Page 29 of The Attraction

HARPER

This morning was just bizarre.

Forrest is looking at me differently, and I get that what I said last night will have caused a shift in him, but it doesn’t necessarily connect with this feeling he is giving off.

I even made an excuse that I had a breakfast meeting so I didn’t have to eat with him, and I was out of the apartment before he even got out of the shower after he worked out.

He will be pissed with me because I didn’t wait for him to walk me to my car, but I messaged the security team, and they were down there waiting for me.

But I must have sensed that today was going to be far from average because I have just received a message in our group chat with Felisha, Flynn, Sandon, Rem, and Forrest, that Ashton has arrived in London, and we are meeting here tonight in the boardroom to discuss what is going on.

Harper: I want to meet with him on my own initially before the group meeting.

Forrest: No!

Harper: Butt out!

Flynn: Forrest, stay out of it.

Forrest: Not a chance.

I’m ignoring him, otherwise he will just keep going.

Sandon: Sorry, Harper, but that is a waste of everyone’s time for him to have to repeat himself. Maybe after we are finished you can talk to him on your own if you still have questions.

Harper: Last I looked, this is my life we are talking about, so my decisions.

Forrest: A life we are all making sure is a long one. Do as you are asked.

Aghhh, I want to scream at him, but he’s across town, and the only ones who will hear me are my staff who already think I’m slightly bonkers.

Remington: Sorry, I agree with Sandon, and he is lead on this case, so I’m following his decisions.

I push Felisha’s name on my phone, and the moment she answers, I’m yelling at her. “What is it with these men! They don’t understand that I can handle this. I’ve done it once before, and I can do it again.”

“I understand, but you need to let them do their job. It’s what we pay them for, and to be honest, I don’t want to piss any of them off because I want them keeping you safe. Sorry, hun.” Felisha is trying to be diplomatic in telling me she agrees with them.

“You are supposed to be on my team,” I whine at her.

“I am team keep Harper alive until she is old, gray, and wrinkly, living in a nursing home and pinching every male nurse on the ass and propositioning them, so I can be there too watching and laughing at the show.” Felisha has me half smiling at the vision she mentioned.

“I’ll take the gray, but that’s a big fat no for the wrinkles. That’s what Botox is for, and we both know you won’t be letting those wrinkles appear on your face either.” We both have a little giggle which is what I needed.

“Harper,” she pleads for me to listen.

“Yeah.”

“I’m really sorry this is happening again, but please, just let the boys do their job. I can’t lose you.” Felisha is choking up a little on the phone, and by the sounds of it, fighting back some tears.

“You won’t. I’m strong,” is all I can say, with my own tears welling in my eyes.

“Good, and go easy on Forrest, will you. I kind of need to stick up for him now that he’s going to be family too.” My heart jumps at the way she has included that I am her family too.

“Where’s the fun in that? Annoying him brings me joy, and he deserves it most of the time. I’d better go, my boss is a snarky bitch, and she gets pissed off if I slack off on the job.” Both of us laugh because it couldn’t be any further from the truth. One, because she never criticizes me, and two, I work damn hard, and she knows that too.

“I have heard that about her. Go, and we’ll talk later. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I reply, and as I hang up, another text message appears on my screen.

---