After I Saved Him My CEO Said We Were Strangers Chapter 04
The moment I got into the cab, my phone buzzed.
I almost laughed at myself.
Even after everything, a flicker of hope still sparked in my chest.
But the message was from my mother.
“Blair, about coming home to meet some people—I’ve found a few nice young men. I sent their photos to your iMessage. Take a look when you have a minute.”
I stared at the text, my eyes starting to burn again.
Two years ago, I’d had a ticket home to Chicago, ready to meet those men.
Then Reed had said, *Stay with me,* and I had.
Like a dog that comes running the second its owner calls.
Two years later, I had no promises from him.
And now I was about to lose my job.
I took a sharp breath, blinking back the tears, and opened the photos my mother had sent.
I scrolled through them and picked a few I didn’t hate.
“Set me up with these first,” I texted back.
I leaned my head against the window and watched the lights of the Blake Group building shrink, little by little, until they were swallowed by the Manhattan night.
I’m not a quitter.
I’d been at this job since my senior year internship, and I’d always believed in seeing things through to the end.
But this time, I couldn’t hold on any longer.
The afternoon I emailed my resignation to HR, Reed’s assistant came to summon me to his office.
When I walked in, Reed tossed my printed resignation letter onto his desk, his brows drawn into a tight line.
“Blair Kelleher, do you really have to make a scene?”
I stood before his desk, my spine rigid.
“Mr. Blake, this is a professional decision. I’ve thought it through.”
“Thought it through?” He gave a cold laugh. “You check out of the hospital and don’t come home, and now you’re resigning. That’s you thinking it through?”
My fingers tightened at my sides. I looked away.
“Mr. Blake, I’m not sure what you mean. We have a standard superior-subordinate relationship.”
The office fell silent.
He stared at me, his eyes darkening.
“Superior-subordinate relationship?”
He repeated the words slowly, his voice dangerously low.
“Are you still pretending to have amnesia? I’m trying to solve this.”
A sour ache rose in my throat.
How could he say that so casually?
“Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Blake.” I met his eyes. “I’m very clear on what our relationship is now.”
“I won’t cross that line again. I hope you’ll also keep business and personal matters separate.”
He looked at me, and for the first time, a flicker of raw emotion broke through his composure.
“Blair, we were together for two years. Is that really all you think of me?”
I turned my face away, saying nothing.
He leaned forward slightly, his tone softening.
“Are you upset about the promotion? The project? I can explain—”
“I understand,” I cut in sharply. “The company made its decision.”
I took a breath, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“And I have other opportunities. Someone at my level doesn’t require your personal approval to resign. I’ll confirm with HR and cooperate fully with the transition.”
He stared at me, then a humorless smile touched his lips.
It was cold.
“Since you know your resignation doesn’t need my approval…”
“Then why did you put your resignation letter directly on my desk two years ago?”
His words felt like a slap.
My face burned with it.
Back then, I had been making a bet.
I was betting that I meant something to him.
I thought I had won.
I was wrong.
I blinked hard, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall.
“I overestimated my importance, Mr. Blake.”
He froze for a fraction of a second.
Just a fraction.
“What are you trying to do this time?” he demanded, his eyes boring into me. “Make everyone think I mistreated you? Force me to be the one who caves first?”
My heart ached with a pain so deep it was almost numb.
“Mr. Blake, one foolish hope is enough for a lifetime.”
I lifted my chin and looked at him calmly.
“I’ve already decided to start seriously dating other people.”
His expression shifted instantly.
“You’re seeing other people?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me, his gaze terrifyingly cold.
“Good.”
“Very good.”
He tugged at the corner of his mouth in a smile that held no warmth at all.
“Then I won’t keep Miss Kelleher from her new job and her new life.”
He pressed the intercom button on his phone.
“HR, I’m approving Blair Kelleher’s resignation. Process it immediately.”
I stood there and heard every single word.
Then I smiled.
“I wish you all the best, Mr. Blake. I won’t take up any more of your time.”
I turned and walked out.
The second the door closed behind me, I broke into a near run.
I ducked into the nearest restroom and locked the door.
In the mirror, the woman staring back at me had bloodshot eyes, trembling lips, and a face so pale it was frightening.
Anyone could see she was barely holding herself together.
So why couldn’t Reed Blake?
Because he had never loved me.
That day, I finally, completely understood.
To him, I had never been anything at all.