An incoming call displays Nolan's name on the screen and my heart races.Kate notices my reaction and urges me to answer, insisting that we put it on speaker."Go on, Harper. Let's hear what he has to say," Kate says, her eyes filled with curiosity.I take a deep breath, my mind racing with thoughts of the previous night. Part of me wants to hear Nolan's voice again, while another part is nervous about where this conversation might lead.With trembling fingers, I answer the phone and press the speaker button, and Nolan's voice fills the room.""Harper, how are you?""Not bad.""Guess you are home?""Yes, I'm home. Thanks for checking up on me.""I can't stop thinking about you all morning."My cheeks flush, and I exchange a nervous glance with Kate."Um, hi Nolan," I manage to respond, my voice a bit shaky. "Last night was... unexpected.""I know, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did."I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal to him or what I even want from this conv
JOSH POVTo unwind from the week's stress, I head to a bar, relaxing with a bottle of wine, swaying my head to the song blasting from the speaker.Looking around the room, I noticed a figure that looked familiar, her back turned towards me.I moved closer and found out it was Chloe.My heart races, leaving me breathless and unsure of how to react."Hi Josh, good to see you. It's been a while," she says, pulling me into a hug."When did you come to town?" I ask."Last week," she replies. Next, she smashes her lips to mine.The touch of her lips against mine ignites a mix of a sense of familiarity, igniting undeniable chemistry between us. I can't resist; I kiss her back, moaning as the world around us fades into the background."Get a room," someone says behind me. Then I realized that I was close to losing my self-control.Chloe is a hottie; I can't resist her. Immediately, I pull away from the kiss before I do something I'll regret.She stood there smiling, obviously happy to see me.
You have been arranged in marriage with Harper, you can't contest that decision." leaving no space for discussion.I burst into laughter."You're joking, right?" I question as I turn to face their serious expressions. My father looks right at me, his serious business face, "Does it look like I'm joking?" Then I understand he's completely serious. "Mom, you can't just stand by and let Dad do this. He's talking about this woman; she is stubborn, arrogant, and…" I stumble over my words, unable to express my feelings. "And smart. I like her for you." "You will get married in two months," and there is no place for negotiation. I suddenly get up from my seat, slam the door behind me, and walk out of the house with many ideas racing through my head.I am so furious when I get home that I instinctively clench my fist and punch the wall to let out my frustration. My hand feels a piercing pain. I was pacing back and forth in my living room. I can't fathom why my dad would come up with suc
"My man, what's up with you?" he asked."Axel I'm fine, and you?" I recognize his voice instantly. "Are you in town?" I asked"Yes, I am," Axel replied. "Okay, then let's meet up later today."I was thrilled. I missed my friend.However, my thoughts kept drifting to Harper and why she wasn't at work. Then my subconscious asked me, "Why are you bothered about her? It seems you like her.""Shut up! We can't afford to lose her," I said to my subconscious.After work, I went to the bar to meet up with Axel as promised."Axel, my man, when did you come to town?" I asked him."I've been on and off, but I'll be staying longer. One of the reasons I called," he said."And how's business?" I asked him."Business is good. I will be overseeing some construction in Seattle," he said.We caught up on our lives, I told him about my arranged marriage, and he burst out laughing."That old man got you. He wants the best for you," he said."I know. He says many of the investors think that because I'm
I dialed the number on my phone, feeling nervous as the call connected. After a few rings, it went to voicemail.The beep sounded, and I hesitated for a moment before leaving a message:"Hey, this is Josh. I work with Harper, and I just wanted to check in and see if she's alright. She hasn't been at work, and we're all worried about her. If you could give me a callback or let me know how she's doing, I'd appreciate it. Thanks."I knew I had done the right thing by reaching out, All I could do now was wait and hope for a response.I got out of my cool, black sports car, the engine making a soft purring sound as I locked it with a press of a button on my key fob. I fixed my gym bag on my shoulder and walked towards the entrance of the gym, ready for my workout.As I strolled along, Girls whispered to each other, their eyes following my every step. However, I'm used to it.The gym instructor greeted me."Hey Josh, how's it going, man? It's been a while since we last saw each other.""I'm
In the busy restaurant, I worked with the team upfront. I made sure the kitchen and the dining area were connected smoothly.After a while, I couldn't focus on anything, and my anxiety started to rise.I decided to take a break and grab a cup of coffee from the employee lounge.When I went back, I'm more than shocked to see someone seated in the restaurant.My heart raced as a mix of feelings washed over me, much like the uncertainty of being caught in the rain without an umbrella, torn between seeking shelter or enjoying the moment.As I peeked at him secretly from a distance, I couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked. The way he sat confidently, his face shone by the gentle restaurant lights.His dark hair fell naturally, framing his face in a relaxed yet purposeful way. His jawline was distinct.I found myself admiring his well-fitted clothes that hunted his dress sense.It was clear he took care of his appearance without going overboard, which only enhanced his good looks.
I continued with my service at the restaurant. I walked over to a table with a friendly smile. "I noticed you're not completely satisfied with the wine. Would you like me to suggest something else?"The couple seemed surprised by my attention and said, "That would be wonderful, thank you."By the time the day wrapped up, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction.When I got home, I quickly took a shower and got ready for dinner. Since I was alone, I started dancing in my underwear, feeling so free and happy. The music made me feel energetic, and I moved to the beat, looking forward to the upcoming dinner.After applying a bit of makeup and getting dressed, I heard the doorbell ring."That's probably Josh's driver," I said softly to myself.I opened the door and saw a fancy black car parked outside. The driver, a well-dressed man, smiled and said, "Good evening, miss. Mr. Stevenson sent me to pick you up for dinner.""Thank you," I replied, smiling back.Sitting in the car, I felt a mix of e
Thinking about everything, I grabbed my phone and decided to make a call. The dial tone echoed in my ear as I waited anxiously for the other person to answer."Hello?" a voice said from the other side."Hey, Dad," I spoke, my voice a mix of determination and jitters.A pause hung in the air before my dad's voice responded, "Harper? Is everything okay?"Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady my emotions. "Yeah, everything's alright. I just needed to talk to you about something important."I could feel my dad's curiosity through the phone. "Go ahead, I'm listening.""I apologize for leaving without telling you. I needed time to process everything," I admitted, my words filled with sincerity. "And now, I've decided that I'll return home and go along with the marriage plans."I sensed a hint of relief from my dad's end."Thank you, Harper, I'm happy that you're thinking this through. It's a big decision, and we care about your happiness," my dad's voice conveyed his sincerity.His words t