined to change.

"How long are you guys planning on staying?" he asked pulling a seat opposite his mother. It went without saying that every time his father was around, be it in his house or out, he would sit at the head of the table.

"I don't know. Your house needs a woman's touch and your fridge is empty. I don't like it when you order food from outside so maybe two or three weeks?"

Mason dropped his fork with a clutter "Three weeks? How old do you think I am mom?"

"Not old enough to take care of yourself. Clearly, I have to stay and do some things for you"

"Dad..."

"Enough Isla-louise. Stop terrorizing your son. We'll be gone tomorrow. Don't worry"

"Tomorrow is too soon. I still have to cook him this week's meals. You know how he is"

"I'll hire a chef if that's what you're worried about"

"A chef? Are you saying that you'd rather..."

"We had a big client at the publishing house today dad. She's been a New York bestseller ever since she was sixteen" he said cutting his mother off. If he could divert her attention to something else then she wouldn't worry about what he ate or how he slept.

"Really? Who is she? Did she agree to publish her books with us? Don't let someone like her go son. Show her that we can do a better job than other publishers. Make her feel at home so she wouldn't want to leave"

"Too late. I think I messed up. I didn't even know who she was"

"Then apologize sincerely. Buy her flowers and dinner and show her how sorry you are. Even if she decides not to publish with us, you would have shown her your sincerity. Don't do things that will make you have regrets my boy. Life is too short"

Well, there was something he could never complain about. And that was the fact that he had loving parents. Not once had his father scolded him or lashed out when he did something wrong. It was always a piece of advice. When other kids were scared of what their fathers would do to them if they failed, Mason went home confidently, knowing that instead of a reprimand, he would be getting encouragement. Maybe that was why he'd turned out to be the man he was today. Confident, arrogant and carefree. He knew that if he didn't take care of the publishing company then all his father would tell him was it was okay. As long as he'd done his best then it was okay.

But was it really okay to let Miss Eva go?

More importantly, why was he looking for an excuse to see her again?

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