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Everyone is concerned about the situation with Nolan and is giving their opinions."I think you should tell Josh about the one night you had with Nolan," Kate says, holding my hand to give me support. I know she feels guilty, but I am an adult who should have taken control of my emotions that night with Nolan."Hell no, I can't tell him. I don't think Nolan has any ulterior motive; he just wants me to join his new company. Perhaps he has done his research and found out how valuable I am to my company.""Valuable indeed. You better do the right thing by coming clean to Josh. It's not like you cheated on him; it happened when you guys weren't together, and we don't know if Nolan wants to be funny," Amelia says."You should be honest with Josh because it's the right thing to do," Kate adds.Amelia agrees, "Yeah, telling the truth is important, and you didn't cheat on him."My friends care about me and want what is best for me. I hope everything will work out okay.We talk all through the
Truth be told, I don't know how I would feel if Jane treated me unpleasantly. The fact that Josh seems blind to Jane's attitude towards me makes me wonder if he noticed or just chose to ignore it. It's too early in our relationship to complain about Jane's behavior since we just met once."Jane will be there. Gosh, that girl makes me feel so small," I say, thinking about our last encounter.I don't know what I would do, but I know I'll be on my best behavior and won't let her get in my way."If I were you, I would give her back her coin. Like if I have a flute of champagne in my hand, I will splash it all over her," Ava says. I know she doesn't like Jane because of what I have told her.I turn to Ava and call out her name in surprise. "That makes us even. I know I'm better than that," I say.Kate and Amelia laugh at Ava's bold suggestion."Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. Maybe Jane will surprise us and be pleasant this time," I say, trying to take Ava's mind off the payback s
Josh still has a puzzled look and asks, "Do you guys know each other?""Not really," I answer immediately, while Nolan replies, "Yes," at the same time.I notice the confusion in Josh's eyes as he looks at me, expecting an explanation. I avoid his gaze and say, "We met when I went to Coupeville.""And it was a lovely experience," Nolan adds, looking at me uncomfortably. I feel like the ground should open and swallow me as Josh looks even more confused.Trying to find his words, Josh stammers, "I... I see.""I see the two of you are close," Nolan says, looking between Josh and me.Josh chuckles and looks into my eyes. "Harper is my employee and also my girlfriend.""Ooh, you know, that's perfect. That way, I can help your relationship flourish by taking her to work for me, so you don't breach the company's policy," Nolan says with a grin.Nolan is overstepping his bounds. I thought he was considerate when I explained that I didn't want anything to do with him at Coupeville. But what he'
While in the car, I am lost in thought as a comfortable silence surrounds us. I am grateful that he doesn’t say anything, just as I remain silent.He drops me off and walks me to the front door. He looks into my eyes and says, "I know you have a lot you want to tell me. When you’re ready to share, I’ll be right here."Without saying a word, he hugs me. We kiss, and I pour all my emotions into the kiss—feelings I can’t express in words.I go straight to the shower to have a warm bath, letting my mind drift and question whether I must reveal my dirty secret from the past to Josh.I am ashamed and unsure how to express myself. Should I continue hiding my secret, hoping it won’t haunt me, or should I tell Josh the truth? How do I reveal my past to the present?Amelia is still around; she promised to stay and hear about my night with Josh. When I come out of the bathroom, she looks at me with concern and asks what is wrong.I sigh and say, "Everything."I explained everything that happened
"Why is all this happening? My past is haunting me, whereas Josh has only been too sweet," I wonder aloud."Amelia, you were a side chick all along," I say, and Amelia bursts out laughing.I look at her with an unpleasant expression. "And now Shawn confesses that he slept with someone else.""Well, at least he confessed to the act, Harper. When you see Josh next, try to come clean with him," Amelia says.I nod. As we lie there in the room, the weight of the recent revelations hangs heavy in the air. I wonder how I will face Josh and explain my past, especially after everything that has unfolded. Amelia's laughter has subsided, and she too seems lost in her thoughts. With that, we drift off to sleep.The ringing of my phone wakes me up immediately. I answer, "Can I help you?""My love, we need to talk over dinner.""No, talk about what?" I ask."I disagree; we need to discuss business," he says."Then we can discuss it over the phone," I reply."No, I prefer to discuss business face to
Josh and Nolan continue their conversation. "It depends on what you want from me, Nolan," Josh says angrily."What?" Josh exclaims, still holding me close for moral support.My thoughts are everywhere. What has Nolan told Josh to make him say 'What'?I wish I could hear what Nolan is saying on the other end of the line. Nolan seems determined to ruin me. I'm shaking and can hardly breathe while Josh keeps holding onto my hand.I should have listened to Amelia when she said I should come clean to Josh, I think to myself."No, no, that can't be true," Josh says again.I feel defeated. Nolan has ruined me.Josh shouts again and looks my way. My heart pounds. What has Nolan told Josh?"What does Nolan want? He has chains of hotels and nightclubs. What is he looking for in maritime? This guy wants to ruin me, and I know I have to act fast with Jane's underhanded messages with so many meanings."With anger, Josh hangs up the call, placing one of his hands on his head, very angry with Nolan.
But then her focus shifts to Josh, and I feel a bit relieved."You know, sometimes I forget that you are still with that joke of a man," Josh tells her."Are we back at this discussion again?" she asks. "Well, I'm here to make sure everyone is doing their jobs in their offices instead of making out with their employees," she says, eyeing me and leaving my office.Josh just laughs and tries to continue with the kiss, but I am not in the mood for PDA. His sister knows how to ruin a good time."What's up with your sister?" "She just got back, and I know she will get used to you with time.” Sometimes I wonder why he stays oblivious to his sister's behavior towards me. I feel like screaming into his ears, "Your sister doesn't like me; can't you see it?"He draws me closer and continues kissing me. I can't be mad at him for too long as I lean into his touch and hug him. We kiss some more. I enjoy being around him; he makes me feel special.After work, I go back home and take a refreshing b
“Josh was here; he waited for you, hoping you would come home at a good time. When I saw you dressed, I thought you were going to see him. Where have you been?”I glance at her and say, "Slow down, young lady, one query at a time."“Where were you?” she asks again, calmly.I am not in the mood to converse, so I don't answer. She gets the hint and leaves my room.I collapse on my bed with so many thoughts in my mind. My phone starts ringing; it's Josh.I don't want to pick up the call because of guilt, but he keeps calling. I change my mind so he won't suspect anything. I picked up his call.“Hello, Harp,” his voice is smooth and relaxing.I take a deep breath and reply, “Hello, Josh.”“How was your meeting?”“It went fine.” Guilt washes over me at the thought of Nolan's lips on mine.“Are you there?” Josh asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.“Yeah, yeah, I’m here.”“I said I can sense you would be very tired by now.”“Yes, I am.”“I wish I was there to give you a massage and all the l
Josh’s POVI shut the door behind me, and the sound rang in my ears like a blow. I’m left standing in the hallway, my heart feels heavy with Harper’s words. I can barely breathe, the air thick with the realization that I’ve lost her—truly lost her this time. I lean against the wall, running a hand through my hair, trying to collect my thoughts. How did it get to this point? How did I let everything spiral so far out of control? All I wanted was to protect her, to make things right, but all I’ve done is push her further away. My mind races back to every moment, every decision that led us here. The anger, the jealousy, the lies. All of it is crashing down on me now. And Nolan… Damn it, Nolan. The thought of him with Harper, the betrayal—it makes my blood boil. But I can’t even blame him entirely. I’m as much at fault as he is.I’ve been a fool. I let my pride and fear dictate my actions, and now, I’m paying the price. I thought I could control everything, but I was wrong. I couldn’t c
Josh’s POV Greg's face pops into the room, and my blood boils instantly. What the hell does he want now? My anger surges, as I seethe, “Can you fucking leave? I’m having time with my fiancée.”Greg opens his mouth to protest, but one look at the fury in my eyes makes him hesitate. He glances at Harper, then back at me, before finally taking a step back, and retreating into the hallway.I can feel Harper’s eyes on me, questioning, unsure of what to make of the situation. The unease between us deepens, and I can feel that something is about to break, something that might be beyond repair.I turned to Harper, my eyes searching hers, desperate to find some sense of hope.“I feel something strong for you, Harper. Please, let's start all over again, I promise to be the man of your dreams, the man who wakes up every morning just to see your face.”Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I could feel the mucus in my nose threatening to spill over. This level of vulnerability was something I had n
I hurried to the doctor as the door opened, my heart racing with hope. “How is she?” I asked, desperate for good news.Amelia and Axel stood close behind me, their expressions tense as they awaited the doctor’s update.The doctor took a deep breath before speaking. “She is stable for now. We’ve run some tests and carried out x-rays on her brain, considering her condition and the memory loss. It seems like she’s beginning to recall bits and pieces. It’s a positive sign, but we need to be cautious. Memory recovery can be unpredictable, and it’s crucial to provide her with a supportive environment.”I nod, taking in the information. “So, there’s hope she might regain more of her memories?”“Yes,” the doctor confirms. “There’s potential for her to remember more as she recovers. The process can be slow, and we’ll monitor her progress closely.”I held my breath, waiting for more information.“The tests show no severe damage,” the doctor continued. “Her brain activity is normal, and there ar
Josh's POV Seeing Harper with Greg ignites a surge of fury in me. It’s like déjà vu of what happened between Harper and Adams. The sight of her arm linked with Greg’s is unbearable.I almost stormed over to them, ready to yank her away from Greg, but Axel grabbed my arm, pulling me back. I had intentionally cut our Atlanta trip short after overhearing Greg's plans to take Harper to a club. Harper, I trust, but I don’t trust Greg at all. He’s involved in shady dealings with women. There are rumors about him drugging them and then using his father’s wealth to cover it up, making it look like the women were at fault. I can’t let Harper become another victim.As I struggle to control my anger, I watch helplessly as Greg, with Harper in his arms, heads for the ground floor. The panic in Axel’s voice only adds to my frustration. I know Harper’s health is the priority right now, but the sight of her with Greg makes it hard to think clearly.Axel’s firm grip on my arm is the only thing keep
After a warm bath, I collapse into bed, finally feeling the exhaustion. The weekend is a welcome break, and I spend it relaxing and doing nothing in particular.Amelia visits and excitedly talks about her relationship with Axel. I'm happy for her; it seems like she’s finally found love.But as Monday approaches, I dread seeing Josh. His silence over the weekend has only made me more anxious, reminding me of how he acted before our trip to Atlanta. No matter how much I try to think about something else, his face keeps popping into my mind, along with the unsettling dream I had about him.I can’t seem to shake these thoughts, and it’s clear that Josh still has a big impact on my life, even when he’s not around.Monday arrives, and I drag myself out of bed, feeling the weight of the day ahead. I get dressed quickly and head to the kitchen for a brief breakfast, trying to brace myself for what's to come.At work, I bury myself in tasks, especially preparing the report on everything that h
I find a space and settle in, pulling out my headphones and plugging them in. As the music starts, it helps calm my racing heart a bit.I wonder if things will be awkward between Josh and me now. His new behavior is confusing, especially when my whole body is still craving his touch.Relaxing back into my seat, I glance at him frequently, but he never turns to look at me. It feels like this is going to be a hell of a ride.I try to focus on the music, letting the rhythm fill the silence between us, but it’s hard to ignore the tension. My eyes keep drifting back to Josh, hoping for any sign that he might look my way. But he stays engrossed in his tablet, completely detached.I take a deep breath, forcing myself to look away and focus on the window. The clouds outside blur as we ascend, and I try to clear my mind, but it’s no use. This is going to be a long, torturous ride, I think to myself, trying to shake off the ache in my chest.I don't think I've ever been in a situation where I
I open the door and find Mia standing there. I sigh in relief when I see it’s her. “Oh, you made it,” I say, still breathless.“Are you okay?” she asks as I step aside to let her in.“I’m fine, Mai. I just woke up,” I reply.“Girl, you didn’t tell me you just woke up! You look all flustered like someone was giving it to you from behind,” she teases."Oh my God," I groan, collapsing onto the bed, realizing I've got another Amelia in Mai.She gives me a skeptical look. “Harper, don’t tell me you just had a sex dream.”I sit up quickly, eyes wide. “Is it that obvious?” I ask.“Oh my goodness, Harper, don’t tell me my theory is right!” she exclaims.My cheeks burn at Mai’s words, her knowing grin only making it worse. I try to laugh it off, but the sound comes out strangled. How did she guess so easily? I haven’t even processed the dream myself, yet here she is, already connecting the dots.I drop my gaze, fiddling with the edge of my robe. The images from the dream flash behind my eyes v
Harper's POV I nod and say, "Hi Greg. Yes, I know him. He is my..." I trail off, unsure of what to call Josh.I can feel Josh's eyes on me, waiting to hear how I’ll address him. We're not engaged anymore; I need time to process the emotional rollercoaster he’s putting me through. "Yes, he’s my boss," I finally say.I glance at Josh and notice he's visibly angry, his frustration almost palpable.I make my way back to my room, feeling drained after the exhausting five-hour meeting. I drop my bag on the table and quickly change out of my work clothes, wanting nothing to disturb my sleep. It's a relief that I’ve checked out of Josh’s room.In just my panties and bra, I collapse onto the bed. As I settle in, Josh’s presence lingers in my mind, but fatigue overtakes me, and soon I drift off to sleep.I hear a knock on my door and groan loudly. Hastily, I throw on a bathrobe, tie it firmly, and make my way to the door. Unlocking it, I grasp the doorknob and open it. “Josh,” I whisper his n
“Oh, don’t worry, Axel. When we meet in Seattle, I’ll fill you in,” I say, laughing. I know he’s eager to hear what I’m talking about.“Don’t you dare, Josh? Why would you say something like that and then leave me hanging?” he responds in his tone, a mix of playful and frustrated.I laugh loudly, feeling a rare moment of relief. It’s a welcome distraction from everything I’m dealing with regarding Harper.“Okay, okay,” I say between laughs. “I know you can’t wait.”“Spill it, man. What’s the news?” Axel presses.“Trisha’s son isn’t mine,” I say, watching as he falls silent. “Say something, man,” I urge, wondering if he knows something I don’t.“That’s a relief, Josh. I’m happy for you, man,” Axel finally responds.“That’s all you’ve got?” I ask, knowing Axel usually has more to say.He gives a nervous laugh. “What do you want me to say? It’s a relief, isn’t it?”“But there’s something about that child’s appearance,” I continue. “He looks like someone I know but I can’t place it. His e