Page 72 of Company Ink

"Kidding," he says, waving to all the clients we pass. "Let's get a drink and make the rounds. There are some important people I'd like for you to meet."

Grabbing two glasses of champagne from a server, I hand one to Blake. "Let's go mingle!"

For the next forty-fiveminutes, Blake and I glide from table to table, greeting all of our esteemed guests. Lots of people hate making small talk but I personally love it. Working with client files all day, it's nice to finally put faces to names. Client 90J7F is now Aiko and Phillip Sata, a husband-and-wife duo that specialize in forensic imaging and have a pet chihuahua named Mimi. Client number 27X1N is now Janice Dexter, a music executive with a two-year-old son and a time-share in Bora Bora; I was extra nice to her just in case she was willing to share.

"Another glass?" Blake asks, nodding down to my empty flute. I've somehow only managed to drink two glasses of champagne during our rounds. A personal record.

"Yeah, but I think I'm ready for something a little stronger," I reply.

"Like what?" Blake asks, pushing through the throngs of people towards the bar.

"Pretty much anything with vodka."

"I'm sure they'll be able to make something for—" Blake's cut off, when a gorgeous woman with thick auburn hair, and a body that would make Aphrodite jealous, taps him on the shoulder.

"Blake," she says, her breath causing the fur around her neck to flow. "I was wondering when I'd run into you."

Blake stiffens beside me, a storm brewing in his eyes. "What're you doing here?"

Jessica Rabbit's twin chuckles inaudibly. "I came with my uncle," she explains, pointing towards a table in the distance. Her eyes soften. "How have you been? It's been a while."

"Yes, two years to be exact," Blake says, his eyes cloudy and glaring.

My gaze darts between them as tension fills the space between our bodies. I can't. "Hi, I'm Cassie!" I hold out my hand. "I'm Blake's PA."

Blake shakes his head as if just realizing I'm standing there. "I'm sorry, how rude of me. Cassie, this is Amelia Taylor. Amelia—" His jaw tightens. "This is Cassandra Carrington."Amelia?Okay, that explains a lot.

Amelia holds out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cassie," she says kindly, then her eyes flicker back to Blake. "But it's not Taylor anymore." She wiggles her left hand, showing off the giant rock on her ring finger. "It's Antonov now."

All the color washes out of Blake's face. "Antonov? As in Alexander Antonov?"Who the hell is that?

Amelia flashes Blake an apologetic smile. "Yes," she answers quietly.

"When?" Blake asks, fury and pain capturing his features.

Amelia sighs. "Six months ago, we—"

"Will you please excuse me," Blake says sharply and pushes past us. What the fuck just happened?

"Uh—" I stammer. "It was nice meeting you, Amelia. Please enjoy the rest of the night." I chase after Blake, not giving her time to respond.

"Blake!" I call out after him. "Blake, stop!"

Pushing through all the guests, Blake marches straight to the bar. "Whiskey," he says flatly to the bartender. "Double." He tosses back the drink in one fluid motion. "Another."

Placing my hand on his forearm, I crane my neck around, frowning. "Blake, what's wrong? Why are you so mad?"Kitty said Blake was the dumper, not the dumpee, so why is he so pissed?

"Leave it alone, Cassie," Blake says in a low tone, motioning for another drink.

"No." I grab the glass of whiskey off the bar. "Something's clearly wrong. Instead ofdrinking, why don't we talk about it."

"Give that back, Cassie." He reaches for the drink, but I take a step back. "Why are you being so difficult?"

"Me? You just pounded down 4 ounces of Johnny Walker Black at a work function. I'm not letting you drink more. Talk to me," I plead. "What's wrong?"

Blake takes a deep breath turning away from me. Silence. He doesn't say anything, just stares off into the distance. So stubborn.

"Amelia is your ex-girlfriend...right?" Maybe a prompt will get him talking.

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