Chasing Blake Ch 02

Chasing Blake

Chapter 2: Power plays and pressure points

Ethan Carter prided himself on control.

He was the kind of man who thrived under pressure, who didn't get rattled, who walked into a room and owned it without ever needing to raise his voice. He had spent years perfecting the art of detachment--keeping his emotions in check, reading a situation, and always staying one step ahead.

But Sienna Blake?

She was a different kind of pressure.

One that settled in the air between them like a live wire. One that made him hyper-aware of every glance, every shift in her tone, every flicker of something he couldn't quite put a name to.

And worst of all? She knew it.

"Morning, Carter," Sienna said coolly, barely looking up from her laptop as he stepped into the meeting room. She was already settled in, posture sharp, a deep blue silk blouse tucked neatly into a fitted black skirt, her legs crossed with the kind of confidence that told him she had no intention of making things easy.

"Blake." He nodded, setting his coffee down and flipping open his own laptop.

He wasn't going to play whatever game she thought they were playing. Not today.

She finally glanced at him then, one perfectly sculpted brow lifting. "Someone's serious this morning."

Ethan typed in his password without looking at her. "We've got a lot to get through. Figured I'd save the small talk."

Sienna made a quiet hmm of amusement, taking a slow sip of her coffee. "Shame. I was enjoying your adjustment period. The way you're trying so hard to prove yourself."

He glanced up at that, meeting her gaze head-on. "That what you think I'm doing?"

"Of course." She tilted her head slightly, watching him. "New guy comes in, eager to make a mark. The question is--" she tapped one manicured finger against her mug, "--do you have the stamina to keep up?"

Ethan didn't blink. Didn't react. He just smiled, easy and unreadable.

"That's never been a problem for me."

Sienna's lips curved slightly, but the look in her eyes was pure ice. "Good. Because I don't have the patience for mediocrity."

The door swung open before he could reply, and the senior team filed in, shattering the moment.

Ethan turned back to his screen, keeping his expression neutral. He wasn't going to let her get under his skin.

Not here.

Not when the game had barely begun.

---

The day was relentless. A strategy review with the CFO. A brutal round of financial modeling. A pitch session that went two hours longer than planned. By lunchtime, Ethan was running on caffeine and sheer force of will, but Sienna?

She was completely unfazed.

Not a hair out of place. Not the slightest crack in that ice-cold composure.

And he hated that he noticed.

"Come with me," she said suddenly as they exited the meeting room.

Ethan barely had a second to react before she was striding down the hallway, expecting him to follow. He fell into step beside her, glancing over.

"Where are we going?"

"Lunch."

His brows lifted slightly. "I didn't peg you as the team-lunch type."

"I'm not," Sienna said flatly, not even looking at him. "But this project is a mess, and I don't like wasting time. We'll talk through it while we eat."

Translation: This isn't social. Don't get comfortable.

Ethan smirked to himself but didn't argue.

They took the elevator down, the silence thick between them. Not uncomfortable. Just... charged.

And then, just as the doors slid open, Sienna turned slightly, her voice cool but unmistakably teasing.

"Unless, of course, you can't handle a little one-on-one time."

Ethan exhaled slowly, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

She was baiting him.

She wanted him to react.

But he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.

He stepped out of the elevator, holding the door open just long enough for her to pass. And as she did, he let the corner of his mouth curve--just enough to make sure she saw it.

"Lead the way, Blake."

---

That night, Ethan hit the gym. Hard. He wasn't used to feeling like someone had the upper hand on him, and Sienna Blake? She had it. And she knew it.

He was mid-set, shirt off, sweat glistening on his skin, when he spotted her.

Sienna.

Dressed to ruin a man's focus.

A deep crimson sports bra, cut daringly low with a racerback that left the sleek lines of her shoulders exposed, clung to her like a second skin. Paired with high-waisted black leggings that hugged every sculpted inch of her body, the fabric gleaming subtly under the gym lights, she looked effortlessly lethal. A thin, cropped zip-up jacket hung open, teasing more than it covered, and the deliberate contrast of elegance and athleticism made it impossible not to look.

She picked up a set of dumbbells, her body shifting with an easy grace as she stepped toward the mirror. And then--

She caught his gaze.

And smirked.

"Carter."

Ethan dragged his towel over his face before meeting her eyes. "Blake."

"You seemed a little tense today." She tilted her head, the picture of casual amusement. "Tough day at the office?"

Ethan exhaled through his nose, rolling out his wrists. "Just another day."

Sienna hummed, tilting her head slightly. "You sure? You seem a little off your game." She let her gaze drop--deliberately, teasingly--down the length of his body before flicking back up to his face. "I mean, unless this is your game."

Ethan lifted a brow. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

She tapped a manicured finger against her lips, feigning thoughtfulness. "Just saying... you talk a big game at work, but maybe you're overcompensating."

Ethan let out a slow breath, leveling her with a look. "Overcompensating how, exactly?"

Sienna's smirk deepened. "Oh, you know." She shrugged one shoulder, her tone utterly innocent. "Guys who play it safe in the boardroom tend to be--" she paused, letting the moment stretch out like a taut wire, "--a little underwhelming in other areas."

Ethan's jaw flexed.

She did not just go there.

He took a step closer, letting the heat of his body close some of the space between them. If she wanted to play this game, fine. But she was going to learn he played to win.

"You spend a lot of time thinking about my... other areas, Blake?"

Sienna didn't blink. Didn't even flinch. If anything, her smirk grew. "Not particularly. But when a guy plays things too cautious--" she leaned in slightly, voice dropping to something that was almost a purr, "--it's usually a sign."

Ethan chuckled, slow and deep. "That so?"

"Mm-hmm." She tilted her head, feigning pity. "But hey," she said, reaching out to pat his chest, "if you ever want to prove me wrong, I'll try not to be too disappointed."

His fingers wrapped around her wrist before she could pull away, his grip firm--just enough to make her pause. Her pulse was steady beneath his touch, unreadable. Controlled.

And that annoyed the hell out of him.

His voice dropped to something low, something that barely stretched the space between them. "You like pushing, don't you, Blake?"

Sienna's lips parted just slightly--enough for him to notice, enough for her to catch herself. Then, with a slow smirk, she twisted her wrist free from his grasp in a movement so fluid, so dismissive, it might as well have been planned.

She leaned in, just a fraction. Just enough for her breath to ghost along his jaw.

"I don't push, Carter." Her voice was silk and steel. "I break."

Ethan held his ground, but the air between them had shifted--charged, dangerous.

Sienna let that moment stretch just long enough to make sure he felt it. Then she stepped back, flicking her ponytail over one shoulder as she turned away.

"See you at the office," she threw over her shoulder, not even waiting for his response.

And just like that, she left him standing there.

Game. Set. Match.