Chapter 12
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 the sweeter 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 I have to 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 actually saying it.
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.
“I’m so sorr—” The words die on my lips when I see who it is.
“Watch where you’re going, firefly,” Theo snaps, brushing a hand down his suit like my touch personally offended him.
“Will you stop calling me that?” I whisper-yell. “You don’t get to use that name anymore.”
“Why do you call me firefly?” I ask, confused at the nickname he’s started giving me. I’ve only known him a short time, but he’s used it from the minute we met.
“Because you’re my light in the dark,” he whispers.
“Don’t like reminders of the past? Shame. I’ll just have to do it more, knowing it pisses you off.”
“I thought ten years would make you grow up, but I can see you're still the same insecure man-child you were back then.” I roll my eyes. “Does being so insufferable come naturally to you?”
“Only when I’m stuck with someone who irritates the crap out of me,” he quips, a smile on his face.
I shouldn’t like this interaction. I shouldn’t like the way I feel alive for the first time in years. But I do, and I hate myself for it.
“I hate you,” I state, not having anything better to come back with.
“Why?” he asks incredulously. “I’m lovely.” With a wink that says more than words, he turns and walks away.
I shake off the unsettling feeling that he’s done something and continue down the hall to the library.
I tried working in my office, but it felt stuffy and closed in, like there was no air to breathe, so I spend all my time in the library's open area.
Stacks upon stacks of books line the walls, ready to be opened so they can share something that will crack a case.
Some of the greatest minds are in here, along with some of the most challenging cases solved through sheer will and determination. Books on different laws and their loopholes all neatly placed within easy reach, if you know where to look for them, that is.
I set my bag down on my desk and head to the bookcase that houses kidnapping legislation. It’s always been fascinating to me how each law came about. How an individual can commit a crime so heinous that a ruling has to come in to protect people.
I place the book on the desk, pull out a chair, sit, and open it to the page where I left off.
After thumbing through the massive tome for the last few hours, I jump when an alarm sounds. Considering how quiet the library is, I’m not surprised. The noise blares in my ears, but I can’t tell where it's coming from. Fire alarm?
It stops as I look around. Noticing that no one else seems to be bothered by it, I go back to reading, shrugging it off as a glitch. Then it starts up again. Annoyed at the sound, I begin to stand so I can figure out where it's coming from, only to hear a rip when I push away from the desk.
The hell?
My ass is stuck to the chair. I’m hovering, unable to move lest my skirt rips anymore.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I realize the only way out of this is to stand up fully and risk my skirt being ruined so badly that my ass is on show until I can get a replacement… or stay here for the rest of eternity.
I move again, and the rip sounds louder, all while the alarm continues blaring in my ear. People are now emerging from their offices or stopping by the library to see what’s going on. My cheeks flush red with embarrassment as colleagues start pointing and staring at me.
Luckily, I wore my nice panties this morning. Unluckily, it’s a tiny black thong that leaves very little to the imagination.
“Well, well, well, firefly,” Theo drawls from behind me, clapping his hands. “I must say this has brightened my morning.”
I swing my head around, leveling him with a death glare. “Someone put glue on my chair, you big buffoon,” I whisper-yell, though it's more of a shout over the alarm. “And where is that godawful noise coming from?”
“Oh, that?” Theo smiles, one full of teeth and a calculating look in his eyes. “That’s just a little something extra to make this more fun.”
“Fun?” I gasp in outrage. “How is this fun?”
Theo pushes away from the doorframe and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a little black device and pushes a button. The alarm stops immediately, and I get the answer to my unspoken question—this is his doing.
“You couldn’t have come up with something less intrusive?” I growl, gripping the side of the desk for support. “This is taking it too far, even for you, Theo.” Tears line my eyes as my cheeks flush further.
“Why? You’re used to sharing your body with other people,” he mocks, his tone deadly. “Even when you profess your love to someone else.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I murmur, my body freezing in place.
I keep my eyes trained on him. He looks at me, the sneer on his face slowly dropping as he sees the panic on my face. Then the pity starts, and I lose it. I stand up, my skirt torn to shreds. A sob works its way up, and I quickly grab my bag, placing it behind me to cover myself the best I can.
“You’re an asshole,” I declare as I shoulder past him, darting to the toilets. I keep my head down, pushing away flashbacks of a night I’d sooner forget.
“Blake? You in here?” I hear Aimee call quietly.
Shuffling on the toilet with my head in my hands, I reply, “Yeah.”
The door bangs open, and her heeled feet click-clack along the tiled floor as she walks to the stall I’m currently sitting in, feeling sorry for myself.
“I brought spare clothes.”
I let out a watery laugh. “Thank you.”
Aimee slides them under the door, and I reach down to grab the slacks, clutching them to myself like they're my lifeline because right now, they are.
“I ran down to the store to grab them for you. I hope they're the right size?” she asks gently.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Touched by Aimee’s kindness, I swipe a hand under my cheeks to remove the tears that haven’t stopped falling and get up. After changing, I feel better, like my armor is back in place and the mishap—sorry, the blatant sabotage—didn’t occur. Only I know it did.
Taking a deep breath, I decide one of two things can happen here. Either I put on my big girl panties and walk out of here with my head held high and get him back, or I stop with the pranks and ignore him.
The problem is that I can’t ignore him since I need him, but he won't listen to reason—he’s too far gone for that.
I exhale, opening the door to find Aimee propped against the sink with her arms folded across her chest, a worried expression on her face.
“Are you okay?” she asks softly.
“Not really, but I will be,” I reply, walking to the sink and washing my hands.
I peer at my reflection in the mirror—my mascara has run because of the tears, my hair is all over the place where I’ve been running my hands through it, and my face is red and splotchy.
“I gave him an earful for what he did… Theo, I mean,” she rushes to add as she stands up. “He’s usually so friendly, so I don’t understand why he’s being like this with you.”
“Who knows,” I mutter. Straightening, I grab my bag from the sink. “Thank you for the clothes. I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t worry, I put it on company expenses,” she dismisses with a wave of her hand.
I nod, giving her a small smile. “Thanks again. Not what I thought I’d be doing today.”
“What are you going to do now?” she asks, a mischievous glint twinkling in her eyes. “You can’t let him get away with it.”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I’d love to say I’m going to get even, but… I just don’t know.” I sigh.
She places a gentle hand on my arm. “My personal preference is to get even, so if you need any help… give me a shout.”
I chuckle. Maybe getting a bit of help wouldn’t be a bad idea?