“I wanted to talk to Daniel about something but that doesn’t matter, something else has just fallen right in my lap.”

“What are you talking about?”

She smiles, and it’s horrible. “One of the biggest deals in the aviation business is about to fall through and here you are, in Murphy’s apartment. The woman who caused it.”

I’m still not sure what she is talking about. My mind is racing, trying not to show I’m confused at the same time. Something tells me it would be terrible if I let her see she’s got me rattled.

One of the biggest deals in the aviation business? She’s talking about Daniel’s company and the deal he was making with Faulkner that night at the bar. He told me that didn’t happen.

“I didn’t cause anything.”

“No?” she takes out her phone and after clicking around she holds it to me, showing a headline about Blue’s Hideaway taking on a big corporation.

I don’t have time to read it before she takes the phone away. It’s nothing new, since people found out about the lawsuit it’sbeen plastered everywhere. I just don’t get why she is standing here on Daniel’s doorstep.

“What do you think the Faulkner’s are going to say when they find out Daniel Murphy is sleeping with the woman who is ruining their company? And by that, I mean, do you have a comment?”

I slam the door shut in her face. She’s a reporter. My heart hammers as I hurry away from the door to get away from her. She is knocking and calling out to me.

Hurrying around the corner I crash right into Daniel as he stands at the bottom of the stairs. He looks towards the front door and the sound of knocking, then to me.

“What’s wrong? Who was that?”

“You tell me,” I brush my hair off my face. I’m standing here in his shirt. Confused, vulnerable, angry. I can’t get a handle on what it is I’m feeling. The one thing that is clear, Daniel lied to me.

The knocking gets louder. Daniel takes my arm, carefully but I don’t want him to touch me, I pull it back. He looks at me in total confusion, then turns to the door.

“Don’t,” I snap, making him stop. “It’s a reporter.”

“A what?”

“A reporter, coming to ask what you think about the fact your big deal with Faulkner might fall through. She said it’s all my fault. And she was thrilled to see me here. What do you think she is going to do with that information, huh? I never wanted to be dragged into this. I didn’t ask for any of it and two massive companies with more money than I’ll ever see in my lifetime are trying to tear me apart.”

His lips tighten and his fist clenches. “Blue.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“That will not happen. I’ll deal with that and I’ll find out what is going on.”

“Did you still go through with the deal? Even though you told me you wouldn’t. Even after what he did to you. And… You stood up for me. I don’t understand. Help me understand.”

“My dad went through with it. I didn’t want him to, but it’s…” he trails off, biting on his lip hard.

“It’s business,” I finish for him. The look on his face has my world crashing down around me.

Not Blue

Daniel

"No, Blue it’s not that,” I take a step towards her.

I’m still trying to get a grip on what the fuck is happening right now. The anger, the betrayal and hurt and the unmistakable sheen of tears in her eyes practically breaks my heart in two.

“You should call your dad. Apparently, what I’m doing is blowing your deal apart.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why don’t you go askher?”