Page 40 of The Forever Rule

And my family was in a state of shambles, and I couldn’t focus on anything else but keeping them sane and healthy. By keeping us connected. We had thatblasted dinner later tonight, where I had to somehow break bread with my new family members, and I had no idea how it was going to go.

So that was what I was focusing on, and not Blakely.

“I was fired,” Blakely said simply.

I blinked at her, realizing that statement was anything but simple. “What?” I asked, my voice a growl.

“Aston,” James warned.

I was grateful for the chaperone in this conversation.

“It’s fine. I have a new job now, and I’m happy. There’s no need for anything to be awkward.” She smiled, though I wasn’t sure if it was real or not.

“What happened?” I asked.

Blakely gave me a confused look before turning to James. “You knew that I was searching for a job, and he didn’t?”

“No, your position would be under my purview, not his section. We separate our companies underneath the umbrella of Cage Enterprises so we don’t fight anymore. Brothers and all.”

She blinked, and I had no idea what she was thinking. It was easier to know her when we were just texting, when she was a stranger on the other line. And I desperately wanted to know what she was thinking.

“I was fired because Howard didn’t like our dance,” she said pointedly.

My hands fisted at my sides. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I’m not kidding you. He put it in different words andfound another reason for me to lose my job. And for the past three months?—”

“Three months?” I cut her off. “You’ve been out of work for three months?”

She winced, her cheeks turning a rosy shade.

“Aston. Seriously?” James grumbled.

“Yes. Because Howard didn’t want me to have a job. And I figured coming here of all places probably wouldn’t be the best bet.”

“I’m going to kill him,” I growled.

“You are not,” Blakely said, her voice strong, that same strength that I had liked three months ago.

“Excuse me?”

“This is my business. Yes, he’s a terrible man, and if I had the time and the wherewithal, I could have found a way to sue him or get vengeance, but it doesn’t matter. I have a new job. Your brother hired me. And I’m going to be the best at it. So we don’t need to make things awkward.”

“Oh this isn’t awkward at all,” James said.

I shot him a vicious glare. “Quiet.”

“No I think I’m not going to be quiet. Because this is my office. And Blakely is my new employee. I don’t want you to screw it up with your alpha man tendencies.”

Blakely’s lips twitched.

I shook my head. “He had no right to fire you.”

“He didn’t. And it’s going to be fine. I am amazing at my job, and I’m going to help Cage Enterprises be even more elite than you already are.”

“See, I like the sound of that. We were going to try topoach her anyway,” James said with a shrug, and Blakely looked over at him.

“You keep saying that, and yet I had no job offer,” she said, her eyes dancing.

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