Chapter 12 Adeline
Adeline POV
It's really him. Any doubt I might have about him is quickly erased when his thin lips curl into his signature sneer whenever I say something he doesn't like or talk about my career ambitions. It's refreshing to see that he hasn't changed.
He smiles after he's done looking at me from head to toe. "Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in."
"Mason." I managed to be nonchalant around him his name ends up coming out in a choke when I see the possessiveness in his eyes that makes my skin crawl.
"Hello, Addie. You know, when I saw the name on the roster, I thought to myself that it couldn't possibly be you, but here you are. You did make it."
I ignore his jab to ask. "What are you doing here? You work here?"
"Senior Associate," he says, puffing out his chest. "Transferred in six months ago. My uncle pulled some strings. It’s all about who you know, right?"
Again, I wasn't surprised. Mason never worked for anything in his life. He just used people.
"I need a new mentor," I say, turning to leave. "I can't work with you."
"Ah, ah, ah." He moves quickly to block the doorway without touching me, but he’s close enough that I can smell his cologne, still too much. "You can't just request a transfer on day one, Addie. It makes you unprofessional."
"I don't care."
"You should." He leans in, lowering his voice. "I heard about your little scene with the big boss upstairs. Word is that you're already on thin ice with HR, you will only come across as difficult if you run to them about this, too, and that's a record you don't want." He smirks because he knows he's right, and I really hate it when he's right.
"Get out of my way, Mason," I say coldly.
"Feisty as ever." He steps back with a sick grin on his face. "This is going to be fun, Addie. Just like old times. I always told you that you needed someone to guide you. Now I get to do it professionally."
"I’m here to work," I say, walking past him to the far side of the table. "So give me my assignment."
"Right to business." He picks up a thick file and slides it across the table. "Review these merger documents. I want a summary of potential liabilities by tomorrow morning, and Adeline?
"Don't think you can ignore me this time, I'm your boss now."
I roll my eyes and get to work. The rest of the day is a nightmare.
Mason hovers around me, finding any silly excuse to come to my cubicle in the name of teaching me the protocols. At some point, he criticizes my typing speed.
By 6:00 PM, my head is pounding, and I’m this close to losing it. Most of the interns have already left, so the office is quieter.
I pack my bag, desperate to escape and get some air and freedom. Two things I knew my bike would do.
I head toward the parking garage with my keys in my hand when I hear my name.
"Adeline." Percy steps out from beside a sleek black Bugatti. He’s ditched the jacket, and his sleeves are rolled up to his forearms.
"Mr. Akilov," I say, glancing around to make sure we’re alone.
"Percy," he corrects. "We’re off the clock."
"Are we?" I hug my bag closer. "You’re still my boss. And after today..."
"Today was my fault." He admits, walking toward me. "I shouldn't have pulled you into my office like that. I lost my temper."
"You think?"
"I was hurt, Adeline." He stops a few feet away. "I thought you played me. Suddenly seeing you there after all these months really threw me off."
"I was protecting myself."
"I know," he says softly. "I want to start over. properly this time. No secrets. No assumptions."
"Percy, we can't. I’m an intern in your law firm. If anyone sees us..."
"Let them see," he says, though he keeps his distance. "But I’m not talking about here. I’m hungry, and I'm sure you haven't had anything to eat, so let me buy you dinner."
"Dinner? You want to go on a date? Now?"
"Not a date," he says quickly. "It doesn't have to be. I know a place where we can be alone."
I should say no, get on my bike, and ride until my brain shuts off, but the thought of going back to my empty apartment with Mason’s voice still in my head is unbearable, so I shrug.
"One hour," I say. "And we talk about everything."
"Deal." His beautiful smile transforms his face, and I get the urge to touch him. "Leave your bike. I’ll drive."
"I’m not leaving my bike."
"Fine, follow me."
He gets in his car, and I get on my bike. He stops in front of a small restaurant that I wouldn't notice in the day. It is a place where I can be with him comfortably. He gets us a booth in the back, and for the first time in two months, we are alone.
"So," he says after we order wine. "Corporate Litigation. How was your first day? Who’s your mentor?"
I freeze as I remember my situation at work. If I tell Percy that my mentor is my ex-boyfriend who also happens to be harassing me, he will fire Mason, damn the consequences. And he will cause a scene, too.
Mason wouldn't take it lying down, either. He would drag me down with him. He's not above revealing my secrets to spite me.
"It was fine," I lied, taking a sip of wine. "You know how boring first days can be."
We both know I'm lying, but thankfully, he doesn't push me.
"If you say so. Now, I want to talk about us."
"There is no us, Percy."
"There is," he takes my hands gently in his, and I feel the familiar spark between us. "We've always been an us since the first time we met. You know that, there's no need to run from this anymore."
"Okay," I whisper. "So what do we do?"
"We convince them," he says. "The parents, they have no reason to keep us apart, but we still need them to be on board."
"And the internship?"
"We keep it strictly professional inside the building, but outside of it, you're mine."
My heart skips a beat at his words. What he's describing is reckless, and it's everything I should avoid. It's even more dangerous with Mason's nosy ass all up in my business, but I can't bring myself to care because I want him, too.
"Okay," I say again. "Let's do this."
"Thank you for giving us a chance." He says and kisses my knuckles. I laugh genuinely for the first time in two months.
After that, we talk about the past and the future and everything else we can think of until we have to leave when the restaurant has to close.
"I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Volkov," he teases.
"Goodnight, Mr. Akilov," I reply.
He leans in and kisses me quickly and possessively before he pulls back before I can do something stupid like invite him back home with me.