Chapter 174
Chapter 174
Mason paced in his house, his heart racing as he pressed the phone to his ear.
“Calm down,” Joe said from the couch, his legs crossed casually.
Mason didn’t say anything, but he could tell Joe was anxious too by the way his mouth kept twitching, though he wouldn’t admit.
The phone rang in his ear and so did his heart..
“Hello?” It was finally answered.
“Hi, am I speaking to Beatrice Ave?” Mason asked, his heart quickening.
“Yes,” Beatrice replied, her voice soft and professional. “Who’s this, please!
He glanced at Joe, whose legs were now uncrossed and shaking. “I am Mason Hunter, and I
“Mason Hunter?” Beatrice’s voice rose with surprise. “How may I help you?”
I need your help.”
He swallowed hard, his palms already sweaty as he stopped pacing. “I was hoping I could hold an interview on your news blog. Anything to help fix my reputation.”
Beatrice didn’t respond, and his heart leaped.
“Hello?”
Suddenly, he heard her laugh followed by more laughter in the background.
His cheeks burned as the sound rang in his ear. This was the seventh news person he was calling. TV stations had already declined him.
And here he was, thinking a blogger wouldn’t reject him.
Beatrice laughed until she started coughing. “You need me to fix your reputation? I’m sorry, Mr Hunter, I don’t help criminals.”
“I’m not a criminal!” he snapped. “I have-”
“Just hung up,” Joe said, taking the phone. The laughter continued until Joe eventually hung up.
“Fuck!” Mason yelled, stomping his feet.
It was hard to process that this was his life. Ivy had first ruined it, and now Rosie–and Cheryl–were doing the same.
“You need to take it easy,” Joe said gently, dropping the phone on the couch.
Mason turned to him, his eyes sharp. “Take it easy? My life is over! My reputation is destroyed! My company is crashing! Cheryl stole my son, and I should take it easy?”
“It’s just advice,” Joe muttered.
Mason waved a hand and walked to a couch. “Save it.”
He sat down, exhaustion gnawing at his bones, He buried his face in his palms and sighed. Maybe it was time to admit that it was indeed over.
“What’s the next line of action?” Joe asked carefully.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, leaning into the couch.
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He didn’t even have a way forward. For the first time in his life, he was ready to give up.
“Nobody wants to help, nobody wants to listen. I don’t have money to hire guards to fight Cheryl because ivy is on her side, and that bitch has more money than me now.” He shook his head.
“My exes are fighting me,” he said with a mirthless laugh. “All because I listened to Rosie. It’s over, Joe. Let’s just give up.”
“What if it’s not?” Joe asked.
Hé raised a brow. “What are you talking about?”
Joe sat up straighter. “This all started with Rosie. Ivy’s brother has that on tape.”
“Cole,” Mason said. “Okay.”
“What if we set Rosie up?”
Mason sat upright. “I’m not following.”
“She wants you to work for her-”
“Work with,” he corrected with a frown.
“Fine, work with her,” Joe said. “The police are looking for her. If you get her to meet you, we tip them off. When they catch her, you’re vindicated.”
said.
Mason allowed the thoughts to settle. It sounded like a great idea. If Rosie was arrested, his name would be cleared. She’d be locked up forever, and he could get his life back.
It was a win–win.
“Oh Joe, that’s awesome!”
“Glad you like it,” Joe smiled.
“But how do I know where she’ll be?”
“Call her and ask,” Joe said.
Mason nodded and took out his phone. He dialed Rosie’s number and waited.
“I hope you’re calling because you are willing to work for me,” Rosie said, her voice tingled with amusement.
“Work with you, definitely,” Mason said.
She laughed. “Typical Mason.”
“So… when do we meet?”
“Meet?” Her voice rose with suspicion. “Why?”
Panic fluttered in his chest. He hadn’t thought this/part through.
Think. Think.
“I need money,” he blurted out. “My… business is over,,” he added, more softly now. “I figured you’d pay me, and with everything going on, cash wi.. better… right?”
Sweat dripped down his neck and he wiped it off as he waited.
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Chapter 174
“How much are we talking about?” Rosie asked.
“How much do you want to pay me?”
She chuckled, and the tension in his chest eased. “Fine. I’m only doing this because it’s you. I’ll send you an address, meet me there in ten minutes.” Then she ended the call.
Mason blinked, his eyes widening.
“How was it?” Joe asked, his voice shaking.
Before Mason could reply, his phone chimed with a message. He waved it. “She just sent an address.”
Joe jumped, a smile spreading across his face. “Yes! Let me call the police.”
“I’ll get ready.”
Mason rushed to the bedroom and quickly changed into a white shirt. Cheryl’s absence hit him unexpectedly, but he shoved it away.
Not now.
When he returned, his heart dropped at the look on Joe’s face.
“What happened?”
“The police wouldn’t even listen to me!” Joe snapped, his fist clenched. “They didn’t even let me finish.”
Mason glanced at his wristwatch. Time was running out.
Think.
And then a thought crossed his mind.
“You’re coming with me,” he said, already rushing to the door.
“Me?” Joe blinked.
“You’ll be my backup. When I meet her, you’ll take a video of her giving me the money. We’ll use it as evidence for the police.”
“Oh,” Joe chuckled. “That’s so smart, Mason.”
Mason got his car first. “Take your car, drive at a safe distance behind me. The instant you see Rosie, call the police.”
“Alright,” Joe said and left for his car.
Mason stepped into his vehicle, his nerves slightly tensing. “It’s now or never,” he muttered.
He started the car, behind him Joe did the same.
The address Rosie sent wasn’t far, but it took more than ten minutes to get there.
Mason kept checking the mirror to be sure Joe was following him without it being obvious.
The address led to an abandoned warehouse and it terrified him. He quickly texted Joe: “Call the police. Now.” Then he stepped out of his car.
Each step added to his fright, but he held it in. He entered through a rusty gate, his hand shaking.
“Rosie?” he called.
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Chapter 174
“Here.”
He looked around but didn’t see her.
“Just come inside,” she said in her usual annoyed tone.
He obeyed and made his way in. The inside smelled like pee and decay, and he had to place a finger under his nose to block the stench.
There were rods all over the place, covered in dust and cobwebs.
“Sorry about this,” Rosie said, stepping forward. “It’s all a decoy.”
“What did you do to yourself?” he asked, taking it in.
She looked different. Her hair and outfit were different, and her aura felt… strange.
“It’s pretty, right?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
He didn’t want to offend her so he nodded. “Yes.”
She seemed pleased with his answer and her smile widened. “I brought the cash,” she said, gesturing to a bag beside her. “But I won’t drop it until I lay down my new rules.”
Eagerness surged through him and he stepped forward, hoping Joe was nearby and doing his job.
“Okay, what are the-”
Before he could finish, someone rushed in from behind Rosie. He couldn’t tell the gender because the figure was dressed in all black, from head to toe.
“The cops are outside! Let’s go!”
Rosie grabbed the bag, her eyes wide. “You call the cops on me?”
Mason blinked. “Someone else is working with you?”
Before he got a response, the next thing he heard were loud pops. It took a while for him to realize they were gunshots.
He went to the floor, his hand over his head until it was over.
He stood, dusting his shirt just as Joe rushed in.
“Are you okay? She was shooting!”
Mason scoffed. “She fucking missed.”
Joe’s eyes widened and he gasped.
“What?” Mason followed his gaze, then he saw it too.
Blood.
He had been shot in the stomach. His white shirt was soaked
