Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,41

set the glass down with a look that read on his face of righteousness. My, how the rich and powerful see their intentions.

I had half a mind to speak up and defend Mason and all the great things he has done and said to me in less than a week, but I couldn't. I wouldn't. I just sat there staring at my plate of half eaten food, while the three sisters began chiming in about some upcoming family wedding for a cousin, and how Adoncia was pregnant with her second baby at first term. You could not tell by looking at her as she was so skinny but now that I remember her standing sideways there might have been a small pooch.

Sophia finally joined in, and it was as if the negative comments had never filtered the air in a sour note. I scooted my chair back and excused myself to use the ladies room. This time all the men stood up in a formality, and I was shocked. I had never had that before.

As I walked back through the beautiful garden towards the kitchen, my heart ached for Mason. This was his life, just like mine, a parent who made him feel less than adequate was prominent in the picture. I was not helping his situation, unlike how he had helped mine tremendously. Just that morning my mom had left a beaming message about how happy she was that I was finally growing up, taking college courses and dating a man that I should not let slip away as he was extremely prominent in this city. No mention of 'hi dear, are you happy?' Just like Mark Anthony berated his own son for not properly addressing my birthday, or so he thought, or for dating a woman of better stature.

As I stepped inside, I looked around at the beautiful gallery kitchen and dreamed how wonderful it would feel if it was Mason's and mine, then I heard a noise and turned to Mason looking down at two bottles of wine. When he looked up, our eyes met, his were sad and mine were worried. I walked over, kissed him softly.

"I need to use the ladies room. I'll be out in a bit. Hang tough. You are the most perfect man I have ever met. Where would I be without you?" I teased with the last sentence as my fingers trailed down his chest.

A small smile escaped his misery, and he returned a kiss to my forehead. Then what he said next made me worried. "Probably better off if you think like my dad. Listen, I sent a text into a tenant for a favor. We will have to rush out of here in about fifteen minutes for a broken pipe."

"Sounds wonderful. That is, if you let me show you my appreciation later." I teased as I patted his ass.

"I'm counting on a little uplifting. Mind if we watch the Rockies game later. I could use a little mind numbing sports." He sounded relieved just thinking about where he will be later versus where we are right now.

"Sounds great." I walked away to leave him to his own demise with his father. I'm sure by the time he made it back out there, conversations had taken place and everyone will be just fine by the time I make it back out from the ladies room.

Boy was I wrong. Here is where everything just took a turn for the worse. I had never heard a family shouting at each other the way this one was. I heard Mason and Mark Anthony practically screaming at each other as I started out of the kitchen into the garden, still out of view from where the family was sitting.

I overheard in a strong voice from Mason's father that he was not to get himself involved any further with a woman like me. I had to wonder what he thought of me. Then I heard Mason yelling at him to mind his own business. Then a female voice from one of the two older sisters yelled out. "For heaven's sake, Mason. Do you really think she is the type of woman you want to marry? She hasn't even gone to college, and her credit rating is as poor as the maid who cleans this house."

Just then, I had not realized, but I had been walking in slow motion towards the commotion, and rounded the corner to see everyone stop yelling and staring at me. The