The CEO and Fate✔️

Chapter 19

They jumped up from their chairs. "Thank you, Mr. Charlemagne," they exclaimed. "Of course we will."

I smiled. Zane must be in a generous mood today. From what I gleaned, the offer would have gotten a much more disgusted response from him on a normal day.

But while they worked out the final details, I was excused. I stepped out of the office to retrieve a file relating to the budget.

As I was looking for it, my pocket buzzed. I didn't usually receive text messages in the middle of the day, so I pulled it out and glanced at it curiously.

Call me immediately...please. It can't wait — Blake

My eyes widened. I had never received such a desperate text from him. In fact, I hadn't received any text from him in a long time.

Alarmed, I set down the file and quickly dialed his number.

He picked up on the fourth ring.

"Blake?" I questioned without waiting for a greeting. "Is everything okay?"

"Hm?" He answered absentmindedly. "Oh yes, just fine."

My mouth dropped. "But you texted me.." I trailed off in disbelief as his casual demeanor.

"Yes, I know," he dismissed. "It's nothing life or death, though I do appreciate your timely manner. I'm just feeling incredibly impulsive, and I want to go somewhere. What are your thoughts?"

He did not pull me out of a meeting to ask me where he should go for lunch.

"I don't know," I sighed as I balanced the phone in one hand and file in the other. "I'm not really the person to call for suggestions on where to eat around here. You've lived here longer than I have. Just take Jake for a nice lunch or something."

"I've seen too much of Jake," Blake frowned. "He's actually quite boring when he's sober."

"You live with him."

"Exactly. If I eat more than one meal a day with him then we're practically family and I can't be family with someone when I've seen their dick."

I rolled my eyes at his logic, or lack of. "Why are you calling me, Blake? I'm at work."

"I'm feeling extravagant," he explained. "Come with me to my house in the Hampton's. I have Gordon Ramsey's cousin on speed dial, and I can have lunch waiting."

My eyes widened. I wasn't sure if I heard correctly.

"You have a house in the Hampton's?" I repeated dumbly.

"Sure," he said. "It's got plenty of room and a jacuzzi. We can spend the rest of the day there."

"Blake, I-I," I stammered. "I'm not sure if I can take the time off."

"But it's Friday afternoon," he protested, desperation starting to leak in what had started as a confident conversation. "If I can take the time off, then so can you. Please."

"I—okay," I caved at last. "I haven't eaten since my iced coffee this morning so lunch actually sounds pretty good."

"Excellent. I'll text you the address," he said, quickly slipping back into his uninterested exterior.