Part 24 (1/2)
His meaning was obvious. If his endurance had taken a hit, mine had been pulverized. He was always in incredible shape, a well oiled machine, lean and powerful.
I rolled my eyes, wis.h.i.+ng he'd leave me alone, but knowing that wasn't his style.
”I thought you liked to be challenged?”
Without waiting for my response, which would have contained some choice words, he leaned over to change my settings to match his. My comfortable incline soon increased until we were both in a full sprint. I wanted to dish out some trash talk but saved my breath for the run that I felt certain would be testing me shortly.
What the h.e.l.l was I thinking? I hadn't exercised outside of the bedroom or a yoga studio in months. I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept through the night. I was running on fumes. My lungs burned and my muscles ached as I struggled to keep up speed. Only sheer pride kept me from admitting defeat. I couldn't give him the satisfaction, even now, when it hardly mattered.
Several minutes later, I was silently praying for relief, unsure how much farther my legs would take me on the mile sprint Blake had committed our machines to. Drenched and drained beyond recognition, I finally slowed to a walk.
Blake hopped off his machine and leaned casually on the railing behind us. I could barely stand, let alone walk. Somehow I kept my legs under me and disembarked, wondering how I was going to drag my sorry a.s.s home in this condition.
”How are your legs?”
He gave me a smirk that made me want to slap it off his beautiful face.
”f.u.c.k you,” I managed between the jagged breaths. I took a long swig of my water. Our little jaunt clearly hadn't had nearly the same effect on him. He barely looked winded.
”Gladly, but you seem a little wiped out. Hope you didn't have any plans for later.”
He lifted the bottom of his T-s.h.i.+rt to wipe the light sheen of sweat from his forehead, blatantly showcasing his abs. They looked as good as ever. He wasn't exactly letting himself go.
”Hey.” James walked up to us, his chest puffed out at the sight of Blake.
Blake gave him the kind of look he reserved for other unfortunate men who had made the mistake of getting too close to me. Pure disdain, as if James's mere existence offended him. This wasn't good on any level. As much as I insisted that James and I weren't sleeping together, Blake had an uncanny propensity for finding us in the same place at the same time.
”You done?” I said to James, hoping to break the stare down between them.
”Yeah, ready when you are.” James's eyes didn't move.
”I'll see you later, Blake.”
I gave James a gentle push on his chest, prompting him to turn and follow me out. When I looked back, I caught Blake's tense expression, his hands fisting tightly around the railing.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
Friday was the day I was going to meet with Daniel's campaign people. I chose a chocolate brown scoop neck dress that flowed loose at the hemline. I paired it with a thin belt and my nude heels. The look was sophisticated and more in line with who I was professionally rather than who I was auditioning to be. I refused to wear a suit at this pretend interview for a job I didn't even want.
The governor's election was still a couple months off, but people buzzed around the headquarters office as if today were the big day. Campaign signs filled every window. Paperwork was everywhere, scattered on people's desks and piled up on every available surface. A dozen or so people were on the phone talking, their voices mingling into one unintelligible audio blur.
Young men and women my age pa.s.sed by me, moving across the office as if they were coordinating the moon landing or something. The perpetual sense of urgency put me on edge.
I stood there somewhat stupidly, taking it all in, when a tall young man emerged from one of the few enclosed offices and walked toward me.
”Erica?”
”Yes.”
”I'm Will, the a.s.sistant campaign manager. Come on back and we can talk.”
We stepped into his office. The room was windowed on two sides. He shut the door and all the noise of the main room with it. I relaxed, immediately relieved by the separation. Thank goodness I didn't have this reaction to our office. Even Blake's office, which had two or three times more people, didn't feel this hectic.
Will sat down at his desk and shuffled through some papers. He was probably in his mid-thirties. Attractive with dark blond hair that seemed slightly s.h.a.ggy and overgrown, he looked like a more mature version of the interns and volunteers out on the floor. His eyes were slightly glossy and he radiated a kind of energy that I knew from personal experience came from copious amounts of caffeine and minimal sleep.
”So thanks for coming in. I understand that you know Mr. Fitzgerald already?”
”Yes.” The word came out awkwardly. We sure knew each other, but Daniel hadn't prepped me on how we were supposed to know each other officially. ”We have some mutual business connections.” I hoped that was vague enough to discourage any further prodding on the subject.
”That's always good. I'm a.s.suming you are up to speed with the position's requirements?”
”I am, but I'd love to hear your take on what exactly you're looking for.”
We spent the next ten minutes discussing the structure of their marketing efforts, shortcomings, and concerns, and how they were hoping to improve. I listened intently, taking notes to fill in the gaps from the doc.u.ments Daniel had given me.
”I'm probably not supposed to mention this in an interview, but we don't have a lot of time to dance around things here. Mr. Fitzgerald seems especially eager to find a way to work with you. I'm guessing you feel the same way?”
Wow, was that ever a loaded question. I clicked my pen. The stubborn part of me wanted to scream out, No! Instead, I smiled politely and withdrew a thick doc.u.ment from my bag. The size of it rivaled the marketing plan that Daniel had given me the week prior.
I dropped it on his desk. ”Will, I have a proposal for you.”
The meeting with Will went well, but I wasn't sure how or when Daniel would react to what I'd proposed. I had a feeling he wouldn't be too pleased, even though I'd laid out a plan that made perfect sense for everyone involved. He'd likely see it as another attempt to negotiate the hard line he'd drawn. I'd still try to convince him all the same. I had to.
Mark was dead, but as long as Blake was safe, I was going to fight Daniel on this. Because the kind of life he had planned for me wasn't much of a life at all, as far as I was concerned. At least for now, I was willing to face the repercussions of standing up to him and hope for the best.
Letting someone else run my life went so far against the grain of who I was as a person. I was growing weary of Daniel's attempts to coerce me with violence and fear. In the long run, no one could possibly win. Any talent he expected to extort out of me would be swiftly crushed if I followed him blindly into this new life.
I pushed the apprehension out of my mind. Daniel would let me know his thoughts on the matter sooner or later. I wouldn't worry about it in the meantime.
Back at the office, I was talking with Chris and Sid when something caught my eye out the window. Blake's Tesla had zoomed up to the curb. My heart leaped. Even without seeing him in the flesh, the terrible ache that haunted me resurfaced. The ache was quickly replaced with a fiery rage as I watched him help Risa out of the car. She was smiling and laughing, her hand flat on his chest.
Oh h.e.l.l no. I found my legs and rushed downstairs, meeting them a few seconds later.
”Erica, hi.” Risa froze, a white-knuckle grip on her purse.
I quickly a.s.sessed her, desperate to find a hair out of place, some indication of what had gone on during her overlong lunch hour. I continued to stare, imploring her to feed me an excuse.
”Um, Blake wanted to go over some of the new marketing numbers with me. So we decided to grab lunch.”
”Did he?”
She nodded anxiously. I stared at her a moment longer. I couldn't stomach even the loose vision my imagination was stringing together right now.
Blake going behind my back to get information about the business was one thing. Coercing Risa into bed, with presumably very little effort, was another matter entirely.