Chapter 7

“I’m here to deliver a package to Mr. Harrington,” Audrey stammered, looking up at the cold-faced security guard standing before her.

“Your name?” he asked curtly.

“Audrey Bennett,” she replied, watching as he repeated her name into the intercom attached to his earpiece.

A moment later, a loud beep sounded, and the gates slowly swung open.

“You can go in,” the guard instructed, his expression unchanged.

Audrey stepped through the gates, looking around as she tried to take in her surroundings. The property was enormous, and she had no idea where she was supposed to go.

Am I supposed to know my way around this place?

She followed the paved walkway toward the massive front door. Just as she raised her hand to knock, the door swung open.

“You can come in,” a gentle voice said.

Audrey stepped inside and found herself standing in the most magnificent house she had ever seen.

Wow. So this is how these people live every day, she thought, her gaze moving across the lavish interior. Several housekeepers moved quietly through the space, attending to their duties.

“Welcome, miss. Please follow me.”

Audrey turned toward the voice. One of the housekeepers, dressed in the same uniform as the others, gestured for her to follow and led her toward the right wing of the house.

“You can wait here. He’ll join you shortly,” the woman said before leaving.

Audrey watched her walk away, then turned her attention to the spacious sitting room. Everything, from the elegant furniture to the carefully arranged decorations, seemed to scream luxury.

She shifted the painting in her arms and settled onto the couch, trying to calm her nerves.

A few minutes later, the door opened.

“You’re thirty minutes late.”

The man who walked in was impeccably dressed, carrying himself with an air of authority. He approached Audrey, who was already on her feet, and fixed his gaze on her.

Audrey stood to her feet almost immediately her eyes widened.

Scott Harrington. The CEO of Harrington Global Holdings, one of the biggest companies in West Virginia.

Who would have thought she would ever get the chance to meet someone so influential?

She needed to see Alex and give him the biggest hug for encouraging her to start her art business, Audrey thought, struggling to hide her excitement.

“And I did not expect you to be this young.” He gestured toward the couch beside her. “Have a seat, Mrs. Andrew.”

Audrey blinked, momentarily confused as she sat down.

“Let us get one thing straight,” he continued, his expression hardening. “I do not tolerate lateness.”

“I am so sorry, sir,” Audrey managed to say, struggling to find her voice.

This was not the welcome she had expected. But who cared? She was sitting right there with Scott Harrington, and he had ordered a painting from her. Who would have thought she could get this lucky?

She had expected Jeremy Harrington, the Harringtons’ foster child, to be the one who had ordered the painting. She had never imagined that Scott himself, the famously unpleasant CEO, would be the one interested in her work. 

Wow. She was in luck.

But wait. Who exactly was Mrs. Andrew? As far as Audrey could tell, she and Mr Harrington were the only people in the room.

“And the papers?” he asked impatiently, fixing her with a cold stare.

“Here you go, sir.” Audrey rose and carefully held out the wrapped painting.

“What is this?” he blurted out.

“The artwork, sir,” Audrey replied, forcing a polite smile.

“What artwork are you talking about?” he demanded, his patience visibly wearing thin.

“The painting I was asked to deliver here.” By now, Audrey could feel her legs trembling beneath her.

“I never ordered any artwork,” he snapped.

Audrey stared at him, completely bewildered.

“Wait. You’re not Mrs. Andrew?” he asked, furrowing his brow.

“No, sir. I’m Audrey Bennett. I—”

“I didn’t ask for your name!” he barked.

He turned toward the door, his expression darkening.

“Who let you in here?”

His voice rose as his phone suddenly began ringing.

He glanced at the screen and answered.

“Mom, thank God. I was just about to call you.” His tone was sharp. “What is this you’ve sent to my house?”

“Scott, where have you kept your phone all day? “I’ve been trying to reach you,” Mrs. Harrington replied from the other end.

“I was going to tell you that Mrs. Andrew wouldn’t be coming today as originally scheduled. I wanted to be here when she arrived, so I had to cancel her appointment.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me, Mom?” Scott demanded. “You’ve had me waiting around all day, and now I have to deal with some stranger”

He shot Audrey a dismissive look.

“I just told you I’ve been trying to reach you all day,” his mother replied impatiently. “Anyway, you can go about your day now. Goodbye.”

The call ended.

Scott lowered his phone and turned his attention back to Audrey. His brows drew together as he studied her face.

“Who the hell did you say you were again? And how did you get into my house?”

“I—I was asked to deliver this painting to Mr Harrington,” Audrey stammered, struggling to keep her trembling legs steady.

“By whom?”

“And why did you tell the security guard you were Mrs. Andrew just to get my attention?” Scott demanded.

“I never said I was Mrs. Andrew, sir!” Audrey protested. “I clearly told the security guard my name was Audrey.”

“But that wasn’t”

His phone interrupted him again.

Scott glanced at the screen and answered with an irritated sigh.

“Hello?”

“Sasha, let me call you back in a few minutes. I’m in the middle of something,” he said, speaking quickly into the phone.

“Oh, wait! I hope you like your pre-birthday gift,” a cheerful female voice said from the other end.

“What gift?” Scott asked, his frown deepening.

“The painting. Has it been delivered yet?” Sasha asked. “I specifically told the artist to deliver it today.”

Scott froze for a moment.

“Wait. The painting? Yes, it’s here. That was you?” He glanced at Audrey, then shook his head. “You should’ve told me before sending someone over, Sasha. You know I hate having strangers show up at my house.”

“Right, because my brother hates people,” Sasha replied sarcastically. “And yeah, I should have told you about the surprise and ruining it, right, brother?”

Scott let out a quiet laugh despite himself.

“You will never change, Sasha.”

“I told the artist to deliver it herself because I thought you would appreciate that,” Sasha continued. “And be prepared for more surprises until your birthday is over.”

 “Okay, brother, we will catch up later. I’ve got to go. Bye!”

The call disconnected before Scott could respond.

For a moment, he stood silently, staring at his phone. Then he turned toward Audrey, his expression settling back into its usual cool composure.

“I will have someone come take that,” he said with a straight face.

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked out, leaving Audrey rooted to the spot, still clutching the painting.

“I’ll take that, miss.”

The gentle tap on her shoulder brought Audrey back to reality.

“Here you go,” she said, handing the painting to the young woman.

“Thank you. You can leave now,” the woman replied dismissively.

Audrey turned and hurried toward the door. She couldn’t wait to get out of that place. The thought of what had just happened sent a shiver down her spine.

As she walked, she reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. Alex was the only person she wanted to talk to right now, the only one she felt could comfort her after the humiliating encounter.

She quickly scrolled through her contacts and was just about to tap Alex’s name when she walked straight into someone.

The collision caught her off guard, and both their phones slipped from their hands, hitting the floor.

“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking,” Audrey blurted out, bending down to retrieve her phone.

“Clearly, you weren’t paying attention,” a familiar voice replied.

Audrey froze. As she lifted her head, her mouth fell open in shock.