I need to speak to Mike.
Chapter Ten
BLAKE
The office is a hive of activity this morning with another major case unfolding and pulling everyone in. Everyone but Theo and me, that is. The case Frank assigned us is consuming me. I’ve lost track of how many hours I’ve spent buried in research. The only time I’ve stepped out of the library has been for coffee or the occasional bathroom break.
I need to prove myself to everyone here, but to Theo most of all. There’s still that small part of me—the eighteen-year-old girl—that fell in love with the wrong guy and is desperate for his approval, for him to notice me. But then I remember who the fuck I am and smack that idea out of my head. I didn’t need him then, and I sure as hell don’t need him now.
Brushing my hair out of my face, I reach into my bag and grab my eye drops and face mist. Staring at books and screens has always given me dry eyes, so I like to keep them well-moisturized. Also, having theworld's driest skin means I have to apply creams or mists to keep it from feeling like it's peeling off my body.
Dropping two drops into each of my eyes, I blink, moving the liquid around before spritzing the mist onto my face. There’s a strange smell to it, but I don’t pay it any attention, enjoying the way it sinks into my skin.
I flip through the pages absentmindedly. When you don’t know what you’re looking for, it's kind of hard to focus. Harper’s statement and the police reports about what happened the night they found her overflow onto my desk. She didn’t say much; every question was met with a shrug or a smart ass remark. It’s like she’s protecting the guy or something? Does he have something on her?
I rub my temples, frustrated that I can’t see the bigger picture. When my hand comes away from my face, though, I do a double take.
Why is my hand green?
I rub my fingers together, the texture sticky. Moving papers and books around on the table, I check to see if there’s any hidden paint or a blown pen on the desk, but there’s nothing. I hear a snigger behind me and twirl in my chair.
Theo’s propped against the door, arms folded against his bulky frame and a shit-eating grin on his face.
“What did you do?” I seethe, narrowing my eyes and pointing a finger at him.
He stands up straight, a hand to his chest and an innocent look on his face as he says, “Moi? I did nothing. Your misty spray thing on the other hand…” He smiles with glee as he gestures to my face. “Might wanna do something about that. We have a meeting with Frank and Senator Thomas in”—he glances down at his watch—“oh, five minutes.”
“What the hell did you do?” I ask again, grabbing my bag and shoving everything into it. “You knew we had this meeting. Are you trying to sabotage me on purpose?” I stop, think for a second, then place everything down on the desk and brace my hands against it. “What am I saying? Of course you are,” I mumble, rolling my eyes.
“Less talky, more… cleany, Blakey.” He chuckles. “Wouldn’t want to keep everyone waiting and lose your job now, would you?” He pauses before putting a finger in the air. “On second thought, take all the time you need. I can handle this meeting without you.” He winks and walks away, leaving me desperate to smack him upside the back of his head.
Racing to the ladies’ room, I push past everyone, grateful that I chose to wear flat shoes instead of high heels after my first day. People give me strange looks as I go, some laughing and pointing, clearly showing their immaturity. I shove my way through the door and come to a stop in front of the mirror, gasping at the sight that greets me—I look like the Grinch. My face is covered in some sort of green dye that’s spread everywhere my face mist was.
I grab a handful of tissues from the dispenser and pump out a load of soap onto them before scrubbing frantically.It’s not coming off. In my desperate need to get to the bathroom, it dried on. I’ve rubbed so hard I made it worse, and now I’ve got a nice red tint to add to the green. I want to say I don’t get teary-eyed, but I do.
After I’ve decided enough is enough, I lift my head and look at myself in the mirror. I straighten because I refuse for this asshole to get the better of me. “Okay, big guy, game on.”
It took me another couple of minutes to wipe off the soap and put myself back to some sort of normal, and by then, I was well and truly late to the meeting.
Stopping outside the door, I heave out a breath, knock on the door, then enter. Faces turn toward me, and I try my hardest not to shrink down under the weight of their gazes. It’s hard, but I manage it, especially when I see that fucker with a smug look on his face.
“Apologies for my tardiness,” I announce to the room. “I had to retrieve the files Mr. Moore requested. He said they were paramount and had vital information for today’s meeting.”
I’m full of shit, but they don’t know that, and from the look on Theo’s face, he’s not impressed. Frank’s lips purse before he directs his gaze to Theo, whose icy glare is still firmly on me. I blow him a kiss, fueling the fire and enjoying every second of it.
Kiss it, Moore.
Quickly walking to the table that’s large enough for twelve people, I sit down in the only available seat—the one next to Theo. A hand clamps down on my thigh, squeezing. The heat from his hand sends shivers down my spine, and the firm grip causes my clit to pulse, knowing precisely what those hands are capable of. But I brush his hand away, sit up, and concentrate on the meeting taking place.
Senator Thomas appears older than he does on TV. His hair is receding, and the crow's feet around his eyes are deeper. He still holds himself with an air of intimidation, though, and I guess he wouldn’t have gotten to where he is without it.
Frank clears his throat from the head of the table. “So, Theo, what was it that you were having Blake look into?”
I glance over at Theo, wanting to see how he gets himself out of this one, but once again, he surprises me.
“Your daughter, Senator Thomas, she was with the man in question for three years?”
The senator nods but says nothing.
