“I’ll see you later, then?” James asks, interrupting me from my staring contest with Blake.
“Yes, babe. I’ll meet you tonight. I can’t wait to see you. I love you too.” I hang up, James’s sounds of protest dying as the call disconnects.
“Girlfriend?” Blake asks. She’s trying to look like it doesn’t bother her, but I can see it in the way her shoulders tense and her hands clench.
“None of your business, firefly,” I drawl, steepling my hands together and bracing my elbows on the desk. “What do you want?”
“Oh, I don’t know. To work?” she retorts, crossing her arms over her chest. It pushes her tits out further, the slight hint of cleavage poking through the top of her shirt. My dick starts to harden.
God, I’ve missed th—Nope! No, you haven’t.
“Go get me a coffee,” I say with a flick of my wrist, dismissing her.
Blake walks further into the room, pissing me off with her presence. “I’m not your PA, Theo. I’m your associate. I deserve respect.”
I bark out a laugh. “Girl, you ever heard the expression ‘respect is earned?’” I roll my eyes. “Don’t come in here demanding things you don’t have the right to.”
“I’ve worked fucking hard to get to this point, asshole, and I won’t have you ruining it because you can’t get over the past,” she snaps angrily.
I breathe deeply. This fucking woman has no idea how desperately I’ve tried to get over the past. How I want to erase every single memory of her that I have.
“Then allow me to unravel everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve. It will be my pleasure to light the match and watch it all burn to the fucking ground,” I grind out.
“Try me. See how far it gets you because I can assure you, I won’t take what you give without retaliating. I’m not someone you can walk all over.”
“Someone I can walk all over? Please,” I scoff. “I wouldn’t dirty my shoes with your skanky ass.”
“You need my help with this case.” She says it like that’ll automatically make me change my mind. It won’t ever happen.
“I don’t need your help,” I reply, looking at the paperwork on my desk.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Blake put her hands on her hips. “Tough. You’ve got it anyway,” she sasses.
Swiping a hand down my face, I lean back in my chair, tired from our little game of banter wars but still wanting to have the last laugh. “Fine. Find Daryl and get him to give you the files on Hudson Lee.”
“Okay, and where can I find Daryl?”
I give a casual, dismissive flick of my wrist. “Didn’t think I’d make it that easy for you, did you?”
“Of course not. Why would you want to help me?” she asks sarcastically, eyes rolling. She turns on her heel with a huff and walks out the door.
Theo—one. Blake—zero.
Shoving the door open to Nova’s, I glance around until my eyes fall on a familiar head. Smiling, I walk over. It’s typically me who’s early since I abhor being late to anything, so it's a nice change that I won't be sitting around waiting for James to arrive.
“Well, don’t you look as handsome as ever,” I coo, ruffling his hair.
I pull out the chair opposite and sit down, scanning the menu. Eyes bore into me, and I know I’m busted.
Sighing, I lower the menu. “Yes, darling?” I ask sarcastically.
James sits there. He says nothing and does nothing, not even a blink. I don’t know what’s worse, him not saying anything or him giving me a lecture. Neither option works well for me.
“Ugh, fine,” I huff. “Blake’s back.”
With the way I’d said it, you’d think it was the most minor inconvenience in the world. Alas, that’s not the case, and unfortunately, James knows it too.
“Excuse me?” He says it slowly, as if he heard it but wants me to repeat it.
