Chapter 83
Mason and Wendy
Wendy let out an exasperated sigh, crossing her arms as she watched the spectacle unfold before her. The set was a glittering fever dreamâlayers of tulle, shimmering backdrops, and an obscene amount of artificial fog swirling around the A-list actress posing in front of the camera. Dressed as Cinderella in a custom gown that probably cost more than Wendy's entire yearly salary, the actress batted her lashes and tilted her head just so, her delicate hands cradling a crystal slipper like it was the secret to world peace.
Mason, of course, was in his element. He paced around the set, camera in hand, calling out instructions in that smooth, easy tone that made people swoon over his artistic genius. "Give me more longingâlike you're waiting for your prince, but also... devastated. Yes, perfect!" He crouched down, snapped a few shots, then ran a hand through his hair, clearly pleased with himself.
Wendy barely held back an eye roll. The creative team had gone all out for this Verve shoot, pulling together the most extravagant fairy tale concept imaginable. Every actress was styled as a different Disney princess, each more dazzling than the last, dripping in designer couture and practically glowing under the expertly placed lights.
Meanwhile, Wendy was standing off to the side, feeling like an unwilling extra in a rom-com she never signed up for. She shifted her weight, watching as assistants flitted around adjusting the gown's train, reapplying lip gloss, and fluffing the actress's curls as if she were an actual royal about to attend a ball.
Another sigh escaped her lips. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
Mason suddenly frowned, turning to the set assistants. "We need more flowers. A lot more. I want it to feel like an enchanted garden just exploded."
The creative team immediately sprang into action, and before Wendy could slink further into the background, one of the other interns shoved a bundle of roses into her arms. She barely had a second to react before another set of hands piled delicate white peonies on top. With a resigned sigh, she joined the others in rearranging the set, tucking blooms into the already overflowing floral arrangements and weaving vines through the ornate gold railings framing the scene.
Mason stepped back, assessing the changes with a critical eye, then nodded approvingly. "Better. But let's layer in more depth. I want it to look like she's standing in a dream. Wendy, stand in the center, I need to adjust the light."
Wendy blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What?"
Mason was already waving her over impatiently. "Just stand thereâright in the middle. I need to test the lighting before we bring Emma back in."
With an exasperated sigh, Wendy trudged to the center of the set, arms still full of flowers. The soft glow of the overhead chandeliers bathed her in golden light, and the sheer layers of fabric draped around the scene made everything feel even more ridiculous.
Mason lifted his camera, squinting through the lens as he adjusted the settings. "Tilt your head a little. Noâless stiff. You look like you're being held hostage by roses."
Wendy huffed but did as he said, shifting her stance and loosening her grip on the flowers. Mason clicked the shutter a few times, then lowered the camera slightly, eyeing her with that sharp, assessing look he always got when he was in his element.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Wendy raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Mason smirked. "You actually photograph really well."
She scoffed, shifting her weight. "You're surprised that I'm not ugly?"
He ignored her, snapping another shot. "It's natural. You don't have that... 'I'm posing for Verve' stiffness."
Wendy rolled her eyes. "Great. So I have the natural awkwardness of an unpaid intern. Thrilled."
Mason chuckled, lowering the camera. "Don't sell yourself short. You would actually make the perfect Ariel....you have the touch of red in your hair."
Wendy froze for a second, caught off guard by the comment. Her hand instinctively went to a loose strand of her auburn hair, twisting it between her fingers. She wasn't a redhead exactly, but under the right lightâespecially the warm glow of the setâit did catch hints of copper.
She narrowed her eyes at Mason. "If this is some elaborate scheme to turn me into a last-minute replacement, it's not happening."
Mason smirked, lifting the camera again and snapping another shot before she could protest. "Relax, Little Mermaid. Just making an observation."
Wendy groaned. "Don't call me that."
He only grinned wider, clearly enjoying how flustered she was. "What? You don't want to be part of my world?"
She shot him a flat look. "I will throw one of these flowers at you."
Mason chuckled, finally lowering the camera, but there was something thoughtful in his expression as he studied her. "Still, it's funny. The whole anti-fairy-tale girl actually looking like she walked out of one."
Wendy shook her head, stepping out of the center of the set. "Yeah, well, if I ever start singing to birds and combing my hair with a fork, do me a favor and shoot me."
Mason let out a laugh as he scrolled through the photos. "Deal. But for the recordâyou'd make a great Ariel."
She rolled her eyes again, but this time, she felt the smallest tug of a smile at the corner of her lips.
"And just like Ariel, you have no voice to advocate for yourself," Mason said as wendy walked past him, his voice low enough for just the two of them.
Wendy paused, her heart stumbling and her throat tightening. Her gaze sharped as she turned toward him.
"Excuse me?" She scowled. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Mason shrugged, his eyes on the photos, "You know what I mean."
Wendy scoffed, "So what? You're going to swoop in and save Ariel?"
Mason finally looked up from his camera, his gaze steady as it met Wendy's. "Ariel didn't need saving," he said smoothly. "She just needed to remember who she was."
Wendy's scowl deepened, irritation flaring in her chest. "Wow. Deep. You practicing for some pretentious interview about your artistic vision?"
Mason smirked, unbothered. "Maybe. Or maybe I just have a knack for seeing things people don't want to admit about themselves."
Wendy clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the flowers still in her hands. There was something in his tone that made her uneasy. She didn't like it. Didn't like the implication that he had her figured out, like she was just another subject under his lens, something for him to pick apart and analyze.
She took a step closer, her voice sharp. "You don't know me, Mason."
His smirk faded just slightly, but his confidence didn't waver. "I know what it looks like when someone is afraid to take up space." He held up the camera. "And you? You act like you don't belong here."
Wendy's stomach twisted, a flush of anger rising to her cheeks. "Screw you," she muttered, shoving the flowers into his chest before turning on her heel.
Mason caught them with ease, watching her walk away with an amused glint in his eyes. "Noted," he called after her. "But I stand by what I said."
_______________________
Lily
Lily stepped out of the gym, wiping the sweat from her brow as the cool evening air kissed her flushed skin. Her muscles ached pleasantly from the workout, but the moment of relief was short-lived.
Because standing right in front of her, like a shadow, was Jake.
His face was twisted in anger, his dark eyes burning with barely restrained fury. A fresh bruise, deep and ugly, spread over his cheekbone and under his left eye. He looked wreckedâdisheveled, breath heavy, his jaw clenched so tight she thought his teeth might crack.
"You really are unbelievable," Jake spat, stepping closer. "The whole time you were with me, you said not to worry about Gabriel, and now you're running straight to him?"
Lily arched a brow, unimpressed. "Good to see you too, Jake. What the hell happened to your face?"
His nostrils flared. "What the hell are you doing with Gabriel?" he demanded, voice low and simmering with rage. "Or should I say, how many times have you let him fâ"
"Careful," Lily interrupted sharply, tilting her chin up. "You're about one word away from embarrassing yourself."
Jake scoffed, shaking his head like he couldn't believe her audacity. "Unreal. You throw yourself at me for months, act like I'm everything, and the second we're done, you spread your legs for some asshole who's not even into you like that." His lips curled in disgust. "I didn't know you were such a slut, Lily."
A sharp silence stretched between them, thick with tension.
Lily could feel the weight of his words, the way he was expecting them to break her, to make her shrink back and regret every choice that didn't revolve around him.
Instead, she smiled. Slow, dangerous, dripping with amusement.
"Are you mad?" she echoed, tilting her head. "Does it bother you that Gabriel gets me off better then you ever could?"
Jake's face darkened, the vein in his neck pulsing violently. His hands curled into fists at his sides, and for a second, she thought he might actually explode.
"Fuck you, Lily," he snarled.
She gave him a mockingly sweet smile. "Oh, I'll pass. I have better options now. And he knows how to get my uptight little ass going."
And with that, she brushed past him, leaving him seething in her wake.
Lily's sneakers echoed against the pavement as she quickened her pace, heart beginning to race with every step she took toward the parking lot. The tension in her shoulders was palpable, and despite her best efforts to stay calm, she could feel the weight of Jake's gaze burning into her back, following her like a shadow.
"I didn't think you'd sink so low," Jake said, biting, each word laced with venom. "Guess you're really that desperate, huh?"
Lily's stomach tightened. She clenched her jaw, pushing the unease down. His words were meant to cut, to humiliate, and they weren't getting to her. Not yet.
"Crazy little bitch with daddy's money," Jake continued. "Alexa told me what you're doing. You think you're so fucking toght and clever?"
Lily quickened her pace again, but there was an unmistakable shift in the air now. His words, those insults, were sinking deeper than she wanted to admit. He was still behind herâclose, too close. She could hear his footsteps, his breath, and it felt like he wasn't about to stop.
Her fingers instinctively reached for her phone, shaking slightly as she dialed Gabriel's number, trying to steady herself. The moment the phone rang, her heart skipped a beat.
"Hey, baby," he greeted her casually, the sound of him settling in for a conversation. "How was the gymâ"
But Jake wasn't done. His voice surged with anger, a new level of malice in his tone.
"You're pathetic, you know that?" he shouted. "No one will ever deal with you like I did. You're just a joke. A fucking joke, and now a fucking brainless slut."
Lily's throat tightened, her skin flushing with a mixture of frustration and anxiety. She barely heard the words after that, but she could feel the sting of them deep in her chest. Her grip on the phone tightened as she spoke, trying to keep the tremor in her voice at bay.
"He's following me," she said, her breath short, heart pounding.
On the other end of the line, Gabriel's voice shifted. It was no longer casual or soothing; it was low, serious, controlled, every word laced with an intensity that sent a rush of relief through her.
"Can you hear me?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Go back inside the gym. I'm coming to pick you up."
Lily's pulse slowed just a little at his words, a sense of safety beginning to wash over her. Gabriel was coming. He was coming for her.
The air felt suddenly lighter, even though Jake was still there, lurking just behind her. But knowing Gabriel was on his way, that he was comingâit was the only thing that mattered now. She didn't need to face Jake alone.
She swallowed hard, fighting the nervous tightness in her chest and she turned toward the gym.
_______________________
Mason and Wendy
The bar was buzzing with energy, the air thick with laughter, clinking glasses, and the low thrum of music. After a long, exhausting day of orchestrating a fairytale spectacle, the Verve team had spilled into a dimly lit lounge, eager to unwind. The creative directors were already deep in discussion at the bar, sipping their cocktails, while the assistants and interns clustered into groups, shaking off the stress of the day with drinks and casual chatter.
Wendy leaned against the high-top table, her fingers curled around a glass of whiskey she hadn't taken a sip from yet. She was mid-conversation with another intern, a girl named Sophie, when she felt someone slide onto the stool beside her. She didn't need to look to know who it wasâthe shift in the air, and the faint scent of his cologne were enough of a giveaway.
Mason draped an arm along the back of her chair, his presence effortlessly commanding. \
"Didn't peg you for a whiskey girl," he mused, eyeing her untouched drink.
Wendy didn't turn toward him, merely lifted a brow. "Didn't peg you for someone who still didn't get the hint."
Mason chuckled, unfazed. "I got the hint. I just ignored it."
Sophie shot Wendy a wide-eyed glance before excusing herself, suddenly very interested in a conversation happening at another table.
Traitor, Wendy thought, resisting the urge to sigh.
"Bold strategy," she muttered, finally looking at him. He was watching her, that same knowing glint in his gaze, the one that made her feel like she was under a microscope.
"Bold is my thing." He tapped a finger against the side of her glass. "Are you gonna drink that, or are you just holding it to look interesting?"
Wendy rolled her eyes, finally lifting the glass to her lips. The whiskey burned on the way down, but she refused to let it show. "Happy now?"
Mason smirked, tilting his own drink toward her in a mock toast. "I was already happy. This is just entertaining."
Wendy huffed, shaking her head. "Do you always enjoy getting on people's nerves?"
"Only when they make it this fun." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make her pulse trip. "You know, I meant what I said earlier."
Wendy stiffened, suddenly more interested in the condensation trailing down her glass. "Yeah? And what bullshit theory are you trying to push now?"
Mason tilted his head, studying her. "Just that I don't think you even realize how much space you could take up if you let yourself."
Her breath hitched for just a second, but she masked it with a scoff. "And I suppose you see that through your camera lens?"
His smirk softened into somethingâsincere. "Sometimes, yeah."
Wendy swallowed, the heat in her chest no longer just from the whiskey. She hated that he got under her skin, that his words lingered longer than they should.
So she did the only thing she couldâshe rolled her eyes, took another sip of whiskey, and muttered, "You're an idiot."
Mason chuckled, unfazed, and leaned back against the bar, his gaze flicking toward the dance floor. The rest of the team had loosened up by nowâinterns, assistants, and even a few of the senior creatives had abandoned their drinks in favor of the pulsing rhythm of the music. Laughter mixed with the bass-heavy track as bodies swayed, heels clicking against the wooden floor in uneven beats.
He turned back to Wendy, eyes glinting with something unreadable. "So why aren't you out there?"
Wendy arched a brow, swirling the ice in her glass. "What?"
Mason gestured toward the dance floor with his drink. "Dancing. You look like you need it."
She scoffed. "I don't dance."
"Everyone dances."
"Not me."
Mason hummed as if considering her answer, then tilted his head with a smirk. "Let me guess. Control freak?"
She shot him a glare. "Excuse me?"
"You don't like doing things unless you're good at them," he mused, ignoring her indignation. "You overthink it, make it into something bigger than it is. So instead of just having fun, you stay on the sidelines."
Wendy exhaled sharply, irritated by how easily he picked her apart. "Or maybe I just don't feel like embarrassing myself in front of my coworkers."
Mason shrugged, unfazed. "Then don't embarrass yourself. Just dance."
She rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, Mason set his glass down and pushed off the bar. His hand extended toward her, palm up, fingers slightly curled in invitation. "Come on, Wendy." His voice was smooth, coaxing. "One song."
She eyed his hand, then his face, searching for any sign that this was some kind of joke. But there was only that same maddening confidence, the one that made her want to either punch him orâgod help herâfollow him onto that dance floor.
She crossed her arms. "I told you, I don't dance."
Mason smirked. "Then you leave me with no choice."
Mason turned away from her, stepping onto the small stage near the DJ booth, where the mic was left unattended. Wendy's stomach dropped.
Oh, no.
He grabbed the mic with far too much ease, tapping it twice to get everyone's attention. The music lowered slightly, and a few people turned toward him, confused but intrigued.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Mason announced, his voice smooth and full of amusement. "I need your help tonight."
Wendy's entire body locked up.
Oh, no, no, no.
"She's mad at me," Mason continued, pointing directly at Wendy, who was already burning from the weight of too many eyes shifting to her. "But here's the problemâI am completely, hopelessly, and unconditionally in love with her."
The bar erupted in a mix of cheers and dramatic gasps. Someone actually clapped while some of the people from Verve looked at one another with confusion in their eyes. Wendy wanted to crawl into a hole.
Mason pressed on, completely undeterred by her wide-eyed horror. "And I need her to forgive me. But Wendy isn't easily swayed, so I figured, why not get a little help?" He spread his arms, grinning like a showman in his prime. "So if you'd all be so kind, I need everyone to help me convince her."
Laughter rippled through the crowd, followed by a chantâ"Forgive him! Forgive him! Forgive him!"âled by none other than Mason himself, the absolute menace.
Wendy gaped at him, her mortification complete. "Mason, I swear to Godâ"
"Don't swear, sweetheart. You'll hurt my feelings," he teased, his voice ringing through the mic. Then, with a wicked gleam in his eyes, he added, "And you wouldn't want to break the heart of a man who just publicly declared his love, would you?"
The crowd aww'd obnoxiously. Someone whistled. Wendy covered her face with her hands.
Mason hopped off the stage, striding toward her with infuriating confidence, the mic still in his hand. "What do you say, Wendy?" His voice lowered just for her, teasing, coaxing. "Forgive me?"
She peeked at him between her fingers, eyes blazing. "I hate you."
Mason grinned, unbothered. "I can work with that."
Before Wendy could protest, Mason took full advantage of her stunned state, hooking his arm around her waist in one swift, practiced motion. A startled gasp left her lips as he pulled her against him, his grip secure and entirely too confident.
"Masonâ"
He didn't give her time to argue. With a fluid spin, he swung her onto the dance floor just as the DJ, clearly enjoying the spectacle, switched the music to something soft and slow. The sultry notes of a love song filled the bar, and the crowd erupted into cheers and whistles.
Wendy's hands instinctively pressed against his chest, half to steady herself, half to push him awayâbut Mason only tightened his hold, one hand resting on the small of her back, the other capturing her fingers in his.
"Relax, Sunshine," he murmured, his voice warm and teasing against her ear. "Or I'm going to bend you over and spank you."
Wendy's heart pounded against her ribs, her entire body tense. She could feel the heat of him, the easy way he moved, the way he led without hesitation. People were watchingâlaughing, filming, probably already postingâbut Mason didn't seem to care. He swayed them gently, effortlessly, as if this wasn't some ridiculous spectacle. As if this was just... them.
Wendy swallowed hard, glaring up at him. "I hate so much you."
Mason's lips twitched. "So you've mentioned."
She scowled, but the fight in her was wavering. He moved so smoothly, guiding her like they'd done this a thousand times before, and damn it, he smelled good. The warmth of his hand against her lower back sent a traitorous shiver up her spine.
"I will never forgive you," she muttered, unable to meet his gaze.
Mason leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping into something quieter, something just for her. "You mean you will never forget me."
Wendy exhaled sharply, her fingers curling against his shirt. She was going to kill him.
...Right after this song ended.
_______________________
Lily
Lily's heart hammered in her chest as she sat in the lobby of the gym, glancing over her shoulder frequently to make sure Jake was nowhere in sight. The tension in her shoulders had barely begun to ease, but when she spotted Gabriel walking toward her, his tall figure cutting through the crowd, a wave of relief washed over her.
He wasn't just walkingâhe was striding toward her, like nothing else mattered in that moment. His face was set, his eyes scanning the room, and when he finally saw her, the intensity in his gaze softened. The tightness in his jaw relaxed, and it was clear he had been just as worried as she had.
Lily felt her breath catch as he closed the distance between them, his presence like a shield. He stopped in front of her, his eyes quickly scanning her, checking for any sign of harm. The silent relief in his gaze mirrored her own, a mix of gratitude and something softer.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low but full of comforting certainty.
Lily exhaled slowly, the weight she'd been carrying lifting off her shoulders. The tension in her body slowly faded, and for the first time in what felt like hours, she felt safe. The storm had passed, and Gabriel's presence was the calm she had been craving.
"He's gone," she said quietly, looking up at him, relieved to see that his protective stance hadn't wavered. "I came back in. He was outside for a while but then he left."
Gabriel's eyes softened even more, a small but genuine smile tugging at his lips. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, his thumb brushing over her skin as though to reassure himself that she was unharmed.
"You're okay," he murmured, the words meant for both of them. "I'm just glad you're safe."
Lily felt her chest loosen as she nodded, unable to hide the relief that flooded her expression.
"I'll drop you off," Gabriel said.
Taking her hand, Gabriel turned toward the doors. Lily followed quietly. The evening air outside felt cooler as they headed into the parking lot.
"Gabriel," Lily started, her eyes flicking up to his face, "Are you the reason behind the bruises on Jake's face?"
Gabriel didn't hesitate, his eyes narrowing slightly as the question settled. He could have lied, could have brushed it off, but there was something in his gaze that made it clear he wasn't going to. Instead, he let out a slow breath and gave her a nod.
"Yeah, I am," he said, his tone calm but there was an underlying coldness to it. "And he's about to get some more... along with a few broken bones."
Lily's chest tightened, and she immediately stopped walking, facing him. There was no anger in her voice, just the sharp edge of concern.
"No," she said, her hands instinctively gripping the sleeve of his jacket. "You can't."
Gabriel stopped, too, turning to face her fully, his gaze softening just a fraction as he saw the genuine worry in her eyes. He had expected her to be upset, but the look on her face made him pause. She wasn't angry with him, not exactly. She was....scared.
"You can't just beat up people," she said, her voice more insistent now. "What if something happens to you?"
"I'll be fine," Gabriel assured her. "Nothing is going to happen to me."
"Gabriel," Lily let out an exasperated sighed. "Don't make me regret calling you. If you're going to fight every time something like this happens, then I can't call you."
"Something like this won't happen again," Gabriel said, his eyes more serious then Lily had ever seen them. "And I'll make sure of that."
"No," Lily stood her ground. "You're out of your mind. You can't do this. Please, promise me you won't do this."
For a long moment, Gabriel looked at her, his gaze steady but filled with that edge of protectiveness that always seemed to cloud his judgment when it came to people hurting the ones he cared about.
He felt the desire to make Jake pay, to make him regret every word, every ounce of pain he'd caused Lily. But when he looked at her, when he saw that pleading look in her eyes, he knew she wouldn't ask him to make a promise unless she meant it.
"Please," Lily's grip on his wrist tightened. "Think about your mom, think about what she would do if something awful happens to you."
Gabriel hesitated, "Lilyâ"
"Don't try to reason with me," Lily said. "You can't go around beating people up. That's ... insane. Promise me you won't go comforting Jake."
Gabriel stared at Lily for a second. She was gripping his wrist as if she wasn't going to budge unless she had his word.
He exhaled slowly, his chest tight as he nodded, though reluctantly. "I promise," he said, his voice low and firm. "I won't...break his bones."
Lily stared up at him for a moment, searching his face as if to make sure he was being honest. When she saw the sincerity in his eyes, she let go of his sleeve, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips.
"Thank you," she whispered, almost too quietly for him to hear.
Gabriel's jaw tightened once more, but he gave her a small nod, his arm instinctively reaching out to touch her back gently, guiding her toward her car. He might not have been happy about it, but for her, he would hold backâfor now.
Lily looped her arm with Gabriel as they began to walk again. He took her gym back and intertwined their fingers together as they reached her car. As Lily's eyes landed on her white BMW, her stomach sank.
The faint smell of gasoline lingered in the air, but it wasn't just the smell that made her stomach tighten. Her tires. All four of them were slashed, the deep gashes in the rubber evident under the dim parking lot lights. Lily's breath hitched, her chest tightening in disbelief.
"What the hell?" She murmured, stepping closer, her fingers trembling as she reached out to touch one of the ruined tires. The sharp sound of Gabriel's exhale filled the silence, his hand clenching into a fist at his side as his jaw ticked with anger.
"It's Jake," Gabriel growled under his breath. His face was hard, the fury in his eyes blazing like wildfire. "It has to be him."
Lily's heart hammered, her body still in shock. The feeling of vulnerability crept in. She wanted to yell, to scream, but the weight of the situation crushed her words before they could leave her lips.
As Gabriel stepped forward, his rage palpable, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Her gaze flicked around the parking lot, the shadows stretching long in the dim light.
There was no one. No one standing in the corners, no one lingering near the edges of the lot. But something felt off. Her stomach churned in an unsettling way, a deep, uncomfortable sensation that made her skin prickle.
"Gabriel..." she whispered, her voice soft but laced with unease. "I don't like this...but I don't think this was Jake."
He stopped mid-step, his gaze shifting immediately to her, his protective instincts flaring.
"He followed you and now your carâ"
"No," Lily interrupted, her grip tightening around his wrist as she tugged him closer. "It fells weird....Like....like someone's watching us."
Gabriel's lips pressed into a hard line as he glanced around once more, his posture stiff, still on edge.
"There's no one here," he said, his voice firm, but something in the air had shifted. He wasn't as sure anymore. "We'll deal with this tomorrow, okay? Let's get you out of here."
But as he spoke, the hair on the back of Lily's neck stood up. She couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone, that someone was lurking in the shadows just beyond their reach. Her heart pounded in her chest as the uneasy sensation grew stronger, gnawing at her insides.
But still, she saw nothing. No movement, no figures, just the quiet of the night stretching around them like an impenetrable veil.
"Take me home," she said quietly, her words heavy with anxiety.
Gabriel's eyes were full of concern. He turned back to the slashed tires, his fists clenching once more, but then his gaze softened as he turned to her. "My bike is by the gym, I'll take you home."
With one last glance around the lot, Gabriel placed his hand gently on her back, guiding her away from the wrecked car.
But the unease still lingered in the pit of her belly, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watchedâlike they were walking into something that neither of them could see yet.
Don't stress, more Mason and Wendy chapters will be coming soon <3