The next morning, both Mason and Ellen were seated in the living room, having already finished their breakfast. Ellen glanced at Mason, who was checking his phone, his suitcase by his side. She cleared her throat softly, breaking the silence.
"Is Philip coming with you to Paris?" Ellen asked, trying to keep her tone casual.
Mason looked up from his phone and nodded. "Of course, he’s my assistant."
Ellen nodded in return, her gaze drifting to Mason’s suitcase. Her mind was not at ease, not because of Mason’s trip, but because of Aubrey. In the novel, Mason had taken Aubrey with him to Paris, using the trip as an opportunity to enjoy time together.
Ellen knew Mason wouldn’t do such a thing now, but she knew she needed to take some precautions. She was almost certain that Aubrey would find a way to follow Mason to Paris. The other day, Aubrey had made her intentions clear, and Ellen couldn’t shake the feeling that she would seize this opportunity to reconnect with Mason.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. Ellen stood up and walked to the door, opening it to reveal Philip, who greeted her with a warm smile.
"Morning, Ellen," he said cheerfully.
"Morning, Philip," Ellen replied, stepping aside to let him in.
She closed the door behind him and turned back to face him. "Have you had breakfast yet? If not, I can whip something up for you."
Philip chuckled, shaking his head. "Thank you, but I already had breakfast," he said as he walked further into the house, glancing around. "I came to pick Mason up. Is he ready?"
Before Ellen could respond, Mason appeared with his suitcase in hand. "I’m ready," he called out. "Let’s go now."
Philip smiled at Ellen. "Bye, Ellen," he said, giving her a small wave.
"Bye, Philip," Ellen replied, her voice soft but steady. "Take care of Mason, okay?"
Philip’s smile widened. "Of course," he said, his tone reassuring.
Ellen watched as Philip took Mason’s suitcase and headed towards the door. Mason followed closely behind, but Ellen felt a sudden urge to do something more. She hesitated for a moment, then called out, "Mason!"
Mason turned around, looking at her with a curious expression. Ellen’s mind raced. Should she do it or not? Summoning her courage, she took a few steps forward and hugged him awkwardly, feeling her cheeks flush.
As she wrapped her arms around him, she couldn’t help but think back to the other day when she saw Helga hugging Jax before he left for work.
Helga had embraced Jax warmly, holding him close and whispering something in his ear. Ellen had watched them from her window, a pang of envy in her heart. The hug had been so natural, so full of love and affection. And then, just before Jax left, Helga had kissed him tenderly on the lips. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes about their relationship.
Ellen thought to herself that she needed to start doing that too. She needed to show Mason that she cared, that she wanted to be close to him. But now, a kiss felt too much, too soon. So, she thought she would start with a hug.
Mason stood still for a moment, seemingly surprised by her gesture. Ellen’s heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts a whirlwind of anxiety and hope. What if he pushed her away? What if he didn’t want her affection? But then, she felt him relax slightly.
It’s just a hug, Ellen, she mentally reassured herself, her face burning with embarrassment.
Ellen’s mind was all over the place as she stood there. If I can’t handle one simple hug, how am I going to manage other kinds of physical contact?"
The idea made her heart race and her cheeks heat up from feeling anxious and embarrassed. She mentally scolded herself for getting so flustered over something so basic.
She could feel Mason’s warmth through his shirt, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to savor the closeness. It was a small step, but it was a big deal to her.
"Safe flight and take care," she said, her voice soft but sincere. She quickly let go, feeling the awkwardness settle in the air.
Mason looked at her for a moment, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Thanks," he replied, his tone neutral, but it wasn’t cold.
Ellen then gently pushed him towards the door. "Go, or the plane will leave without you."
"Right," Mason nodded and walked towards the car, and Ellen followed a few steps behind, her hands fidgeting nervously. She caught sight of Philip standing beside the car, a big grin on his face as he watched them. Ellen’s cheeks burned even hotter. She would have preferred if no one had seen what she just did.
Philip and Mason got into the car, and Ellen stood at the doorway, watching as they drove away, giving a small wave. The car disappeared around the corner, leaving Ellen with a lingering worry.
She closed the door slowly, the lock made a final-sounding click. Ellen leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath. The house felt too quiet, the silence was almost overwhelming. She knew she needed to do something. She couldn’t just sit around at home, hoping that nothing would happen. Aubrey definitely wouldn’t waste a chance like this where she could be alone with Mason.
Ellen walked towards her bedroom, her mind racing with thoughts and plans. She had to act, and quickly. As she moved through the hallway, her footsteps muffled by the carpet, she thought about how determined Aubrey had seemed. Ellen couldn’t let her guard down.
She had a plan, a bit risky, and she knew it, but she didn’t see any other plan that would benefit her more than this.
When she got to her room, she headed right for the walk-in closet. Ellen reached up to the top shelf and pulled down her suitcase.
She would go to Paris too.
I won’t lose to you, Aubrey.