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"Well for one, you’re beautiful"

I war from someone who defined physical perfection, I had a difficult ti it

"I’m not sure what looks have to do with it"

"Looks can be persuasive Secondly, you have a good concept"

I frowned, confused as to why Blake’s glowing opinion ofran in such stark contrast to his brutal line of questioning at the pitch "If you thought I had a good concept, then I’m not sure why you felt the need to humiliate me at the pitch and shoot me down"

I had come to know Blake better these past couple weeks, but the tirade of eotten My hand fisted as I remembered the experience, his siain, er

"I wanted to see how you’d perform under pressure Plus, how else was I supposed to find out if you were available? Two birds with one stone" He shrugged, as if it were nothing

To hi event, the cul to ether he needed to know that

"Blake, I worked really hard for the opportunity to pitch your group, and you coine hoould have felt if I hadn’t gotten the secondbecause of you The word devastated coh"

I looked out at the skyline to avoid his gaze, afraid enuinely wanted hi that thought to myself for weeks now, and I was suddenly asha hi accoe, and I was hardly a beacon of feer slipped at the shock of hearing his words The words nearly put me into shock

"You didn’t deserve that"

I was still processing Blake’s aly when the server came with our food We ate in silence for a few moments

"Max seemed upset that you helped h to startle me "You told him I helped you?"

"I assuht you were friends"

"We’re colleagues, not friends, Erica" He forked his duck aggressively and sliced off a bite before popping it into his perfect mouth

"How do you know his dad?"

He raised his eyebrows, his patience with this line of conversation clearly thinning I worried thatthreatened, but we’d cos aboutabout you Tell !" I wavedhi for me