Chapter 5

The rest of the week flew by. Chase avoided Christine as much as possible. Christine spoke when spoken to, not daring to meet his penetrating gaze. She noticed some of the employees staring when she passed by, conversations suddenly silent.

Let them talk. I have nothing to hide.

Even Mason avoided the office. Which definitely was for the best. She hadn't seen him since he noticed Chase carrying her to the elevator. Just thinking about it had her face heat up. No, she must banish Chase from her mind. He humiliated her and treated his father like crap in front of her. It did not sit well with her at all. She adored her father, even though he put them through agony. It was unthinkable for her to treat a family member with so much contempt as she had seen. But she still felt sorry for him when Mr. Ward hit him. She could feel that slap in her deepest being. Then there was the thing with Mason. Maybe she should ask Mason about it, because she certainly wasn't going to talk to Chase anytime soon.

She gave a start when her cell phone rang. Then she beamed.

"Charlie!"

"Hey ja best bud! Long time no hear."

"Oh, Charlie I've missed you. Are you back from the UK?" Christine's voice shook. Her friend had been away far too long.

"Yup and I'm eager to see you, Chrissie. I'm in the mood to paaartyyy!"

"You're always in the mood." Christine laughed.

* * *

Chase stood in the doorway, unashamedly listening in on the conversation. Christine talking animatedly and laughing brought him out of the office to see. Her laughter, bell like, made him wishing she would laugh more. Instead she never even smiled at him.

Who is this Charlie? A boyfriend? Probably. And why the hell does that bother me?

"Yes, of course. Club Deja Vu? No, I've never been." Christine giggled.

Chase frowned. He knew the place. People go there to hook up. He had a date rape case a few months back involving that club. His left eye started to twitch.

"No, no, I'll meet you there." she said.

Chase scoffed. Boyfriend Charlie doesn't know where she lives.

Well, maybe a night out is just what I need.

He snickered to himself and went back into his office to finish his opening statement for Monday's court appearance.

* * *

The music pumped, vibrating through bodies, strobe lighting gave off hues of purple, blue and scarlet. A dance floor filled with gyrating bodies giving off pheromones filled the atmosphere. The place almost burst out of the seams with people, laughing, drinking, dancing.

"My boss is an ass! He is delusional, bipolar even!" Christine took a large gulp of her Long Island Ice Tea. Her best friend Charlie patted her shoulder to calm her. As soon as Christine saw Charlie, she'd burst into tears. How she had missed her bubbly friend.

Christine hated she felt so vulnerable. She still couldn't believe Chase Ward would think so little of her to accuse her of such despicable behaviour.

"Sounds like he is jealous." Charlie mused.

Christine gave a bitter laugh. "Jealous of what? He hardly speaks to me. He never compliments my work and damn I try so hard. But no, nothing is good enough. I think he hates me. I don't understand it. I've never done anything to him." Not too mention he is so attractive, damn him. If only he wasn't my employer and if only he wasn't such a complete douche...

Charlie and Christine had been friends for a life time. Even before the accident. They went to ballet classes together. Those were happy times. But then the accident happened and she couldn't fathom how she would've gotten through those tough times if it hadn't been for Charlie. She was her rock.

"Yeah? Chrissie, you still have a lot to learn about men, my love."

Christine gave her friend a shove. "Oh, and you are the expert, Oh Wise and Powerful One?"

Charlie giggled and pushed her tawny hair out of her eyes. "Don't look now, but there are two hot hunks coming over."

"I don't have strength for this." she groaned. Charlie slapped her lightly on the arm.

"Don't be such a killjoy, Chrissie." she spoke in Christine's ear. "You need the distraction. God knows, I need the distraction..."

That's Charlie for you, always game. Christine looked up at the approaching guys. Not bad though. And then she saw him. At the opposite side of the bar, half hidden in a booth, Chase Ward stared right at her.

Sonofabitch. Was he stalking me?

"Hey!" Charlie swung her around to face her. "What the fuck, Chrissie? You look like you're about to puke? Did you take your meds with the booze?'

I can't believe it. What the hell does he think he's doing? Maybe I should go over there and ask him. We're not at the office now, I can do what I damn well please.

"Chris! Christine Morrison, answer me!" Charlie shouted above the roaring music.

"What?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, Mom I'm fine." She offered a wan smile, but could see Charlie wasn't convinced.

Before Charlie could reply the two guys introduced themselves. They asked them what their poison was. Christine was adamant not to give Chase Ward the satisfaction of ruining her Friday night. So she turned to the one dark haired guy and asked for another Long Island Ice Tea.

"Wow, you certainly like it strong," said he, scanning her whole body.

He liked what he saw. The guy was good-looking as well, in a rough bad boy way. Charlie liked the bad boys. Christine could see the appeal - dressed in ripped jeans and T-shirts clinging to well muscled tattooed bodies. They were definitely eye candy.

"Like she likes her men," Charlie giggled.

Christine frowned at Charlie. She didn't need help flirting, thank you very much.

They joked around and the guys kept offering to buy them drinks. Usually Christine wouldn't drink this much, but she could feel Chase watching her and it made her want to throw caution to the wind and get plastered. She flirted with the dark haired guy whose name was Mark or Mike, not important.

They danced to Ed Sheeran's 'Bad Habits" and his hands were all over her butt. Normally she would say something. This time she left it. She could feel him getting all exited, he tried kissing her but she turned her head. Chase wasn't there anymore. Good.

Maybe I was being paranoid and he had a date or something.

"I need to go to the ladies." She excused herself from the grabby guy.

"Hurry back now, hear?" he called after her.

* * *

What the hell was I thinking? Coming here to this club when I overheard she was coming here tonight. To meet Charlie... I must be out of my frigging mind. Or maybe I'm just a bit drunk; after all I did finish almost half a bottle of Scotch this afternoon. This place has a bad reputation. What the hell was she thinking coming here? I mean this was a club where you come to pick up loose women. I didn't figure her for that kind of girl.

He glared at the short brunette that came with her. She looked a bit easy. If he had a Dollar for every date rape case they got in...

Goddamn! The guy was holding onto her ass like it's about to fall off. I have to get out of here before I do something stupid.

Stumbling through the dancing mob, ignoring the glances and advances thrown his way, he made his way to the exit.

I could have picked up any one of the single girls here tonight, but no, I just have eyes for Christine. This is bullshit. She's probably going to end up in one of those assholes' bed tonight and I will be going home. Alone.

At the door he turned around to take one more look.

"Fuck this!"

He went outside. The fresh air hit him like a fist and he staggered back, clutching at a nearby lamp post. Nausea threatened to overwhelm him. Chase sat down on the side walk, head between his knees to let the feeling pass.

Damn. Did I really drink that much?

"Oh, c'mon Chrissie. Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud."

Chase's attention perked up. He prayed they didn't notice him sitting there. He dared not get up.

"Yeah, Babe let's go have some fun." a man's voice.

"No, I'm sorry I had way to much too drink. I just want to go home and sleep it off. You guys go ahead." Chase recognized Christine's voice and she sounded drunk.

"I can take you home?" the man said.

"No, I'll just take a cab -"

"Aww, no way. My car's just around the corner." the man insisted.

Chase felt the haze leave him. He straightened up. The guy held Christine's arm and she was trying to get free of his grasp, but Chase noted that she could hardly stand on her feet. Chase sized the man up. He was muscled and almost a head shorter than him. The other guy looked tough, covered in tattoos. Chase thought he could at least take one of them in his current state.

"She said no. Did you get that?"

"Who the fuck are you?" Muscle man demanded.

"Mr. Ward?" Christine squinted at him.

"Is that your boss?" the brunette asked, "Wow! He's hot." The brunette looked him up and down, clutching the other tattooed guy's arm.

Tattooed guy scowled at her.

"Morrison, come. I'll take you home." he held out his hand for her to take.

"No fucking way, Bro! She's coming with us." Muscle man yanked her to his side. She stumbled against him.

"Let. Her. Go." Chase felt his patience slipping. He stepped closer to them.

"It's okay, Mark - Mike? I'll go with him." Christine sighed.

"It's Jake." the man said, clearly irritated. "Fine!" He shoved her forward into Chase's arms.

"Are you sure, Chrissie?" the brunette asked.

Christine nodded. "Yeah, I'll call you tomorrow, Charlie."

The trio left leaving Chase standing with Christine holding onto him. He steadied her against his chest.

"Jesus, Christine, how much did you have?"

"Don't know. Just tired."

He lifted her chin. In the dim light of the street lamp her face looked soft and vulnerable. It took all of his willpower not to kiss her.

* * *

All the way to his apartment in Soho he cursed himself for his impulsiveness. What the hell was he thinking?

She's going to think he stalked her, which he kind of did. Okay I did. But I saved her, didn't I? It had to count for something.

Who knows what muscle man would have done to her in the state she was in? He would never forgive himself if something happened to her. Irritated he slammed his hand on the steering. What if she went to his Dad and complained about him? Especially after what happened on Monday. He still wasn't talking to his father. He would fire him at worst.

"Fuckfuckfuck... I am so royally fucked then."

He wouldn't make partner. And all this just because of his stupid attraction to Christine. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree now, does it Chase?

Christine was still asleep when they arrived at his house. He carried her to his bedroom and deposited her on his bed. She mumbled something, hugged a pillow to her body and turned on her side. Chase slipped off her shoes, admiring her well toned calves. She was so beautiful.

How women could wear these torture objects is beyond him. Although he conceded it's a turn on. But sex was the last thing he needed to have on his mind. A cold shower would help solve the problem. Nah, too tired. He hadn't slept in two days. Just going to lay down for a few minutes. He fell down on the bed next to Christine and passed out cold.