Chapter Eighteen: Operation seduce Mason

I stared at the ceiling. Hearing Kim mention the plan again makes it sound even more ridiculous.

"Kim, I don't know how to seduce anyone. Remember Ryan said I was stiff.”

"Fuck Ryan. And you don't really have to know how to seduce anyone. Just make him want you.”

"That sounds even harder.”

I can hear her sigh from the phone. "Iris, you're a beautiful woman. Forget whatever that dickhead, Ryan, has put in your head.

“You can make any guy want you and now you have a very handsome husband that looks like he was God's favorite when he was made. Surely you can figure something out.”

I knew she was rolling her eyes from the phone. "Just try these three things,” she continued.

"Sit close to him, touch him and then flirt with him.”

"And if none of these methods work?"

"Then we have our answer.”

I had to wait for that evening for Mason to be back from work to start operation seduce Mason. That's what Kim decided to name it.

That evening after dinner, I found Mason in the living room.

What luck!

He normally locks himself in the office after dinner.

"I just want to watch tv.” I said, waiting for him to say something but he just focused on his laptop.

Okay, you got this Iris.

I had been sitting in front of him for the past twenty minutes now. The movie I chose was still on and I had no idea what it was about.

I glanced up at Mason, he seemed perfectly comfortable. His attention divided between his laptop and whatever was on his phone, not on me, I was practically invisible.

I glanced up at him again, but he didn't even look up.

This isn't working, I thought to myself.

I had spent half an hour upstairs after dinner convincing myself I could do this.

Who knew seducing someone is this difficult, not to talk of getting the person's attention.

I took a breath. Then moved from my position. Mason's eyes raised from his screen as I closed the distance between us. He said nothing.

I sat beside him, not too close but enough for our shoulders to brush if anyone moved. I turned my eyes to the television, focusing on it intensely.

I could feel his stare at the side of my face, my heart started beating faster but I still kept my attention on the television.

Maybe it's working?

I decided to shift closer to him, our hands were basically brushing against each other. Feeling him look up from his laptop again, I swallowed and turned my head to him.

"What?”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Nothing,” I answered.

"You've been staring."

"No I haven't.”

"You have. Is there something you want?" He said, his eyes boring straight into mine.

I looked away, then suddenly remembered she said to be confident.

I slowly turned my head to his, holding his gaze. I had no idea how many seconds passed. But it felt like a while.

Then I dropped my gaze deliberately to his mouth. I looked back at him, he didn't move away.

But the look on his face made my heart jump, his eyes had turned a shade darker.

Oh! it's working. I cheered in my head.

I placed my hand on his forearm, his gaze dropped to it, then returned to my face but he still didn't move a way.

This is a sign to take it to the next level. I leaned in closer and I watched his eyes drop briefly to my lips making my breath catch.

He leaned toward and my body stilled. This was it.

I closed my eyes waiting to have the feeling of his lips on mine. I waited a few seconds and nothing came.

Huh, how slow is he?

I opened my eyes and saw him watching me vividly.

My face went hot, still in the kissing posture. I instantly sitted upright.

"Are you trying to kiss me?" He said from beside her.

I felt like I should die on the spot from embarrassment.

"I wasn't. I just thought your hair looked a little longer today, I just wanted to have a closer look.”

He calmly removed my hand from his and placed it on my thighs.

"If you wanted to know if I got a new haircut you could have just asked, there's no reason for such...".

His gaze lingered on my lip before going back to work, signalling this as the end of the conversation.

I quickly excused myself and went back to my room before I died of embarrassment.

The first attempt failed.

The next day.

I had changed my clothes three times. The third one however...

I looked at myself in the mirror, it was definitely too revealing. It was a silk spaghetti strap top with a low neckline and very short ruffled shorts.

That's exactly why I chose it. I had to wake up extra early today to prepare breakfast.

I flipped the pancakes on the pan, dancing to music on my headphones.

I turned to take the pancake batter and saw Mason standing there, his gaze moved slowly from my face to my bare legs then higher. The thin fabric of my sleepwear left little to imagination.

His jaw tightened.

His eyes went back to my face.

"Why are you preparing breakfast? Where's the chef?"

"Oh, I told him not to come this morning.”

"Why?"

"I wanted to prepare breakfast today.” I looked at him innocently.

I motioned at the chair for him to sit, he took his seat at the small dining in the kitchen.

I brought his plate and placed it in front of him, making sure my cleavage was showing. He looked down and took a deep breath.

"Thank you.” And he went on eating his food.

I took my plate and sat beside him to eat. We ate in silence, I had no idea what to do now.

I had imagined this past differently. In my head he would notice what I was wearing, give me a compliment and everything would fall in place.

Instead Mason was eating his breakfast, I might as well be wearing a potato sack.

I glanced up at him, nothing. Maybe I need to try harder.

"Is the food good?"

His eyes moved to mine. "It's fine.”

"Just fine?"

"It's breakfast, Iris.”

I frowned. "I made it myself.”

"I know, which you wouldn't have to, if you had just let the chef do his job.”

He took another bite, he was impossible. I shifted my chair closer to him this time making our knees brush.

He immediately noticed because his fork paused halfway to his mouth. He looked down at me and I smiled at him innocently.

"What?"

His gaze remained on me for another second.

"Nothing.”

He went back to eating, and I almost smiled. I reached for the sugar across the table to add to my coffee, my sleeve slipped slightly down my shoulders.

Mason's eyes followed the movement, this time I caught it. His gaze returned to mine. For a moment neither of us looked away.

He slowly lowered his fork to the table, my heart began to pound as he leaned back into the chair giving me his full attention.

"You didn't wear that yesterday". His eyes moved slower, over me.

My face warmed up. "Cause I like it.”

He lifted a perfectly arched brow. "Do you?"

I nodded. "Yes.”

He studied me for a moment. "Interesting.”

"Why?"

"Because I have never seen you wear it before.”

I swallowed. "I wanted to wear it today.”

"I noticed.’

His voice was lower now.

"You've been acting strange all morning.”

"No, I just wanted to have breakfast with my husband, what's wrong with that?" I said try to keep my face as neutral as possible.

"Is that all?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Hmm.” He stared at me for a second then stood. He walked around the table, for a second I thought he wanted to leave instead he stood behind my chair, his hand resting lightly on it.

He leaned down just enough that his voice was close to my ear.

"You're a terrible liar.”

My breath caught. Before I could turn around, he straightened then picked his phone from the counter.

"I have a meeting.”

I stared at him. "Now?"

He looked at his watch.

"Now.”

He walked towards the kitchen entrance and stopped, without turning around, he said.

"The breakfast was good.”

I smiled despite trying to play it cool.

He finally looked back at me.

His eyes dropped down briefly before returning to my face.

"Next time you want my attention..." He paused. My heart hammered in my chest.

"You don't need to cook for it.”

Then he walked away, while I sat down frozen on the table.