Chapter 80: Mason Hunter; A Common Enemy

“Another one, please,” Mason yelled at the top of his voice, signaling the waitress at the counter. He didn’t need to shout, but he was in a bad mood and he wanted everyone’s mood ruined as well.

The waitress hesitated before approaching, and that made his heart leap with satisfaction. At least he could still scare the shit out of someone.

Mason cracked his knuckles as he leaned back in his chair. He felt foolish, he felt small as he recalled how Glas Stone had threatened him, humiliated him by sending him away from Aurora Paradise.

What the hell did Silas even see in Ivy? Why was he so protective of her? It wasn’t like she was any different from the woman he was once married to.

Mason had no answers for his questions, and it was killing him.

The waitress returned and gingerly placed the bottle on the table. Without acknowledging her, he poured himself another glass and took a sip.

Usually, Pierce brandy smoothed out his pain with just a sip. But he was on his second glass, and the pain still burned, mounting second by second. He blamed Ivy for it.

His phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He pulled it from his front pocket and frowned at the caller ID.

“Hello,” the woman’s voice sounded. “How did it go?” she asked impatiently.

“Terrible,” he confessed, his chest tightening. “After searching almost every damn hotel, I finally found them at Aurora Paradise. I have no idea how, but Silas knew I was coming. He threatened me—I couldn’t even get close to Ivy.”

“I told you it was a futile mission from the start,” she hissed. “You didn’t have to travel to Fiji.”

His lips furrowed and he took another sip. “I hate the way you speak to me.”

“If you weren’t acting like a child, I wouldn’t have to scold you,” she shot back.

“You… that’s not right,” he snapped, anger surging through his veins.

“What are you doing next?” she asked, ignoring his outburst.

Mason hated the way she made him feel, but he couldn’t deny how helpful she had been. He exhaled sharply. “I don’t know. Give me something—something that’ll hit him where it hurts.”

“If I do that, everyone would know it’s me feeding you information. I can’t risk that,” she answered swiftly, as if she’d already planned for the question.

Frustration simmered beneath his skin, but he tamed it. “So what are you saying?”

“Find something on your own.”

Mason sipped his drink to prevent himself from losing his temper.

“I hope you see that there was no point in going to Fiji,” she continued, her tone annoying him. “Maybe next time, you listen to me.”

“It’s my reputation on the line, not yours,” he shot back. “Ivy lied publicly about being in Fiji when I actually saw her yesterday.”

His anger deepened as he recalled the news he read. They were calling him a liar, a jealous ex. He didn’t even want Ivy anymore.

“And going there proved what?”

He blinked at her callous question. “What? I had to prove she was lying!”

She sighed as if bored by the conversation. “And yet, it didn’t change anything. The situation is still the same.”

Mason groaned, clenching his fists. “Just so you know, you’re pissing me off,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Same here, Mason Hunter,” she replied breezily.

Mason snatched his drink and downed it. He signaled to the waitress and gestured to his empty glass.

“When do you plan on having Patricia Josh release the news?” she asked.

“When Ivy is done with her honeymoon,” he answered. Successfully unlocked! He couldn’t wait to see the shock on her face when the truth dropped like a bomb.

“Well, good luck with that,” she said, unimpressed. He didn’t care about her tone, as long as it made him feel better.

“Thank you,” he murmured as the waitress placed another drink before him.

“Alright then,” she said before hanging up.

“Son of a--,” he trailed off as he pulled the phone from his ear. He hated her guts.

Mason returned to his drink; this time the third glass seemed to smooth out his pain. He leaned back into the chair, basking in the thought of ruining Ivy’s perfect, fake honeymoon.

He couldn’t believe Silas had defended her for a fake marriage. Silas was doing too much.

His phone buzzed again. Annoyed, he glanced at the screen before picking up. “Hey, Jenny.”

“Hey Mason, how’re you doing?” Jenny’s tiny voice filled his ears.

“Good, great. What’s the news?” he asked, his chest heaving with anticipation.

“Nothing,” Jenny said, sounding defeated. “I spoke to five staff members, but all of them cursed me out.”

A wave of fear gripped his chest. “Are you saying none of them will leave Stone Real Estate—not even for a better offer?”

“Yep,” Jenny confirmed.

Anger replaced his fear, simmering under his skin. He had Jenny reach out to five of Thomas’s employees, offering them sweet deals to switch sides, yet none of them would leave, even with his outrageous offers.

Why couldn’t he have that kind of loyalty?

“Do you want me to try again?” Jenny asked. “Eric’s position is still unfilled, and none of the new applicants are qualified. If we don’t find someone soon, the company might--”

“I know,” Mason snapped, cutting her off. Jenny was always rambling off point, oblivious of how angry she made him feel.

“What should I do now?” she asked.

“I need time to think. I’ll call you back.” Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.

Mason sipped his drink, his thoughts swirling in his head. He didn’t know what to do. He was running out of options, and that was eating him up.

“Fuck,” he muttered, slamming the glass down. He was pissed that his little happiness had been snatched away almost instantly, and he blamed Ivy for it.

He thought long and hard. Eric wasn’t coming back. He couldn’t seem to get back at Thomas by stealing his employees. And now nobody was going to fill the vacant position.

When nothing came to mind, he let out a deep sigh and finished his drink. He stood up, placed his bills on the table, and walked out of the bar.

The evening sun warmed his face as he made his way to the rental car. He opened the door and found Silver pressing his phone.

“Let’s go to the airport,” he ordered.

Mason sank into his seat, the pressure of failing tightening his chest. He had to pay Ivy back in a way she wouldn’t be expecting.

And then, a wonderful idea crossed his mind.

He brought out his phone and dialed Jenny. She picked up on the first ring.

“Hello, sir. I figured I upset you, and I’m sorry for--”

“Get me Olivia Teller’s number,” he said, interrupting her rants.

“Oh, alright sir.” She hung up.

Thirty minutes later, just as he was about to board the plane back to California, his phone vibrated with a message.

Immediately, he dialed the number and waited for it to be answered.

“Hello,” a soft voice answered.

“Hello, Ms. Teller,” Mason said, keeping his tone light.

“Yes?” she replied, her voice rising in confusion.

“This is Mason Hunter,” he said, introducing himself.

“Mason? What the fuck do you want?” she flared up immediately.

He chuckled, just the reaction he had expected.

“Take it easy, dear Livy. I’m not the enemy here—Ivy is. And now we’re no longer married.”

Olivia paused, and then breathed. “What do you want?”

“A collaboration,” he said with a smile. “One that will benefit us both, and ruin our common enemy, Ivy.”