"If it was, you are doing it the wrong way."
"Trust me, Blake," Cathryn told him and waved a dismissive hand in his direction, no longer really caring about the discussion at hand.
She said sarcastically, "You didn't even pass the recruitment stage."
Blake's frown turned into a grin. "Now you make me want to pass that stage."
Bullshit.
"Don't even try. You are fired." Cathryn rolled her eyes as she tugged her hand at that inopportune moment when Blake least expected it.
Blake had let go, almost losing his grip on the umbrella handle.
"That surprised me." Blake clutched her elbow and pulled her back into his personal space, sharing the same umbrella once again. "So I got in for a moment before getting myself fired."
"I don't want to waste my time, Blake. Being an artist consumes a lot of my time enough as it is and I don't want to deal with another human being who disturbed my peace of mind. Don't even try if you have no plans to stay."
"What if I want to stay?" Blake's voice was husky, his light-blue eyes rich with heat.
Cathryn's mouth dropped open.
Lies.
They probably had a lot of options—including her of course.
Not playing this game, though.
Cathryn was sure Blake was an expert of stringing people along like Alexander.
Birds of the same feathers…
He told her with that tone of voice when someone was about to guilt-trip the other. "You didn't even give me the benefit of the doubt."
The sharp edge of her anger turned her next words like a razor blade. "I always give people the benefit of the doubt."
She halted him to face him fully, arms on his hips. "Now, where did it have me?"
Cathryn was triggered to the point of silence.
A barrage of unwanted memories she kept tightly lidded in a box threatened to spill from her mind.
She didn't want to remember her family who had betrayed her over and over again until she had no choice but to cut off ties with them—treating each other as if they were dead—and not answering any calls.
Cathryn had lived independently by her own means without needing them to support her whatsoever.
She will only claim Edward and Justin as her family.
"No, never mind. I'm not going to talk about anything that concerns me." Cathryn said grudgingly.
"Please leave me alone or else..." She jerked the edge of her hand to below her chin.
Cathryn moved from the shelter of Blake's umbrella and walked away at a much faster pace than Blake without ever looking back.
She heard arguments from residential buildings and the far-off wail of a siren.
If Cathryn was hungry right now, she would also be tempted by the cooking smells drifting out of the windows as she walked through fancy restaurants.
The cold wind blew stronger as it scraped trash into the corner, trash bin slamming down.
Stumbling upon meandering paths and mature tree branches weaving together to support a thick, yellowing canopy, she had arrived at the park with or without him.
It made sense that the area wasn't populated by people because of the bad weather.
She inhaled the smells of fresh-cut grass and flowering trees and plants mixed with the earthy scent of the soil invaded her nose.
It was rare for Cathryn to enjoy the scents of nature.
She had been cooped up in the apartment for too long—just painting.
Cathryn didn't care if Blake had trailed after her or not.
As she heard fallen leaves shuffling under someone's foot, Cathryn couldn't help but glance over her shoulder.
Blake had caught her and she froze, his palm clasped the back of her neck.
She was suddenly aware of how her neck appeared even more vulnerable under his touch.
Cathryn grimaced when she felt cold water seeping into her shoes as she accidentally stepped into a puddle in surprise.
Raindrops had started to patter against the leaves as the wind sighed through the canopy, causing the tall trees to creak.
There was a flash of lightning followed by the crack of thunder.
"Your shirt is really wet from the rain." Cathryn could hear the faint whisper caressing her ear as he rubbed his thumb over her nape.
Feeling the warm presence of his body behind her back, she shivered at the sensation of… maybe the reason wasn't him—perhaps, it was the cold. "I have to look twice to make sure you are wearing underwear beneath those transparent clothes."
She turned her head, eyes narrowed. "It's nude."
Gentling his hold, he slid his hand to the side of her neck and pulled her towards him.
She came but her body was stiff against his. "You aren't wearing anything underneath then?"
"Stupid." Cathryn retorted as her teeth chattered when the icy breeze stroked her skin. "It's the color."
Like a scene from a movie, the drizzles had turned into fat drops of rain pouring on them like they were buckets.
Dropping his umbrella to the ground, Blake stood in the heavy rain with her.
Her vision blurred as the rain soaked her hair and her clothes.
Rubbing her hand on her wet face, she fluttered her lashes to get rid of the water.
Cathryn blinked at Blake who had his arms raised to the night sky. "You are mad."