Invisible

By Sydney Blackburn

Cade Devlin never intended to be an executive assistant, but since he is, he does his best and isn't entirely unhappy. Until he gets laterally promoted to work for Jake Vitoros, heir to the Top Textiles conglomerate. Jake is attractive, at least to Cade, but he treats Cade like he's invisible. It's rude and demeaning, yet Cade can't help but crush on him.

It's tolerable until a chance hook-up one Friday night. Jake doesn't recognize Cade in his party clothes and make-up, but surely come Monday? Jake's epic failure to see Cade leaves the fate of their scheduled date—and Cade's continued employment—in jeopardy.

This is a 13k word story with explicit scenes suitable for mature readers. It has a hopeful, HFN ending and is not part of a series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Half Past Three Publishing
• Release date: Jul 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386188414

Sydney Blackburn

SYDNEY BLACKBURN writes stories of love and emotional connection in a variety of settings from contemporary to fantasy to sci-fi to historical. If you enjoyed this short, you may enjoy Syd’s other stories. Authors today live and die by reviews, so please take the time to review an author you like!

Book preview

Cade Devlin never intended to be an executive assistant, but since he is, he does his best and isn’t entirely unhappy. Until he gets laterally promoted to work for Jake Vitoros, heir to the Top Textiles conglomerate. Jake is attractive, at least to Cade, but he treats Cade like he’s invisible. It’s rude and demeaning, yet Cade can’t help but crush on him.

It’s tolerable until a chance hook-up one Friday night. Jake doesn’t recognize Cade in his party clothes and make-up, but surely come Monday? Jake’s epic failure to see Cade leaves the fate of their scheduled date—and Cade’s continued employment—in jeopardy.

Invisible

© 2018 Sydney Blackburn

All rights reserved, including the rights to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without express written consent of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a review.

Cover design by SB Designs

Half Past Three Publishing

London, Canada

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, retransmitted, or distributed without the express consent of the copyright holder.

ONE

CADE DEVLIN’S SPINE stiffened as footsteps in the hall beyond his desk announced the arrival of his boss. Jake Vitoros was never late and today was no exception. Jake walked past Cade’s desk with barely a nod, not making eye contact, as per usual. He strode into his office, separated from Cade’s desk by a half glass wall, and set his briefcase down on the desk before reaching for the vanilla soy latte Cade had already put there.

All this Cade could have known without looking. His boss never varied his morning routine. Jake Vitoros liked routines, as Cade’s predecessor had been sure to drive home during his training for how to be an executive assistant to this particular man.

Glorified secretary was more like it. Or furniture.

Cade looked anyway, half turned in his seat and watching his boss from under his lashes. Not that Vitoros would have noticed him outright staring—he’d have to look at Cade, to see Cade, to do that.

Jake sat behind his desk, which faced Cade, and picked up the waxed cardboard cup in both hands. The expression on his face caused Cade to breathe out a little sigh. He was responsible for that blissful look.

Cade sighed again and turned to his own work. It was clichéd that he had a wicked crush on his boss, but at least Jake Vitoros was a dedicated, hard-working man. He didn’t have model good looks, but that didn’t matter. It wasn’t his appearance, exactly, that knotted Cade up inside, just some kind of visceral reaction that seemed to go beyond Jake Vitoros’ neatly styled light brown hair and equally well-groomed short facial hair. It wasn’t that he looked like he might be ripped under his immaculate navy business suit, either. Cataloguing the man in an objective, physical manner, he was attractive enough, not exactly a head-turner.

That should have made Cade feel good, like he would have less competition, but the truth was, he didn’t know if his boss was gay, bi, straight, single or taken. There was also the issue of Jake being his boss. Cade drew a deep breath and expelled it in one huge sigh. Since the attraction was clearly only on Cade’s side, none of that mattered. Jake Vitoros barely knew Cade existed. Probably didn’t even know his first name.

The light on his desk phone flashed, a silent signal that Jake wanted to talk to him. Cade pushed the intercom button and said calmly, Yes, Mr Vitoros?

"Can you pull the Levinson files for me and make sure