Chapter 5
Chapter Five
BLAKE
Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.
Why the fuck is Theo Moore here, and how the hell do I get out of this?
I haven’t kept up with anything he’s done since I left.
I haven’t wanted to. The ache in my chest would widen every time I thought of him, and I couldn’t do it.
But ending up at the same law firm as him?
As his associate? There has to be some sort of cosmic prank that’s being played on me, and I want off this roller coaster.
Theo looks even better than I remember. He’s always had long hair—it was one of the things that first drew me to him when I was eighteen—and I’d never met a man who looked like him before.
His large, bulky frame made me feel safe and secure, and in the situation I was in at the time, it drew me to him all the more.
“Come on, firefly. I need to go and teepee James’s house before he gets back. I’ll even let you throw eggs at his car.”
His voice comes through loudly—the memory of a Halloween so long ago that I’d forgotten how he used to treat me reverently, like I was the most precious thing in his world.
I swallow, my mouth dry at what working with him now means.
For me, for him, for us. Can we forget about the past and move on?
Before I can think any more, he tugs me in close.
I breathe in his woodsy scent, the one I subconsciously look for but have never found.
It's inherently Theo, and I refuse to admit how much I’ve missed it.
Gripping his arms so as not to lose balance, I focus on the hot breath that’s tickling my ear. What he says, though, has me clutching him tighter.
“You picked the wrong law firm to come work at, firefly. I’m going to make your life a living hell, just like you’ve made mine.”
He draws back so quickly I stumble, cursing my shoes for the umpteenth time today.
I try to school my features so he doesn’t see how much his words have affected me, because they have.
I just didn’t expect the vitriol he’s spewing to come out.
There’s so much hatred in his tone, and I’m not sure why.
I mean, I dislike the guy, but I don’t hate him.
“I’m excited to be working with you, Blake. We’re going to have so much fun,” he says, bouncing around like a little kid.
I straighten my spine. Okay, this is how we’re doing it? Fine, two can play this game.
“We really are.” I smile broadly, my hands clasping in front of me to mirror Theo. “I’ve always wanted to work with kids, so this is perfect.”
Theo stops bouncing, his eyes going cold, but Frank laughs.
“Theo is definitely a big kid.” He goes to sit back behind his desk as Theo takes a seat next to me, his frosty exterior causing me to shiver.
“I’ve given Aimee the next case I want the two of you to work on together.
This is high-profile,” Frank adds. “Harper Thomas is the daughter of Senator Thomas, but she was kidnapped. Her boyfriend was killed in front of her, and the guy who killed him took her. She managed to get away from him, but she’s been gone for three years. ”
“The hell?” Theo whispers. I look at him out of the corner of my eye and see his fists clenched tightly around the arms of the chairs. His entire body rigid.
“Where has she been?” I ask, sitting forward. “If she’s a senator's daughter, how did no one know about it?” I don’t recall ever reading about it in the papers or hearing about it on the news.
Frank looks at me and swipes a hand down his face.
“No one knew. The senator kept it quiet. The media assumed Harper had gone away for school, and they weren’t corrected.
” He sighs. “This is the biggest case we’ve had to date.
I don’t need to explain to you the importance of getting this right.
” Frank lifts a brow, and we nod in unison.
“Senator Thomas is a personal friend of mine, so I only want the best working on this.” He looks at Theo. “And that’s you. Do not let me down.”
Theo’s face is a mask of seriousness as he replies, “I won’t.”
“We won’t,” I add, giving him the evil eye since I know he left me out on purpose.
Jumped up asshole.
Frank nods toward the door, dismissing us. I stand up and brush past Theo. He puts his foot out slightly, and I trip, arms flailing as I land on my hands and knees with an “Oomph.”
“Careful, Blakey. Drinking during the day will get you fired.” He chuckles with a wink.
I glare at him as I push myself up, pissed that neither man has offered to help me. Frank looks at me quizzically as I quickly say, “He’s joking.”
“Am I?”
Theo walks out, and I give Frank an apologetic look before chasing after the man who is about to get my very long, very sharp heel up his ass.
“So, what’s the plan here?” I call to his retreating form, his large gait taking up way more room than it should.
Theo’s strides are longer than mine, so I have to make an effort to keep up with him. I’m seriously tempted to take my shoes off and go barefoot for the rest of the day.
Note to self: wear flats tomorrow.
He doesn’t reply, just keeps walking. “Theo,” I say again, but I’m still met with silence. “Will you stop acting like a goddamn baby and talk to me?” I shout. The curious glances from people in the office mean I said it a bit too loudly. I groan and throw my head back.
Great first impression, Blake. You’re off to a great start here.
Theo halts, and I assume he’s taking a deep breath by the way his shoulders move up and down. Then, he addresses the entire room. “Everyone, meet Blake. Our new junior associate. Isn’t she just delightful?” He rolls his eyes as murmurs sound around me.
He stalks toward me, a dark gleam in his eye, and I have to quell the urge to strangle him.
“I’m sorry I turned you down, Blake,” he says low but loud enough for others to hear.
“But you need to leave me alone. This little… obsession you have with me is getting out of hand. I’m just not that interested,” he says with an exaggerated sigh.
“Really?” I whisper-yell, my face going bright red from embarrassment. I take a step closer to him, trying to keep this between us. “You’re going to do this in front of everyone?”
His face relaxes into a pout as he takes a step closer. “Look, I said I was sorry, Blake, but you need to understand no means no.” He pats me on the shoulder in a condescending manner. “I get that I’m a handsome man, but please… just stop. It’s not a good look.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else… I don’t date subpar lawyers who act like children.” I shrug, finally pulling myself together.
“Subpar?” he exclaims, eyes wide and his chest bumping against mine. “You do realize who you’re talking to right now, don’t you?”
I roll my eyes as I crane my neck to look at him. “Yes. Theodore Moore, the biggest man-child known to humankind with an ego to match it.”
“I’d say that hurts, but we both know I’m better than you,” he snaps, all traces of joking aside as he leans down.
“Typical man response,” I drawl, my face inches away from his. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office doing actual work.” I turn on my heel, my heart pounding in my chest at the encounter.
Why did he have to try and embarrass me in front of everyone? And then to get angry with me for saying something he didn’t like?
Working here is going to be more complicated than I thought.