by Hayes, Piper
He looks at me with that intense stare. He knows I’m right. We both know what would have happened if he’d stayed out there with Jacob. Someone would be headed to the hospital, and it wouldn’t be my father.
“I have to make a phone call,” Blake says.
“Right now?” I ask.
“I’m calling Ben and getting to the bottom of this. If he’s responsible in any way for Jacob showing up…”
“Why would he be?”
“We’ll talk about it later. I’ll get our bags.”
Blake storms up the stairs. I turn to my father. “I’ll take your deal,” I tell him.
“What deal?” he asks.
“I’ll take the stake in Blake’s company. I’m done letting the rest of you play games with our lives. Whatever you think of Blake, Jacob is bad news. And I’m going to need your help to keep him away from Blake.”
My father smiles and takes a long drink. He walks over and places his hand on my cheek. “There’s a board meeting in two weeks. I think it would be great to have you there.” He pulls his hand back and goes back to downing his drink.
“Yeah, sure,” I say.
“You know, when I lost everything, do you know what I missed most? It wasn’t the money or the prestige or the power. I missed the intrigue. Like I told Blake, it’s good to be back.”
He grins and walks over to the large windows at the other side of the parlor like he’s a king surveying his kingdom. I don’t know if I’m playing into some game of his or if he’s genuinely happy to have me working with him, but I do know one thing. Out of everyone involved, I have a feeling that my father is the only person who is going to enjoy whatever happens next.
CHAPTER 11
CATHERINE
Maybe telling Blake that I took my father’s offer wasn’t the best way to start our ride back to the city, because the way he’s whipping his car around every bend in the road, I’m pretty sure he wants to kill me. And, to tell the truth, I’m afraid. Not of Blake but for Blake. I’m afraid he’s going to do something stupid because he’s angry. He doesn’t look at me. He just stares ahead and races his car through its gears as we get closer to the highway. I try to imagine what he’s thinking, but I’m sure his anger has little to do with thought. As far as he cares, I’ve betrayed him.
I reach over and place my hand on his thigh. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Do you have anything else you want to tell me?” he says. “At this point I’d believe just about anything.” He keeps one hand tight on the wheel and the other on the shifter.
“Just that I love you. Will you please tell me what you’re thinking?”
He doesn’t answer. He just speeds up, building momentum around every turn. By the time we get on the highway, I don’t know if he’ll say a word for the rest of the trip.
“I almost did it,” he says. It’s been half an hour since either of us said a word. I had been daydreaming all of the things I want to tell Blake, how I want to tell him that he’s being stupid and proud, and I’m only trying to help. “If you hadn’t screamed, I think I would have tried to kill him. I snapped. He was threatening Alex, and then he was threatening you, and I just lost it. I went after him. We fought over his gun, and then it went off. I had just pulled it from his hands when I heard you. I don’t know what I was going to do, but I know it wouldn’t have been good.”
“Are you mad at me?” I ask.
“About that? No,” he says.
“You said you wouldn’t hold it against me if I took a stake in the company. You said you’d understand what it meant to me,” I tell him. “I can be there for you now. I can have your back. We can do this together.”
“Can’t you see that I don’t want to do this together?” he says. “I love you more than anything, and I’m terrified of losing you. I’m afraid that the minute you step into that boardroom, I’m going to lose you. I’m afraid that your father is going to try to turn us against each other in any way he can. Even more than that, I’m afraid that Jacob is going to make it his mission to come after you, and that I won’t be able to stop him.”
“What if you just forgot about him? What if you just focused on helping Ben build a case. That’s how you’re getting a plea deal right? Ben gets Jacob, and you get your identity back?”
“It’s not that simple,” Blake says.
“Why not?” I ask.
“The financial case about him isn’t certain. I need to make it something that will stick.”
“What are you saying?” I ask. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I’m not doing anything stupid. I’m just figuring out a way to keep you safe. I’m trying to figure out how to take Jacob down without just relying on some forensic accountants I’ve never met.”
“Let me help you,” I tell him. “We’ll figure something out.”
“No,” Blake says. “I don’t want you involved.”
“I can take care of myself,” I tell him. “I’m not a kid.”
“That doesn’t matter. Can’t you see this has nothing to do with whether or not I think you’re capable? This has to do with keeping you safe, and keeping you away from the mess that I’ve made along the way.”
“We can clean it up together. I can keep my father in line. That alone is worth having me involved, isn’t it?”
Blake sighs as if it answers my question. I slide my hand over his and lock my fingers between his. “He’s dangerous, Cat. He came to your father’s retreat to taunt me, to let me know that he knows about you. I talked to Ben. We’re meeting tomorrow. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep Jacob from ever stepping foot in the same room as you again.”
“Can I come with you?” I ask.
“What?” Blake asks.
“To the office. I’ve never been. Other than Damien and I guess my father, I’ve never met anyone you work with.”
“Just because you own part of the company doesn’t mean you need to come in,” he says.
“What if I want to?”
“I’m not going to change your mind on this one, am I?” he says.
“Not a chance in hell,” I tell him. “If I’m going to be anything other than a liability, I have to start learning about the company. I might not know much of anything about finance, but I know my father. I know how people like him think and work.”
“Then you’ll be more at home in a board meeting than I ever am.”
“Speaking of that, my father went out of his way to mention an upcoming board meeting. Do you have any idea why?”
“Knowing your father, it’s because he has something planned. The board meeting is a special session. Damien is briefing them on the state of the FBI’s investigation, and I’m assuring everyone that everything is under control. I’ll also be introducing your father as the newest member of the newly expanded board. If you really do take his offer, I’ll be introducing you, too. I guess it’s a good thing we have a week and a half to figure out what he’s up to. Do you think he’d tell you more?”
“I could always try to find out more.”
Blake laughs. “A few months back, hell, a few weeks back, if you’d have told me that I’d be working with Ben, and you’d be working with your father, I’d have said you were crazy.”
“Tell me everything’s going to work out,” I say. I lean over and place my head on Blake’s shoulder.
There’s a hesitance in Blake’s voice as he says, “Yeah, Cat, everything’s going to be fine.”
CHAPTER 12
CATHERINE
Blake’s office is sleek and modern. His company takes up the top three stories of a downtown skyscraper. Even with traffic, it’s only a ten-minute ride from his apartment. It’s a four-minute walk from Wall Street and has views in every direction. Blake insists on personally showing me the entire office from IT to the bullpen, the break rooms, and the executive offices. It’s a complete departure from his hesitancy to agree to me coming in, but I guess he’s embraced
it. In some ways, the place looks more like a tech company than a hedge fund. There’s an entire floor of servers, an entire suite dedicated to engineering, and a whole bunch of departments that I know never existed at my father’s company.
Even though it’s early, the office is packed, and every last employee seems to love Blake. He knows them all by name and asks about their kids and their families, and he introduces me to everyone. I only recognize a few faces, but more than a few recognize the name. I wonder what the point of it all is, but I think maybe he really has listened to what I’ve said about helping him and being an asset. It feels good to have people look me in the eye and respect me. I spent two whole hours the night before picking out an appropriate outfit, a charcoal gray pencil skirt, white blouse and a blazer. More than once I catch Blake checking me out.
The highlight of my tour comes when Blake shows me his personal office. Blake explains that he gave his secretary the morning off and pulls me into his office, locking the door behind us and pinning me against the wall. He leans in and kisses me hard, the kind of kiss that takes your breath away and leaves you wanting more. He pulls back after a while and smiles at me.
“What are you doing?”
“I can’t help myself,” he says. He runs a hand over my hip. “Pencil skirts are kind of my thing.”
How have I gone this long without knowing that? I wonder. “You could always borrow mine at some point,” I say. “I don’t know if it will fit, but I’m sure your ass will look great.”
“Very funny,” he replies. “You look incredible.” He leans in, and I can feel his heart beating against me, and I can feel his breath hot on my lips as he kisses me again. I melt in his arms, wanting to surrender to that kiss, but he pulls back and steps away.
“Why’d you stop?” I ask. I look at him and then look over his office, deciding where I’d like him to ravage me. Blake’s office doesn’t look like the rest of the building. It has rich wood floors and ornate Persian rugs. There’s a seating area with a Chesterfield sofa, two plush chairs in matching leather, and a massive mahogany desk that must be a hundred years old.
“If we went on for another second, I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself until I had you completely,” he says.
I can’t help but cock a brow. “Is that so?” I ask.
“Kiss me and find out,” he says.
“Don’t you have a meeting or something?” I ask.
“I’m meeting Ben in half an hour. I rushed the rest of your tour to get some alone time with you.”
I walk up to him and grab his tie. His eyes are wild with excitement. I know he wants me as badly as I want him. I tug lightly on his tie, pulling him forward just enough that I can turn and head over to the window.
Window isn’t the right word for the floor to ceiling glass that makes up the two outer walls of Blake’s office. He has a low bookshelf that runs along the length of one, but the wall facing toward the water has a view clear across the Hudson. I think about the time Blake took me against the window of his apartment, and I feel dizzy beyond belief. “How high up are we?” I ask him.
“Almost a quarter mile,” he says.
“Want to join the quarter mile club?” I ask.
Blake walks over, grabs my hand and pulls me over to his desk. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck. A wonderful warmth radiates from his lips and spreads through my body. I can feel his hips against my ass as he leans me toward the desk. He slides his hand to my lower back and starts to unzip my skirt.
“Are you serious?” I ask.
“I don’t kid about pencil skirts,” he says. “Although, in truth, it’s the ass beneath it that truly holds my attention.
I roll my eyes and smile. I can’t believe we’re doing this, and of course I want him to continue. As soon as the skirt is around my knees, he gives my ass a light spank. A quick, involuntary gasp passes my lips. The imprint of his hand stings against my skin for half a second, but the dull ache leaves me wanting more. I let the skirt fall all the way to the floor and step out of it.
Blake notices and takes a step back. “Damn,” he says as he runs his hand down the back of my thigh. “Your legs look incredible.”
“Yeah?” I ask. The truth is I always feel sexier in heels. But heels, thigh highs and Blake’s touch make me feel like the sexiest woman alive. He slides his hand to the inside of my thigh and spreads my legs apart. He almost takes my breath away as he slides his hand closer to my core.
I realize I’m so turned on that I’m almost dripping, and when Blake presses his hand against my thong, I can’t help but moan. He pulls the thong aside and rubs my sex in slow strokes before sliding a finger inside my core. He strokes against my inner walls in a way that makes my knees weak. I feel a jolt of excitement through my entire body. “I want you hard against my desk,” he says. He won’t have any complaints from me.
I ache to feel him inside me. The hiss of his zipper drives me wild with anticipation, and then I hear his belt and his pants falling around his ankles. And then he’s against me. He pushes himself inside me in one quick, hard stroke. I gasp with delight, but all I hear is Blake’s moan of ecstasy as he sinks deep inside me.
I close my eyes and lean hard against the desk as Blake pushes against me with wonderful force, rocking me with each motion of his hips. He pulls back and holds himself at my entrance. I want him deep inside me again. I want that complete connection that only he can give me. He pushes in, and my body tenses as delight rolls through me.
“Let go, Cat,” he whispers as he runs a hand over my back and grabs my hair tight, pulling with a force that accentuates the pleasure.
I relax myself and push hard against him. His moan of delight drives me wild. This all feels so naughty and wrong, but with Blake it feels natural and right. I can hear his breathing grow heavy as he rocks against me, building the pleasure inside me. I can’t believe how in sync our bodies are as we race faster and faster. As he crashes against me, the pleasure builds, hard and powerful and raw.
It all feels so good that within a few moments he has me on the brink of climax. Blake keeps me there for minutes like he knows exactly how much I can handle. From his breathing, I can tell he’s close too. It’s incredible, the way we can hold each other right there on the brink for so long, but I know I can’t hold out for much longer.
Blake slaps his hands against my hips and thrusts harder and harder. He pushes so deep inside me that I cry out in bliss. He digs his fingers into my skin and says, “Now, Cat.” That’s all the permission I need. I feel the pleasure burst through my body as I come. Blake gives one last thrust, and I feel him crash into climax with me. He leans over me and kisses the back of my neck as climax rocks my body. “You are incredible,” he whispers.
A thin layer of sweat has formed beneath my blouse, and I’m wondering if I’ll need to find a change of clothes, but I don’t really care. This was worth a hundred wardrobe changes. I can still feel him inside me.
“That was very unexpected,” I tell him when we uncouple at last. He leans in again and kisses my cheek. I turn around and plant a kiss on his lips. “But it was very much enjoyed,” I add.
“Welcome to the company,” he says with a smile. He reaches down and tosses me my skirt. “I’ve changed my mind about the office,” he adds. “You can have any office you’d like, so long as you share it with me.”
“So if I come in every day, I’ll get this same treatment?” I ask. Blake grins. “I might never leave,” I say.
“Well, I have a few meetings I have to take, and then you can come back in and get settled,” he says.
CHAPTER 13
CATHERINE
I see Ben head into Blake’s office shortly after I head out. I’m in the break room making myself a cappuccino when Blake steps out to greet him. I catch a glimpse of the two of them disappearing into Blake’s office. I decide that I’ll be nice and make each of them a drink too. It takes a few minutes to get everything together, and I have to do a delicate ba
lancing act to hold the three mugs at once, but I manage to get to his secretary’s desk before I hear the heated argument between Ben and Blake. It’s muffled, but I can make out what they’re saying well enough. His secretary still isn’t in, so I sit at her desk and listen for a break in the conversation that would allow me to step in without intruding.
“I swear I had nothing to do with this,” Ben says. “Did she really do that?”
“It doesn’t matter who did what,” Blake says. “We’re finding another plan. He threatened her. I swear, if you don’t help me find a way to take care of him, I’m going to do it myself.”
“Remember who you’re talking to,” Ben snaps back. “I’m not one of your employees. I am a federal agent.”
“Are you not listening? He threatened her. If you give a damn about her, you’d be as angry as I am,” Blake says. He’s practically shouting.
“You know I care about her,” Ben says. “She’s the only reason I’m helping you. If it weren’t for her insistence, you’d be behind bars right now. I didn’t come here to get yelled at. I think you forget that you came to me.”
“I won’t let anything happen to her,” Blake says. “I will do whatever it takes.”
“Stick to the plan,” Ben says. “A few months, and we should have everything we need.”
“You’re not listening!” Blake shouts. I can picture him pacing back and forth across his office, his hands balled into fists as he gets more and more worked up. I look down at the drinks. There’s no chance I’m stepping into that room.
“Neither are you,” Ben says. “This is beyond my control.”
“Then I’ll find another way.”
“Think carefully about what you do next,” Ben says. “If you care about her as much as you say, you won’t throw away your future to take down Jacob Fletcher.” His voice gets clearer as he finishes the sentence. He’s heading to the door. I jump up from the desk and head across the office. When I’m halfway back to the break room, I turn back around. I catch Ben on his way to the elevator.