6. We Found Her

ALEXANDER:

I was signing the same document for the third time before I realized I had already signed it twice.

My pen froze above the paper. What the hell was wrong with me?

I shoved the file away in irritation and leaned back in my chair. The glass walls of my office overlooked the entire city, but today the view did nothing for me.

Almost a year that Harper had gone. No calls. No dramatic return. Nothing.

At first, I thought she was trying to punish me. That she would crawl back after realizing how impossible life was without my money, my name, my protection.

But now, the silence was beginning to unsettle me. Not that I would admit it.

“Alexander,” Rowena’s voice dragged me back to reality. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”

I looked up. She sat across from me, legs crossed, one hand resting on her hip. No pregnant belly anymore. She had given birth weeks ago. A boy. My son.

“When are we announcing the engagement?” she asked.

I suppressed a sigh. “Not yet.”

Her eyes narrowed. “And when exactly is ‘not yet’?”

I rubbed my temple. God, I was tired.

She stood from the chair and walked around the desk toward me. Her perfume filled the air instantly. Normally, I liked that scent on her.

Today it gave me a headache.

She stopped beside me and rested a hand on my shoulder.

“You keep delaying,” she said softly. “Why? You weren’t complaining when we were sleeping together.”

“That was before.”

“Before what?”

I didn’t answer. She grabbed my suit jacket and turned my body to face her. I swallowed. “I gave you a son, Alexander. An heir. Your mother will finally hand over Banks Media because of me and you are hesitating?”

My jaw tightened. I didn’t know how to explain it to her. My mother didn’t approve of our relationship. Or at least that was what I told myself.

I wasn’t so sure I was ready to marry Rowena yet.

“I said I will marry you,” I replied. “Stop pushing.”

Her expression hardened. “When?”

“I don’t know,” I clenched my jaw. “I have a company to run.”

“And…”

The office doors opened, cutting Rowena off. James stepped in, holding a tablet.

“Sir…”

Finally, a distraction.

“What?” I said quickly.

He looked at Rowena for some moment then at me. “Can I speak freely?”

Before I could answer, Rowena smiled. “Of course. I’ll be Mrs. Banks soon. No secrets between us.”

I rolled my eyes. James glanced at me, I was too tired to argue, so I said nothing.

“We found her,” he said.

Her. Harper. I jerked forward. “What?”

“She was spotted yesterday afternoon. Downtown. Near Westbridge Avenue.”

I stood immediately. Across the room, Rowena’s face drained of color.

“You promised you stopped looking for her,” she snapped.

I ignored her.

“Get the car.”

“Alexander!” Rowena screamed and I turned.

“You’re still searching for her?” She whispered.

“Of course I am. She’s my wife.”

The words came naturally. Because it was true. Harper belonged to me. Divorce papers or not. She didn’t get to disappear without explanation.

Rowena walked toward me quickly. “You told me you were done with her.”

I opened my mouth to respond but she cut me off.

“She left you.”

“And she’ll come back,” my irritation snapped through the room. Rowena looked genuinely shaken. “Once I speak to her, this nonsense ends.”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Alex… why are you doing this? You have me now. You have your son.”

I clenched my fists. She wouldn’t understand. Harper walking away made me look weak. Made me feel weak and I hated weakness.

She was still muttering something but my patience had already run out as I left the office.

I nodded toward James.

“Get the car ready. We’re going to Westbridge Avenue.”

Hope burned through my chest because Harper made one mistake. She let herself be seen.

And now?

Now I was going to find her.