I Love You, Chase Graves

Chapter 1

A knock comes at the door while I review paperwork. “Yes!” I shout, and the door opens, revealing Chase Graves.

He slips into the room, closing the door behind him before strolling with confidence to the seat opposite my desk. My office is decent sized with a large window facing the nearby park and a grey colour scheme with light oak furniture.

“Luke,” he addresses me, then sits with his long legs spread wide.

I unbutton my suit jacket, letting my round stomach breathe, giving the boy a stern look. “You may either refer to me as sir or Mr. Moore,” I scold.

The boy doesn’t have an ounce of respect in his body, especially when it comes to me.

I’ve recently become a partner at the law firm I’ve been busting my ass at for borderline two decades.

Something I’ve earned in spades, but comes with the catch of taking the barely able to graduate Chase as my senior associate.

A position he has not earned or is qualified for, but his dad is best buds with the two other partners.

He smiles, “what are we working on this morning, Luke?” He emphasizes my name before running his eyes down my body.

I’ve never wanted to bend someone over my knee so bad.

“You look so handsome today,” he says, then motions to the bottom of his face.

“I like that you’re growing out your beard. You got your haircut too.”

“That’s incredibly inappropriate, Mr. Graves,” I chastise, fighting the urge to scratch at said beard. I have it trimmed short, along with my newly cut short, black hair with a fade. I normally don’t get a fade, but I let the barber convince me that it would make me look younger.

“I’m just giving you a compliment, you know, most people return them,” he says, fishing.

“When a compliment is warranted, I’ll give it,” I reply before letting out a sigh. “Where did you leave off on Friday?”

Ignoring my question, he answers instead, “my weekend was really fun. Friday night, I went out with a couple of buddies at that new bar-” A knock on the door interrupts him, and my secretary Mia peeks her head through the doorway a second later.

Her cherry red hair is tied back in a tight ponytail, and she has her cat eye glasses tucked up on top of her head.

“Mr. Moore, I apologize for the interruption, but a package came for you,” she explains.

I wave at her to come in, “please.” She opens the door wider, striding into the room with a large smile. I flick my eyes down to the outrageous flower arrangement of red roses and white limoniums in her hand. “What…”

“Aren’t they beautiful? They’re from Mr. Brooks!

” She says excitedly as she walks further into the room, then places the flowers in the middle of my desk.

“God, how romantic! First, a beautiful date at Lily’s, then taking you to the ballet.

Now, flowers, should I schedule you for lunch with him today?

He asked if 1:30 would work, but I said 12:30 would be better. ”

“Who’s this Brooke’s guy?” Chase asks, glaring at the flowers. “He sounds boring.”

The boy is ridiculous, but before I can scold him again for his unprofessionalism. Mia chimes in, “jealous, baby Chase. Your little crush is getting embarrassing, especially now that Mr. Moore has a serious adult boyfriend.” She draws out the word adult with a smirk.

“Mia,” I say, and she straightens herself. Mia and Chase went to high school together and sometimes forget they aren’t still there.

“I apologize, I forgot myself for a moment,” she says with a bright smile. “What should I tell the very handsome and accomplished Mr. Brooks?”

I force the smile that wants to creep on my face away and nod, “where should I meet him?”

“At the Rooneys at 12:30, the reservation will be under his name,” she says with a clap, then meets Chase’s glare with one of her own. “Do you need me to make a reservation for you at the hot dog stand on 5th?”

“Hear back from your application for clown college?” He asks, crossing his arms and looking to the side.

“That was weak,” she replies, then leaves the room with a pep in her step.

I look at Chase, who looks oddly upset. “Are you ready to begin work?” I watch him trace a shape into his thigh, then shrug.

“So, Mr. Brooks?” He asks without looking at me.

I sigh, “Mr. Graves, my social life is not any of your business since I’m your superior and this is an office.”

He mutters, “you mean love life.” Then asks at normal volume, “why does Mia get to know?”

“She’s my secretary, and her duties include handling my schedule, so yes, she gets to know a little more about my personal life,” I explain.

“I can handle your schedule,” he offers, straightening.

“The disrespectful boy who refuses to call me by the appropriate name and barely completes the jobs I give him is offering to handle my schedule.” I say with a tsk, “what is really going on here?”

He stands, muttering, “maybe if you gave me a little praise or a reward. I would be more willing to complete the boring, meaningless tasks you assign.”

I snap, “I’m not your daddy, and if I was, the only thing you would be getting from me is a hard slap on the ass.” I immediately regret the words the second they come out of my mouth. The boy just gets right under my skin. I go to apologize, but Chase’s flushed face and squirming stop me.

He steps back, “I’ll get the Jameson case information entered.”

I go to apologize again, but stop myself, “that was supposed to be done on Thursday last week.” I slap my hand on my desk, then whip my head up when I hear the faint sound of a whimper. The next second, the door slams shut, and I’m left staring at it.

Chase comes back an hour later and is back to his normal self of being inappropriate and thinking it’s charming.

Except he works. I’m able to get several things done before the clock reads 12:15.

I save my work before turning off my computer, then getting up and grabbing my coat to slip into it as I watch Chase stand with a confused look.

“Where are you going?” He asks, coming to stand in front of me. I come up to a little above his nose, so I have to look up at him slightly.

“To lunch,” I answer, stepping around him and heading for the door.

“Why?” He asks, and I look over to see him flick one of the roses. “Roses are cliché

and impersonal. I would have got you tiger lilies because they’re your favourite.”

I frown, “how do you know that?”

He shrugs, “I pay attention, you know, to important stuff.”

I sigh and throw my hands up slightly, “what is going on here? You’re behaving oddly today. You’re normally inappropriate and struggle to complete tasks, but today you seem easily upset and did good work.”

He shrugs again, and I’m getting annoyed with all the dismissive body language. “Can I come to lunch with you?”

I’m surprised and don’t hide it. “You want to come to lunch, why?”

He shrugs again, “when I first started, you said we could go to lunch sometime, and I could ask you questions about your career, get your advice.”

“And today is the day you want to do it?” I ask, checking my watch. I’m going to be late.

A shrug again, “Mr. Brooks could also maybe offer me some advice, too. My dad-”

I cut him off by raising my hand, “I’ve heard enough. Of course, you’re able to call him Mr. Let’s go,” I say while swinging the door open and making my way to the elevator.

He follows too closely, “why do you care so much?” I frown as I press the call button for the elevator. “Like the sir and Mr. thing?”

I counter, “why is it so difficult for you to call me sir? Am I not worth your respect?” I step into the elevator, pressing the button for the lobby. He stands too closely, so I’m practically boxed into the corner near the control panel.

“But sir is like what I call my dad’s friends, and I don’t want to see you like that.” He answers. “I have to be so anal about appearances and being on my best behaviour.”

“I’m your supervisor, that is exactly how you should see me. You should be worried about how you appear to me and should be on your best behaviour in my presence.” I explain, looking at the boy with his confused and hurt expression.

“I don’t want to see you that way,” he says softly, “I l-”

The elevator door dings, cutting him off, and I walk through the lobby to outside the building with him hot on my heels.

Once we’re outside, I head towards the restaurant, which is only a five minute walk away.

What is this boy’s problem? Am I a joke to him?

Why is it so hard for him to call me sir or Mr. Moore?

Doesn’t want to see me as his dad’s friend?

I huff to myself, doesn’t want to see me as someone worth respect.

So, he can walk all over me because I’m an easy target and have no power to get rid of him because of the men who actually get his respect.

Fingers slip through mine, and my hand becomes intertwined with Chase’s. I stop and look from our hands, then up to him. “I didn’t say what I meant right. I’m not good at choosing my words. But-”

“Luke?” Oliver asks while I shake off Chase’s hand, which should have been easier than it was.

“Oliver, thank you so much for the flowers. They were beautiful,” I answer, leaning in to greet him, but suddenly he stumbles back because the boy just shoved him. Chase just shoved Oliver, and I’m at a loss.

“I’m Chase,” Chase introduces himself while further putting his body completely between Oliver and me.

Oliver recovers quickly, but is wary, “nice to meet you, I’m Oliver.” He shakes Chase’s hand, “thank you for keeping Luke company during his walk over. Hav-”

Chase opens the door to the restaurant, “I’m starving, so we should get seated.”

“You’re joining us?” He asks, looking from Chase to me.

“Mr. Graves is looking for advice and thought this lunch would be an appropriate time for it,” I explain, and he gives a slow nod.