Page 35 of Company Ink

Why is he laughing? Am I missing something? I squirm uncomfortably in my seat. "I'm sorry I'm late. I was...held up."Literally.I extend my hand over his desk. "I'm Cassie, your new PA."

Blake eyes my hand for a brief second before reaching for it and giving me a firm professional handshake. "Nadine says you started last week. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce myself earlier. I'm Blake Pearson, Managing Partner."

"It's totally fine. You must be a busy man," I laugh nervously. "But it's nice to finally put a face to a name." And what a face; strong jaw, faint dark stubble, thick black eyelashes, and eyes the color of aquamarine—almost inhumanly blue.

"So, Cassandra, Nadine tells me you have event experience. Where did you work previously?" he asks with a smirk.

"At New Vision Press. It's a publishing house." I blink, forcing myself to stop staring at his hauntingly beautiful eyes. "It's actually not too far from here, just on—"

"5th Street," Blake finishes my sentence with a knowing smile. "I'm familiar with it." He leans back into his chair, his eyes glowing with humor. "So, tell me, Cassandra. How was the funeral?"

I narrow my eyes, taken aback by his off-handed question. "I'm sorry...what?"What is he talking about?

"Oh," Blake hums comically. "No funeral? She survived?"

I lean in closer to the desk and whisper, "Are you talking to someone else on Bluetooth right now?"

Blake shakes his head. "No, I'm not."

I shift my gaze side to side, trying to wrap my head around what the fuck he's asking me. Is this some weird psychological assessment? Like a verbal version of the Rorschach test? Is he ink blobbing me right now?

"It was...good?" I offer hesitantly, still wildly confused. "Great catering?"

Blake chuckles under his breath. "Well, I'm glad you were able to lay Stella down to rest."

Stella? What?! How did he—My eyes expand as they glide over Blake's features. The hair, the jaw, the shoulders, the suit.The suit!The black Armani Suit. Oh, dear God. I gasp and cover my mouth with my right hand. No fucking way. Blake is...Stella's murderer?! How did I not recognize him? Oh God...he was wearing sunglasses that day. That must be it. I'd remember those eyes if I ever saw them before.

"I see you finally put the pieces together," he chuckles, looking far too amused by this awkward situation.

"I—uh...I didn't—" What the hell does someone say in a situation like this?

"I know, it must be such a shock to have a 'small-minded simpleton' as your new boss."

My cheeks burn up as I remember our interaction. I did call him that, didn't I? I press my lips into a thin line, praying that this chair just swallows me whole.

"I don't know what to say," I mumble, utterly lost for words. "I'm sorry?"

Blake shrugs noncommittally. "Don't apologize. Your reaction was completely reasonable."

"Really? It was?" I ask tentatively.

"Of course not, Cassandra. It was a plant, not an animal. You obviously overreacted."

I cross my arms defensively. "I was having a rough day."

"I remember." Blake links his fingers together and lays his fists on the desk. "Yourrough daycaused me to be late to a very important meeting with a client."

I tilt my head to the side. "You can't possibly blame me for that? I didn't ask you to stayorhelp me."

"What kind of man would I be if I just left you there, without making sure you didn't do something reckless?" he asks, his calm eyes latching onto mine.

"Um...a normal one?" I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, feeling suddenly nervous in his presence. "Most people ignore strangers on the street."

Blake rubs his chin methodically. "I just didn't want to turn on the news the next day and see a headline that read 'local girl throws herself into traffic after dropping her plant'. I don't think I could live with the guilt."

I don't know if he's being funny or serious, his face is neither smiling nor stern, just laced with genuine matter-of-factness. I nod my head, unsure of how to react to his...logical observation. "Okay, yeah. That makes sense. Well, sorry for uh—freaking out on you."

"It's alright. You weren't an employee back then. I cannot hold your behavior against you. Plus, as you said, you were having a rough day."

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