Rising Up: Finding Me book 1 (27 page)

"Stop it Imogen, you are not helping my quickly diminishing self-control."

I giggle but keep my body still.  "Goodnight Mason."

"Goodnight Imogen my love.  Welcome home."  He sighs and settles down to sleep and within a few minutes his breathing slows and deepens as sleep possesses him.  It takes me a while longer as my mind turns everything that has happened today but I eventually relax enough to let sleep claim me.

Mason has woken up before me and I can hear the shower running in the bathroom, this gives me time to lie back an stretch out in the bed reveling in the warm space that Mason had left, and as I rest my head on his pillow and breathe in his unique scent.  A smile spreads across my face and I laugh softly to myself feeling happier than I have for a long time, even the time spent with Mason before was tainted by my past, but now I feel free and ready to embrace every part of my new life.

"You look very comfortable stretched out there babe, what's going through your mind that's putting such a beautiful smile on your face.

I open my eyes and see him stood in front of me, there's water still dripping over his chest and before I can stop myself I'm kneeling up on the end of the bed and my tongue is following a trail of water from his neck and down over his tattoo.

"Shit Ginny, you've gotta stop.  I won't be able to control myself with you doing that."

This makes me smile against his hard muscled chest, I move my mouth further down and circle his nipple letting my teeth scrape over the hard nub before pulling away from him.  A moan escapes from him.

"Whoops!  Sorry Mason I couldn't help myself."  I grin and look down to his now hard cock and lick my lips.

"Don't you fucking dare Imogen I mean it!  You need to get ready for work and you're killing me here."

He turns away from me muttering under his breath I can only catch a few words mainly concerning his hand against my backside.  So I jump up and rush in to the bathroom and quickly wash up, he's left the room by the time I come out so I can take my time choosing what to wear out of my new selection. 

I settle on a deep red sleeveless fitted linen dress with nude silk stockings and a short black silk cardigan, my new black shoes with killer heels and red soles complete it.

I only apply a small amount of make-up just some mascara and a pale gloss across my lips. 

After twisting my hair into a French pleat I'm good to go. 

I hope Mason approves, but really this is all about a new me and it's only a bonus if he likes it not a deal-breaker. 

Wow I've changed and I like this new me.

Mason

I'm sat at my desk and my door is open and I can look across and see Ginny at her desk, her head is down and I can see the concentration on her face as she reads through pages and pages of new documents.  Every now and then she highlights something and makes a note on her computer.

A knock on my door brings me back and Austin is stood in the open door.  "What's up bro?  Why aren't you busy working?  You never seem to be at your desk."

"Well Mason, you seem to be staring at the lovely Ms. Banks' legs rather than doing your own work.  But I've got a favor to ask you?"

"Okay shoot.  What do you want now?"  Although I was happy that Austin wanted to work for us he doesn't seem to be taking it very seriously yet.

"I'm going crazy living at home, Mom keeps nagging at me and wanting to know where I'm going and what time I'll be home.  So do you know if there's any spare apartments in your building, I've gotta get out soon and your place is brilliant, close enough to walk to work and has loads of bars and shit like that around.  I really like that sports bar, the girls there are hot!"

"I don't know, we only have our own and the apartment that Ginny and Maddie are in, you'll need to speak to the agency and find out."

"Yeah but if you get Ginny to move back in with you I could have her room or if Maddie stays at Lake's all the time she could give up her room."

"You seem to have put a lot of thought into how to kick out one or both of our new employees, I don't think Maddie and Lake are serious enough for her to move in with him and don't you even think about asking Imogen to move out.  I only got her back yesterday.  Talk to the agents Austin, and please for fucks sake get back to your desk and do some work, this is not a holiday camp."

"Don't get your panties in a twist Mase, I'm on my lunch break.  Do you want me to shut the door behind me or are you going back to staring at those gorgeous legs across the hall?"

"Fuck off Austin before I fire your ass!"  I growl but I do go back to staring at her legs.  My heart nearly stopped when I saw her walk out of the bedroom this morning, she looked fucking hot and I could tell there was a new level of confidence around her and I loved that. 

She looked at me not asking for my approval but for my appreciation of her new look and boy, did I love it, again there was a faint outline of her garter straps holding up her stockings but her dress wasn't tight enough for it to be inappropriate.  I just handed over her coffee and smiled at her sending a blush up and over her neck and face.

Just then I see Lake walk up to her and take her down to his office.  I go to get up but he shakes his head at me and holds out his hand telling me to give him five minutes. 

Sitting down again I start to think about what could have happened to call Ginny into his office, it can't be good news whatever it is.  So refusing to wait any longer I get up and walk down to his office, the door is closed so I knock.

"Lake, let me in I need to know what's going on."  I can hear his footsteps approaching the door, so I step back.

"Let him in please Lake, I need him with me."  Imogen is sounding very strange so walking past Lake I kneel down in front of her and take hold of her hands.

"What's wrong babe, what has happened?"  I look round to Lake who is leaning up against his desk and he answers for her.

"The police have just called me to say that Jake Williams was found dead in his cell this morning, he had hanged himself."

"Hey Imogen, this is good news isn't it?"  I'm confused by her reaction.

"No Mason, it's not!  He took the easy way out, he deserved to go to court and have all his dirty evil secrets displayed to the public, he deserved to go to prison and have every perk his privileged life has given him ripped away from him, and he most definitely deserved to be humiliated. 

He took every bit of my self- respect away from me, he purposely abused and humiliated me for his own sick pleasure, and I think I deserved to see him suffer, but the useless, spineless piece of shit that he is has denied me that!  I hate the fucking coward not just for what he did to me but to all the other poor girls he humiliated, abused, raped and eventually murdered."

I can't think of anything to say but I don't need to because Maddie stands at the door.  "You're right Ginny, everything you just said is true, but you can take strength from his death and know that all his accomplices will know what he has done while they will still have to face up to their part in his sick life.

I know I still have to look at myself in the mirror every morning and accept my part in his game, and I promise you Imogen I don't like the person who looks back at me.  I am truly sorry for what I did to you, I don't expect you to forgive me but I hope I can prove myself enough to you that you will believe me when I say that I won't ever let you down again."

Imogen stands up and walks over to her and both Lake and myself step up to stand next to her. 

I see her raise her hand and I think she is going to slap Maddie's face but she doesn't she runs her hand down her cheek and tears start to flow from their eyes.  "I like what I see looking back at me right now Maddie, stop torturing yourself and accept that he duped you too. 

We need to move on from this, I'm not the same person I was before you opened the door to him."  I see Maddie shudder as Ginny says this.  "But I think you are probably different now too.  I'm going to take my new life one day at a time and if you are able to wait for me I want to be your friend again."

"That's good enough for me Imogen, thank you."  Maddie smiles and goes to walk out, Lake smiles at Ginny and follows her out.

Just then I see Ginny start to sag as her knees give way and quickly catch her before she faints and hits the floor.  "Imogen are you okay, what can I get you?  April, can you get in here please?"  She walks quickly towards me with a bottle of water in her hand.

"Thank you.  Ginny do you want me to call the doctor, this isn't the first time you've fainted.  Please let me."

"I'll be okay in a moment, just give me a few minutes please."

"Did you eat lunch today babe?" 

"Yes I did and April saw me, didn't you?"  She turns to look for her agreement.

"She did Mason, I promise you."

"Okay, although you've eaten you've just had a massive shock and I will feel happier after you've been checked over.  I have a duty of care over you."  I can see the look of resignation on her face as she realizes that this Mason is the boss, not the boyfriend.

"Okay, you can call him."

I was lucky enough to get her fitted in at short notice today, so I packed up her desk and we made our way over to the surgery.  We have a short wait and Imogen tries to persuade me that she really is fine and we are just wasting their time.

"Ms. Banks?  Dr. Sorenson will see you now, you can go on through."

I stand up with her and take her hand.  "I'm coming with you sweetheart, I know you will play down everything that has gone on lately."

She pulls her hand out of mine and glowers at me.  "Fine, but don't keep butting in."  She storms off ahead of me.

So fifteen minutes later Ginny has had a thorough examination, her blood taken, her urine checked and been poked and prodded.  The doctor walks back through with a sheet of paper in one hand and a bag with what looks like medication in the other.  I grab hold of her hand again this time more for my benefit than hers.

"Ms. Banks, can I call you Imogen?"  She nods but is just staring at the bag in his hand.  "Everything is perfectly normal, most women find the start of the second trimester exhausting and as I understand the stress you have been under I'm not surprised you fainted today, but you need to start taking this pregnancy seriously and rest more often and you most certainly need to be eating more..." 

His voice dries up as he takes in our stunned faces.  "Ah... I see that this is news to you both.  Imogen, you are aware that you are pregnant aren't you?

Have you had no indication?  No missed periods or sickness?  I'm sure the hospital would have told you after your surgery."

"No nothing like that.  I don't remember the hospital ever mentioning it but I was deeply unhappy and in an awful amount of pain, I may not have heard what they said.  They can't have said anything to you either Mason, did they?"  Imogen’s hand is gripping mine so hard that I think I'm about to lose all circulation in it.

"Of course not Ginny, this is a shock to me too."  I have no idea what the hell is going on.

"Okay, well I'm going to give you a number of a very good Ob/Gyn doctor that works closely with this practice and she will be able to perform an ultrasound scan to accurately date the gestation of your baby.  She will also be able to offer any other information on how you would like to proceed from there."

My head jerks up. "Hold on!  Are you suggesting that we may terminate this pregnancy that Imogen may want to abort our child?"  I'm furious and start pacing the floor.  "Ginny, you're not going to consider that option are you?"

"I'm going to make the appointment and speak to the specialist Mason, nothing more and nothing less.  So please calm down and wait and see."

"There is no way on fucking earth you are killing my child Imogen, you'd better understand that right now."  I'm so riled up I don't even notice her flinch and back away from me.

"Mr. Reynolds please calm down or I will have to ask security to escort from the building.  Imogen, here are the vitamins for you.  I would like to offer you both my congratulations but I fear that comment is not welcome at this moment.  Please don't hesitate to be back in touch if you have any other questions."

"Thank you, you have been very kind and I apologize for Mr. Reynolds outburst."  Imogen turns on her heels and walks away from me.

"You need to control that temper of yours Mason, I have known you and your family for many years I don't want to have to question your intentions towards Ms. Banks, she has been through far too much already as I understand.  Please send my regards to your parents."

As I walk away from the building I can see Imogen sat on a chair in the farthest corner of the plaza and she is on her cell, taking a deep breath I walk over to her and reach her as she finishes her call.

Imogen

"Don't even think about talking to me right now Mason, I am really not in the mood."  I storm away from him and walk briskly towards our apartments, it's only a fifteen minute walk and even though we had driven here I needed the fresh air to clear my mind.

"Imogen, please wait for me?"

"No! Go and get your car and I will see you later when I've calmed down." 

I carry on striding away from him not daring to look back in case I start to shout at him and cause a scene in the middle of the street.  But I don't hear anything more from him so slow my pace down and start to enjoy the walk with my head full of the thoughts of a baby growing inside me. 

My heart swells at the thought of a miniature Mason, his almost black hair and bright blue eyes, and while I appreciate the doctor mentioning that I may have other options available to me I know I could never kill any baby of mine. 

Mason's reaction was a surprise, I thought he would realize that I would want this baby, his baby, our baby.  The old me would have cowered at his outburst and for a moment I wanted to but the new and improved version of me is ready to shout back if I have to.

I explained that I will not be controlled by anyone anymore and I guess he needs to be reminded.  I walk past the bar and see Lake, Lucas and Austin walk in laughing at something Maddie has just said, and on impulse I turn and walk towards them.

"Hey guys.  Wait up!"  I catch up with them and see the smiles on all their faces even Maddie looks happy to see me.

"What are you doing here Ginny?"  Lake looks behind me for Mason.  "Not that it's not nice to see you.  Where's my cousin, have you dumped him already?"

"No.  Not quite."  I laugh.  "But he's being an arse so I left him to drive home while I enjoyed the sunshine."

"Or maybe you've finally come to your senses and want to be with me?"  Austin laughs and drapes his arm over my shoulder.

"Maybe Austin, but maybe not."  I duck under his arm and walk up to Tamsin and give her a hug.  "You should have cut your hours back by now girl.  Haven't you got your mid-terms coming up soon?"

"Yeah this is one of my last weekday shifts I'm going down to one weekday night and a couple of shifts at the weekend, Amber is doing the same."

"Will I still get to see you both?"  I feel worried that I'm going to lose contact with the two girls who have helped me so much lately.

"Of course Honey, you can't get rid of us that easily.  How are things with Mason?" 

Her pretty face frowns when she sees my eyes flicker.

"Oh as usual they are complicated, but in a good way I think, he's just pissed me off tonight so I'm hiding."  I laugh and hug her again before heading back to the table.

Lake is talking down his phone quietly and looks up guiltily as he sees me.  "You'd better not be talking to him Lake or I'll have you balls on a plate!"

"Yeah okay mate, bye."  Lake gulps and looks at me.  "He called me Ginny I promise.  He was worried when you weren't home, he says can you go and see him when you get back tonight."