Free Incineration (Heart of Stone) by D H Sidebottom Page B

anything” I
said, not knowing what would happen with Mason when I gave him my resignation,
wondering if he would ask me to leave straight away. “Nonsense” Brian dismissed
“Brenda said you must come. She’ll kill me if you don’t make it” he said wide
eyed and I laughed “Fine, I promise” he grinned and passed me an envelope “All
the information is in there” he frowned and swiped his thumb over my cheek in a
fatherly gesture “Are you sure you’re okay Ava? You look like you’ve been
crying Darling” he asked sadly. Shit really? “Oh ignore me Mr Cox, I’m
just missing George” I shrugged and he pulled me in his embrace and stroked my
hair.
    I caught Masons’ confused expression over Brian’s’ shoulder
but quickly looked away “Ava call me Brian. I’d say were friends now. Listen
come over for dinner tonight, Brenda would love to meet you before Saturday” he
asked, leaning back and regarding me and I sucked on my lips, debating his
invitation “Come on, it will do you good” he persevered “Okay, thank you” I
smiled “Excellent!” he exclaimed and grabbed a piece of paper from the phone
pad and scribbled something down “Here’s my address. Shall we say 7 O’clock?”
he asked and I nodded “That will be fine, thank you again Brian” he grinned.
    I turned to Mason “I’ll go make a start on some paperwork” I
said flatly and he cocked his head at me “Okay Ava” he narrowed his eyes but I
ignored him “See you tonight Brian” I smiled genuinely at the older man. He
nodded and I left the room, climbing the stairs quickly, eager to get away from
Masons’ stare and scurried into the office, leaning on the closed door and
taking a deep breath. Mason had brought in a small desk and computer for me so
we didn’t need to share one and I placed my letter on his desk and sat down at
mine and started work.
     
    I was on the phone to Mason’s insurance company, sorting out
cover for his new motorbike when he entered the office. He stood silently at
the doorframe, watching me for a moment making me squirm under his intense gaze
and then walked to his desk and sat down.
    I saw him take the envelope, open it and start reading as I
turned away from him slightly, lowering my head and writing down some details
the insurance agent was giving me. He inhaled sharply and then  stood, flung
the letter on my desk and stormed out of the door, slamming it hard behind him,
making me and the agent on the phone jump “Sorry, something fell off the wall”
I lied, confused at his behaviour.
    After this morning’s obvious love fest with Rebecca I would
have thought he’d be eager to get rid of me. I finished my phone call and
decided to find him to sort it out but as I reached the bottom step I heard him
roar off on his bike, gravel spinning behind him.
    I stood frozen to the spot for a while and then decided to
bake, I needed something to relax me and keep me busy.
     
    An orange cake, cranberry muffin pie and white choc chip
cookies later the phone rang “Hello Mr Fox’s personal assistant speaking” I
answered “Hi Ava, this is Kerrie. Is Mason there?” she sounded a little worried
“I’m sorry no, he’s out at the moment can I take a message?” I asked, establishing
that Kerrie must be a popular sexual partner of his as she had rung a few times
now “Oh” she said simply “I just received a garbled message off him but I’ve
rang his mobile and he’s not answering. Strange.
     Has he said anything to you Ava? I know you are a bit more
than friends and he talks about you non-stop” I frowned “Oh” I answered “Erm
not really” I was stunned that Mason spoke about me to this woman.
    I was silent for a while “Ava? Has he told you who I am?”
she probed, concern in her tone “Erm No, sorry” I cringed, hoping she wasn’t
someone who would be offended that Mason hadn’t mentioned her. “I’m an idiot; I
bet you think I’m one of his girlfriends. I’m his sister