After work, I quickly shower and get ready for dinner. Alone, I dance in my underwear, feeling free and happy. The music energizes me, and I move to the beat, eagerly anticipating the evening.After applying a bit of makeup and dressing, the doorbell rings."That’s probably Josh’s driver," I murmur to myself.I open the door to find a sleek black car parked outside. The driver, a well-dressed man, smiles and says, "Good evening, miss. Mr. Stevenson sent me to pick you up for dinner.""Thank you," I reply, returning the smile.As the car starts moving, I gaze out the window, watching the city lights blur by.When we reach the restaurant, I take a deep breath and step out. Josh stands by the door, just as handsome as I remember. He smiles warmly, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions."Harper, you look stunning," he says, sounding genuine."Thank you," I reply, feeling my cheeks warm.Once seated, Josh looks at me with a gentle expression. "I’m really glad you agreed to meet me tonight."
My curiosity peaks as I lean in, eager to hear Josh’s proposal. “Okay, I’m listening. What’s your idea?”Josh’s eyes gleam with hope. “Harper, I know our families expect us to go through with the arranged marriage. But I think we can find our way on our terms.”I nod, encouraging him to continue. “Go on.”He looks at me seriously. “What if we act like a couple for a while? We could use that time to find investors to support your dad’s business. Once it’s back on track, we can go our separate ways.”I stare at him, taken aback. The idea of pretending to be a couple seems unusual. “Pretend to be a couple? That’s an unexpected suggestion, Josh.”Josh nods. “It could solve both our problems, Harper. We show our families that we’re committed to each other while also helping your dad’s business get back on its feet.”I hesitate, weighing the pros and cons. “But what happens after the business is stable?” I ask, my eyes locked on his.His gaze meets mine. “We part ways, no strings attached. I
Thinking about everything, I grab my phone and decide to make a call. The dial tone echoes in my ear as I wait anxiously for the other person to answer."Hello?" a voice says from the other side."Hey, Dad," I say, my voice jittery.A pause hangs in the air before my dad responds, "Harper? Is everything okay?"Taking a deep breath, I try to steady my emotions. "Yeah, everything's alright. I just needed to talk to you about something important."I can feel my dad's curiosity through the phone. "Go ahead, I'm listening.""I apologize for leaving without telling you. I needed time to process everything, and now, I've decided that I'll return home and go along with the marriage plans."I sense a hint of relief from my dad's end. "Thank you, Harper. I'm happy that you're thinking this through. It's a big decision, and we care about your happiness."His words touch me deeply, and I have to swallow the lump in my throat before responding. "Thanks, Dad. I know this isn't easy for any of us."H
I am taken aback by the unexpected sight of Nick in my house. He left town to pursue a career and take over his father's business, so I hadn't expected to see him again anytime soon. But here he is, standing in my living room, looking more put together than I have ever seen him before.His eyes roam over me, admiration evident in his gaze. "Wow, look at you!" he exclaims. "I thought you wouldn't even recognize me!"I am surprised by his words, my eyes scanning him anew. The Nick I knew before is gone, replaced by this confident, polished version. "Why wouldn't I?"I am so lost in the moment that I forget to greet his mom properly. My mom's gentle reminder brings me back to reality. "Say hi to his mom as well," she says with a smile, her eyes darting between Nick and me."Sorry, Ma. Good day, Ma. How have you been?" I say, moving closer to her as she opens her arms for a hug. I apologize and embrace her."Welcome back, dear. How was your trip?"I smile widely, feeling happy to be home.
"Thank you for your help," my mom says, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint. I furrow my brow, puzzled. "For what, Mom?" She smiles warmly, "You know exactly what I'm talking about." I tilt my head, still unsure, but she chuckles and continues, "Your dad has been so different lately, but when you called and said you were coming back, it was like a ray of light. It lifted my spirits and gave me hope."I smile back at her, feeling grateful to be home, surrounded by the warmth of my family, especially Ava's constant banter. My mom's expression softens, and she reaches out to hold me closer. "I missed you, Mom," I admit, feeling a lump form in my throat.She holds me a bit tighter for a moment, then gently pulls away, her eyes locking onto mine with tenderness. "And we missed you too, Harper. More than you know."I wish to hear from Amelia, my friend who has been a constant source of support. I grab my phone and dial her number, eager to reconnect and share my journey with her."Hey,
Josh envelops me in a warm embrace, saying, "Welcome back, Harper! We all missed you." For a moment, it feels awkward, but I quickly remember our plans and decide to play along. I hug him back, noticing Amelia and Sophia exchanging shocked glances. I know Amelia will be eager to hear all the details later, but for now, I have to keep things low-key.The rest of the workday flies by in a whirlwind, and I'm grateful to be back in my beloved Seattle. With my birthday just around the corner, I know I need Ava's help to organize a small, intimate celebration. I make a mental note to talk to her later and start planning.As the day draws to a close, I feel a sense of belonging and excitement for what the future holds.As soon as I walk in the door, Ava greets me with a big smile. "What's up, Ava?" I ask, dropping my bag on the floor."Cool, Harper," she replies, already sensing that something is up. "I need your help with planning my birthday bash!" "Okay, let's get to it!" Ava says, grabbi
“Harper and I are seeing each other," Josh said, making a claim on me.” The room is electric with tension as Josh's bombshell announcement hangs in the air. I try to play it cool, my heart racing. "Yes! He asked me out, and I said yes. End of story."Amelia's eyes sparkle with amusement, while Ava's raised eyebrow hints at her intrigue.Nick, never one to miss a beat, chimes in with a provocative remark. "Oh, nice. I wish I was friends with my boss; she was hot.""I didn't know you had this tendency to use bold words," Ava playfully responds. "Look at him, talking about hotness."Nick continues, "I like hot girls like any other man." His eyes locked on mine.Josh's displeasure is evident, his facial expressions giving him away. Nick continues to push his buttons, "You see, there's a lot you don't know about me. We haven't seen each other in a long while.""Is it me, or is it getting hot in here?" Amelia says, her voice laced with humor,"Please take off your clothes." Ava playfully res
I wonder why he's calling, but I answer anyway, placing the phone to my ear. "Hello, Nick.""Hey, how are you?" His smooth voice comes through the line."I'm good. Thanks for yesterday. I appreciate you coming to my birthday party.""Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time."I'm curious about the reason for his call, so I ask, "So, what's new?"There's a pause before he says, "Well, I think I've made up my mind."I'm taken aback by his unexpected announcement. My heart races as I stumble over my words, asking, "Mind about what?""Well, I wasn't planning on saying this earlier, but circumstances have changed. After yesterday, I think it's time," Nick says, his voice hesitant. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"I'm taken aback by the question, considering Josh has publicly claimed we're in a relationship. "Date?" I repeat, buying time."Yes, dinner. We dress up, I pick you up, we enjoy a meal, and maybe share a few laughs if the night allows," Nick explains, his tone hopeful.I
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