Chapter 3 Your goal

Hera

I don't know what came over me but the moment I spotted my sister heading towards me, I knew I needed to do something.

I ended up kissing Mason. What I didn't expect is him not only kissing me back but deepening the kiss. When we pull away, Mason has a smirk on her face and my sister? Well, let's just say her eyeballs are about to pop out.

"I have to say, that was quite a surprise." Mason comments and I smile back to hide my embarrassment.

" You really are shameless, aren't you Hera?" My sister, Tara sneers with disgust.

I turn to give her my undivided attention, a smirk playing at the corner of my lips.

" I don't understand what you mean." I decide to play it cool, something that I know will irk Tara.

" You don't mind throwing yourself at a random man at a club? Is that what you have been up to all these years? It's no wonder you can't find a man for yourself." Tara spats with distaste. I clench my fists under the table just to stop myself from snapping back at her.

" Who is this?" Mason asks, a frown forming on his face.

" My beloved sister." I reply sarcastically. Mason doesn't seem surprised by my answer however.

" Oh, I understand. Your sister thinks you can't possibly have a hot boyfriend like me." He comments, his hands going around my waist as he pulls me closer. He has his eyes directed to Tara all this time.

" Listen, I don't care about the relationship you have with my woman. What I won't allow is you walking here and disrespecting her." Mason's voice is low but the warning is loud and clear. I can feel a change in his aura. Looking at him, he looks nothing like the playful man I bumped into at the airport nor the flirty Mason from a moment ago.

Tara is taken aback by Mason's outburst as the fear reflected in her eyes betrays her.

" This is what you will do. Turn around and crawl back to whatever hole you came out of. Don't ruin our mood or you won't be able to bear the consequences." He snarls, his voice so low and menacing that a chill runs down my spine.

I don't understand what just happened but the way Mason is acting at the moment... It's scary but oh girl! I like it. So powerful and domineering.

Tara looks at me with a scowl before she scoffs, turning around and walking away. I smile, loving how scared Tara looked a moment ago.

" Did you enjoy the show?" Mason suddenly asks and I turn to face him, my smile gone. Now that Tara is gone, I have to face the fact that she just exposed my shortcomings to him. Not to mention the kiss from earlier!

" Thankyou for standing up for me." I say, taking a sip of my drink. Growing up, no one ever defended me with the exception of Chloe. I never thought that a day would come when a total stranger would be defending me against my own family.

" Don't thank me, Hera. I am curious though. Is that how she treats you?" Mason asks and I swallow.

I look around, trying to think of a way out but I know I can't escape Mason's gaze.

" Yes. We don't exactly get along. " I confess and I feel a lump forming in my throat. As much as I pretend to not care about my estranged relationship with my family, the truth is, it hurts. I hope they don't resent and look down on me for being "fat" and " useless."

" Why?" He asks, his eyes narrowing slightly.

I shrug my shoulders, taking a big sip of the alcohol hoping that it will help numb the sadness crawling inside me.

" I'm a disgrace. I wasn't what my family expected me to be." I relay what my mother always tells me. Mason frowns, seemingly confused by my reply.

" What does that even mean?"

" It simply means I am a failure. As a woman, I can't control my body weight and can't even get a man for myself. I am thirty years old without a man to call mine, talk less of a family."

I don't know why I am telling Mason this considering that we aren't that close. I mean, we only met today and here I am, sharing what I would rather lock at the depths of my heart.

Mason suddenly leans in, his hand reaching out to cup my cheeks.

" Listen, don't ever put yourself down, especially for things you can't control. You are the most beautiful and sexy woman I have ever met and if your family can't see that then screw them. As far as you having a man is concerned,it's a matter of time before they come rushing towards you." He declares and I don't know why I smile at his words. They sound fantastic but I know my reality.

" Thanks for the sweet words, Mason. But I know where I stand in this society. It's not just my family, the people around me, even the strangers I meet. They judge me for my body. The disgust on their faces cannot be concealed." I say with a sigh.

" I am used to it actually. I know people will not like me for my plus size and no man would want anything serious with me." I add.

" Hera, that's not right. You are a very attractive woman." Mason booms and I smile depreciatingly.

" Yeah. I am attractive but not enough to keep a man. The men who come to me just want to know how it feels to sleep with a fat woman. They want to explore and satisfy their curiosity." I say bitterly.

" You don't know that. What you said isn't true." Mason counters but I shake my head.

" Believe me, I do know. I am a thirty year old woman, Mason. I have been through this." There was a time I still hoped that there was a man for me out there. Not anymore. I gave up hope and accepted my fate a long time ago." That's the sad reality of my life. Love, marriage and relationships are things that weren't meant for me.

" No. It's just that you haven't met the right man." He counters again and I smile.

" The right man?" I ask with a scoff. " I once had a man I thought was my Mr Right. Turns out he pretended to love me to win a bet. Pathetic, right?"

" Do you also think I am here to experiment with you? To explore and satisfy my curiosity?" Mason asks, his question stunning me. Momentarily silence accompanies us, the sound of our heartbeat the only thing resonating.

" I don't know. You tell me what's your goal tonight."