Chapter 5

Harper

Geraldine’s Office (Her mother!)

“What are you doing?! Are you trying to draw attention to yourself?! This outfit is inappropriate for work!” Mother yelled, pacing my front, I was seated on a three seater with my legs crossed and my hands delicately placed on my legs.

I gently reached out and plucked out a grape from the tray on the table, I raised it to my mouth and crushed it beneath my teeth,

“Why?!” I asked with raised brows tilting my head to the side, I slowly reached out and plucked out another grape, my movement slow, precise and unbothered much to her annoyance, I slowly chewed on the grape and looked up at her,

“Michelle wears them, why can’t I?!” I retorted, she snorted and stepped closer to me,

“I’m speaking to you! You should be on your feet!” She snapped as ,she bent towards the table picked up the tray of fruit and flinged it away smashing it on the wall,

“You have no right to cancel the wedding! Call your parent inlaw and apologize for your dirty attitude last night!” She seethed turning back to face me, her eyes blazing, I could see her barely holding her self together, loose your shit mom! I’ve always said yes to you, not anymore.

I exhaled deeply and slowly stood up to my seat, I picked up my bag from the table, held it up to the crook of my elbow and stepped closer to her,

“Don’t you get it? You no longer have me under your grip” I muttered my voice coming out cool and barely above a whisper, I dipped my hands into my bag and brought out a crisp neatly folded white envelope, I stretched it towards her, she looked down at it and slowly back up at my face,

“What the hell is that?”

“My resignation letter!”

“You must be out of your mind!” She yelled, she snatched the letter from me and tore it into pieces, I anticipated that, ofcourse she won’t let me go until she ruins my life completely, and make sure I’m numb and harmless, she covered the distance between us and stared deep into my eyes.

“Don’t be smug with me! don’t get me angry!” She snorted, the corner of my lips stretched into a smile,

“I’m going to make myself clear once again, there would be no wedding!” I said my voice coming out smooth and low and stern, and with that I turned around and walked out of her office, I could feel her fury gaze burning behind me but I couldn’t care less.

1:30pm

“I told you not to call me during work hours!”

“I’ll get her driver’s license to you as soon as possible, these things take time and I have to be careful!”

I stood behind the head of department of motors and vehicle as he made his sneaky calls, he dropped his voice quite lower and continued to speak in hushed tone, I could barely make out what he was saying.

He ended his call, glancing around nervously as he slipped his phone into his pocket. He turned around and his breath caught in his throat as his eyes met mine, his mouth hung open,

“W-Who are you " he stuttered stumbling back a step, he obviously didn’t know me, but I know him very well, he is Mother’s connection in this office, Mother never really let me know what business they had together but I knew it wasn’t something legal, I did my findings and I realized he was a corrupt government worker.

Now I needed his help but I know he wouldn’t help me just like that,

"Jason," I said calmly, a slight smirk playing on my lips, his eyes went wide obviously shocked that I knew his name, my smirk widened, I slowly raised my hands and folded it across my chest, he swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure,

“What do you want?!” He asked, my smirk slowly changed to a smile as I stared at him, getting straight to business?! I like it!.

*

“No!”

“I won’t do it!”

“Access to this information is restricted, and is not accessible to the public without a valid reason,”

“What is your valid reason,?!” He asked,

“Even if you do have a valid reason, then you should go through the appropriate channels and get what you want legally!”

"Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Incase I haven’t introduced myself well, I’m Harper Walter, first daughter to Geraldine Walter,”

“And you know my privilege as a first child?! My mother doesn’t do a thing without putting me in on it!” I whispered shaking my head slightly, I’m actually enjoying this, so this was how it felt to blackmail someone, my second life is definitely going to be filled with doing things I never thought I’d do before.

I watched Jason's eyes widened with fear, he tried to hide his fear but he wasn’t doing a very good job.

I dipped my hands in my bags and took out a piece of well definely cut paper, I placed it on the table and gently pushed it towards him.

“Find me the owner of this car!” I whispered,

“My contact detail is behind, if I don’t get a reply in twenty four hours, I’ll take it that refusal is your final answer,”

“Don’t blame me for what I’ll do then,” I said, I gently pushed my chair backwards and began to take slow poised step out of his office, just as I got to the door, I paused in my track and slowly turned to look at him,

“Don’t think running to my mother would save you! It’ll only get me angry,”

“And between me and you, divorce won’t do your already unstable daughter any good!” I added, my facial features softening with a smile, I looked down at his hands and they were already shaking, with a knowing smile, I turned around and walked out of his office.

I got into my car and slammed the door shut, I placed my hands on the steering and my grip on it slowly tightened, that should get to him right?! I know absolutely nothing about him, and I have absolutely no evidence against him, I sincerely just hope he takes the bait, He’s my only option of trying to find out the real identity of the guy who saved me.

I don’t want to believe that him finding me that night of my death and him being at our family residence last night was a coincidence, I need to know for sure who he is and what he wants!

My phone beeped, I shook slightly as I released my grip on the steering, I took out my phone from my bag and flipped it open, it was a message from Novan.

-I’m at your apartment, you’re not there, I checked the office also, you’re not there either, where the hell are you!- The message read, I wanted to flip my phone close but another message came in almost immediately.

-Get back here as soon as possible, I’m waiting!-

I flipped my phone close, dropped it in my bag, turned on the steering and zoomed off.

***

5:00pm

I pushed the door to my apartment open, I didn’t have to look around for long before I sighted Novan sitting on the couch in the living room, immediately the door beeped open, he looked up and got up to his feet.

My heart began to pound in my chest as I stepped into the apartment, I made sure I did not slam the door shut, because I might need to run away if he tries to move funny.

“Where did you go?!” He asked as he gently walked towards me, I stood my ground staring at him wordlessly, he had already done his worst and now I don’t feel too threatened by him again, he took in my appearance head to toe,

“Fucking answer my question, where did you go dressed like this! You went to see another man right?! You did?!” I exhaled deeply and carefully dropped my bag on the chair, turned back to look at him,

“Why?!”

“I don’t have to answer to you! You’re just a worthless ex!” I replied calmly, my voice low and cool, he growled loudly as he menacingly closed the distance between us, I couldn’t hold it I buckled and took a tiny step backwards.

“That’s why you cancelled the marriage, it’s why you cancelled the marriage!” He yelled his body shaking from anger, he reached forward and grabbed my hand, his hands enclosed around my wrist and he tightened fiercely,

“I didn’t come this far with you for you to betray me! You can’t back out of this marriage!”

“Stop it Novan, you’re hurting me!” I whimpered, his grip on me was tight, my attempt to free myself was very useless.

“I’m the only one who can marry you! You won’t marry anyone asides me! I won’t allow it! only over my dead body will you do that!” He growled, with that he let go of my hands and pushed me to the floor before storming out of my house, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

I just sat there on the floor, tears dripping from my face, my heart pounded heavily in my chest, my breath heavy and rapid as I stared at the door in tears, I wasn’t strong even to stand my ground with him yet.

Novan would be a big issue! My Big issue!