But professionally, I needed a strategic partner with the influencers of London as well.
“Brett Greyson speaking,” I said as I picked up the phone.
“You know you never answer your cell phone nowadays.”
“Mason?”
“Has it been so long that you don’t even remember the voice of your best friend?” he asked.
“Sorry. Things have been chaotic around here. How are you?” I asked.
“I’m well. Surprised I caught you at your desk, to be honest. I finally got your assistant to patch me through after insisting I needed to speak business with you.”
“I’m sorry, man. With the official plans set in motion to go international with my business, it’s been very hectic around here. I was in New York for almost—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Save the diatribe. I’m just giving you a hard time. But it does seem like you’re too busy to see me nowadays,” he said.
“I know. I know. Things have kicked up here. I’m not intentionally dodging you.”
“Oh, I’d never dream of it. Unless you had something to hide, of course.”
“The hell would I be hiding?” I asked.
“Yikes. A little tense there, aren’t we? You getting enough sleep?” Mason asked.
“Not lately here, no.”
“Any reason?”
I wasn’t sure if telling him about Olivia was going to be a smart thing or not. Especially since he hadn’t been a fan of her back during our college days.
“None I want to discuss over the phone, no,” I said.
“Then, maybe we should get lunch today. So you can tell me in person,” Mason said.
“I’m really busy, man. I wish I could.”
“Or you could continue acting like you don’t have a friend in the world. Isolate yourself in your office. Become a workaholic like your father.”
“Hey, my father’s a good man,” I said.
“He’s also a workaholic. Come on. It’s just lunch. Thirty minutes. I won’t even make you stay the whole hour. I haven’t seen you in weeks, dude. I feel like I barely know you.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Fine. Fine. Yes, we can do lunch.”
“Great. Twelve noon? Our usual spot? Or do you remember what that is anymore?” he asked, chuckling.
“You’re really digging into this guilt trip, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Only because it’s working. I’ll see you at Milly’s at noon.”
“See you then.”
My morning was filled with talking to my assistant about scheduling my in-person trip to Paris. I needed the details as soon as possible. Then I got into an email conversation with my connection in London. It took us a little while to nail down a time for a phone conference, but I finally got it onto my calendar. And after fleshing out a few more details of the plan to expand internationally for my investors, it was time to meet Mason for lunch.
“Holy shit, man. It seems like it’s been forever.”
“How are you, Mason?” I asked.
He reached out for a hug, and I clapped his back before the two of us sat down at the table he had for us.
“I went ahead and ordered you a bourbon neat,” Mason said.
“I appreciate it, thanks,” I said.
“So, who is she?”
My head snapped up. “What?”
“Come on. I’ve known you since college. I know when work is tuckering you out and when pussy is. So, fess up. It’s about damn time you let yourself indulge in the pot.”
“The hell are you talking about?” I asked.
“Look, I’m not a genius, but I’m not an idiot. My father gifted me his technology company for a reason when I was twenty-seven.”
“That was only three years ago, and it was because he retired and needed to give it over to someone.”
“And that someone happened to be me. I’m the king of technology right now.”
“Your father handed over that—whatever. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk about this,” I said.
“I can guilt-trip you again. Want to try that avenue?” he asked.
I sighed. “I’m not dipping into the pot.”
“Come on. You finally took my advice and got yourself laid. How was it? You know, the first woman after her.”
I bit down onto the inside of my cheek. “It was her, Mason.”
“What?”
“I slept with Olivia last night.”
His jaw fell open. “You what?”
“Olivia is my new consultant manager.”
“She’s what?”
“Could you be any louder?” I asked.
“Dude, what the hell are you thinking?”
“About what? You’ll have to be more specific.”
“This is Olivia we’re talking about.”
“And?” I asked.
“Do you not remember what she did to you back in college?” he asked.
“As I recall, you were the only one that thought she was cheating on me.”
“Because she was! She was in that coffee shop with him. I saw them numerous times. It was the teaching assistant for her English class. He’s read to her, dude. What guy reads to a girl he’s not fucking?” Mason asked.
“I take it you’re going to feed me your opinion of the situation anyway?” I asked.
“You mean, besides the fact that she’s working for you? That you’ve trusted part of your company in the hands of a woman you refused to believe was fucking around behind your back? Yeah, I’ve got an opinion. You’re not getting any younger, Brett. There are women out there that would practically strip down in the middle of the damn street to have you. Women who would be totally okay with having a weekend with one of the hottest, most eligible, richest fucking bachelors in Seattle. And you’re fucking around with Olivia again?”