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“Harper?”
I blinked back to the present and into Eric’s blue eyes. “Where were you just now?”
“Remembering the day my mother told me she gave my trust fund to Jeff and how great it was going to be for me.”
“What did you say?”
“I was angry. I knew I’d never see the money again. I started looking for a job. I wanted out, but unlike her with me, I put her first. I stayed when the fatalities happened to protect her. But you’re right. She’s brainwashed. I think she really believes I don’t appreciate what Jeff does for me.”
“My father is a master manipulator and she’s a willing victim.”
I tilt my head, curious about the words that just came out of his mouth. “I’m surprised you call him your father.”
“My mother told me that I had to own what I wanted.”
“And you wanted him to be your father?”
“I wanted what my mother wanted. For him to claim me as his son, but that was a long time ago and he told me to call him father.Of course, he was trying to push Isaac to step up. He was using me.”
“And you still address him as father?”
“Every time I call him father, I remind him that my mother was never a person to be ignored.” Shadows flit through his stare before he refocuses on me and his cellphone buzzes with a text. He snakes it from his pocket and reads the message before replying and updating me. “Blake hacked all the recording devices in the building but didn’t install his own. He said after careful consideration and review of the camera placement with more detail, he has full access, which means whatever is said in this building he’ll hear.”
I know the answer already, but I just need to confirm. I need to hope. “My office was for sure recorded, right?”
“Yes,” he says, stroking my cheek. “I know you hate that they saw you change clothes.”
“Yes, well, just another reason to kick your brother and father in the balls, even if it’s a proverbial kick.”
“That’s my girl,” he says, the endearment doing funny things to my belly. “Lead the conversations you have where you want them to go. Everything you get the family to say while we have access to the recordings could be useful if we need to protect your interests.”
“And innocence?”
“They won’t frame you or me for their crimes. That’s not going to happen. Let them move things around while we watch. Then when we leave, they’ll make bigger moves.”
“We hope.”
“We expect,” he says. “My father flew back because I’m here. They feel the pressure. I’m going to ensure they feel it ten times over. And when he comes at you, you do the same. That’s our plan. Stick with it.”
“I know. I will.”
He leans over and kisses me. “Stick with it.”
“I said I will.”
“Just making sure,” he says, giving me a wink. “I’ll come around and get you.” He exits and I gather my briefcase. By the time I have my petite purse stuffed inside it, Eric is opening my door and offering me his hand.
I slide my palm to his, and I swear every time this man touches me, I light up. I’m alive in ways I didn’t realize I could be alive, in ways I want to be for the rest of my life, and that’s a scary thought. This man could hurt me, and that has nothing to do with thecompany or the family. It’s all about us and what I feel for him that I’m afraid to name. I need to just enjoy him, and love the time with him. I need to live in the now.
“Whatever you’re feeling,” he says softly, walking me to him, “I am, too.”
My gaze rockets to his and he brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “I’d tell you what I feel if we weren’t here in this Godforsaken place.” He settles my hand on his elbow, and unlike me, he’s not wearing a coat. “There’s much to talk about, Harper. Alone. In New York City. Away from this place. Today helps us get there. Let’s go do this.”
“Yes. Let’s go do this.”
He turns us toward the building, and arm in arm we walk to the main entrance, our relationship on full display. Eric opens the door for me and nerves assail me. His father is here. He’s going to confront me. My mother is going to confront me. Isaac and Gigi, too. But they’ll go at Eric as well, and that’s what we want.
I enter the lobby first but Eric is by my side in an instant. The receptionist stares at us a minute before she says, “Gigi wants to see you.”
