Chapter 03

Harper Ross

It’s official, I hate Liam Specter, but it’s also official how much he stuns me. When I felt his body clash against mine, my posture simply fell apart and for a few seconds I was enveloped by the intoxicating scent he exhaled. The man is beautiful, great, an enormous thing. And above all, smelly, devilishly fragrant. But he is nothing but an arrogant, snobbish and unscrupulous.

"Harp, a hundred thousand would change your life" says Noah, taking me out of my disturbing thoughts as I watch the arrogant car coming out of my store door.

"What? You think I should take it?"   I ask, confused.

"But of course, that’s a lot more than the store’s worth, Harp. With the money, you can set up a much bigger bakery, pay off your debts and, with your structured life, we would have an easier time getting Emily out of the orphanage."  He argues, and my heart beats in my chest.

"It would be a unique opportunity"  I think, but then I scold myself.  "I will not give in, this guy will not buy me. I can pay my debts and get my sister out of that place without that scumbag’s money."

"No way, Noah! I don’t want that arrogant man’s money!"  I reluctant, and he raises his hands in surrender.

 "Well, who knows! I’m only seeing the situation more broadly, this money would change your life, and you can not deny it."   insists.  "Think about it, honey! Think about Emily.'

"You’re right! I promise I’ll think about it, but I know something will happen, and I won’t have to stoop to this little prick."  

Noah smiles and plants a kiss on my forehead before rushing out of the store.

"I need to go back to the forum now, Harp. I promise I’ll call you later to see how you’re doing."  he says, already walking towards the door.

"Okay, Noah. Thanks for helping me."

"I reply, still a little shaken by Liam Specter’s proposal."

He waves again and leaves, leaving me alone in the store. I watch the street moved by the glass door and sigh, trying to ward off the thoughts that disturb me day and night: rent, bills, Emily in that place and now, that arrogant bastard wanting to tear down my store.

But soon the door opens and some customers enter. I run to meet them with a smile on my face, hiding the confusion I’m feeling inside. Minutes later, my best friend from the orphanage and trusted employee, Rebecca, finally arrives to work.

"Good morning, Harp!" she says with a smile. "Sorry I’m late."

"Good morning, Beck! How’s Grace doing? Got better from the fever?" I ask, worried.

"Oh, now it’s okay, buddy! The fever has passed, and she’s already running and playing as usual." she responds smiling.

"Wow, what a relief, friend! But as I told you on the phone, if you want, you can take the day to be with her."

"Imagine, I won’t leave you alone. Tell me, how are you?" she asks, wearing her apron and taking her post behind the counter.

"Sort of. Liam Specter, just left here, came to make me an absurd proposition."

"Liam Specter?" Rebecca almost screams.

"Himself! In muscles and arrogance." I confirm, rolling my eyes.

"Holy God, and he came to talk about the store?"asks, with wide eyes. 

"Yes, he offered me $100,000."

"Wow, that’s tempting.  But I bet you didn’t take it, am I right?"

"Yeah, I don’t want anything to do with that man. I can fix my situation without needing him."

"You’ve always been stubborn, Harp."   she laughs.   "Think about it, it’s a good proposal."

 "I know, I’ll get my head straight. You close it for me? I’ll visit Emily."

"Of course, friend! Leave it to me and be calm, everything will be fine."  she hugs me and reciprocates.  "I know you will do your best. Rest your head and think of everything before you decide."

***

When I leave the store, I call a taxi, and soon we are parked in front of the West Hill orphanage. I take a deep breath before leaving the taxi and walk towards the entrance of the orphanage. The red brick building is imposing and familiar, with tall windows and a dark wooden door. I enter the hall and am greeted by Mrs. Johnson, the orphanage housekeeper who’s known me since I was one of the girls who lived there.

"Harp, my dear! Good to see you!" She says, opening her arms to hold me.

"Hi, Mrs. Johnson! How are you? "  I ask, returning the hug.

"I’m fine, my dear, and you? How are you doing with the store?" she asks, worried.

"It’s okay! I came to see Emily, how is she?" I ask, anxious.

"She’s fine, Harp. She’s playing in the garden with the other kids. Come on, I’ll walk you there."

Mrs. Johnson promptly walks me to the garden. As we walk down the hall, she tells me about the activities being carried out at the orphanage and the latest news from the girls who live there.

We arrive at the garden and notice Emily playing cheerfully with other children her age. She sees me and runs towards me, hugging me tightly.

"Harp, you came!"  she exclaims excitedly.

I lift her in my lap and kiss her. 

"Of course, my little one. How are you?"  I ask, stroking her hair.

"I’m fine, sis! I missed you."

"I was also missing you, my princess."  the strong hug, feeling my heart tight. 

 "I made a drawing, want to see?"

"Of course I do!"

Emily pulls me by the arm, leading me to the classroom.

"Here it is!" she takes a paper on the table and hands it to me. The design is a beautiful picture of a house with garden and a smiling sun in the upper corner." I designed this house for us to live together when you come to get me. Harp, will it take long?

My heart gets minuscule, me getting to your height and I squeeze your little hands holding the cry. 

"My love, it won’t be long! Sister promises to get you out of here. We’ll have a beautiful house like this, and we’ll be happy, okay?"

"Okay, sis. I love you." Answer with a beautiful smile and hold me tight. 

"I love you much more."

We spent the afternoon together, playing, talking and missing. After having afternoon coffee with Emily and the other children, I say goodbye to her, promising to return soon. 

As soon as I leave the orphanage,  I run into that hot, arrogant piece of man, leaning against his luxury car in front of the gates. The shirt with buttons ajar, makes my eyes automatically deflect to the exposed V in his chest, lose me for a second, but I come back to me when Liam starts walking towards me. 

"What is that? You’re following me?"  I ask, angry.

"Want the truth?"  he says, with a smug smile.

"You know what? Fuck it!"  I exclaim and start walking, but he holds me by the wrist, making me turn to face him. 

"Have you thought about my proposal?"

"I didn’t have time, but now knowing that you’re some kind of stalker, I’m inclined not only to not accept, but also to file a complaint against you." and he smiles, a wide smile and unfortunately beautiful to die for. He gets even closer, getting too close to me, right there, in the middle of the street. 

"I’m not a stalker, Harper." he says, staring into my eyes.

"So, what are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"

"I know all about you" 

"Do you know everything? How do you know everything?" I ask, perplexed.

"Don’t worry about it, I just wanted to make sure you’re a good person!" your phrase, makes my blood boil.

"Is that an invasion of privacy, just because you’re rich, you think you have the right to snoop on people’s lives? " I almost scream. 

"Hey, can you calm down a bit? I came to invite you to dinner. I really need to talk to you in private, I have a proposition."

"You already made me an offer a few hours ago and said it would be the last offer, forgot?"

"It’s not about the store, Harper. In fact, it involves the store, but it’s something a little more complete."  he ponders, and I get increasingly intrigued. "Will you please have dinner with me?"  Your calmness and kindness do not convince me one bit. 

"Are you trying to trick me by being so kind?" I ask, suspicious.

"My God, I’ve never met anyone as stubborn as you. " Complain, angry.

"And you’re the most insistent person I’ve ever met. What do you want?" I ask, crossing my arms.

He lets out a frustrated sigh and runs his hand through his hair.

"I understand that you don’t trust me, Harper, but I need your help. It’s something important." he says, looking directly into my eyes.

"My help? It can only be a joke."  Frowns, confused and suspicious. 

"I’m not a man of jokes, Harper!"  he says, visibly without patience. 

"Okay, so what do you need me for? I’m a sleazy mortal." Argument, still skeptical.

He sighs again, before answering.

"I can’t talk here. It’s delicate business. Let’s have dinner and I’ll tell you everything. Please." He asks, with a pleading look.

I sigh resigned and accept. 

"All right! But it will just be a dinner!"

"Great!" exclaims smiling. "Are you going home? Can I give you a ride?"

"Do you happen to know where I live?"

"I told you, I know all about you! Come on?"

"I’m already screwed anyway, at least I save the cab money."

I nod and we walk towards Liam’s car. I get in the passenger seat, he puts on my belt, and when his fingers graze on my arm, I feel like I’m shivering all over.

"Now you are trapped!" Play, smiling sideways, and a strange fire rises through my body. I can feel my cheeks burn. 

"Don’t you dare, Harper…" My mind scolds me.

Still smiling, he closes my door, turns around and as soon as he settles in his seat, soon starts the engine, heading towards the city center.

Liam drives in silence for a few minutes, and I take the opportunity to observe him discreetly. He seems focused on the road and also worried. Its woody smell, impregnated in the car, makes me nervous, and I can’t help but stare at it time or another. He is very beautiful, so beautiful that it does not even seem to be real. The marked jaw, the beard to do, the nose perfectly drawn and the lips? God, what lips: red and fleshy.

"Enough!" My mind rebukes me again.

I try to keep these thoughts from my mind, but I confess that it is difficult to resist its charm.

We finally got to my building.

"Thank you for the ride!"  thank you and quickly get out of the car, but before I can go to the concierge, Liam calls me.

"Harper, wait."  He turns off the engine and gets out of the car, approaching me. "My driver will pick you up at eight." 

"No need, I can take a taxi." Reluctant. 

"It was not a question, be ready at eight, I will not let you take a taxi alone."  pronounces, authoritarian.

"I don’t know what it’s like in your perfect world, but in my life, I don’t need anyone to take care of me." Back, angry. 

He seems slightly irritated, but takes a deep breath before responding.

"It’s not about taking care of you, Harper. It’s about not leaving a woman alone at night in a dangerous city like this. Also, have you already accepted my invitation, so what does it cost to accept going with my driver? " He says with an ironic smile.

"All right, then. See you later." I speak and turn to enter the building.

But before I can move on, he holds my arm gently.

"Harper, I know we haven’t met very well yet, and I may have been a little pushy and rude. I’m sorry!" he says, sounding sincere.

I am surprised by his attitude and end up smiling slightly, against my will. 

"All right, Liam. And thanks for the ride." I thank him and he nods, releasing my arm.

I enter my building quickly, feeling extremely confused and releasing the air I did not even know I was trapped. 

God, this man is so intimidating and changes posture every second. What the hell does he want to propose to me now?