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

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

"Thank you for your help," she saidI was puzzled. "For what, Mum?" I asked.She smiled knowingly. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."I tilted my head, still unsure."Your dad has been so different lately, but when you called and said you were coming back, it was like a ray of light. I smiled back at her, I was happy I was home feeling the warmth of home and the familiar presence of Ava, who always had a smart mouth.My mom chuckled at my expression.Then, my mom pulled me into a warm and sincere hug. "I'm so happy you're back, Harper."I held onto her, feeling the love and familiarity of home surrounding me. Knowing that my return had eased her worries and brought her happiness, especially considering her concerns about my dad, warmed my heart. "I missed you, Mum," I admitted.She held me a bit tighter for a moment and then gently pulled away, meeting my gaze. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and tenderness. "And we missed you too, Harper. More than you know."After o

As we sat in the car, a comfortable silence embraced us. The only sound was the soft hum of the engine as we set out for Josh's father's house. I looked at Josh now and then. He held the steering wheel with ease, his focused face showing he was confident.I looked at the road ahead and thought about meeting Josh's dad. I felt excited and nervous. I was going to meet him as Josh's girlfriend, not just as a worker named Harper Cole.Then, Josh's hand found mine. His touch made me feel safe. I smiled at him. Even though he seemed calm, I knew he was also feeling the importance of the moment.Finally, the car stopped in front of a big house. It looked elegant, especially with the warm light shining from the inside. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I looked at Josh."We're here," he said gently.I nodded and smiled a little. "I'm ready."He held my hand, and then let go. His eyes showed many feelings. "Remember, my dad is easygoing. Just be yourself."Why do you talk like I

"How are you?" he asked, his eyes holding a mix of curiosity and concern.The question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I found myself slightly taken aback. I cleared my throat, my heart beating a tad faster as I met his gaze. "I'm... I'm doing okay," I replied, my voice carrying an emotion that I hoped he couldn't read too easily.Josh's expression softened, his eyes seemingly searching mine for something. "Just okay?" he asked, his tone gentle and encouraging."Yeah," I nodded, offering a small smile. "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster lately, but I'm hanging in there.""I know things have been quite eventful," he said, acknowledging the recent challenges we'd faced."True," I agreed, As I lowered myself into the seat, I couldn't help the flutter of emotions swirling within me. His presence had a way of both calming and exciting me."Harper," he began, his tone steady and focused, "we need to kickstart our initial plan of seeking investors. But before that, we should start w