Bound By Hate

Doubting Harrington

Melanie’s POV

I woke up the next day disoriented. My memories from the last few hours were fuzzy. For a moment, I didn’t realize where I was. The rain had settled down, but the weather was still gloomy. The bed was comfortable, I wanted to go back to sleep.

Suddenly it hit again by the struck of faint lightning.

Philip Harrington.

The marriage contract.

The gunshots.

My dad’s book.

The necklace.

I sat up immediately.

It was my mum’s favorite item. How did it get into the hands of Philip Harrington?

He told me that she trusted him and gave it to him, but how could I be sure he was telling the truth? Then it occurred to me that if he was then he had real history with my mum.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door was opened carefully and a young woman came inside carrying some folded clothes.

“Good morning, Miss Smith.”

“Typically you wait for the person in the room to tell you to come in. Anyways, how did you even get in?”

“Sorry about that ma’am. The doors here lock from outside and inside depending on security settings.”

“I’m not even surprised at this point.”

The lady placed the clothes neatly on my bed.

“Mr Harrington specifically requested these for you.”

“Okay?” I took a peek at the clothing. Designer, probably cost an insane amount too.

“I’m not wearing anything from him.”

She smiled politely at me like she had heard that before but was unbothered.

“Then I’ll inform him you’d prefer to stay in your silk pajamas all day.”

Smart mouth.

“What’s your name lady?”

“Lydia.”

“Well, Lydia tell your boss that I don’t take orders. Not from you, not from him and not from anyone.”

“I will try.” She said carefully “But Mr Harrington rarely listens.”

She left. I sighed heavily and dropped back into my bed for a moment.

This is insane,what had my life become in just how many hours? Twenty four hours ago, I had been living a kind of regular life. Now I’m trapped inside a billionaire’s mansion because people want me dead.

A quiet vibration came from the nightstand. It was my phone. One new message.

Breakfast 8:30.

Don’t be late.

— Philip

He must really be on one. I responded to the text,

“No “please”

No good morning at least

Just instructions, how old school could you be?”

Three dots appeared immediately. 8:30.

This man was actually unbelievable.

“How do they deal with him?” I asked myself. At

8:47, I arrived, came late intentionally to see what he would really do. I saw him, he checked the time and said nothing.

He sat at the far end of the table reading something on his tablet. Even while seated, he carried himself with confidence. He wore a dark shirt, with a watch on his wrist.

“You’re late,” Philip said calmly without looking up.

“Oh really, I didn’t notice.” My sarcasm annoyed him. A plate had already been prepared for me. Fresh fruit. Coffee. Pancakes.

I remained standing.

“Why am I here?”He turned his attention to me.

“You mean to eat breakfast?”

“No! You know what I mean.”

“You’re safer here.”

“You keep saying that, but I need more than just that.”

“Explaining everything may put you in more danger. Besides, you would not believe anything I say.”

“So you’ve decided for me once again.”

“I have to because you aren’t being rational about this.”

There it was again. Control.

“You really enjoy walking over everything, don’t you?”

Then he finally set his tablet down slowly.

“When I was nineteen, someone tried to kidnap

me outside my school. They failed because my security team reacted quickly enough.” He leaned back in his chair.

“But the driver died protecting me. I learned very early that hesitation gets people killed.” The energy in the room had changed completely.

I frowned.

“Why are you telling me all of this?”

“Because you mistake caution for cruelty.”

“And you mistake control for protection.” I argued back. I guess we both had our flaws.

“You think I want this arrangement.” That was the first time I saw pure emotion in him aside from the irritation he always displayed. Then he looked away. Interesting.

Before I could say anything, I heard footsteps approaching.

It was Miles, the lawyer. He walked in carrying several files under one arm.

“Morning to the Harrington manor,” he said with his usual humor casually before acknowledging my presence.

“Oh the future Mrs Harrington looks scary this early. Did someone sleep on the wrong side of the bed?”

“You.”

Miles smiled slightly.

“I’m the lawyer from yesterday. Nice to meet you properly.”

“Can’t say the same, Mr attorney.

”Unlike Philip, Miles seemed more friendly. Less intimidating.

Philip didn’t obviously like the interruption “So, why are you here miles, is there a problem?”

“You ignored six of my calls dude.”

“I was pretty occupied.” He said while looking at me. “With breakfast?” Miles laughed. I almost smiled. He placed the files on the table before going through them carefully.

“So, should I come back later before somebody throws a knife?”

“Leave,” Philip instructed him.

Miles ignored him completely. Instead, he turned his gaze to me.

“For what it’s worth,he’s not forcing you to be here because he enjoys it.”

Philip’s jaw tightened “Stop talking.”

“What?” Miles shrugged.

“You’re doing your usual billionaire act thing again.” I was confused.

“Usual?”

Miles noticed my reaction and sighed dramatically.

“You know he barely sleeps, right?”

“Miles, that’s enough.” Philip said sternly.

“And he’s been driving everyone insane for weeks overworking to keep himself under control”

“Get out. Now!”

I looked between them now because Philip looked less composed now. He didn’t seem angry though. Miles must have been giving out a bit too much information. This intrigued me.

Then he raised both his hands.“Fine, fine. I’m leaving.” But before leaving the room, he stopped beside me, he murmured,“Just, don’t assume you know the full story yet.” Then he left without another word.

I turned back to Philip. He was back to his cold self.

“You know, you should really consider firing him.”

“He says that himself.”

We both chuckled. The first time we both laughed together about something, it felt good but I knew it was wrong also. I wasn’t supposed to crack jokes with him because it made it harder to hate him.

It was scary that I started to see him differently, more positively. But I immediately squashed that thought. It shouldn’t be happening because it was against everything I grew up believing.

Or have I been angry at the wrong person?