Chapter 27

The rest of the day goes by in a blur of new faces and introductions. Todd carts Blake and I from one location to another, the pace never slowing as the hours wear on. So far today we've met lawyers, bankers, the construction crew, and a team of new developers. By the third stop I'm both bored and exhausted.

I had no idea how much was involved for the start-up of a new store, and yet with each new stop, Blake puts on the same professional face as the last visit.

"How are you holding up?" Blake asks me as we walk to the car for what feels like the billionth time today.

I shrug. "Meh. Bored as hell."

He chuckles. "I gathered as much when I caught you staring at the wall during the last meeting. You had the vacant eyes going on, with a sign on your forehead that said 'Too busy to talk; daydreaming about my boss's dick'."

I roll my eyes. "You're an idiot."

Though I can't argue. The statement is 100% accurate. In every single meeting, and every single look exchanged between Blake and I, my mind flitted right back to our morning together. I wondered what would happen after the two of us shared a sexual moment together.

Would I feel weird? Indifferent? Put-off? Guilty? Ashamed?

My worry seems almost laughable now. Because all that happened after I swallowed down every lost drop of his come was an influx of desire for him – a desire so intense that I wonder if it will ever be quenched.

Blake laughs louder, pulling me out of my sexual thoughts. "You're doing it again, aren't you?"

I glare and flip him off, frustrated at how transparent my thoughts are becoming. This silent confirmation just makes him laugh harder. He opens the car door for me and Todd watches our exchange with an expression clouded with confusion.

This makes me crack a smile. If that dude knew how the two of us spent our morning, he'd be looking at me with a look far more menacing than confusion.

"Where to, boss?" Todd asks.

"Back to the hotel, please."

I frown and turn to Blake. "Don't we have a few more meetings today?"

"Yes, but I think I can handle those on my own. Besides, you've had a long day. So I am officially giving you the rest of the day off to do as you please."

Then his voice drops so only I can hear him and he grins. "Well, within reason."

His comment brings me back to his 'limited patience' comment and my stomach flutters. As much as I don't want to piss him off, the idea of making Blake jealous enough to start another sexual rendezvous sounds almost too good to write off.

"Yea, yea, yea," I respond and roll my eyes.

Blake gives me a wink and my stomach flutters again. Just from that – a wink. I cross my arms over my chest, hating the fact of how quickly this man wrapping me around his finger. It's pathetic really. The last time I was here with him in Miami, I think I would have given anything to get out of his boring-ass-meetings.

Now I am biting my tongue from admitting I would rather sit through a few more meetings than be apart from him.

Todd speeds through the heavy heat of Miami, jumping on the moment of silence to once again gain Blake's attention. It's weird. The dude has a wife and kids, yet he hangs on Blake's every word like they're spun from gold.

I used to think Todd was just a kiss-ass, wanting to stay on Blake's good side in the hopes of another raise. Now I'm starting to wonder if it's really an infatuation that's been hiding in his closet for many years, collecting both dust and resentment.

By the time we pull up to the hotel, Todd and Blake have finished discussing everything from the latest political debates to the weather in California. All without my input, of course. My boss gets out of the car, holding the door open for me with a gentle grin.

"I'll text you later," he says under his breath.

"Yea, alright."

He leans into me, reaching around to give me an inconspicuous ass-grab. "Behave."

Once again, the slightest touch has my mind spiraling out of control, lusting after a man who has taken up far too much of my brain space. I wave off his words and turn towards the hotel, trying not to show my disappointment in having to leave his side.

The suited hotel worker gives me a nod when I reach the door, opening it for me and muttering a 'hello' under his breath. The lobby is pretty sparse compared to how busy it is first thing in the morning. One older woman sits in a chair closest to the elevators, her hair pinned up tightly, and a romance novel clutched within her grasp.

"Ah, Mr. Greene?"

I stop and turn. One of the men behind the front desk waves me over.

"Hell, Mr. Greene," he says. "Sorry to trouble you, but will Mr. Benson be joining you soon?"

I scratch at the back of my neck and shake my head. "No. He's in meetings for a while still. Why, what's up?"

The worker seems deflated by my answer, and indecision plays across his features. "Well, I have an important message for him. It's regarding one of his evening appointments, and I don't know how else to get ahold of him."

"Oh, no problem. Just give it to me and I'll text it to him," I say and reach out my hand for the note.

The older gentleman picks up a sealed envelope and pauses. He purses his lips, unsure of whether or not he should be doing this.

"Look," I say to ease his mind. "I'm Mr. Benson's assistant. I create his schedule, so I should really have gotten the message in the first place."

The worker's shoulders relax just a degree. He hands the letter over to me and grimaces. "Pleas just make sure Mr. Benson receives the message. Alright?"

I nod. "Of course, thank you!"

I stuff the letter into my back pocket and head towards the elevator. A hope blooms within me as I wait to be in the safe confines of the penthouse suite. Maybe it's a letter from one of the groups Blake is supposed to meet with this afternoon. Maybe they're canceling. Maybe he'll want another date night with me.

With a bounce to my step, I get up to the top floor and walk through the door to our hotel room.

I reach for the letter and tear it open, eager to start planning date number two with the man of the hour.

Then I freeze.

My eyes scour over the words on the page. My breathing picks up and I swallow hard, wanting to erase every single one of them. I read the entirety of the message once. Then twice.

Then a third time.

Message Delivered: 2:37 PM

[Looking forward to seeing you for dinner tonight. I'll be about ten minutes late, so could a drink for me?

Miss you,

Phil]

Before I can stop, my legs give out and I slump to the floor. I crumple the note in my fist and throw it as hard as I can against the wall. My jaw clenches and I try to breathe through the pain now holding my lungs hostage

And then the first tear of many begins to stream down my face.