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“Good. Now, about the condoms, I so happen to have one I kept for emergency purposes.”
She purrs. “I like your preparedness, Mr. Everhart.”
Chapter 23
Harper
Isee the flash as I turn my head to the large window showing a view of the street, but I don’t see anyone. As much as I don’t like the flashes and bright lights that come with being the fiancée of a popular CEO and public personality, I’ve schooled myself not to react in any way that might end up as a scandal.
“I’m probably just imagining this,” I mutter. “Must be from all the pictures taken of us yesterday.”
Gabriel and I had to attend an event last minute, and a red carpet was outside the building. Suffice it to say we spent an hour trying to get from the limo that took us there into the place because of the press.
There’s another event tomorrow—I cannot wait until all of this is over—so I told him I’d go shopping myself instead of picking something from my closet.
I’ll also kill two birds with one stone and get a dress for myself for the unveiling gala that’s in a little over a week.
Then, I’ll buy a piece of jewelry for my mom to apologize for sending her out of Gabriel’s office, as she hasn’t let me live it down. For my dad…I have no idea what he likes, so I’ll get him a watch and call it a day.
Out of the corner of my eye, while standing in front of a display of watches, I see someone with a camera, and the flash reflects in the window. I turn sharply, but the person has disappeared.
“Am I losing it?” I wonder, scratching my head.
I wouldn’t be surprised because it’s been two crazy weeks.
The unsolicited calls, comments on old posts on my social media pages, and having to keep up with everything while focusing on work makes me want to disappear to a remote part of the world and remain in hiding for five years.
Maybe ten. I have enough money to sustain me for two years…I think I can rely on my mom and dad to help me out. After she rants for an hour about me coming home, it would be safer.
Just in case I decide to run, I walk further through the exclusive shopping complex, over to the jewelry section, and buy a Swarovski diamond necklace.
Finally, I reach the clothing area and pick out eight dresses, hoping to narrow my options to two.
“If I can’t decide, I’ll have Gabriel buy everything,” I mutter under my breath.
I head into the private dressing room and put on the first gown, staring at my reflection in the floor-length mirror.
It’s a red dress with gemstones scattered across the skirt and tiny strap sleeves made of a stretch—like material. The back is cut so low that it almost touches below my waist, and there are two ropes crisscrossing where the cut stops.
In short, it’s beautiful.
The second is a green strapless gown, but it stops inches above my knees and has an almost unnoticeable slit. The neckline drops to the top of my cleavage, and tiny stars are at the hem of the dress.
Suitable for a casual dinner if there’s any before the big day.
Ultimately, I chose six dresses and sent Gabriel a message, telling him I couldn’t narrow it down. He responds that I should get more and send him the bill.
It turns out that he has an account here.
Laughing, I gather the dresses in my left hand and walk out, but the laughter dies on my lips when I see the man seated on the couch just outside the dressing room.
It’s the same person that I saw outside with the camera. A fucking reporter.
“How did you get in here?” I demand.
He flashes a creepy, unsettling smile and reaches into the breast pocket of his rumpled blue dress shirt to bring out an ID that he flashes at me.
“Lance Highlander,” he says. “I’m a reporter for the Forever Times. If I could have one minute of—"
