CHAPTER 4
1885 Words
HARPER BENNETT
"You think I’m here because of you? The world doesn’t revolve around you, Mason."
He traps me between the wall and his body, and for some reason, I can’t move away.
"You’re still a terrible liar, Harper."
He leans in, bringing his mouth close to my ear, and I close my eyes.
The dress nearly slips off completely, leaving me naked in front of him, but I clutch the fabric tightly against my body.
"Lexie may be crazy, but there’s something about you, and I’m going to find out. You might be able to win over my brother, but not me. I see what you’re doing."
"Don’t be ridiculous. I feel nothing for you but disgust..." I whisper, watching his pupils darken.
One of his hands grips my waist and the other slides up to my neck, making me shiver. He has an effect on me.
"Get away from me..."
He shakes his head, and my body begs for more. What’s happening to me?
"Just tell me what you want, Harper."
He grabs my hand, placing it on his chest and then lower.
I stop breathing, looking at him angrily.
"I hate you."
"Say it. I dare you to say it again."
We’re staring at each other so closely I can’t resist anymore.
Mason’s lips crash into mine, and they’re not gentle. It’s a rough kiss, but I don’t want him to stop.
He growls against my mouth, gripping my neck tightly.
This shouldn’t be happening.
I should be kissing Noah, not his i***t brother.
My hands let go, and I grab his shoulders, pressing him closer to me.
Mason’s hands pull the dress down, exposing my neck, and I bite my lip hard to keep from moaning when he kisses my bare skin.
"If I disgust you, why does your body react when I’m this close to you?"
I try to push him away, but Mason grabs my wrists and pins them above my head against the wall.
He licks my lips before doing the same to my ear.
I keep my eyes closed, hearing him whisper to me:
"See this, Harper? This is how you seduce someone the right way. You still have a lot to learn."
I open my eyes as I hear him laugh and pull away from me.
I glare at him.
"Stay away from me. I’m not like Noah."
"Or what?"
"Or maybe I won’t stop next time."
He walks to the door and then turns his head with a smirk.
"Stay out of the woods at night. It’s not safe for little girls like you."
My eyes widen, and before I can say anything, he’s gone.
Was it him in the woods?
Minutes later, the door opens again — this time it’s Noah.
"Sorry I took so long." He walks in carrying a dress in an elegant box. "This is for you. Haute couture, custom-made. I figured you’d want something new after what Lexie did."
I thank him with a nod.
He hands me the box and turns his back while I change.
The new dress fits perfectly, like it was molded to my body.
The fabric caresses my skin, hiding the tattoo and everything it represents.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, the night’s already been too long. I want to leave."
He nods, touching my hand.
As we walk together down the hallway, I feel the stares on me.
But I don’t look at anyone — until I see him.
Mason.
He’s leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed, expression neutral.
But his eyes devour me. A muscle jumps in his jaw when he sees Noah beside me.
I smile. Not at him, of course. At Noah.
And I gently take his arm, leaning in slightly, as if we’re whispering something intimate.
Noah smiles back, confident.
I see Mason grow angrier. He walks away quickly, chin high and eyes on Lexie, who was still watching from a distance.
"Mason..." she starts, but he grabs her arm, stopping her from touching him.
"Don’t ever do that again, you hear me? If you want attention, fine. But don’t use me. Don’t try to seduce me like I’m begging for it."
Noah insists on driving me home after everything that happened tonight.
He still feels guilty, but the blame was all Lexie’s.
When his car stops beside the mansion she thinks is mine, I sigh, grabbing my purse and looking at him.
"Well, the night was... strange, but I liked being with you. Thanks for the invite, Noah," I murmur with a smile.
He touches my face, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead before leaning in closer.
"I really like spending time with you, Harper. I’m attracted to you, and I hope all the drama with my brother and Lexie didn’t ruin anything between us."
I shake my head quickly.
And then he kisses me.
I freeze for a second, then remember my goal and kiss him back.
He moans against my lips, and I feel his hand slide down my legs, trying to slip under my dress, but I grab his hand, stopping the kiss.
"Noah, let’s take it slow, okay?"
"That’s fine, all in your time, Harper. I’d like for you to be mine."
"What do you mean?"
"My girl. My girlfriend."
The next morning, I put on the same faded gray coat and shove the new dress — the one Noah gave me — into a large, worn-out bag.
As much as it was a gift, I know I can’t afford to keep something so valuable in my closet.
And the truth is simple: my grandmother needs me. That shiny dress would pay part of the debt Lexie forced on me after she ruined the other rented one.
The secondhand store is discreet, but frequented by bored rich ladies looking for unique pieces.
I hand the dress to the clerk and receive the cash after a quick evaluation.
She calls it “too elegant for the place,” but I can only smile awkwardly. The amount isn’t everything I need, but it helps.
I tuck the envelope of money into the inner pocket of my coat and head to a pharmacy where they usually accept advance payments for my grandmother’s medication.
But as soon as I leave the store, two men in cheap suits with predatory eyes approach. My steps freeze.
“Do you think we’re idiots, Harper?” says the taller one, crossing his arms over his chest. “You walk into a*****e like that and say you’ve got no money?”
“I... sold a dress. It was secondhand. The money isn’t enough to pay everything, but...”
“No more excuses,” the other one cuts me off, grabbing my arm tightly. “You still owe us a fortune. We want it all now.”
“I took the loan for my grandma. I swear I’ll pay!” my voice trembles. “She’s sick...”
“Everyone’s got someone sick, sweetheart. And no one walks out of an expensive store empty-handed. We want to see that money now.”
My fingers tighten around the envelope in my pocket.
They know. There’s no point in arguing.
“No, please!”
One of them scans me with his eyes and, in a quick motion, snatches the envelope from my coat. I try to protest, but he’s already counting the bills.
“This doesn’t even cover half,” he growls. “Consider it a partial payment. But we’ll be back.”
I stand on the sidewalk after they leave, as if they’d taken more than just the money — they’d taken my hope.
I return home exhausted.
I find my grandmother sleeping peacefully, surrounded by private doctors and a new nurse.
For a second, I wonder if I’m in the wrong place. But one of them greets me by name, saying the treatments are going well.
Someone paid. I don’t know who, but I don’t have time to investigate.
My phone vibrates.
Noah.
I answer without thinking.
“Harper, I’m sorry about last night. Lexie crossed the line. The team’s having a party tonight. I want you to come with me.”
“Who’s going to be there?” I ask, hesitant.
“The whole team... and their girls. You’re my girl now, right?”
There’s a brief silence on the other end.
“Yes... I am.”
I look at my sleeping grandmother and answer:
“I’ll go.”
The party is packed.
Lots of music, soft lights, laughter, and smiling athletes with drinks in hand.
Noah introduces me to several teammates, all friendly, all looking at me like I’m a trophy.
I wear a new dress borrowed from my neighbor’s daughter.
Nothing fancy, but pretty and modest.
“Are you enjoying the party?” Noah asks, his hand on my leg as we sit near the bar.
“Yes.” I shout so he can hear me.
He smiles, kissing my hand, and then his lips reach my neck — and this time, I don’t stop him.
I kiss him, pulling him closer. Noah likes that.
He bites my lip, and then — as if the universe wanted to test me — Lexie appears in front of us.
She’s wearing a green dress expensive enough to cover all of my grandmother’s medical treatments.
She walks up smiling, like she didn’t just try to humiliate me in front of everyone last night.
“Harper... can I talk to you for a second?”
“No,” I reply, not hiding the disgust.
“I know I was awful. I swear I regret it. I don’t know why I did it, but maybe we could try being friends,” she says, and I almost laugh.
Noah squeezes my leg as if asking me to keep it together.
“You’re asking me to be your friend after stealing from me and humiliating me, Lexie?”
“I don’t expect you to forgive me, but maybe we can take it one step at a time. I don’t want to be your enemy.”
I roll my eyes, and then she steps closer.
“I brought this to make it up to you,” she says, offering a drink. “Let’s toast to peace?”
I stare at her for a few seconds, and everything in me screams don’t trust her.
But I take the drink. And when Lexie turns around, I quietly swap my cup with Noah’s. He doesn’t notice.
“To peace,” I say, smiling at him.
We drink at the same time.
I taste the strong alcohol, but that’s not what makes me stare at the drink.
Moments later, I blink, trying to focus my vision, and I get up quickly.
I try to walk to the bathroom, but with each step, I have to brace against the wall to keep from falling.
I close my eyes, feeling my senses and my body weakening.
No... no...
This can’t be happening.
“Are you okay, Harper? You look sick...” Lexie says, approaching.
“What... did you do?” I whisper, and she smiles wider.
“Don’t worry. I just needed you out of my way.”
I collapse to the floor and slowly close my eyes.
She drugged both drinks.
- Writer
