Butterflies swarmed Harper’s stomach as soon as her eyes saw the line of limos and expensive cars waiting to drop off famous and important guests at Collette’s charity event. Chewing on her lips while tapping her fingers on the stirring wheel, she was suddenly regretting her decision to accompany Lucas. But before she got herself too worked up to suddenly decided to go back to her apartment and abandon her boss, a valet signaled her to pull up.
She pursed her lips. The valet attendant opened the door for her.
“Good evening, miss,” the attendant greeted and held out his hand for the keys.
Harper held her shoulders square and forced a smile to her lips. Nodding, she handed it to the man then stepped out of her car. She instantly felt her cheeks flushed at how sad her red Toyota Prius looked next to the silver Aston Martin.
Trying to shake her insecurities off, she gaped at the large manor that towered over everyone on the asphalt ground. Trimmed hedges and bushes trimmed into all sorts of animals surrounded the place. So far, it was the only thing that gave Harper some kind of delight while everything else was just intimidating to her.
She started walking down the stone path toward the grand manor, where the charity event seemed to have already started.
“Just smile, Harper,” she hissed out of the corner of her mouth, trying not to show how uneasy she felt. She stood stiff by the 20 feet tall ostentatious red paw centerpiece. Around the huge paw that was made of red rose petals were white bones made of white rose petals.
Looking around the massive entrance hall, Harper shook her head at the conspicuous display of wealth; the women in elegant dresses and fine pieces of jewelry and men in expensive tuxedos. And she couldn’t believe how these people seemed to know each other already.
“Care for some drink, Harper?”
She quickly turned around then smiled nervously at her boss. “Finally, a familiar face!”
Lucas softly laughed. “I thought you’d changed your mind.”
“Kendal’s going through some girlfriend drama again.” Harper tried to avoid noticing how good Lucas looked in a tuxedo, but when their sweet moment the other night flashed into her mind, her boss’ handsome face was suddenly all she could think about.
“With Claire? Or Ronnie?”
“Both, I guess.”
“Well, forget about them in the meantime. Have a drink,” Lucas offered again. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” Harper took the flute of champagne from his hand. “And thank you for the drink.”
When she was in college, she had never learned to love parties and had only attended twice. Had it not for Lucas’ request that eventually turned into a beg, she would be at home updating her resume and not at Collette’s charity event, smiling at strangers dressed in clothes that no doubt cost more than her months’ rent.
“It’s weird that most of the people seemed to know one another.”
Lucas's lips formed a smile, but he didn’t say anything.
“Do they.”
“Let’s just say knowing a lot of people and a lot of people knowing you is just pretty standard when you’re wealthy and powerful.”
Harper nodded thoughtfully. “You have a point there.” Then she saw a couple of women giving Lucas a double-take.
“So, you have ditched your glasses and decided to wear contact lenses?”
“Just for this event.”
Lucas stared at her for a moment, then said, “Have I already told you how gorgeous you look this evening?”
Immediately, her cheeks blushed. “Yes. But who’s counting?” She laughed, then carefully sipped at her wine. It had been a while since the last time she wore her black, one-shoulder bodycon dress and high heels.
Lucas let out a feeble laugh as he guided her to the main ballroom where a classical band was playing on stage. “Well, I’m glad you came, or I would have looked like an idiot all by myself in such an event. With you here around, the party wouldn’t be boring in the slightest.”
“Are you blind? Didn’t you see those women checking you out?” But with each step she took, Harper could also feel people’s eyes on her. So she consciously straightened her shoulders as tension was slowly building in her body.
“They were only looking at me because I’m Alex’s assistant. They know me since I pretty much do most of Alex’s job for him,” Lucas told her as they descended the stairs.
Harper rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.” Then she slowly shook her head. “I can’t believe they have a ballroom in their own house. My entire apartment building could actually fit in here.”
Alex and Collette’s parents bought this place when they were still kids. Alex used to spend most of his summers here when he was young. But no one lives here anymore. They only use this place for parties and events.”
As they made their way across the carpeted floor, with Lucas nodding and smiling at people as they passed, they noticed Alex being cornered by women who couldn’t seem to stop sending him some flirtatious smile. Lucas and Harper watched him return their smiles with a more polite one. They somehow both understood he couldn’t behave his usual self; this was Collette’s charity event.
Lucas had informed Harper that tonight's event was important and very close to Collette’s heart. Everyone who was someone was present, and when she turned around, Harper was starstruck with some A-list celebrities she saw congratulating Collette. She couldn’t believe how happy they all looked, even some of the people she knew from politics―all looking like they couldn’t wait to open their checkbooks.
Could they really be this excited to finance Collette’s cause in rehabilitating animals? Or were they just too eager to flaunt their wealth? Harper had thought about it. But she knew that none of those mattered to Collette. Every cash of tonight’s proceeds was going to her newly founded Heart for Rescue Foundation that aimed to provide animals a second chance. She wouldn’t care why they were helping her as long as they’re doing it.
“Where do you think he’s going?” Harper asked Lucas when she saw Alex loosening his bowtie and quickly exiting the ballroom.
Lucas followed her gaze. “Probably to get some air. Alex never liked this kind of gathering.”
Harper’s brow arched. “Really?”
“Lucas!”
She noticed Lucas took a deep breath before turning around.
“Is that Collette’s husband?” she asked, watching a man in an obviously more posh tuxedo approaching them.
“Yes.” Lucas suddenly grabbed a glass of martini from the server, who happened to pass by. “Kent, how are you?”
The man, Kent, smiled. “I’m good. How about you? You look overworked.”
Lucas huffed out a laugh and carefully studied the drink in his hand. “Well, you know me.”
Kent’s eyebrows went up. “I heard Alex’s flying to China next week?”
“Yes.”
“About that…can I talk to you for just a minute outside.” He gestured for Lucas to follow him. “I need a smoke too. Events make me feel uneasy sometimes.” His hands searched the pockets of his tuxedo. “Wait, I think I forgot my cigarette case.” He then looked over at Harper.
“She’s my assistant,” Lucas said as soon as he saw the question in Kent’s eyes.
Kent’s face lit up at Harper. “Could you grab my cigarette for me, darling? I think I left it in the master bedroom.”
“Is it okay with you?” Lucas asked Harper.
She nodded. “Sure.”
“It’s the room on the third floor, last door on the left,” he added.
Quickly, Harper climbed the giant staircase across the room, walked up to another flight of stairs on the left, and then another one before she arrived on the third floor, then she turned right. She quickly looked for the master bedroom and soon came face to face with an ornate white door. She turned the knob and opened the door.
After she had stepped inside and closed the door, Harper stole a glance around the huge room in awe; luxury instantly came to mind. From the cream tapestries, pure white carpet floor to the posh chandelier, and golden four-poster bed, the room showed nothing short of lavish and posh living.
After a moment of admiration, Harper soon went on to look for Kent’s cigarette case. She searched every unlocked drawer, shirt pocket, pants in the closet, the bathroom, and just about where she thought Kent would have left the case.
But nothing.
“Where the hell could it be?” she asked herself loudly when she couldn’t find the case after a few more searches.
Shaking her head, Harper gave up. Kent wasn’t her boss, so she didn’t really care that she couldn’t find his stupid cigarette. She walked toward the door when she caught sight of the framed picture on the bedside table.
Alex.
Her heart sank. No wonder she couldn’t find Kent’s cigarette case. She was inside Alex’s room! How did she not notice the picture when she came in was beyond her.
“What the hell, Harper?” she cursed at herself and hurried to the door. When she reached for the knob, her eyes widened, and she almost peed her underwear when it slowly turned. Then she heard Alex’s familiar voice at the other side of the door.
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Harper hissed over and over again as she sprinted across the room. Panic ensued, and she spotted the double-door closet. She freaked out and opened it, then dove inside and quickly pulled the door closed.
In one split second, the front door opened.
“Is this your room?” Harper heard a woman asked.
“Impressed?” Alex asked. She would recognize his voice anywhere.