Mason

“Ms. Hart. You’re late.”

I stood on the doorstep of the most prestigious hotel in London, staring into the deadly silver eyes of my boss, the mysterious billionaire Mason Campbell.

Like always, he looked like an angel fallen to hell in his perfectly-trimmed designer suit, his bulging muscles threatening to tear through the fabric.

Without so much as a hello, he turned and walked back inside, leaving me standing by the door with my heart threatening to explode.

I followed him inside to the living room, which was luxuriously furnished and had a magnificent view from the balcony windows.

I peered around the dark shadows of the room. In the month since I’d started working at Campbell Industry, I’d never been called to his private hotel room so late at night.

I half expected some goons to be waiting in the corner to put a bullet in my head and throw me in the Thames. But it appeared we were alone.

He turned to give me his signature icy, calculating stare. It was cold inside, but every part of me felt suddenly hot and sweaty.

“Sit down.”

I sat down reluctantly, perching on a sofa while Mr. Campbell stretched out with insolent ease in another chair.

Crossing his legs, he stared at me, and his fingers slowly drumming on his thigh made my stomach tighten.

I didn’t know what I expected when I came here.

It was bloody three in the morning!

Normally, if my boss tried calling me that early, I would happily ignore it, no matter what he wanted.

But my boss was Mason Campbell.

And you didn’t say no to Mason Campbell. Not if you wanted to live a long and happy life.

I inspected his face, hoping to find some clue as to why he brought me here.

“Do you drink, Ms. Hart?”

He stood up and poured himself a drink from a crystal tumbler.

“No,” I said, my mouth dry. I would have loved a drink, but I had a weird feeling this was some kind of test. And if I failed, I would probably never see the light of day again.

Despite my answer, he poured me one anyway.

He brought it over to me and slammed it down on the table in front of me.

Then, instead of returning to his chair, he sat down next to me on the couch.

I grabbed my glass and stared directly into it. But I could feel his silver eyes staring hard at me. He held his glass, but he never took a drink.

“Why do you think I hired you, Ms. Hart?”

My mind went crazy as the cold steel of his gaze penetrated me.

“I…I don’t know, sir.” I didn’t want to bullshit an answer.

Mason Campbell would see right through me.

But being honest didn’t exactly help me.

This man was used to being at the top. He was so powerful no one would dare anger him in any way. That meant that he was used to having smart and intelligent people around him.

I wasn’t sure if Mason hated liars or stupid people more.

“Why did you hire me, sir?”

He put his drink to the side, untouched, and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

I tried to ignore the bulge of his biceps through his shirt

I tried not to look at how it was unbuttoned, and it gave me a peek at his muscular chest.

“I’m asking the questions tonight,” he said sternly.

I took a sip and swallowed hard, choking on the bitterness of the alcohol.

“Do you have a husband, Ms. Hart?” he asked me.

“Answer me,” he pressed. “I don’t have all night.”

“No,” I said, “I’m not married.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.

I could feel my heart racing faster and faster.

“No,” I said again.

“How about a lover?” he asked.

“Mr. Campbell. This is…this is getting very personal,” I stammered.

“Yes or no,” he said, leaning closer to me until I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“No,” I finally said, my voice shaking.

“Very good,” he said.

“So I can assume that you are fully committed to your work,” he continued.

“You’ve made sure of that,” I shot back.

“Well, you’re about to get a lot more committed,” he said.

“What does that mean?”

He stood suddenly, and as he walked away from me, I was finally able to breathe for the first time since I got to his room.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“I have a proposition for you, Ms. Hart. One which you cannot refuse.”

“Take me to Campbell Industry, please.”

The taxi driver’s face went pale and he looked at me like I was a crazy person. What? Did I say something weird?

“Are you sure you want to go there?”

“Yes…I work there.” I looked at the clock. I didn’t want to be late.

“Well, it’s my first day.” I looked at the clock again. “Is there a problem?”

“No! No problem.” He looked pale. “I’ll take you there right away ma’am.” He hurried to pull onto the road, and I could see him trying to sneak glances at me in the rearview mirror. What, did I look weird?

I fidgeted with my hair and tried to smooth out the creases in my skirt. I couldn’t afford to look sloppy on my first day. Especially not at Campbell Industry. It was a miracle I even got the job. I just applied to any high paying job, hoping to get lucky. I barely felt qualified even for the low-level marketing position I had applied for.

But I was desperate. I yawned, triple checking that my concealer was hiding the bags underneath my eyes. Having nightmares every night was normal for me now.

My father’s condition was worsening, and his medical bills were stacking up on my kitchen counter. I needed this job, even if it meant working for the most powerful and dangerous man in the UK.

Mason Campbell.

A shiver ran through me as I thought of my new boss. All I knew about him were the rumors. The most influential man in all of England. Some people say that it was really him, and not the prime minister that ran the country. That he was more powerful and rich than even the royal family.

Well, I was just going to be working in marketing.

Maybe I’d never see him.

“Here we are, ma’am,” the taxi driver said.

I looked out the window, confused. We were still a full two blocks away from the building.

“This is as close as I’m allowed to get ma’am, sorry.”

Seriously? I guess I would have to walk the rest of the way. I got out of the taxi and it immediately turned around, tires squealing on the road as it sped away.

I gulped, my heart pounding in my chest. If I was smart I would probably do the same thing. Just run away from Campbell Industry and never look back.

But I couldn’t. Not when I was the only one my dad could rely on.

I walked towards the massive office building, craning my neck up to see the top. I had an interview over the phone, so this was my first time here. The place looked like any other corporate skyscraper, but there was a strange, ominous feel to it. Like if I walked in through those doors I’d never come back out…

It’s just a normal building.

No biggie.

I walked past a security checkpoint, stone-faced guards eyeing me as I walked past. The lady that interviewed me made sure that I knew to keep my company ID badge clearly visible around my neck. I suppressed a shiver at the thought of what those guards would have done to me if I forgot.

I hesitated outside of the spinning doors to the building.

I took a deep breath and walked in, to find…a normal looking office. The lobby was luxuriously decorated, and obviously no expense was spared to make the place look amazing. It belonged to the richest man in England, after all. But there were no torture racks, no screaming, bloody people, no group of goons waiting to kidnap me. Just a bunch of well-dressed business people going about their morning.

I sighed with relief as I walked towards the receptionist.

She was a redheaded woman, dressed elegantly in blue.

Her hazel eyes sized me up, her expression filled with pure distaste.

“Excuse me?”

She stared at me as if I were a dimwit. “Are you sure you didn’t steal that ID badge from someone else?”

She didn’t think I belonged here. How dare she! I wanted to punch her in the face, but it probably wasn’t a good idea to get into trouble on my first day.

“I’m Lauren Hart. A new hire,” I said, plastering a fake smile to my face. “Marketing.”

She raised a perfect eyebrow, sizing me up again. “Twentieth floor. Good luck,” she mocked.

“Thanks,” I said drily, walking towards the elevators. What a twat.

Looking around, I noticed something strange. My interviewer kept reminding me to keep my ID badge visible, but no one else in the building had one on them. When I got in the elevator I noticed some people even stopping and waiting for a different one when they saw me.

Was this some kind of hazing ritual for new people?

I hated this place already.

I took the elevator up to the twentieth floor alone. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was wrong.

I wanted to leave, but I knew I had to stay. This was the only job with a decent salary that I had been offered.

I was doing this for dad. I shouldn’t be thinking twice about working here.

The elevator doors opened to the twentieth floor. But instead of the marketing department, it was just an empty floor. Completely empty. No people, no furniture, no nothing. Just some pillars and some lights.

Did I press the wrong button? Nope, this was floor twenty. I tried pressing the button back down to the lobby, but it wouldn’t work. None of the buttons worked. The elevator just…turned off.

“Um…hello?” I called out. My voice echoed out onto the empty floor. There was no response. “Anyone here?”

I hesitantly stepped out of the elevator, looking to either side of me. Maybe there was a stairwell somewhere…

The elevator doors suddenly closed behind me, leaving me stranded. My heart was pounding in my chest and my knees began to shake.

“This isn’t funny!” I yelled out. “Hello? If you don’t let me out I’m going to call the police!” Still no response.

Before I could take a few steps I suddenly felt something cold press into the back of my head.

“On your knees,” a deep voice from behind me barked out. I froze, terrified. “Now!”

I practically collapsed onto the ground, scraping my knees against the concrete.

Was I going to die?

“I-I’m just here for my first day of work,” I stammered. “This is some kind of mistake—”

“Shut up!” he yelled.

I clamped my mouth shut, trying not to anger him. Tears blurred my vision, and the only thing I could think about was my dad, alone in the hospital room, his health getting worse and worse. He’d never know what happened to me.

He’d think I abandoned him, just like mom…

“Gideon, pick her up,” a new voice said. Footsteps echoed through the air as the newcomer approached from behind me. The terrifying man named Gideon hoisted me up and spun me around roughly, almost causing me to lose balance.

He pushed his gun to my temple, his finger on the trigger.

“Please,” I whispered. “I’ll do anything you want, just…” My voice faded away when I saw who was walking toward me.

His powerful pose was enough to force me to my knees, even without a gun to my head.

His broad, well-muscled chest rose and fell with his breath.

He was dressed in black from head to toe, wearing a suit that could barely contain his powerful arms.

His face was carved by the gods, with cheekbones that would make any man or woman jealous, a straight nose, and thick red lips.

And his eyes.

They were the most intense, yet cold eyes I had ever seen in my life.

He raked his fingers through his dark hair, his silver eyes ready to devour any poor soul stupid enough to glance his way.

His glare was fierce enough to wipe out the existence of mankind.

It was him. Mason Campbell. The most vicious, sexiest man alive.

“You’re a terrible spy,” he said, his voice rumbling like thunder before a storm. “You have ten seconds to tell me who you work for. Or I’m going to be the last person you ever see.”