After the longest meeting of my life, I’m beat. I’m so exhausted my head hurts, but my mind won’t quit. Getting out of Ryder what he wanted and needed was long-winded to say the least. The guy has a nasty way of answering a question without actually answering the question.
The office is quiet as I walk through, everyone having gone home for the day, so my curiosity is piqued when I see the library lights on low. There’s only one person who springs to mind who could be there.
I shouldn’t go in, I can’t stand being in the same room as her, but something still pulls me there anyway. It’s like an invisible piece of string tugging me to her, one I’m desperate to cut but can’t. I’m prettysure that even if I had the scissors in my hands, I still wouldn’t be able to bring myself to sever all ties with her. I just wanna know why.
Blake Adams is my own personal headache. The one woman I don’t want to want. What she did—her leaving—ripped me right down the middle and left me bleeding on the floor. Literally. But still, my feet move on their own accord while my mind fights itself. She’s sitting hunched over a desk as I quietly enter the room, too engrossed in whatever book’s in front of her. Her hair is pulled back off her face, and she’s used a pencil to style it.
She’d look cute if I didn’t detest the sight of her.
“Wanna tell me what the fuck that stunt was about earlier today?” I grind out, not venturing further into the room, because honestly? I don’t trust myself.
Blake doesn’t bother looking up as she replies, “Paybacks a bitch, big guy. If you can’t handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”
I chuckle, not wanting her to know I’m enjoying this little game of prank wars.
“Be careful what you wish for, firefly. I might just come back bigger and harder.”
She shrugs, still not looking up, and continues to thumb through the papers, which only pisses me off. “I’m shaking in my boots,” she deadpans.
How I haven’t throttled this woman yet, I’ll never know. But I can’t stop the voice in the back of my head that pipes up with,That’s because the way she talks to you gets you hard.
I slap my face, ignoring the completely and utterly ludicrous voice.
“You ruined my favorite suit,” I point out, crossing my arms.
“And? If there’s a point to all of this mindless drivel, Theo, can you get to it quickly? I’ve got work to do.”
I snap.
I stalk across the room, then swivel her chair around to face me as I lean in close. She takes me in, her chest heaving, and my eyes dart to her mouth. I watch as she licks her lips, the pink gloss smearing.
I grip her chin in my hand, almost engulfing her face, and whisper, “There’s always a point, firefly.”
Blake’s eyes narrow. “I never wanted any of this to begin with. I just want to do my job and go home. I’m only giving as good as I get. I’m not scared of you, Theo. You forget I know you too well.”
“Youusedto know me.” I scoff. “That guy is dead and buried, exactly how you wanted him.”
“You’re not the victim here, Theo. You’re twisting this for your own rhetoric, and I’m done. Go play your mind games with someone else,” she sneers, jerking her face away from my grip.
“You really are fucking delusional if you think I’m not the victim here. How you can say otherwise is laughable.” I move back, stomping toward the door. “But too bad, firefly,” I call over my shoulder, desperate to get away from her. “I’m just getting started.”
Chapter Twelve
BLAKE
“I’m just getting started.”
Theo’s parting gift has been on a constant loop in my head since he uttered those words and walked away without a backward glance two weeks ago. I thought I could cope with whatever he threw at me, but now I’m thinking maybe not. Playing silly pranks on each other is one thing, but trying to sabotage me and my career is another thing entirely.
If it weren’t for the fact I’d bumped into Aimee and found out Theo was having a meeting with Ryder Jackson, I would never have known. That’s the sort of thing that could boost my career—you get in good with clients and develop a relationship with them, and then they eventually choose you when your name becomes good enough. Unfortunately for me, I’m still in the trenches, meaning no one will take me seriously yet. But they will; I’ll make sure of it. It’ll be all thesweeter when I take clients away from the great Theodore Moore. The guy everyone wants. The undefeated champion of the courtrooms.
I just have to figure out how.
I groan at the thought because it’s not going to be easy. Theo’s court battles are legendary. It’s to the point that people are so desperate for his representation, they’ll say and do just about anything to get him. Which is why Ihaveto win this case for Harper. Why I need to make sure that everyone knows it was me who put the guy who kidnapped her behind bars without actuallysayingit.
After the glitter bomb incident—which was a genius move on my part—I thought that would be the end of it. He got me, and I got him back. But I have a feeling he’s going to make good on this threat and hit me back harder… The only question is how?
Walking through the office, I check my bag for the files I went home with last night. Not looking where I’m going, I bump into a solid chest.
