She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 147

(Elias)

Century City is a monument to bad taste.

Too much glass.

Too many people walking around in sneakers with expensive suits.

I tell Reeves to leave the car running at the curb. I don’t intend to be long.

The receptionist at Stein M&A asks if I have an appointment.

She looks to be about twenty and wearing something that looks like pajamas.

I’ve never much cared for propriety, but sneakers and pajamas in a corporate office is madness.

“Don’t fret. I won’t be long,” I tell her as I push through the double doors.

I can see exactly where Mason’s office is.

He used to sit at a desk in my building, right next to Natasha, before he decided he was too smart to work for me.

I open his door without knocking.

Mason is at his desk.

He’s wearing a proper tie, which is the only reason I don’t fire him before I hire him.

He looks up.

"Elias."

He doesn’t look thrilled. Smart lad.

"I don't have all day," I say, taking the chair across from him.

I don’t wait for an invitation.

"Chase is suspended. I stripped him of operational control for the time being. I need a temporary CEO for Warren Global. You start tomorrow."

Mason drops his pen. It hits the desk with a sharp clatter.

He just stares at me for several seconds.

"You're out of your mind," he finally says.

"I am eighty-one years old and still work a seventy-hour week. I’m entirely sane. You know the company. You helped build half the models we still use. The board will swallow it because you're a known quantity and you have a good reputation for cleaning up messes."

Mason leans back in his chair, running a hand over his face.

"Elias. I have my own firm to run. And frankly, you don’t want me in your building right now."

"Don't tell me what I want."

"I orchestrated the gala," Mason says bluntly.

He looks me right in the eye. He isn't flinching. I give him points for that.

"I set Chase up," Mason continues. "I brought Chloe there specifically to push his buttons. I didn’t know she’d be recording him, but I knew she’d push him over the edge. I’m the reason your grandson is currently trending under a hashtag that calls him unhinged. If you hire me, you’re putting the fox in the henhouse."

I wave a hand.

I don’t care about this Chloe.

Or about any damn hashtags.

"I don't entirely blame you for wanting to protect Natasha," I tell him. "Chase has been acting like a fool for years. He needed a shock to the system. You gave him one. Fine."

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