On Monday morning, Lily entered Kath's office with an agenda in hand to consult the boss on how to proceed with some important matters. They discussed visits from suppliers and buyers, interviews the CEO needed to conduct to expand the design team, routine meetings with shareholders, and more. Lily knew the schedule was packed, but Kath didn't seem to mind."Do you have some invitations? Want to see them?" The blonde asked, part of her duties but expecting the usual response of thanks and apologies for not being able to attend.Kath wasn't the type of CEO who enjoyed events, but it wouldn't hurt to try this time."What are the events this time?" The question itself was a surprise, even though Kath didn't take her eyes off the computer screen. The fact that she asked about the event was great."There's a wedding, a baptism, a birthday, and two charity galas. One of them is for that institution for people with special needs, to which you donate every year. They called several times aski

User!"I should be offended because I'm one of the party organizers. Artie Abrams," he remarked, extending his hand to the blonde, but not limiting the greeting to a handshake. Instead, he brought her hand to his lips in a very seductive manner, he had to admit. Any woman in this situation would undoubtedly have had her panties soaked."Kitty Wilde," she smiled back, impressed by his gallant gesture. The man was undeniably attractive."BUT I agree that this is a bit old-fashioned." He winked, making the girl blush, noticed by Kath. "And I know of a party happening after this one, at a rich lady's penthouse... and they say her parties are anything but boring. If you want to go, I can get all of you in."Harry and Kath exchanged glances while Kitty insisted that they would obviously go. They smiled at each other, conspirators, deciding not to spoil the plans of others. Besides, they wouldn't mind extending the night themselves with friends at a high-profile party.

Harry nodded, but didn't disguise the fact that he was leaving rather annoyed. He asked Lily to let him know immediately when Kath was alone again, and spent the next forty minutes in his office, pacing back and forth, rubbing his face, trying to convince himself that this Darren wasn't an ex-submissive of Kath's, or even an ex-boyfriend she was hiding. The two of them had looked at each other with love! Or was that just his jealousy talking?"What kind of joke was that, huh?" He said, entering her living room without any introduction. "A guy comes in here, who I've never heard of, and you tell me to go out and talk to him? All this 'you look beautiful' over there, 'you look wonderful' over here! You completely ignored me! Who is he? You still have feelings for this guy... don't you?" He spoke, much louder than he was used to and without stopping."Harry? Harry!" She tried twice, three times, raising her tone as well, trying to catch his attention, but he just kept going,

Harry told Kath that he was going up to the building's terrace to get some fresh air while she spoke with her brother on the phone. He climbed as quickly as he could and barely made it there before allowing the tears he had been holding back to flow down his face. After the initial shock and a barrage of questions racing through his mind, he felt an immense pain hit him with full force. However, he forced himself to maintain maximum composure because only by staying emotionally steady could he try to help the woman he loved so much.Hearing her ask if everything was okay between them hurt even more because it was tough to know that, on top of everything she was going through, she still feared losing him, when he had never been at risk. It was true that she had hidden something important from him, but it was also true that he already knew something serious had happened in her past, that she had tried to explain everything, and that he himself had prevented her from doing so.

Darren managed to get time off from work until the end of the week, and Kath convinced her brother to leave the hotel and occupy the guest room in her apartment. Over the next few days, she also took time off and spent most of her time with him. Both of them helped Harry with his move, which wasn't extensive as things like furniture, bedding, bath items, and kitchen utensils would stay in his house, to be rented out fully furnished.Kath decided to take care of her security by hiring Dean's brother, Jake Harvey, and his friend named Angelus to join the team. They began accompanying her everywhere in pairs. She chose not to contact the police and didn't inform the Beauvoirs about Darren's visit, as Hiram would surely find that cohabitation dangerous for both, and she didn't want to see things that way.On the last night of Darren's stay in town, Kath managed to host the dinner she had planned. She introduced Darren to Kitty, Harmony, Artie, and Samuel, presenting him as a childhood fri