CHAPTER 16: DEEP DESIRES

CHAPTER 16: DEEP DESIRES
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and get out of the car. I am standing in front of the McBride company after Harry yelled at me for "running off" his mother and asked me to meet him in his office to talk and clarify the matter.

I'm nervous, I don't know what will happen inside, I would prefer not to know, but I have to do it. I start walking cautiously toward the entrance of the building. Upon entering, I see the girl from the other day at the reception.

"Good morning, Mrs. McBride," she says with a smile while looking at me, and I feel uncomfortable because I'm younger than her and she's already calling me "Mrs."

"Good morning," I pause as I don't know her name.

"Lucia," she says, smiling.

"Good morning, Lucia. By the way, you can call me Allison," I say, smiling back.

"Alright, Mrs. Allison," I roll my eyes and laugh after hearing her call me "Mrs." again.

"I'm here to see Harry," I say, and she nods.

"He's waiting for you in his office."

"Thank you, Lucia," I smile and walk towards the elevator.

Upon reaching Harry's office floor, I become even more nervous.

"Good morning, Mrs. McBride. Mr. McBride is waiting for you," she says and immediately opens the door.

"Thank you..." I forget the name of Harry's secretary, so I quickly enter.

Inside, I see Harry writing in a notebook, looking serious and emitting coldness.

"Sit down," he says almost as an order, not stopping his writing.

"Harry, I..."

"Sit down," he interrupts me with an authoritative voice, and I simply obey.

A few minutes pass, minutes that feel eternal to me, and Harry doesn't stop writing.

"Are we going to talk?" I question with a serious tone.

"Why did you fire her?" he asks, lifting his head to look at me.

"I didn't do that."

"My mother is a liar, is that what you're implying?"

"Of course not, Harry. It's just that..." Harry looks at me curiously, and I don't know where to begin.

"It's just that my mother doesn't like you. She just wanted to give you a surprise, something you didn't appreciate."

"Did you know about the 'surprise'?" I look at him confused.

"No, I didn't know anything," he looks at me and then stands up.

"And do you agree with her? Do you think I should leave the country for four or five years?"

"Go where? What are you talking about?" Harry takes something from the desk and walks towards me. "She bought us these tickets for a cruise, so we could spend the summer there."

"That's not what your mother told me," I look at him confused. "She wants to send me away, wants me away from you."

"You speak as if my mother were a witch. Why would she want you to leave? Or maybe it's you who wants to go."

"I don't..."

"Whatever, that doesn't give you the right to kick my mother out of MY house."

"Your house?" Well, maybe it's good that I leave as your mother wants.

"Maybe, if you're not happy here, if you're not happy with me and my family, if you're not going to respect my mother, maybe it would be for the best."

I look at him with tears in my eyes, trying to hold back the tears from rolling down my cheeks, so I turn around and quickly leave the office. For a moment, I think Harry is following me, but when I turn, he's not behind me. It's incredible how Harry can doubt me. It's not like we know each other that well, but still, he should know his mother, right?

I didn't dare to tell him everything his mother said to me. However, she told him lies. From the moment I met her, I knew she didn't like me at all, but I never thought she would do something like this, right when something had started between Harry and me, right when my chaotic emotions had settled, right when everything seemed to be going well—or so it seemed.

I leave the company quickly and get into my car. Luck looks at me confused, seeing my teary eyes. It seems like he wants to ask me something, but he decides against it.

"Luck, take me home."

"To Mr. Harry's apartment?"

"No, to my home, my parents' house." Luck nods and starts driving.

A few moments later, we arrive at my house. I immediately get out of the car and rush to Miranda's room.

"Miranda! Where are you?" I ask as I search for her.

"Just a moment, I'm in the bathroom. I'll be out soon."

I start crying and sit on my sister's bed. A few seconds later, I see my sister peering out of the bathroom door.

"What's wrong, little Ali?" she asks, walking hurriedly towards me.

"I don't know. I don't know what happened. What did I do wrong? Maybe I shouldn't have fallen for him."

"Who? What are you talking about, Ali?"

"Harry."

"Harry?"

After nearly an hour, I finish telling Miranda everything that happened with Amanda and Harry.

"She's a witch. You have to talk to him and tell him everything his mother said to you."

"I can't," I close my eyes tightly.

"Do you want her to get away with it and drive him away from you?" she raises an eyebrow.

"No," I shake my head, and she takes my hands.

"Then go and talk to him."

I nod and hug my sister. After a few minutes of being embraced, I say goodbye and leave to go to Harry's apartment.

The sun is setting, and the view from the car is somewhat nostalgic. I sigh heavily, and Luck looks at me through the rearview mirror. When we reach the apartment building, I feel an emptiness and a strange sensation. I'd rather not delay this any further and enter the apartment once and for all, to calmly think about what I'll say to Harry and how I'll say it.

As I open the apartment door, I find Harry sitting on one of the couches, staring into space, not even realizing I've entered.

"Harry?" I approach him, and he snaps out of his thoughts and looks at me.

"I came to find you..."

"I have to explain everything," I interrupt what he's saying.

"It's not necessary. Valentina told me everything."

"Valentina?" I question, looking around for her.

"Yes, basically, I forced her to tell me. It doesn't matter; what matters is that you forgive me. I shouldn't have judged you without hearing the whole story. I know my mother, and yet, I let myself be carried away."

I look at him curiously and walk towards him. I embrace him, entwining my arms around his neck. He holds me tightly in his arms and whispers an apology.

I pull away slightly, placing my hands on his face, and look deeply into his eyes.

"I like you," I say, and he smiles.

"I like you too," he smiles, and then he kisses me. Each kiss is better than the previous one, truly it is.

Harry stops kissing me and gives me a gentle push towards the couch. I sit down, and before I realize it, Harry is shirtless.

"Is it possible to have so many paintings there?" my inner pervert questions.

Harry lies down on top of me and looks into my eyes.

"I desire you," he says, and I tremble like a building in an earthquake.

"And I... I..." I stutter, and Harry kisses me again.

How the hell do I tell him that I'm inexperienced in this area?

"911, we have an emergency!"