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Chapter 124: Distracted
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2026-07-12 14:00:45As they step out of the restaurant and back onto the cobblestone sidewalk, the afternoon sun is warmer than it had been before. Oliver adjusts his collar, his professional mask settling back into place, but he does not let go of her hand immediately. “Deal, I am sure he will hate owing you,” Harper said as they walked. “He will,” he says, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Marius hates being indebted to anyone. It disrupts his sense of control.” He lets go
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Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 124: Distracted
As they step out of the restaurant and back onto the cobblestone sidewalk, the afternoon sun is warmer than it had been before. Oliver adjusts his collar, his professional mask settling back into place, but he does not let go of her hand immediately. “Deal, I am sure he will hate owing you,” Harper said as they walked. “He will,” he says, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Marius hates being indebted to anyone. It disrupts his sense of control.” He lets go of her hand as they reach the corner where the street splits toward the office district, but his pace slows just enough so they stay side by side. The professional distance is creeping back in, but the warmth from lunch has not quite evaporated. “But let’s keep that favour in my back pocket for now,” he adds, glancing at her sideways. “I would rather use it one something more interesting than Friday afternoon meeting.”Oliver stops briefly at a crosswalk, wa
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 123: Partner in Disaster
Oliver smiles, a playful glint in his icy blue eyes that rarely surface in the office. “So, it sounds like we would be a disaster together on a dance floor. Which, honestly, sounds like a lot of fun.” Harper laughed softly as she said, “Fun? I did not think you would be the type to enjoy disaster.” His gaze holds hers, his expression shifting from playful to something more thoughtful. He picks up his water glass. “I like order, Harper. I like things that work, things that makes sense, things that follow a predictable pattern,” he says, his voice steady. “But a disaster… a disaster is unpredictable. It is the one thing my spreadsheets can’t account for.” He takes a sip of water, his eyes never leaving hers. “And sometimes,” he adds, his tone dropping to something quieter, more intimate. “The unpredictable is exactly what you need to remind yourself that you are actually alive.”Oliver sets the
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 122: Their Pasts
“I can’t imagine you like that. Young and out of place,” Harper admitted. “But I like trying. I was always more interested in books too. My parents were the carefree types. My dad is a botanist, and my mom is a photographer. So, they always wanted to go on adventures, wanting me to be more carefree.” Oliver’s icy blue eyes soften, a genuine warmth replacing the tension that had been building since the conversation about Knox. He listens to her description of her parents– the botanist and the photographer– and he can almost see the life they lived through her words. “A botanist and a photographer,” he repeats, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “That explains a lot. The attention to detail, the way you observe things.” He leans back in his chair; his fingers interlaced on the table. “It sounds like they gave you a very different foundation than mine did. I was taught how to build structures; they taught y
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 121: Fascinating
The waiter arrives with water and bread, and Oliver seamlessly shifts back into his composed self, ordering for both of them with efficient precision. "Osso buco for me, and the lasagna al forno for her," he adds, nodding to the waiter as the man scribbles on his pad and disappears back toward the kitchen. Oliver settles back into his chair, his posture relaxing just a fraction now that they are out of the public eye. He picks up the small olive oil bottle and places it in the centre of the table, adjusting its position by a millimetre so it sits perfectly parallel to the breadbasket. "You know," he says, his gaze dropping to the candle between them, "I was thinking about what you said earlier. About Knox loving your idea." He looks up, his icy blue eyes searching hers. "He is a difficult man to please. He will argue with anyone just for the sake of hearing his own voice. If he actually listened to you, it means you have found a way to speak his language without compromising your ow
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 120: Ristorante Italiano
Oliver stops walking for a brief second, his eyebrows lifting in genuine surprise. He lets out a short, quiet laugh– the kind he only does when he is genuinely impressed. “Side by side shots,” he repeats, testing the concept. “That is clever. It creates a narrative arc within the campaign itself. It shows the brand’s versatility and its ability to handle different moods.” He resumes walking, his stride picking up speed as the idea takes hold of his analytical mind. “Knox will hate it because it ruins his ‘perfect lighting’ fantasy, but Marius will love the efficiency of it. It maximizes out shooting windows and gives us two distinct visual directions for the price of one.” He glances at Harper, his blue eyes bright with approval. “You just dismantled his entire creative pitch with a single logistical argument. That is exactly what I need from you in that boardroom later.”“Knox actually loved the id
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 119: Lunch
Oliver’s phone buzzes on the desk with a message from Harper.Harper: I am at my desk. The proposal outline is taking shape. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. He types back quickly.Oliver: Good. Keep pushing. I will see you at lunch. The rest of the morning passes in a blur of emails, spreadsheets, and the rhythmic clicking of his keyboard. Oliver works with a singular focus, his mind a well-oiled machine processing date and drafting responses. Every few minutes, his icy blue eyes drift toward the door, half-expecting Knox to burst back in with another dramatic grievance but he does not. At 11:45, he stands up and adjusts his tie in the small mirror behind his office door. He takes a moment to smooth down his hair, ensuring not a single strand is out of place. The professional mask is firmly back on. He walks out of his office and heads toward the elevator, his pace steady and p
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 99: Darling
Oliver’s shower is quick but thorough, the warm water helping to clear his head from the lingering adrenaline of their earlier encounter. He dries off and pulls on a pair of black sweatpants, running a hand through his damp black hair as he glances toward the bedroom where Harper is working
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 96: Overtime
Oliver’s expression shifts from annoyance to intrigue as he listens to Harper’s description of Knox’s new campaign. The mention of using regular models instead of typical industry standards catching his attention immediately. “Revolutionary?” he repeats thoughtfully,
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 90: Extract Passion
Oliver’s hands migrate from Harper’s back to the hem of her dress, his fingertips grazing the bare skin of her thighs. The sensation makes him pull back just enough to look at her, his breathing heavy and uneven. The reading glasses are now hanging precariously off one ear, but he doe
Paperwork and Hearthbeats Chapter 89: Sexy Reading Glasses
“What are you craving? Past? Pizza? Or something more exotic?” Oliver’s blue eyes flick back to Harper, a teasing glint in them as he waits for her response. While she decides on the dinner options, Oliver begins tidying up the kitchen counter. His movements are efficient and pr
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