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“That’s an understatement.” Finn chuckles, and we share a smile. Warmth spreads through my chest at having him smile at me again.
The afternoon turns into early evening, and I’m having so much fun looking at designs and fabrics. What makes it better is that Finn is no longer glaring and snapping at me. For a moment, it’s like we’re friends again. I want to hold on to this moment so tight and never let go.
“Well, that will do for now. It’s getting late.” Juliette places her hands on my shoulders and air-kisses both my cheeks. “Thank you for your help.”
I blush. “Anytime. I had fun.”
Leaving Juliette’s room, Finn and I make our way back to our floor, not saying a word, but giving each other the occasional glance and smile. My heart wants to explode with happiness.
Bianca walks out from her office, popping my moment of bliss.
“You’re still here?” Finn flicks out his wrist and glances at his watch. “It’s seven-thirty.” Wow, time really does fly when you’re having fun. The office is quiet. Everyone has gone home. “You should have left two hours ago.”
“I stayed to make sure there isn’t anything you need before I go home.” She’s one loyal assistant. Although, I’m not sure if ‘anything you need’ is work related.
“I’ll leave you two to it. I’ll grab my stuff and head home. Goodnight.” I turn to leave.
“Harper, wait. I need you to stay back a little longer if that’s okay,” Finn says, stopping me.
Bianca steps in front of Finn. “I’ll stay and help you with whatever you need.”
Finn looks over Bianca’s head at me. “Go home, Bianca. There’s nothing I need from you tonight.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Bianca pins me with a sharp look filled with hatred. To Finn, she says, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Goodnight, Bianca. See you in the morning.”
Bianca’s jaw is clamped tight as she goes into her office. She comes back out moments later with her coat and bag. Without saying a word, she marches to the elevator.
We watch her enter the cart, and when the doors close, Finn turns to me. “Can you come into my office, please?”
I follow him, and he stands with his back to me, hands in his pockets, looking out the window into the night sky. “I’m ready to listen.” His voice is so low, I’m not sure I’ve heard him correctly.
I step further into the room. “What?”
He turns, and my breath catches at the look of anguish etched on his face. Like years of pain has come flooding to the surface.
“I’m ready to listen to what you have to say.” Uncertainty flicks over his features.
My heartrate kicks up in speed. Now that I can finally tell him why I left him, nerves are bouncing around inside me. “Are you sure?”
He nods and gestures to a black, leather sofa along the wall. I take a seat. Finn sits next to me, keeping space between us. Waiting expectantly. God, now that I have the chance, where do I start? If I’d known he wanted to talk tonight, I would’ve been better prepared.
Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I take a deep breath and rub my palms down my thighs. “Telling you I was marrying Derek was the worst day of my life.”
Finn tosses his head back and scoffs.
Frowning, I say, “I thought you said you were ready to listen?”
“Then don’t tell me crap like that.”
“It’s not crap. It’s the truth!” I jump up from the sofa and pace the floor in front of him. “Derek was blackmailing me.” There, I’ve finally said it. The words that have pressed me down so much I could barely breathe, release from me.
Finn’s eyes widen. “What do you mean he was blackmailing you?”
I stop pacing and sit back down, my legs too shaky to support my weight. “My father got himself in a lot of trouble.” The man I loved. The man I thought would always protect me like he did when I was a little girl and believed a monster lived under my bed. In the end, it was me protecting him. “He had a gambling addiction. Spent millions in Derek’s casinos. Got himself into debt he couldn’t pay off. When Derek approached me about it, I was shocked. I didn’t know he had a problem. How kind of Derek to tell me about my father’s addiction so I could get him help. I eventhankedhim.” I shake my head at the memory. “That made him laugh. He said he had a reason for telling me. That he didn’t give away information for nothing.” The further I got into the story, the more Finn’s jaw clenches. I’m not sure if he’s believing me and is pissed at Derek or angry at me because he thinks I’m lying to him. Either way, I continue. “That’s when he hit me with his ‘proposal’. To clear my father’s debts and stopping his addiction from hitting the media, he wanted to marry me. My father was his ticket into the world of politics, and he wanted to use me to get there.”
“If that’s what he wanted, why not blackmail your father to keep his addiction from the media? Why did he need to include you?” Finn’s tone is deep and harsh. I’m still not sure where his anger is pointing at—me or Derek. Maybe both.
