Cade Devlin never intended to be an executive assistant, but since he is, he does his best and isn’t entirely unhappy. Until he gets laterally promoted to work for Jake Vitoros, heir to the Top Textiles conglomerate. Jake is attractive, at least to Cade, but he treats Cade like he’s invisible. It’s rude and demeaning, yet Cade can’t help but crush on him.

  It’s tolerable until a chance hook-up one Friday night. Jake doesn’t recognize Cade in his party clothes and make-up, but surely come Monday? Jake’s epic failure to see Cade leaves the fate of their scheduled date—and Cade’s continued employment—in jeopardy.

  Invisible

  © 2018 Sydney Blackburn

  All rights reserved, including the rights to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without express written consent of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a review.

  Cover design by SB Designs

  Half Past Three Publishing

  London, Canada

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, retransmitted, or distributed without the express consent of the copyright holder.

  ONE

  Cade Devlin’s spine stiffened as footsteps in the hall beyond his desk announced the arrival of his boss. Jake Vitoros was never late and today was no exception. Jake walked past Cade’s desk with barely a nod, not making eye contact, as per usual. He strode into his office, separated from Cade’s desk by a half glass wall, and set his briefcase down on the desk before reaching for the vanilla soy latte Cade had already put there.

  All this Cade could have known without looking. His boss never varied his morning routine. Jake Vitoros liked routines, as Cade’s predecessor had been sure to drive home during his training for how to be an executive assistant to this particular man.

  Glorified secretary was more like it. Or furniture.

  Cade looked anyway, half turned in his seat and watching his boss from under his lashes. Not that Vitoros would have noticed him outright staring—he’d have to look at Cade, to see Cade, to do that.

  Jake sat behind his desk, which faced Cade, and picked up the waxed cardboard cup in both hands. The expression on his face caused Cade to breathe out a little sigh. He was responsible for that blissful look.

  Cade sighed again and turned to his own work. It was clichéd that he had a wicked crush on his boss, but at least Jake Vitoros was a dedicated, hard-working man. He didn’t have model good looks, but that didn’t matter. It wasn’t his appearance, exactly, that knotted Cade up inside, just some kind of visceral reaction that seemed to go beyond Jake Vitoros’ neatly styled light brown hair and equally well-groomed short facial hair. It wasn’t that he looked like he might be ripped under his immaculate navy business suit, either. Cataloguing the man in an objective, physical manner, he was attractive enough, not exactly a head-turner.

  That should have made Cade feel good, like he would have less competition, but the truth was, he didn’t know if his boss was gay, bi, straight, single or taken. There was also the issue of Jake being his boss. Cade drew a deep breath and expelled it in one huge sigh. Since the attraction was clearly only on Cade’s side, none of that mattered. Jake Vitoros barely knew Cade existed. Probably didn’t even know his first name.

  The light on his desk phone flashed, a silent signal that Jake wanted to talk to him. Cade pushed the intercom button and said calmly, “Yes, Mr Vitoros?”

  “Can you pull the Levinson files for me and make sure the memoranda inside are in chronological order, Mr. Devlin?”

  “Yes, sir.” He’d never been invited to call his boss by his first name, so he’d never made the offer in return. Most of their conversations took place over the intercom, probably so Jake Vitoros wouldn’t have to notice his executive assistant was human.

  TWO

  “Come on out, Cade. You need to meet real men, not brood over your unrequited love for that dick you call a boss.”

  Cade smiled at his phone. Leon was best friend, had been since they were seven and six, respectively. They spent a lot of time together, playing games or hanging out on the cheap seats at the local ball diamond, but in spite of them both being single, they didn’t go out much. Leon was straight and Cade was most decidedly not. “You hate gay clubs.”

  “True, but it’s not strictly gay, is it? It’s not beyond possible I could meet a cute bi woman. Besides, this is about you getting over your obsession with a man you can’t have.”

  “I’m not obsessing.” Cade wasn’t. Sure he had a crush on his boss, he was hardly the first person to do that. He was more upset that his boss took him for granted, to be honest. Mostly honest. Maybe Leon had a point. “But you’re right, going out does sound like fun. I could go for a bathroom quickie.”

  “Gross.”

  Cade laughed and ended the call. He swiped a rueful hand through his hair and wondered what the hell he was going to wear.

  He wriggled into a pair of leather pants and checked his mirror. No, dear god no. He didn’t mind being a bit soft in the gut, but he didn’t need to advertise it. He had no objections to similarly soft-gutted men, but they had to dress like they knew it. Self-awareness was hot.

  He drew on a soft pair of faded black jeans, foregoing underwear in case he did get lucky. He wasn’t opposed to a quick suck or hand job with a guy who pressed his buttons. He added a bright short sleeved shirt that was mesh from his clavicle down and used hair chalk to add a bright streak of matching red to his hair. He loved hair chalk. If the bright colour didn’t wash completely out in the morning shower, no one would really notice. Then again, would his executive assistant having a bright red streak finally catch Jake Vitoros attention? Probably not.

  Cade outlined his eyes in a dark brown kohl the same shade as his hair and tucked a shiny lip gloss and two condoms into his pocket, along with his ID, debit card, and a bit of emergency cash.

  They were going to Club 124, which wasn’t any secret code, just the address—124 King Street. The facade was white stucco over dark tinted windows that featured neon liquor signs. Club 124 was in cut steel letters lighted up by rainbow spots against the stucco. The front doors were open wide when he and Leon got there, but two burly guys in tight grey t-shirts guarded the entrance against minors and trouble makers.

  Neither he nor Leon spared the bouncers a second glance. They were both on the thirty side of twenty and looked their age. Inside the music was loud, the crowd was thick, and the lights were flashing. Leon grinned at Cade and pushed him along towards the bar. Incredibly, a table with no one standing at it was available. “Stay there,” Leon said loudly, as if sensing Cade’s sudden desire to leave. “I’ll get us drinks.”

  “You’re gonna get hit on,” Cade replied.

  “I’m a big boy, I can handle it.” Leon winked.

  Cade rolled his eyes. Maybe he should take advantage of the crowd and find someone to get off with. An orgasm that wasn’t self induced would be nice, as would having someone other than Jake on his mind as he came. I am such an idiot.

  Club 124 served the entire LGBT community, so Leon wasn’t wrong when he said he might meet someone here. The people in the club represented a wide variety, in terms of shapes, sizes, and lifestyles. His eyes passed over the women and catalogued the men present. There were ripped party boys who’d already lost their shirts to show off rock hard bodies. Nice to look at but not really Cade’s type. Leather daddies, hipster bears… Cade closed his eyes and shook his head when he realized he was looking for men in suits.

  His fingers tapped the tabletop in time with the music and he wondered what was keeping Leon. Maybe Leon had found the woman he’d been hoping to meet? Good for him, but that wasn’t going to save Cade from dying of thirst. He knew, as soon as he left the tiny round table it would be claimed by someone else. Then again, all it would be doing was holding his drink, and he had a hand for that. Again with the hand, he smirked to himself.

  One song ended and another began with the seamlessness of a good DJ. He turned a hunter’s eye over all the men on the dance floor, since that’s where he hoped to end up.

  “Hey,” said a voice in his ear, all warm breath, giving him the immediate awareness of body heat.

  “Hey,” Cade replied, turning to look. His eyes widened and his jaw literally fell open. He knew it had, because the man beside him gave him a mischievous grin as he put his forefinger under Cade’s chin and pushed up. Jake fucking Vitoros.

  “That’s not a reaction I get often.”

  He was standing way too close, in order to be heard and Cade just couldn’t find words for a reply. He flicked his gaze over Jake, taking in the casual jeans and the soft chambray shirt he wore open over a t-shirt that fit, but not super tight. He wasn’t wearing any jewelry or makeup, though his hair had obviously been artfully tousled for the night.

  Jake’s smile faded. “Is there something wrong?”

  Cade realized he’d been staring. “N-no. You just, you’re fine.”

  Jake’s smile returned, grew to a grin. He held out his hand. “I’m Jake.”

  Cade nearly fell over in shock. Jake had absolutely no idea who he was. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “Cade,” he said, shaking the offered hand. He saw a flicker of recognition in the other man’s lustrous eyes. Was that green or hazel?

  “You got a favourite cheesy pick-up line I should u se?”

  Cade couldn’t help but laugh. “Nope. Wanna dance?”

  Jake’s gaze flicked over his body. “I think I do. To start.”

  Cade laughed again, too astonished to process what was going on. Jake Vitoros was gay? Okay, he could handle that. That was good really. Jake Vitoros was clearly here for one reason, though and Cade had a little problem with that. He knew he was bein hypocritical since it was the same reason he was here, but—holy shit, the idea of Jake randomly fucking strangers caused an ugly tightness in his chest.

  The realization that that his unrequited involved more than lust made him stumble. That and the warmth of Jake’s hand on the small of his back. The mesh of his shirt allowed him to feel the barest hint of flesh on flesh and he hoped the dance floor would fix that, and then once again he was flummoxed by his own crazy thoughts.

  If Jake liked a wide variety of sex, he probably wasn’t looking to settle down. If Jake liked to pick up guys and have sex, this was Cade’s lucky night. He was thrilled, and disappointed, and thrilled.

  He swallowed as Jake’s arms went around him from behind and nearly swooned when Jake pressed a very obvious erection into the crease of his ass. This can’t be happening.

  Oh, this is happening.

  Cade turned in Jake’s arms, grinning as if Jake was just some random hot guy he’d met. Because clearly that’s what Jake was thinking about Cade. No, he’d be annoyed about that later. Tonight he was going to have some seriously sexy times with his hot boss.

  THREE

  Grinding with Jake on the dance floor had Cade so hot, he was the one who finally growled, “Bathroom. Now.”

  Jake had chuckled and taken his hand, letting Cade lead the way. Cade had done this before, but he doubted he’d come to the bathroom for sex as often as Jake had. Not that he was judging, he was just— Spit it out, you’re jealous. Irrational as it was, yes.

  As soon as they left the dance floor, though, Leon intercepted them. Guilt swept Cade—he’d completely forgotten Leon. Fortunately Leon looked more amused than annoyed. “You all right here, Cade?”

  “Yeah, I’m good.”

  “I’m taking off, so…”

  “I got cab money, thanks, buddy.”

  Leon gave Jake a once over and seemed satisfied he wasn’t an axe murderer. He winked at Cade as he turned away to disappear into the crowd.

  “Friend of yours?” Jake said a bit gruffly in his ear. That couldn’t be jealousy, but Cade pretended it was.

  “Just a friend. He’s straight.”

  “Good. I think you said something about the bathroom?” He nudged Cade’s ass with his erection.

  Cade growled and half-led, half-dragged Jake to the large, unisex washroom. It wasn’t empty but nobody looked at them twice, not even to smirk when they both went into a stall.

  “You’re really cute,” Jake said, running one finger through the red painted streak of Cade’s hair. “Pretty eyes.” His own eyes flicked down and back to Cade’s face. “Pretty everything.”

  The kiss that followed was hot enough to set the place on fire, filled with an urgency that was almost violent. Cade fumbled with Jake’s fly as Jake did the same, their kiss breaking as Jake gasped on the discovery of Cade’s lack of underwear. “God,” he muttered.

  Cade gasped, too, mind reeling between the high that was lust and the oh my god this is Jake Vitoros thoughts that passed in and out of his mind, depending on what was Jake was do— God.

  Cade couldn’t let Jake do all the stroking, oh no, not when he could be drawing his hand up and over Jake Vitoros’ hard cock. He pushed past the man’s boxer briefs, grunting into Jake’s mouth as he shoved the offending fabric down. Jake helped, wriggling in the tiny space until his jeans dropped to his ankles.

  Cade caught both dicks in his hand a second before Jake obviously had the same idea. He was not going to last long and given their location that was probably good and right, but damn. Each stroke of their entwined fingers pressing cock to cock was a stroke towards heaven.

  And still they kissed, hot frantic kisses with almost no tongue, interspersed with gasps and moans of pleasure. The scent of Jake, from his aftershave to his sweat, made the grungy urine tang of the bathroom sexy and exotic. Scent, touch, taste, sound—god, even the sight of Jake’s face, eyes half closed, mouth half open, hair damp and disarrayed—

  “God, Jake,” was all Cade managed to say before he came, muscles taut as he held onto Jake.

  Then Jake was coming too, and they collapsed against the wall in a half embrace, Jake breathing hard into Cade’s neck.

  Under normal circumstances, Cade would be giving his partner a wry but grateful look and saying, “Thanks, man, I needed that.” He could have done that, but he wanted more with Jake Vitoros. And not in the washroom of a club. Which meant he had no idea what to say.

  He took a few deep breaths and reached for the toilet paper, pulling off a handful that he offered to Jake.

  Jake smiled his thanks.

  They cleaned up silently, and pulled their clothes up and into place.

  Jake cleared his throat and blocked the door. “Listen. Cade. I don’t, I mean...shit. Is it breaching etiquette to ask for your number? I’d like to see you again.”

  Cade tilted his head, not sure what he was hearing. “Like, a booty call?”

  Colour tinted Jake’s cheeks, the first time Cade had ever seen such a thing. “Well, if that’s what you want. I was thinking dinner sometime.”

  Glancing down, Cade struggled to control his emotions. Laughter was his first instinct, since he figured Jake would finally recognize him come Monday morning and that would be the end of any dinner plans. He liked the idea, though. “Sure,” he said. “Gimme your phone.”

  He added himself as a contact with first name only. Maybe Jake meant tomorrow or something, and he’d get lucky before Monday brought this miraculous interval to a rude end. He added a heart after his name, passed the phone to Jake and said with flirty wink. “Call me maybe.”

  “Maybe? I thought your name was Cade.” Jake was grinning.

  He looked good all serious in his suit. Casual, just-fucked Jake was absolutely stunning. Cade licked his lips before chuckling. “If you don’t have plans for the rest of the night, you could come back to my place,” he offered.

  Jake shook his head. “Love to, but can’t. I didn’t… This wasn’t in my evening’s plan. What I mean is, I’ve got work to do tomorrow and of course my secretary is off, probably having a life—”

  “Your secretary?” Cade narrowed his eyes.

  Jake gave him a helpless smile full of regret, seemingly oblivious to Cade’s reaction. “I work a lot,” he confessed. “But there’s something about you—is that clichéd? I mean it, though. I’d like to take you out to dinner, find out what makes you tick, Cade.” His smile widened. “In and out of bed.”

  His heart beat a little quicker and Cade nodded, certain he was dreaming. “I, yeah, okay. That’d be great.”

  FOUR

  “And he’s your boss, but didn’t recognize you? I know you said he was oblivious, but really!” Leon shook his head at Cade from across the rapidly-filling cart Cade was pushing down the aisles of the Super Market. Cade had offered to cater the birthday party for Leon’s sister for the cost of ingredients. Cooking was Cade’s passion, but he hadn’t been able to survive the high pressure of a restaurant kitchen. That’s why he was an office monkey with regular hours and work he left behind at the end of each day.

  “He will Monday. I mean we had our tongues down each other's throats.” Cade tried not to dwell on the possible outcomes of Monday, but after being that close to each other, there was no way Jake could fail to recognize him. At least he’d be seen, if only as a “secretary.”

  “If you ask me,” Leon said, consulting the list they’d drawn up, “you can do better.”

  Cade snorted. “But Leon, you’re straight.”

  “Ugh, you should be so lucky.”

  “Although it’s just so much fun to pick apart my love life or lack thereof, and I adore being the center of attention, what about you? Any luck finding the bi girl of your dreams?”

 

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