Chapter Ten

Harper's POV:

The sunlight hit my face and for the first time in weeks I didn't want to hide from it. My eyes opened slow and the room came into focus, warm and golden, and I stretched under sheets that smelled like him, like that clean expensive scent that made my stomach do things it shouldn't.

"Good morning sunshine."

His voice came from somewhere near the window and my pussy clenched without permission. I turned my head and there he was, already dressed in a black suit with his sleeves rolled up, watching me with eyes that made me want to pull him back into this bed and forget about everything waiting outside.

"Good morning," I said and my voice came out rougher than I expected.

He moved closer and I noticed the way his jaw tensed when his eyes dropped to where his shirt hung loose on my body, barely covering my thighs. Last night had been a lot but something about it felt right even though it shouldn't have, like maybe I'd known this man longer than a few days, like maybe my body recognized something in him that my brain was still trying to figure out.

"Come here." He lifted one finger and crooked it at me and heat flooded between my legs so fast I had to press them together.

God I'm in trouble.

"No." I sat up and pulled the sheet around me even though his shirt covered enough. "I need to get to my apartment, you decided to give me the guest house remember? And what am I doing in your side of the house on the first night?"

His laugh was low and beautiful and it made something in my chest feel lighter. I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed at something that was just funny, not bitter or broken or forced.

I swung my legs off the bed and started gathering my clothes from where they'd landed on the floor last night when we'd been too desperate to care where anything went. His hands circled my waist before I could bend down and he pulled me up against his chest and I was backing him, breathing in that scent that was already becoming familiar.

"I want you to stay here instead." He turned me around so I was facing him and the desire in his eyes made my breath catch. "You can stay on my side of the apartment till you're ready to leave but I want you here."

My heart was beating too fast and I had to close my eyes for a second because looking at him made it hard to think straight.

"You know it won't work." The words came out shakier than I wanted. "We can't stay together and I'll be able to focus and I need it at this point in my life." I pressed my palm against his chest, feeling his heartbeat under my hand. "So let me stay in the guest house, please."

Hardin made me lose myself when I was around him and I wasn't the type to lose myself without thinking, so even though my heart wanted to stay wrapped up in him, I needed my head to start working. I'd only stay in his guest apartment till I could get my own place.

"Fine." He released his grip on my waist and the loss of his touch made me want to take back everything I'd just said. "But you're going to work with me, at least we can talk about your plan for Blake Industries on our way there."

"Yeah, Blake Industries." I mumbled the words and bent to pick up my clothes because if I kept looking at his face I'd kiss him again.

My plan for them was still there in the back of my mind but now standing in Hardin's bedroom with the morning light making everything feel softer, I wasn't sure I wanted to drag him into my mess with Connor and Jenny. They'd already destroyed so much.

"Of course my plan for them is still valid but I'm not going with you." I straightened up with my clothes bundled in my arms. "I can't be seen with you by your other staff on my first day of work."

"Harper, it doesn't mean anything, you can still go with me."

But I was already moving toward the door because if I stayed in this room one more second I'd end up back in that bed and I needed to prove to myself I could still make smart decisions.

The walk from his side of the house to the guest apartment felt longer than it should have. His compound was so massive I almost wondered if I should have asked for a golf cart, and the flowers planted along the pathway caught my attention, bright purple and white ones I didn't know the names of but they were beautiful. I stopped walking for just a second to really look at them because Hardin didn't seem like the type to care about flowers but here they were, carefully arranged and clearly taken care of.

When I reached the guest house I punched in the code he'd given me last night and the door swung open to a space that made me stop and stare. His penthouse had been beautiful but this was something else, all cream colored furniture and big windows that let in so much light it felt like being outside. His taste in decorating was impressive and nothing like what Connor used to like, all that dark wood and heavy curtains that made every room feel like a cave.

Thinking about Connor brought the anger back, hot and sharp in my chest. When Hardin had mentioned my plan for Blake Industries earlier I'd hidden how much it bothered me because I was angry at Connor and Jenny but was I ready for the drama that would come with going after them? They were already bent on destroying my image and if I came for them they'd probably get worse.

Maybe I should just let it go. Let them have their five million dollar lawsuit and their engagement and their smug faces because trying to fight them felt exhausting and I was so tired of being angry all the time.

I pushed the thoughts away and opened my suitcase, pulling out the sky blue top that fit my breasts just right and the black pants that hugged my hips and waist the way I liked. I'd brought these clothes specifically for when I got a better job in LA and thank God I had one now. Connor had always wanted me to dress boring, said my curves were distracting to men at Blake Industries, said I should cover up and make myself smaller.

I looked at myself in the mirror after I got dressed and something warm spread through my chest. I looked good and I felt good and that was enough.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, hoping Hardin had already left so he'd stop trying to convince me to ride with him.

"Hi ma'am." A young man appeared the second I stepped outside and I recognized him from the security post near the gate. "The boss asked me to give this to you, he said you're not allowed out of this compound without using it."

He held out a Mercedes Benz key and my stomach dropped because of course Hardin would do something like this.

"I've driven it out of the garage for you ma'am."

"No thank you, I'll pass." I smiled at him even though panic was starting to creep up my spine because I needed to leave now and I didn't have time to argue.

"But ma'am—"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure I explain to him I was the one that refused insistently."

He looked relieved and walked back toward his post while I followed him toward the massive gate that opened onto the highway.

"How's the transportation in this place?" I asked because I'd noticed last night that Hardin's mansion was the only house on this entire street.

"You can order a taxi ma'am."

I pulled out my phone and started trying but none of the apps were responding and I watched the minutes tick by and my chest got tighter because I was going to be late on my first day, I was going to walk in and prove to everyone that I didn't deserve this job.

"Ma'am you can just go with the car instead."

I looked at the security guard and then at the Mercedes sitting there gleaming in the morning sun and I didn't have a choice anymore.

"Okay, thank you."

The key felt heavy in my hand and when I slid into the driver's seat everything smelled new and expensive and I tried not to think about how much this car probably cost. I turned the key and the engine purred to life and I pulled out onto the highway, pressing the gas harder than I should have because I was already ten minutes late.

The roads were more crowded than I expected and I kept checking the time on the dashboard and watching it count down the minutes until I was supposed to meet my team. Five minutes left and I was still fifteen minutes away and my hands were sweating on the steering wheel.

I made it with two minutes to spare and my heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. I turned toward the Novare building and that was when another car came out of nowhere, cutting across my lane so fast I didn't have time to think, just slammed my foot on the brake but it was too late.

The impact threw me forward against the seatbelt and the sound of metal crunching filled my ears and then everything went quiet.

"Oh my God." I turned off the ignition with shaking hands and stumbled out of the car to see who I'd hit.

The other car's door opened and Jenny stepped out.

"Harper, were you planning to kill me?"