Taking the Wheel

LAUREN

Five days later, I landed a job.

“And this is Daisy,” Rachel, my new boss, introduced me to her team.

She was a breath of fresh air compared to my old boss—bubbly and full of life. I had a feeling I was going to like her. She was a burst of color from head to toe.

Her team greeted me with warm smiles as they settled into their seats in the conference room.

Rachel scanned the room. “As you can see, we’ve added a new member to our team. We’re all one big family here, so let’s make Lauren feel at home.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the meeting kicked off.

Walking out of the conference room, I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. For the first time, I felt like I belonged.

Thinking back to a few hours ago, when I was worried this place would be just like Campbell Industry, I wanted to laugh at how quick I was to judge these people without even knowing them.

Two hours later, I was working on something for Rachel when my phone buzzed in my bag. I pulled it out and couldn’t help but smile.

“Hey.”

“Doesn’t your office have a policy against personal calls at work?” I asked, my smile growing wider.

His soft chuckle filled my ear.

“I’m the boss; I make the rules, I just don’t follow them.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “How can I assist you, Mr. Campbell?”

It was so unlike him to call me, especially during the day. All he’d ever done since I’d known him was call me at ungodly hours.

This was a pleasant change. The casual way he was speaking to me, not the commands and rude remarks he usually made.

“I’m taking you out for lunch today,” he replied dryly. “Are you interested?”

His offer took me by surprise, but I was thrilled that he wanted to have lunch with me. And who was I to turn him down?

“A chance to have lunch with ~the~ Mason Campbell? Will I get an autograph afterward?” I teased.

“If you’d like, I could throw in a picture too,” he teased back. “How does that sound?”

“Perfect. My social media will blow up today. Pick me up at twelve?”

“I’ll send Coop to you. See you later.”

“Bye.” The minute I ended the call, I let out a tiny squeal.

I didn’t know where this happiness was coming from, but I knew Mason was the reason for it.

By twelve, Coop was waiting for me downstairs. I touched up my makeup, applied red lipstick, grabbed my bag, and headed for the elevator.

Coop got out of the car when he saw me and opened the back door for me.

“Hey, Coop?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

I held out my hand. “Can I have the key, please?”

He didn’t hesitate before he went around the car and came back with the car key in his hand. “Thank you.” I smiled, rummaged through my purse, and pulled out a hundred pounds. “Here.” I handed it to him.

“You can take a taxi home. I’ll drive myself.”

He looked worried. “But ma’am…”

I cut him off with another smile. “Don’t worry, Mason won’t say a thing. I can drive just fine. Go home or go out and have fun. Whatever you prefer.”

With a nod, he replied, “All right, ma’am. Have a good day.”

“You too.” I waved at him and got into the car, starting the engine.

I texted Mason that I was outside Campbell Industry. Looking up at the towering building, being back here felt strange. A month ago, I was just an employee here, and now I was married to the owner.

You never know what the future holds until you’re living it. I never would have imagined I’d end up where I am today.

“What are you doing?”

I looked up and flashed a smile at my husband, who was peering at me through the window. “I’m driving.”

“What happened to Coop?”

“I gave him a day off. Everyone deserves a break every now and then.”

“Are you sure you can drive?” Mason asked, looking skeptical. “You’ve never been in an accident?”

“Mr. Campbell, are you scared for your life?” I asked, grinning.

“When it involves you, I have to be,” he replied, his tone a mix of annoyance and caution.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you back safe and sound. Not a scratch on you.”

He rolled his eyes and moved to open the back door.

I stopped him immediately. “Hey, hey. What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting in the car? Isn’t that obvious?”

“Get back here and sit in the front. I’m your wife, not your chauffeur.”

His gray eyes narrowed, clearly irritated by my words. “I never sit in the front.”

“Well tough shit, your highness. Get in or we’ll be spending the night here.”

Mason looked taken aback. “You’re unbelievable.”

I nodded, pointing to the seat next to me. “Yeah, yeah. Say what you want, but you’re still sitting in the front.”

I thought I’d pushed my luck, that there was no way Mason would ever sit in the front, but he opened the front door and slid inside.

It took me all of five seconds to snap out of my shock.

“Do you think you’re the boss of me?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?” I raised my eyebrows and gestured to where he was sitting. “Seeing as you’re sitting in the front?”

“I never should have extended a hand of friendship.” His voice was gruff, as if the words were being forced out.

I shot him a quick look and snorted, my eyes returning to the road. “Excuse me? When did you ever offer me friendship? That was all me, not you,” I reminded him.

“Do you always need to stroke your own ego?” His voice dripped with disdain, as if he was let down by my behavior.

“Ha! That’s rich, coming from you.”

“Where are you going? I told you we were headed to Stars Restaurant. You’re going the wrong way.”

“Oh, I know.”

“You know and you’re still not turning around?”

“We’re going somewhere else, so zip it,” I said, fighting the urge to smack him. “You’re not allowed to talk until we get there.”

“You can’t just—”

I pressed a finger to my lips. “Shh!”

“What—”

“Shhhhh!”

He opened his mouth to protest, but I beat him to it.

“Shhh, shh!”

His face was a picture of pure annoyance, but he stayed quiet. He knew I was just as stubborn as he was.

Maybe even more so.

I had the perfect lunch spot in mind. It wasn’t where he’d planned to go, or where he’d want to go if he knew, but it was a place that meant a lot to me.

And I had no idea why I was bringing him there. ~I shouldn’t be bringing him here.~

“What’s this place?” Mason asked as soon as I parked the car.

We were in a different part of London, but I knew bringing him here was the right move. He needed a change of pace.

Besides, I knew the five-star restaurant he’d planned to take me to couldn’t hold a candle to Togo’s restaurant.

“It’s the only place to get the best food. It’s way better than what you were about to blow your money on,” I replied, stepping out of the car.

“How do you know about this place?” Mason asked, closing his door and surveying our surroundings with a look of discomfort and distaste.

“My dad and I used to come here. We made a lot of memories. It’s a special place for me. It reminds me of the good old days. Makes me feel happy.”

He nodded absentmindedly. “Are you sure it’s clean? Has it been inspected by the health department?”

I laughed, walking over to him and linking my arm with his, feeling his body close to mine.

I ignored the spark of electricity that shot through me, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt it.

“Mason, you’re going to be fine. I know this is your first time in a place like this, but it’s not the end of the world. I’ll protect you.”

He shot me a glare at my teasing smile.

“Come on.”

We walked into Togo’s and the owner, Rafael, lit up when he saw me. “Lauren! It’s good to see you again.”

“Hi, Rafael. Good to see you too.” Rafael nodded, then shifted his gaze to Mason.

I quickly added, “This is my friend, Mason.” I could almost feel Mason’s intense glare, but I wasn’t looking at him.

“I’m her husband,” he corrected sharply.

My eyes snapped back to him in surprise.

Rafael grinned, looking at me. “You’re married! Congratulations, Lauren. Please, the food is on the house.” We found a table in the back.

“You introduced yourself as my husband,” I said, still in shock.

“I’m aware.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because I’m your husband?”

“Fake husband.”

He shook his head. “I’m not a fake husband. I put a ring on your finger and said the vows with you.”

“Temporary husband.”

Mason ignored what I said and changed the subject. “So, you’ve been coming here for years?”

I nodded. “Five years, but ever since Dad got sick, I couldn’t bear to come eat here alone.”

“But you’re here now.”

“I have you with me now.”

His brows furrowed. “So, you’re kind of using me, then?”

I chuckled. “Wouldn’t hurt to do it once in a while.” He grumbled something and I laughed. “Are you really grumbling?”

“Shut up.”

Our food arrived, and I watched Mason’s expression shift from a frown to uncertainty.

I knew he wouldn’t touch his food, so I picked up my fork and speared a piece of pasta, moving it towards his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“Feeding you.”

“Excuse me?” His voice was a mix of shock and confusion. “You will do no such thing. We are—”

“Do you really want to argue?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at him. “Come on. Open up.”

He glared at me.

I waved the fork in the air. “I’m waiting, Mason.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I swear if you don’t take it, I’ll make a scene right now.”

He cursed and snatched the fork from my hands, bringing it to his mouth.

I smiled in triumph, and he shot me a dark glare.

“Happy?”

“Immensely. Does it taste good?”

He shrugged. “It’s all right.”

“All right, huh? I’ll take it.”

“You said you had good memories with your dad here?” I nodded in response. “When did you start coming here?”

“I guess a year after Mom left us. Dad was the one who actually found it. We’d always celebrate our birthdays here. It kind of became a tradition. At least…that was before he fell sick.”

“Have you spoken to your mom since she left?”

I looked down. “No, I haven’t seen her since the night she left,” I said softly. “I haven’t spoken to her either, but Dad did a few times.”

I glanced up just in time to see him quickly wipe a frown off his face.

“Do you want to?”

“Absolutely not. I never want to see her again. If I ever bumped into her, I’d turn the other way and pretend I didn’t notice her.”

“It’s okay to be mad, Lauren, but she’s still your mom. You can’t change that.”

“Mason, please,” I said, trying to keep my irritation with him in check.

He’d never get how self-centered she was. She only cared about herself, so she didn’t deserve anything from me.

“You won’t get it.”

“I’d disagree. You say your mom left you. My mom didn’t leave, but she still abandoned me when I was a kid. She just passed her responsibilities off to someone else.”

“She never paid any mind to me and never felt like a mom. At least you had some good years with yours. So yeah, Lauren, I do know how it feels.”

“And you just forgave her like that?”

“I had to. She’s my mom, but our relationship can never be fixed. Holding onto hate and anger doesn’t get you anywhere.”

I didn’t care if it would get me anywhere or not. That’s where Mason and I differed. He could forgive someone, but I couldn’t.

No matter how forgiving I seemed, when someone hurt me, it was tough to let it go. It was tough to forgive them.

“Can I ask you something?” I said.

“Go ahead.”

“Can you tell me about you and Chloe?” I gritted my teeth, bracing for his anger to flare up and for him to brush me off rudely.

I was ready for him to call me nosy and tell me to mind my own business. Honestly, I should have minded my own business.

He sighed and rubbed his neck. “Another time, I promise.”

One thing I knew about Mason Campbell, he always kept his word.