Page 26 of Jake

“Worthless,” came the retort.

“Hey!” Jake yelled.

“Enough!” Cade added. “You will not come in here and demean my employee or interrupt my work. If you continue to do this, I will have security bar you.”

Jake couldn’t see his face as he had whipped his head around toward Cade so fast, he’d likely have a sore neck tomorrow.

“Listen here, son,” he started.

“No, I don’t have to. You handed things off, and you’ll have to trust that I am doing what’s needed.” Cade walked toward his office door. “Please excuse us.”

With one last look at Jake, one of pure disgust and not even trying to hide it, he exited through the door. Jake and Cade watched as he left before Cade shut his office door.

“I’m sorry, Lauren,” Cade addressed her first.

“It’s okay. It’s nothing he hasn’t said before.”

“It shouldn’t happen. Just know that I couldn’t get anything done without you. You deserve a raise for my shit.”

“She does,” Jake agreed.

“That’s not necessary at all.” Lauren waved them off.

“I disagree,” Cade told her before turning to Jake. “I need a minute if you don’t mind?”

“I need a few myself,” Jake agreed, opening the door for him and Lauren to walk through.

Cade threw him a questioning look before turning his attention to Lauren. His eyes got wide as he looked back and forth between them again.

“We know,” Jake told him, leading Lauren from the office, not waiting for Cade’s reaction.

Lauren ran her hand through her blonde hair as Jake closed the door. “I don’t know what to say,” she told him.

“Well, I guess I will be at the party with you tomorrow, so I won’t have to ask how that went.” Jake waited for her to take a seat behind her desk before he dropped into one of the waiting chairs.

“I’m surprised you went for this kind of thing,” Lauren told him.

“It’s a long story. I’d be happy to tell it to you later.” He had a more important question on his mind right now. “Are you disappointed?”

Lauren shook her head. “No, just surprised.” She picked up a pen from her desk and began to click it repeatedly.

“You seem upset,” he pressed.

“Not because of you specifically. It’s more of me not wanting to . . . ,” she trailed off.

“Didn’t want to what?”

“Well, I don’t have money. I’m an assistant. I wasn’t looking for someone quite so high above me.” The pen clicked faster.

“I don’t think less of you for that,” he assured her.

“You’ve got to be a little disappointed.” She didn’t look at him, but rather down at herself and then motioned to her body with an open palm, “I mean, I’m not your usual type.”

“I’m not sure what you mean?” He was genuinely confused. She was pretty, just not flashy, something that he was grateful for.

“Look at me.” She did it again, gesturing to herself. “I know I don’t fit the supermodel aesthetic.”

“I don’t only date supermodels,” he defended himself.

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