Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

Mason sighs and files away the paperwork into the cabinet. His gaze flickers to the security camera monitors and then back to the rest of the unfinished work in front of him. Paperwork is the bane of his life. God, he escaped school so he wouldn't have to sit behind a desk all day! Now, it looks like he just has to do it all night.
He pulls out the bank statements when there's a knock at his office door.

"Come in," he calls.


Jared one of the security guards pushes open the door and clears his throat.
"What is it Jared?" asks Mason, head tilting up and eyes meeting the security guard's.
"Sir, we've got a...situation," stumbles out Jared. 

Even though he's a big, burly guy himself, Jared's wary of his employer. It isn't that Mason Carter is a bad man or that he's done anything particularly immoral and yes, Jared would class him, as honest, but...there is just something about Mr Carter that's intimidating. There's almost like a secluding dark mist covering his aura- glimpses of the man's nature can be seen but never in its entirety. Although that maybe due to very few people really knowing Mason- his quiet, brooding nature does make that hard. So Jared isn't sure what exactly it is about the man that puts him on a slight cautious edge, but it definitely is something.

Nonetheless Jared keeps his opinions to himself and doesn't question the hand that provides. And well at that.

"What...kind of situation?" questions Mason eyes still focused on Jared.
It's an uncomfortable stare that has Jared shifting his feet slightly and clearing his throat nervously. He just isn't sure how to explain it.

"Well, Sir, there's a passed out girl downstairs," slowly begins Jared.
"So? Jared, you know we get quite a few sometimes, who've had a little too much to drink."
"Of course Sir but the thing is, she's not drunk. I think she passed out from exhaustion."
"Exhaustion? In my club? Who was her Dom or Sub?"
"Oh no! No, I didn't mean it like that Sir! What I...She-she well, she stumbled in the door from the woods, barely dressed and when I tried to ask her if I could help, she passed out."


His eyebrows almost furrow in confusion, wondering whether this is actually true or if it's just some hoax his staff are trying to pull. No, it wouldn't be a prank. After all, it is a working night and they have no reason to do it. For now, he must give Jared the benefit of the doubt and as such, he calmly rises to his feet and stacks his papers into some sort of pile, before addressing Jared.

"Bring her upstairs, to one of the spare rooms and have someone fetch the doctor. I need to speak to Cole," instructs Mason.

Due to being so far out of town from the nearest hospital, an on-call doctor is admitted onto his pay roll. Besides, it's good to have one to do the monthly staff sexual health checks. He could always take this woman to the hospital, but first she needs to become conscious. Plus, having ambulances arrive at the club wouldn't exactly be great for business.


****************************************

Mason's known Cole since high-school where they were thick-as-thieves and to this day continue to be. Therefore when Cole wasn't sure what he wanted to do, Mason naturally offered him a job bartending and overseeing the club as an unofficial second in command. It had only started out as a temporary position and now years later, he remains, working the bar and keeping the peace on the base where all the shows run and partners are chosen. It's mostly an easy job-even during peak hours and days. However, every once in a while (with newcomers mostly) there'd be the occasional cat-fight for a particular Dom or Sub, in which case Cole would step in and break it up or send them to be dealt with by Mason. Unsurprisingly, people chose to break it up rather than risk a run in with the infamous club owner.

Making his way downstairs, Mason nods his head at his 'beta' to ask for him to step out to speak privately. Cole's puzzled by the sudden audience and the unusual behaviour leads him to believe something is wrong. He's right, of course.

"I've been told there's been an unusual situation. I need to deal with it now so I'll explain it to you later but just so you know, my office is locked. If anything critical comes up, I'll be near or in the guest bedroom. Of course that means it's in use and no-one is allowed in without my permission. Are you okay here? No problems, right?"

"Nope, I'm fine, I can handle it," replies Cole the British accent lingering in his voice. He'd picked it up from his biological father who lives in England and it was there Cole had visited every school holiday.


Striding up the stairs, Mason sees Jared standing at the door of one of the guest rooms and assumes it's the one he's brought the mystery girl into.
"Is Xin on her way?" he asks outside the door.
"Yeah, she's just a few minutes away, she said," responds Jared with a tight nod.

Mason acknowledges the answer with a small mumble, pushing against the guest room door. He's curious to say the least as to what kind of woman would be wondering the woods alone at night and apparently barely dressed. Definitely one that spells trouble-but then again, that's his type. He's expecting a lithe inked pixie with multiple body piercings; an image befitting to the persona he's created in his mind.

Only he's completely wrong.

She's none of the things he'd thought.

Her skin is a hot-chocolate colour and beautifully flawless with very little blemishes. She has a small, daintily button nose, that's petite like the rest of her soft oval face. Thin, lined black eyebrows emphasis her oval shaped eyes that at the present lie close with long black lashes sweeping at the very tops of her cheeks. Following the ridge of her nose he finds himself drawn to her light pink, plump lips, shaped like Cupid's bow.
While her features may be somewhat soft and immature, her body is far from it. It's quite openly displayed with her clothes in tatters, as Jared had stated, and unable to help but look, Mason can confirm it is most definitely one of a full-mature woman. It's the figure teenage wet-dreams are made of, the figure pin-up dolls and Photoshop tries to achieve-large hips, small waist. Although, in all fairness, Mason realises that no matter her body type, with a face like hers she could get away with almost anything. While her face is flawless, the rest of her plentifully visible skin is far from cocoa brown. Mud and small scrapes are expected from the wandering she took in the woods but what he doesn't expect are the bruises ranging in colours splattered in various locations, some even disappearing where he cannot see.


Disgust and anger flash through him, hot and strong like molten lava before it cools. He doesn't know her story. Even if everything points to one thing-he doesn't know for sure. Whatever it is, the first thing to do is make sure the woman comes around. Despite his goal to remain collected, the fury at seeing the product of such violence remains ebbing through his blood. That and...something else. Something he can't quite place, something that extends more than just the fascination of a truly beautiful person.

But he soon figures that feeling out when her bark-like eyes open. The instant zing of connection informing him, that there is no way he can let this woman remain a stranger to him. A soul-mate is a once-in-a-lifetime gift and only an idiot would be refuse that. Of course, the instant spark of attraction is only supposed to be the first step.

They take in the sight of each other for a moment.


Suddenly, memories filter through Katy's mind as she finally grasps her situation. Then the confusion is hurled aside for pure panic.

"Relax," states Mason but no sooner does he do this, when she's scrambling out of the bed onto her wobbly feet.
"Uh-no. I-I...I have to go. Thank you but-I need to go," she stutters out.

He catches her as she's about to fall again, sitting her down on the edge of the bed while she blinks rapidly to try stop the spinning of her head.

"Here, drink," states Mason, grabbing the bottled water off the side of the bedside table.

Hesitantly, she takes the clear liquid, sipping it before the thirst sets in. In that moment, she's gulping the whole bottle like a fish out of water. Only after that does her mind gain some clarity causing her to acutely be aware of the cramping of her stomach in hunger. It's not important at the minute though. Safety needs to be prioritised before hunger because she can still go for a few hours without food. However a strange waking up in a strange room with an even stranger man is ringing a lot of alarm bells.

"Thankyou...Thank you, for all of this. I'm sorry I can't...I can't repay you-"
"I haven't done anything any other decent person wouldn't," interrupts Mason.
"Oh...I, thankyou...anyway. I-I have to go now."

Mason gazes at her for a minute, blinking in utter belief before asking flatly, "the nearest town is miles from here and don't take this the wrong way-but from what I can see you don't seem to have any means of going anywhere."

Katy flounders for an answer, her confused mind cycling to find a solution to the problem but with everything so loud around her, she can't make sense of it.

"I-I...I'll figure something out," she whispers arms wrapping around her waist as she becomes acutely aware of her state of her undress.

The chilling thought enters her that she has no idea how long she's been unconscious in the house. Dead to the world and anyone could have done anything. Although...gazing at the man before her, he doesn't look like the type to be indecent. Then again, looks can be deceiving. She's learnt that the hard way.


"Alone at night?" questions Mason again, "a doctor is on her way, please, stay, lie down and rest."

Katy raises her eyes, really looking at him this time. He's wearing dark jeans, bagging at his sculpted thighs and no doubt cute ass. His simple plain black t-shirt creases and wrinkles at the outlined muscles of his defined torso and arms. His slightly too long strands of floppy ebony hair whip around and dark blue eyes meet her wide brown ones. There's a steady, strong calmness in their depths; one that seems to instantly soothe Katy. That's a rarity in itself because for the past few years her mind has been in constant tension and turmoil; now to have a man standing strong yet soft, somehow settles her mind and soul.

Katy sighs taking him up on his offer as she sinks further into the mattress.

"I'll have some food and more water brought up for you," he states.


She goes to protest but it all quickly dies on her lips as his expression remains the same. Timidly nodding she stares while he exits the room, closing the door behind him. With time to spare she glances around the room noting the rich, dark interior; all in shades of plum purple, black and gold. Even the bed is luxurious, spoilt only by her dirty body on it. In fact, drenched in sweat, scraped by branches and caked in mud; she feels like some disgusting sewer rat. As bad as she feels she knows she must look a thousand times worse. Not to mention smell. A good shower, food and shelter are what she needs and the lure of this place is it has it all. Only there's no way she can stay here-at this hotel. No way she'll be able to afford it, plus it's far too close to Richard.

Before she can make any attempt to leave, he returns. Carrying with him a plate of food. She can smell the food before it even reaches her. It's nothing too heavy; buttered toast and eggs but it smells and looks like heaven to Katy.

It's no surprise that she instantly takes it, tearing through a large chunk of the bread before scooping up a brimming forkful of the eggs. She eats with ravenous hunger and greed, almost chocking on the food more than once. It's only when she takes a break to gulp water to wash down all that food, does she look up and realise he's been standing there watching the whole time. With that her appetite suddenly dries as her stomach clenches in realisation that someone's been watching her stuff her face like some pig.

"Please, eat," he states taking a seat beside her cautiously.

As he lowers down, his eyes are trained on her, making sure that although she's uncomfortable with him there, she's not terrified.

"My name is Mason Carter, by the way. The owner of this place," he introduces.
"Katy..." she replies swallowing the last morsel of food, "thankyou Mr. Carter...for the food and the bed and...everything."
"Mason," he corrects, "and it's no problem. Now why don't you tell me-"

He's just about to ask her story when the door is swung open by Jared, allowing the doctor to enter.

Although a tiny, Dr.Xin Lu certainly does pack a punch, not that her delicate features and slim body shows that vibrant personality.

"Mason!" she cries, a wide smiling on her face as she fiercely hugs him, squeezing his stomach so hard he grimaces in pain.
"Xin. Nice to see you too," he greets quickly escaping from her grip as soon as she eases up, "this is Katy."

Xin turns her gaze to the other woman in the room, her smile instantly diming at the sight of the poor thing.
"Hi there, nice to meet you. I'm Dr.Lu," she introduces forcing back her horror.

In cases like this it's extremely important to remain professional, pushing aside all personal feelings to focus on her patient.

Katy gives back a small wave as Xin then turns to Mason, giving him a pointed look which clearly means 'get out'.
"Right...well, I'll be outside if you need me," he says, begrudgingly exiting the room.

Damn doctor-patient confidentiality. He wants to know everything that's happened to his mate. Surely, he has a right to know. Either way, he definitely needs to find a way to convince her to stay.

She almost calls for him back, but stops herself just in time. After everything that's happening she doesn't need to be romanticising her rescuer. He doesn't deserve a burden like her. And for all she knows he's probably already got a wife or girlfriend at home. He doesn't need to take on a charity case like her.


"So...Katy, just relax for me, okay?"

The doctor's voice snaps Katy out of her hopeless wonderings. Her focus shifts back to the present; back to the woman opening up her bag and taking out a small torch.

"This isn't going to hurt a bit. I'm just going to give you a full body examination and I need you to tell me where, if anywhere it hurts. Can you do that for me?" she asks kindly.


Katy wordlessly nods, allowing the professional to do her work. She's way overdue for a check-up anyway but whatever damage has been done to her body it's too late now. Somehow through it all, her body has healed and survived-the same, however, cannot be said for her mind.
The doctor prods and pokes, asking Katy all along if anywhere hurts. Surprisingly she does not ask a too invasive or personal question-that is until the end.

"Katy, I'm going to ask you something personal, and I need you to answer me honestly, okay?"
"Okay," whispers Katy.
"Have you every been sexual assaulted-raped?"

Katy's lips part in shock. That was certainly not the question she was expecting and definitely not one she wants to answer.

"I think I'm fine, thank you-"
"I need to know if in such case, you've been examined for any tearing or internal damage-"
"I'm okay, doctor. I'm...I'm perfectly fine, see," interrupts Katy. She just can't stand to listen to anymore of talk of her abuse. And she does not want someone prodding inside her so intimately. She feels fine and so she must be fine. Besides, she'd much sooner shoot herself than have Richard inside her again.
"Fine. You clearly don't want a cervical exam but can I at least convince you to take this to the police?" sighs Xin.

The girl has clearly run away from her abuser, so why she seems to be protecting him, Xin has no idea.

Katy shakes her head in determination. The police aren't going to do anything. Apart from hand her straight over to Richard and collect whatever monetary compensation he's offering. Even if there were one or two that do help and Richard is arrested, he's not going to stay in custody for long. Not with the expensive lawyers he'll hire to disprove her and then long story short-he'll know exactly where she is. No, what she needs to do is run. Run as far away from him as possible and never stop.

But that requires money. And money, she does not have. Not right at this moment anyway. She always doesn't have any documents on her, or clothes. The panic is easing away to leave just a strong sense of urgency and the pressing need for some kind of plan.

"No. No police."
"Where are you from Katy? Is there anyone who can pick you up or you can call?" asks Xin.

Katy shakes her head before asking, "no but I...If it's not too much trouble that is, I could use a ride to the nearest town."

Xin looks her up and down before replying, "you know what? Maybe you should get cleaned up first and get some clothes a little warmer."

Katy's shoulders slump as she realises that the good old doctor certainly isn't going to just drop her off in town by herself. She curses the good nature of these people while helplessly sinking into despair.

"Look, whatever you need, Mason will help you out, okay? I know he seems a little scary at first, but trust me, he's a good guy."

And that's the thing. Katy's not sure she does.



Regardless, as the doctor leaves, he enters again. They converse with each other, bidding the other goodbye before the door is shut and Katy is once again, alone with him.

"Do you want to call anyone?" he asks softly, the same question the doctor did.

Katy wordlessly shakes her head, staring at his chunky boots to fight the volcano of tears that suddenly threaten to erupt.

"It's still pitch black out there. I think you should stay the night," he suggests, "feel free to use the bathroom. There are fresh towels in the closet and new toothbrushes in the cabinet under the sink. I'll have someone bring you some clothes to wear and new sheets for the bed...Is there anything else you need?"
Katy peeks up at him beneath her lashes, her heart simply aching at his gestures. It's been so long since someone has actually taken care of her, without wanting something in return.
"Thank-you," she breathes.


Mason stays a few minutes longer, waiting to see if she's going to say anything else but when she doesn't, he knows he should leave. He doesn't want to but he does so with heavy footsteps.



Just as he'd said, as soon as Katy's finished showering, there are fresh clothes on the newly laid bed. The size is a little large even with her sizable chest, but that's just as well, since she has no clean undergarments to wear.

With her stomach full, her body clean and her soul finally feeling safe, she's asleep within minutes of sliding under the covers.

A/n Personally I like to imagine Mason as Peter Facinelli (like in the picture opposite rather than in Twilight) but I know some of you love Ian Somerhalder and I think he's a good fit also. Or if you have any other actors in mind, let me know. And just to clarify, I do imagine Katy as being African-American but if you prefer to

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