Chapter 105: Seven Years Wasn’t Enough

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Seven Years Wasn’t Enough

The black luxury SUV moved smoothly through the busy city traffic.

Mason sat in the back seat. The tinted windows completely blocked out the flashing cameras of the reporters still swarming the hotel exit. The heavy silence inside the car should have felt peaceful. Instead, it felt incredibly suffocating.

His young assistant sat across from him, holding a glowing digital tablet.

"Mr. Calloway," the assistant said briskly. "The board requires your signature on the broadcast merger by tomorrow morning. We also need to reschedule the conference call with the London investors. They are pushing for an earlier time."

Mason did not say a word. He was looking out the window, watching the city blur past them.

He was not thinking about the broadcast merger. He was not thinking about London.

He was thinking about honey colored eyes and the way her voice shook when she asked if he was happy.

"Sir?" the assistant asked gently. "Should I confirm the London call?"

Mason slowly turned his head. His dark eyes were completely blank.

"Has Miss Ellis already left?" Mason asked.

The assistant blinked in surprise. He quickly tapped his screen to check the security logs.

"Yes," the assistant replied. "Her car departed for the international airport twenty minutes ago. Her flight takes off in an hour."

Mason simply nodded.

He did not ask another question. He did not give another order. He just turned his head back to the dark window and watched the city streets.

The SUV pulled into the private underground garage of the Calloway Football Group headquarters.

Mason stepped out of the car. He walked toward the private executive elevator. The marble lobby was usually completely empty at this hour, guarded only by a single security desk.

But today, someone was waiting.

A massive guy with broad shoulders was sitting casually on one of the expensive leather couches. He was wearing a nice dark jacket and jeans. He was tossing a small mint into the air and catching it.

Mason completely stopped walking.

The man caught the mint, stood up, and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I thought CEOs were supposed to be harder to find," Leo grinned broadly.

For the first time in seven incredibly long years, the cold, ruthless mask on Mason’s face completely broke.

He actually smiled. It was a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes.

Mason walked forward and pulled his old teammate into a massive, heavy hug. Leo clapped him hard on the back, laughing loudly.

"It is good to see you, Captain," Leo said.

They completely ignored the corporate schedule. Mason led Leo directly into his spacious top floor office and shut the heavy wooden doors.

Leo walked around the room. He whistled softly, looking at the floor to ceiling windows and the massive mahogany desk.

"This is crazy," Leo laughed, shaking his head. "Everything in here looks incredibly expensive. I feel like I need to pay an admission fee just to sit on your couch."

Mason smiled slightly and sat down in the chair opposite him.

"You look good, Leo," Mason said. "How is Chloe?"

Leo’s chest instantly puffed out with absolute pride. His massive grin somehow got even wider.

"She is my wife now," Leo announced happily.

Mason went completely still. Then, a look of pure, genuine joy crossed his face.

"Congratulations," Mason said warmly. "That is amazing. When did it happen?"

"Last summer," Leo explained. He eagerly pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen. "We had a small ceremony back home. She looked absolutely beautiful. Here, look."

Leo handed the phone over.

Mason looked at the bright screen. Chloe was wearing a stunning white dress, laughing happily while Leo held her in his massive arms.

Mason swiped to the next photo.

It was a group shot of the groomsmen. Mason immediately recognized the incredibly tall, broad shouldered man standing right next to Leo.

It was Jackson. He was wearing a sharp tuxedo, looking exactly like the fiercely loyal defensive player he had always been.

Mason handed the phone back.

"Jackson looks good," Mason noted quietly. "Jackson wanted to come today, but he had meetings."

"Still coaching?" Mason asked.

Leo let out a loud laugh.

"No," Leo shook his head. "He got promoted last year. He is the assistant manager for a professional club in the Premier League now. He practically runs the entire defense himself. The players are absolutely terrified of him."

Mason smiled. That sounded exactly like Jackson.

"Is he married?" Mason asked casually.

"Still single," Leo sighed heavily. He put his phone back into his pocket.

Mason raised a dark eyebrow. "Why? He makes Premier League money now."

Leo leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. His expression turned a little bit sad.

"He never really got over Zoya," Leo admitted quietly. "He dates sometimes, but it never lasts. I think he is still waiting for a girl who argues with him about statistics."

Mason stared at the floor. He understood that completely.

The comfortable, nostalgic energy in the room slowly shifted.

Leo looked at Mason. The goofy, happy smile completely faded from Leo’s face. He became entirely serious. He was not just an old teammate right now. He was a friend checking on his brother.

"I saw the media logs downstairs," Leo said softly.

Mason did not look up. He kept his eyes on the floor.

"Did seeing Audrey shake you?" Leo asked directly.

Silence hung heavily in the massive office. The city traffic hummed quietly outside the thick glass windows.

Mason tapped his thumb once against his index finger. He took a long, slow breath. He did not try to lie. He did not try to put his cold, corporate mask back on.

"I thought seven years would be enough," Mason admitted. His deep voice sounded incredibly rough.

Leo watched him carefully.

"Was it?" Leo asked quietly.

Mason finally looked up. He looked out the large window at the gray sky. He thought about the way her honey colored eyes had looked at him across the desk. He thought about the terrible, desperate ache in his chest when she walked out the door.

"No," Mason whispered.

An hour later, Leo finally stood up to leave.

Mason walked him to the heavy wooden office doors. They shook hands firmly.

"Tell Chloe I said hello," Mason requested.

"I will," Leo promised.

Leo turned around to walk out. But before he crossed the threshold, he stopped. He looked back at Mason over his shoulder.

"If you are thinking about walking away again," Leo said seriously. "You need to understand something."

Mason waited.

Leo offered a small, knowing smile.

"She is not twenty anymore," Leo told him. "She is not the scared college kid you left behind. Do not underestimate her."

Leo turned and walked down the quiet hallway, leaving Mason entirely alone.

Mason stood in the center of the silent office. The room suddenly felt incredibly empty.

His cell phone buzzed sharply in his pocket.

He pulled it out. It was a direct message from his assistant.

Mr. Calloway, Miss Ellis’s article has just been published online. I have sent the link to your private email.

Mason looked at the bright notification on his screen.

He did not tap it immediately. He did not open the email.

Instead, he just stood completely still. He stared at her name on his screen for a very long moment, letting the heavy reality of Leo’s words sink deeply into his chest.