Chapter 6
DANIELLE
My eyes ache from staring at the screen. It's almost seven a.m., and I’m in the office, relying on caffeine to push me through. Somehow, I’ve gone from a cushy little job to helping run an empire—someone else’s empire.
My heart aches when I think of Alec.
So full of life one minute and gone the next.
Life can be so cruel.
“You’re early.” Issac places a Styrofoam cup of steaming coffee in front of me, his eyes flickering over the screen. “Still at it with those contracts?”
I nod, taking the cup into my hands. The warmth soothes me, and I lift it to my lips wordlessly.
“Blake’s coming in.”
My heart leaps in my throat at the mention of Blake, and I smile in relief. “Good.”
I never thought I’d want Blake James to come back in, but I was struggling with renewing the contracts and all the other things I’ve never seen before.
“He’s not good.” Issac sighs, perching on the corner of my desk. “He’s coming in to meet the lawyers.”
I swallow, wondering how he’s going to cope with such a difficult meeting.
But knowing Blake, he’ll be just fine.
“Okay, I’ll press on with these. Give me a shout if you need anything else.” I yawn, covering my mouth.
Issac gives me a boyish grin. “Anything?”
I arch a brow at him, amused by his flirting. He can’t help himself, and it’s flattering, but I’m too tired to entertain it. “Within reason.”
“Come out with me one night.”
I sip my coffee, wondering if it’s really such a bad idea.
He’s gorgeous and funny.
“Uh, yeah, why not?” I shrug, avoiding his gaze.
“You’re cute when you’re nervous.” Issac jumps to his feet, throwing me a wink. “Well, you’re cute all the time, but you know…”
Oh, God. I'm not prepared for this.
I’m so tired.
“Am I interrupting something?” a silky voice purrs from the doorway, commanding my attention.
Blake James.
My tired eyes drink him in, but something stops me from ogling him any further.
It could be the dark circles beneath his eyes, or it could be the way his lips are set in a firm line, a line of disapproval. His eyes are swollen slightly, but the sadness is glaringly apparent.
“No,” I answer quickly, earning myself a cold stare. “How are you? I’m sorry about your father.”
Blake's eyes flit between Issac and me, and his lips curl into a sneer. “You look it.”
What the hell?!
Issac frowns, lifting his hands into the air with confusion. “Whoa, man, let’s get you out of here.”
Blake turns, walking in the direction of his father's office.
Issac groans, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Danni. He’s not himself…” His words fade, and I can only shrug, turning back to my screen.
“It’s fine. Good luck with the meeting.” I force a smile I don’t feel and try to ignore the frustrated tears blinding my vision.
Issac hesitates but soon leaves.
Only then do I lean back in my chair, covering my eyes with my hands as the tears escape.
One Mississippi.
I’ll cry but not for long.
I’ve cried too much over Blake James.
He’s grieving.
Still, I didn’t deserve that.
Two Mississippi.
Some hours later, three men in black suits enter the office with grim expressions on their faces. All of them seem alike, but the one at the back holds a briefcase that makes him seem more important than the rest.
They stride into Alec’s office, and I feel my shoulders deflate.
It’s happening.
Blake’s taking over.
I should be relieved, but I’m not.
Not only is he my ex, but he’s now going to be my boss.
Wonderful.
I’ve become too attached to this job to leave, yet this doesn’t sit well with me.
He’s my ex.
“Hey, why the sad face?” Kiera frowns from the doorway.
I groan, waving her into my office. Kiera is a good friend, and despite her huge crush on Issac, she still seems to adore me despite watching us flirt all the time. “I’m just tired…”
Kiera makes a face, closing the door behind her. “I guess it doesn’t help that Blake’s back.”
Our eyes meet, and I cringe, prompting her to reach out to hold my hand. Her skin is warm and soft, and I close my eyes, letting her reassurance wash over me.
I’d told Kiera about Blake being my ex, but I hadn’t gone into detail.
“No, not really.” I squeeze her hand before releasing it. “He came by earlier, and I said I was sorry for his loss. He bit my head off.”
Kiera’s eyes widened. “Really?”
I nod. “Yeah. I was in here with Issac, and—”
Kiera puts up a hand, silencing me. “There you go then. He saw you with Issac and got jealous.”
“Blake James? Jealous? No.” I shake my head with a wry smile.
The idea of Blake being jealous of me with anyone is laughable. He doesn’t care enough.
Kiera twirls her hair around her finger, watching me thoughtfully. “How did it end between you?”
It’s like she’s thrown a bucket of ice water over me. I’m paralyzed as the memory floods in. “Well, when he got what he wanted, he dumped me.” I shrug bitterly, remembering the moment.
FLASHBACK
“What do you mean?”
Blake sighed down the phone. That meant I wasn’t getting an answer anytime soon.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, bracing myself for the words about to leave my lips.
My teary self looked back at me, not an iota of sympathy on her face.
You should’ve known what he was like, Danielle.
It’s Blake James!
“You’re breaking up with me?” I whispered, shuddering at the words. This couldn’t be happening.
“Danni, don’t make this difficult,” he said quietly.
There was a pause on the line, like he wanted to say something else.
“I’m sorry…but I can’t have any distractions.”
“Distractions?! You said you loved me!” I sobbed, knowing he hated it when I cried.
“Hey, I did. I do. It’s just too serious between us. We’re too young.”
“Yet you love me? You’re a fucking liar.”
“You deserve better than this,” he replied roughly. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I.”
PRESENT
Kiera gazes at me, her hand on her heart. “God. That’s awful. Did he ever speak to you again?”
“No. He paraded other girls around town for a while, but eventually, he moved away. I never wanted to see him again.”
I hadn’t.
Now, look at us.
“But…he broke up with you because it was too intense for your age, right?” Kiera leans forward, drumming her rainbow nails on my desk. I note the dreamy look in her eyes and shake my head.
“We’re not getting back together now, so don’t even think about it. It’s not a rom-com.”
More like a horror movie.
Kiera pouts. “It could be, though!”
“Kiera…” I warn, arching a brow at her.
“What did Issac want? Other than you in his bed?”
Rolling my eyes, I point at my screen. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve got work to do.”
A roar interrupts our conversation, followed by a door hitting a wall.
My eyes bulge as Blake storms from the meeting room, fists clenched. Issac hurries after him, muttering something to the men in the room behind him.
“What sort of fucking clause is that?” Blake bellows, whirling to face Issac.
“Calm down, you’re making a scene,” Issac snaps, crossing his arms.
The office is silent; all ears stretch to hear the cause of Blake’s anger.
“A fucking scene? This is bullshit!” Blake shakes his head, pointing a finger back to the room he’s left so abruptly. “Not a fucking chance, Issac. I’m done.”
Blake shoves the emergency exit doors open, triggering an alarm as he does.
My heart pounds in my throat, and Kiera and I exchange a worried look.
“Fuck,” Issac mutters, running a hand through his hair.
His eyes meet mine, and I send him a small smile. He grimaces in response, heading back to the room with the men in suits.
“What was that about?” Kiera whispers, and I swallow, knowing that whatever it is, it’s not good.
Not good at all.
“I have no idea.”
“Seriously…” Kiera leans forward, her eyes like saucers. “We need to find out. That meeting was about Blake taking over the company, which he wants more than anything. Right?”
I don’t reply right away; instead, I stare at the men who walk out of the room, shaking hands one by one with Issac, who looks troubled. “Right.”
“What clause would piss him off that bad?”
I can only imagine it’s something that terrifies Blake or goes against everything he believes in.
Either way, I’m intrigued.
Maybe there is such a thing as karma after all.