Chapter 33: Getting Ready

Harper stood just outside the guestroom door, wearing a long sleeve, fitted top in a deep wine shade. The fabric appears smooth and slightly stretchy, hugging her upper body closely. This is paired with a high-waisted, leather pencil skirt in a marching burgundy color. The skirt is form-fitting, contouring her hips and thighs, and falls to around knee. Her outfit is completed with a burgundy-coloured point-toe high heel, which elongates her legs. Harper turns to look at Oliver, her auburn hair tucked behind her ear on one side, while the rest cascades over her shoulder in soft, controlled waves. “Wow,” he breathed out, stopping dead in his tracks. “You look… incredible. Absolutely stunning.” He leaned against the doorframe for support, seemingly momentarily forgetting how to function properly. The casual confidence he usually carried was replaced by a raw appreciation of how beautiful she looks. “That colour suits you,” he continued, his voice carrying a note of genuine admiration. “It makes your skin glow and brings out those amazing blue green eyes of yours.” He pushed off the doorway and approached slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. “I am going to have a hard time concentrating today knowing what you look like underneath that shirt.”

Harper blushes lightly, her gaze roams over Olivers appearance, as she cleared her throat softly. He is wearing a black well-fitted suit jacket that emphasizes his strong, athletic build. The jacket is tailored to his body. Underneath the suit jacket he has on a crisp white buttoned-up, dress shirt, which is neatly pressed and is paired with a black tie, slim and neatly knotted. The black dress pants he is wearing match the black suit jacket perfectly and is accompanied by a black belt with a subtle buckle, visible at his waist. He looks more confident and authoritative, making Harpers heart skip a beat. “Well, you look handsome as well. Amazing what sleeping in your own bed and wearing a clean suit can do,” she said softly, her voice laced with slight embarrassment rather than judgment. Oliver’s lips curved into a genuine smile at her compliment, the gesture reaching his icy blue eyes and making them crinkle at the corners. He ran a hand through his damp black hair, smoothing it back from his forehead in a self-conscious gesture. “Thanks,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of warmth. “Clean sheets and a good night’s sleep do wonders for a man’s appearance, apparently.” He moved closer, stopping just shy of invading her personal space. His gaze dropped briefly to admire the way her outfit hugged her figure before meeting her blue green eyes again. “But I have to admit, seeing you in that… it is distracting,” he confessed with a low chuckle. He glanced at his watch with a sigh. “We should probably get going before we are both officially late. I will drive you to work since we are already changed and ready.”

“You aren’t worried someone might see us arrive together?” Harper asked shyly. Oliver paused in the middle of straightening his tie, considering her question with a thoughtful expression. A small smile touched his lips as he met her gaze directly. “Honestly? Now,” he answered plainly, his tone calm and assured. “Our professional relationship is completely separate from this… whatever this is.” He gestured between them with a slight nod. “If anyone asks, we carpooled because of traffic. Simple as that. They don’t need to know we spent last night together or that I am planning to have you for dinner tomorrow.” His confidence was disarming, eliminating any trace of guilt or uncertainty from his demeanor. He seemed entirely unbothered by the potential optics of arriving together at work. “Besides,” he added with a wink, “I am the boss. People expect me to make my own rules sometimes.”

“Okay,” Harper said in a lighter tone, relieved by his response. “And we are still going to do the HR thing today?” Oliver’s expression turned serious as he remembered their discussion from the day before. “Yes, we need to talk to HR today. It is the responsible thing to do, even though every part of me wants to just say screw it and keep this between us.” He moved toward the kitchen, grabbing his apartment keys from the counter. “I will send an email and schedule a meeting with Tanja Brooks in HR for this afternoon. She is discreet and professional, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.” His movements became more purposeful as he prepared to leave, though his icy blue eyes kept flicking back to Harper admiringly. “But I want you to know that this isn’t just some office fling for me. Last night… that felt real. Significant.” He paused at the kitchen doorway. “Whatever happens with HR, whatever they say about conflict-of-interest policies– none of it changes how I feel about you. Is that clear?”

Harper nods lightly. “I agree. I just want to make sure we do this right,” she says softly, her voice laced with genuine affection. “Minimize anything that could hinder the development of our relationship.” Oliver’s hand rested lightly on the small of her back as he guided her toward the front door, the simple touch sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. His expression remained serious but focused as he unlocked the door. “I appreciate that,” he said quietly, his voice warm with appreciation. “Doing this right, matters to me too. Our careers are important, but… I don’t want to let what we started becoming part of some corporate technicality.” He held the front door open for her, allowing her to step out into the cool morning air before following behind. The city streets were already bustling with early commuters rushing to their offices. After locking the front door behind them and getting into his private penthouse elevator, he looks at his phone briefly. “My driver is picking me up downstairs in five minutes,” he mentions as the elevator descended. “I will drop you off first.” Harper nods and Oliver relaxed visibly. The tension in his shoulders seemed to ease as the elevator doors opened onto the ground floor lobby.