Page 12 of Housekeeping

7

Mason

By the time I got back to my room, it was cleaned, and the maid was nowhere to be found. I looked around, even in the front room, but there was no trace she’d ever been there. I had a towel wrapped around my waist, and I sighed at what a waste it was. I’d wanted her to look at me some more because she had the oddest reactions when she saw me naked. Well, not odd entirely. She definitely looked at me as if she wanted me. There was no fucking denying it. It wouldn’t take much to get her to play along.

“Next time!” I pulled off the towel as I went back to the bedroom, as if giving her a good eyeful of what she’d get in time.

I looked through my closet for something to wear. I hadn’t packed much to begin with, and I’d have to remember to send my clothes down to laundry or I’d have to buy more outfits. There was a store in the hotel lobby where I could buy more clothes if I wanted to, so it wasn’t like it was an especially large problem.

“He’s going to be mad I’m late,” I said aloud, checking the time.

After so much relaxation the past couple days, it was time to get back to work before Trent specifically called me up to ask if I was getting things done. I wondered if Kevin was keeping up with the work since he arrived, or if I was being excessively lazy. Not that Kevin was lazy, he was just as easily distracted as I was, if not more so.

I got dressed in a pair of slacks, then pulled on a white button-down shirt, before grabbing a coat to go over it. Then I put on my loafers and left my room. I could have had some breakfast, but I was allowed to order from the kitchen, and it was easier than just making something myself, or eating whatever junk food I still had in my fridge. I didn’t play competitive sports anymore, so I’d gone a bit—well, a lot—lax about my diet. I knew it was self-destructive though, so I usually made sure to have at least one good meal a day.

Besides, the food from the kitchen, particularly the pastries, was pretty amazing stuff.

I made my way to the elevator, then up to what was usually Dad’s office, on one of the highest floors in the hotel. The office that Trent was currently using.

Dad’s secretary looked up as I neared, and I sent her a nod in greeting.

“Is he busy?” I asked, gesturing toward the door.

“He’s looking over some files. You can go in, Mr. Thompson.”

I rolled my eyes. “As I’ve asked before, you can call me Mason. There are too many Thompsons around now, best not to get all confused.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d asked, but I knew she wouldn’t listen to me anyway. She didn’t even call my dad by his first name, and she’d been working for him for over half a dozen years.

I opened the door and walked inside. I could have knocked, but I wasn’t nearly that polite.

“Busy, as always,” I said, closing the door behind me.

Trent was looking over a file on his desk and something on his computer. I didn’t know exactly what work he did, but pretty much every time I walked into his office, he was working on something. He was the opposite of me, more work than parties, and even those, I knew he usually ignored unless it wasn’t a possibility. Besides working for the family, he’d started up his own successful business and he was only 31.

I was pretty sure some of that success came from the family name, but he definitely worked hard enough I could believe most of it was his being a workaholic. Dad had told me all about big brother’s best qualities. And while I resented Dad for comparing us, I didn’t particularly hate Trent, or I wouldn’t be able to stand being in the same room as him.

“Sorry,” he said, not sounding the least bit apologetic. “Dad left a lot of work behind and I’ve been trying to get through it as quickly as possible, but I’ve been in between meetings the past few days…”

“You could let Kevin do some of it, or I could handle some of the meetings, if you wanted,” I offered like a fucking chump. Next thing I’ll be doing is a fucking curtsey. I was being so accommodating that it was making me feel sick.

He spared me a glance before returning to his computer.

“As much as I appreciate that, I’m fine doing this much. I only need to keep it up until Dad is ready to come back…”

His words trailed off, and I noticed when his eyes glazed over. He was no longer focusing on what was on his computer, and I wondered if he had the same thoughts I did about how odd this whole thing with Dad was.

“Have you had any word yet?” I asked.

He looked up at me, a slight frown on his brow. “If you’re asking about Dad, still nothing. I’m too busy to push it for now. I’ll give it another week or so, then go back to the mansion.”

“You went there?” I asked.

His lips pursed. “The day I arrived, yes. I’ve been staying at the hotel ever since.”

I nodded because it was completely expected. It was a surprise he’d even stepped foot there, considering he hadn't since he left for college. I went back occasionally to see my parents and my sister, and so did Kevin. Then I remembered Emily had mentioned something about him arriving before I did. I was partying way too hard if I’d forgotten that little nugget.

“Can I help you with something?” he asked, folding his arms on the desk and giving me his full attention.