Chapter 16
Jamie was halfway through his second coffee when his phone buzzed.
Blake Sterling: Come to my office. Got something to show you, Capulet.
Jamie stared at it for a moment.
Then typed:
Jamie: If this is another fake engagement, I’m not wearing pants with buttons again.
No reply.
Just a winking emoji.
That’s not reassuring.
Blake’s office was sleek, organized, and very him. Minimalist furniture, a few stylish art prints, warm lighting in the corner.
The only personal touch?
A ceramic mug that said CEO of Sass.
Jamie eyed it. “That’s either ironic or a cry for help.”
Blake didn’t look up. “It was a gift. I choose to be flattered.”
Jamie stepped further in. “You summoned me, oh mysterious one?”
Blake glanced up, eyes already amused. “Close the door, Capulet.”
Jamie’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s not suggestive at all.”
Blake smirked. “You’ll survive.”
Jamie shut the door anyway.
Probably.
He crossed the room, and Blake turned the laptop toward him.
“Look.”
Jamie leaned in.
And froze.
Photos.
Their photos.
From the shoot.
The first one was just him – mid-smile, eyes soft, something open in his expression that he didn’t quite recognize.
But liked.
A lot.
Not posed.
Not perfect.
Just… real.
Is that what I look like?
Then the second.
Him and Blake.
Close.
Hands linked.
Jamie angled slightly toward him without even realizing it.
And Blake…
Blake wasn’t looking at the camera.
He was looking at Jamie.
Like the camera didn’t exist.
Like nothing else did.
Jamie swallowed. “Wow.”
Blake leaned back slightly, watching him instead of the screen. “What do you think?”
“I think…” Jamie exhaled softly. “I don’t look like I’m pretending.”
“You weren’t,” Blake said, quieter now.
Jamie turned.
There it is again.
That tone.
That certainty.
Blake cleared his throat, clicking to the next image. “These’ll be part of the ‘real love’ section of the campaign. Authentic moments. Imperfect chemistry.”
A beat.
“Not two strangers forced to pretend – but people who already… connect.”
Jamie looked back at the screen.
People who already connect.
“That’s kind of wild,” he admitted. “I don’t usually like pictures of myself.”
“I do,” Blake said.
Jamie blinked.
Blake held his gaze for just a second too long…
then looked back at the screen. “I mean – they turned out great. You photograph well.”
A small pause.
“Especially when you’re just Jamie.”
Jamie smiled, a little softer now. “So what’s next?”
Blake clicked again, pulling up a slide deck.
“The campaign goes live next week. We’re throwing a launch party Friday night – clients, partners, team. Casual but curated. Drinks, music, big screen with the content. Maybe a pop-up coffee bar if I can swing it.”
Jamie nodded. “Sounds cool.”
Blake looked at him. “I want it to actually be cool.”
Jamie raised an eyebrow.
“Which is why I’m asking for real ideas,” Blake continued. “Not the safe ones. The ones people remember.”
A beat.
“Yours, especially.”
Jamie blinked. “You want my opinion?”
“I want everyone’s opinion,” Blake said. Then, softer, “But I trust yours.”
That still feels new.
Jamie thought for a moment.
“What about a memory wall?” he said slowly. “People write down their favorite coffee moment – first dates, rainy mornings, bad interviews – and we hang them up with fairy lights or pin them to a board.”
He shrugged. “Something real. Something warm.”
Blake’s smile spread, slow and proud. “That’s a damn good idea.”
Jamie looked down. “It’s simple.”
“It’s perfect,” Blake said. “And very you.”
Jamie looked up, a little breathless. “Is that a compliment or a warning?”
Blake stood, coming around the desk, leaning against it now – closer.
“Compliment,” he said. “Definitely.”
Their eyes met.
The air shifted.
Not heavy.
But charged.
Jamie felt it in his chest, his hands, everywhere all at once.
Okay. That’s new.
He took a step back before his brain could make any reckless decisions. “I should – uh – go finish those drafts.”
Blake didn’t move to stop him.
Just watched.
“I’ll see you at the party, Capulet.”
Jamie paused in the doorway, turning slightly. “What if I bring a date?”
Blake smiled like he already knew exactly how this would play out.
“Then he better be ready to compete.”
Jamie flushed, laughing under his breath.
Oh, he meant that.
He stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
And the smile on his face?
Didn’t fade for a long time.