All Chapters of Forever Yours, Almost - Whitmere Family Legacy - Book 1: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

RHETTI told myself I wouldn’t look for her. And I hadn’t for 10 excruciating years. I told myself if Sloane Hart ever came back to this town, I’d let her pass like a ghost- unacknowledged, unimportant. The way she wanted it. That lie lasted me exactly six hours.I know she’s back here, at my family's estate grounds before anyone tells me. Albeit I knew she rolled into town in her rental at nine am sharp, from my assistant Hailey. But, aside from that, The Whitmere Hotel has a way of humming when something important walks through its doors like the walls themselves are paying attention. Tonight, the air feels tighter. Charged.When I exit the private elevator I'd just been in, she's walking in the lobby of the Whitmere Hotel, black stiletto heels clicking softly against the marble I paid for with blood and broken knuckles. She looks like she stepped out of a fashion magazine in a cream silk dress, oversized designer sunglasses, and her fiery red hair curled around her glossy and loos

SLOANE “Ms. Hart” the front desk attendant starts shouting loudly towards me the moment I step from the elevator- I try to picture anyone else in this building as Ms. Hart and not me, not the full fledged professional that was reduced to dust up there. “Ms. Hart” she continues, following me and making a scene- restaurant goers stop consuming their salads and drinks like I’m a criminal at this point- watching and waiting.I spin on my heels and turn and face the young girl- looking at her she’s maybe sixteen. Blonde, young, the biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen in real life- and she looks scared “Yes?” I say to her breathlessly trying to make it look like I just didn’t see or hear a hotel employee. “Ms. Hart,” she says again, so worried “I didn’t want to upset you But Mr. Whitmere wanted me to remind you that you are a special VIP guest and your quarters are located on floor eleven with the rest of the special guests and family.” As she relays the end of her message she tugs at her bl

SLOANEBy morning, everyone knows. They don’t know what happened. They just know something did.That’s how towns like this work. They don’t need facts- just proximity and history and the way people look at you a second too long.I feel it the moment I step off of the private elevator walking towards the hotel café. “Good morning Ms. Hart.” Maya the hotel clerk from last night calls cheerily- does she live here? I think to myself as I give a polite wave and smile back. As I enter the Cobblestone cafè, I notice it all. The pause in conversation. The flicker of curiosity. The barista’s smile that’s a little too knowing. What I noticed further was every detail that I had in a dream as a kid- one a poor girl from the wrong side of this town, with a criminal father and a mother that ran away could have never accomplished. I look at the dining area with its cozy booths. On the perimeter- Smaller ones lead to large circular ones in each corner flanking the room. The center of the room is f