Bad Timing
1369 Words
Alexander’s Pov
The moment I step out of my car, I know something is wrong.
Knight Manor is usually quiet. The staff are well-trained, disciplined, and never create unnecessary commotion. Today, several housekeepers are standing near the entrance pretending to arrange flowers while repeatedly glancing toward the front door. That never happens.
I hand my briefcase to my butler. “What happened?”
His expression tightens. “Miss Hale is here, sir.”
I stop walking. “Vanessa?”
“She arrived thirty minutes ago.”
“I never authorized anyone to let her in.”
“She insisted she still belonged here.”
“And no one thought to call me?”
“We tried, sir. Your phone was unreachable during the drive.”
A dull headache immediately settles behind my eyes. Of all the days for Vanessa to reappear, today couldn’t have been worse.
I push open the front doors. The first thing I see is Harper standing in the middle of the foyer beside her suitcases. She looks uncomfortable but composed, her shoulders straight despite clearly being caught off guard.
Standing opposite her is Vanessa, elegant as always, perfectly styled blonde hair, designer dress, a smile capable of fooling anyone who didn’t know her as well as I did. Unfortunately for her, I know exactly who she is.
“There you are,” Vanessa says brightly, walking toward me as though the last three years never happened. She reaches for my arm.
I step back. The smile on her face stiffens. “Alexander…”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came home.”
“You don’t have a home here.”
She laughs awkwardly. “You’re still upset.”
“You left.”
“I made a mistake.”
“You made several.”
“I’ve had time to think about everything. About us. I thought maybe—”
“There is no thinking to be done. Not by you, and certainly not by me.”
Silence stretches between us. Finally, Vanessa notices Harper again. Her gaze slowly travels from Harper’s face to her figure before stopping briefly at her stomach.
“So…” she says with forced amusement. “This is the surrogate.”
Harper doesn’t respond.
Vanessa circles her slowly. I hate the calculating look in her eyes. “I have to admit,” she continues, “I expected someone a little more…” She deliberately pauses. “…suitable.”
Harper raises an eyebrow. “For what?”
Vanessa smiles sweetly. “For Alexander.”
I see Harper’s jaw tighten. Vanessa continues before anyone can interrupt.
“I mean, surely a billionaire could afford someone younger… slimmer… more glamorous.”
“Vanessa,” I say sharply. “That’s enough.”
She waves a hand at me without looking away from Harper. “I’m only making conversation.”
“You’re being cruel.”
“I’m being honest. There’s a difference.”
“Not tonight there isn’t.”
The foyer becomes painfully quiet. Several members of the staff lower their heads. Harper could cry. She could walk away. Most people would. Instead, she smiles. It’s calm, almost friendly.
“I’m curious,” Harper says.
Vanessa blinks. “About what?”
“You seem very concerned about the woman carrying Alexander’s baby.”
Vanessa folds her arms. “Of course I am.”
Harper nods thoughtfully. “That’s interesting.”
“Why?”
“Because according to him…” She glances at me briefly before looking back at Vanessa. “…you’re his past.”
Vanessa’s smile disappears. “He told you that?”
“He didn’t have to. I can read a room.”
“You don’t know anything about us.”
“I know enough.”
Harper takes another step forward. “I’m not here because I’m beautiful.” She shrugs lightly. “I’m not here because I’m slim. I’m here because I was qualified.” She pauses just long enough for every word to sink in. “If that bothers you…” Another small smile. “…perhaps your problem isn’t with me.”
She looks Vanessa directly in the eyes. “It’s with the fact that he didn’t choose you.”
A housekeeper gasps. I almost do the same.
Vanessa’s face turns bright red. “How dare you.”
“I haven’t been disrespectful.”
“You just insulted me.”
“No.” Harper shakes her head. “I stated a fact.”
Vanessa spins toward me. “Alexander!”
“What?”
“Are you seriously going to let her speak to me like that?”
I meet Vanessa’s furious gaze without hesitation. “You started this conversation.”
“I was defending us.”
“There is no us.”
Her expression freezes. “What?”
“I ended our relationship three years ago.”
“You never gave me a second chance.”
“You never earned one.”
“I loved you, Alexander. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“You loved my company’s quarterly earnings enough to hand them to my competitor. Forgive me if I question your definition of the word.”
She laughs bitterly. “So this is revenge?”
“This is reality.”
Her eyes suddenly fill with tears. For a brief moment, another man might have felt guilty. I don’t. Not after remembering the confidential company files she sold. Not after remembering the headlines that nearly destroyed Knight Holdings. Not after remembering the engagement ring I threw into the river the day I learned the truth.
“You’ve replaced me with…” She looks toward Harper again. “…her?”
I answer without emotion. “There is nothing to replace.”
Vanessa stares at me for several long seconds. Then her attention returns to Harper. “This isn’t over.”
Harper remains perfectly calm. “I never thought it was.”
Vanessa grabs her handbag before storming toward the entrance. Halfway to the door, she stops. Without turning around, she says quietly, “You’ll regret this, Alexander.”
The front door slams behind her. Silence settles over the mansion. The staff immediately disappear, wisely pretending they had witnessed nothing.
I turn toward Harper. “Are you alright?”
She lets out a long breath. “I’ve been called worse.”
“I’m sorry.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.
She looks genuinely surprised. “Did you just apologize?”
“I believe I did.”
“I should write this date down.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. It might set a precedent.”
“Too late. It’s already circled on my mental calendar.”
Despite myself, I almost smile. Almost.
“I meant what I said,” I tell her. “You have nothing to worry about.”
She studies my face. “Who exactly was she?”
“My former fiancée.”
“Former?”
“Very former.”
“And she really belongs in the past?”
“She made that decision herself.”
“That’s not really an answer.”
“It’s the only one I have.”
Harper nods slowly. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
For the first time since we met, the conversation feels almost comfortable. Perhaps living together won’t be as difficult as I imagined.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Later that evening, after making sure Harper is settled into her room and confirming tomorrow’s medical schedule with Dr. Olivia, I finally retreat to my study. Claire calls less than an hour later. Her voice is unusually tense.
“Mr. Knight…”
“What happened?”
“I think you should look at social media.”
“I don’t have time for gossip.”
“This isn’t ordinary gossip.”
“Claire, it’s late. Tell me plainly.”
“It’s about Miss Bennett, sir. And it’s already spreading fast.”
She sends me a link. I open it. My blood immediately runs cold. A blurry photograph shows Harper stepping out of my car in front of Knight Manor earlier that afternoon. The headline beneath it is already being shared thousands of times.
UNKNOWN WOMAN CARRYING BILLIONAIRE ALEXANDER KNIGHT’S BABY.
- Writer
