Chapter 2
1575 Words
Dylan leaned back in his plush leather chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Why does she keep creeping into my thoughts?" He muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in frustration.
His mind had been plagued by images of the young woman who had been thrust into his world under rather unusual circumstances.
With a shake of his head, he attempted to refocus on the stack of contracts and financial reports in front of him. But every time he tried to concentrate, it was as if her presence lingered.
"Get a grip, Dylan," he chided himself, tapping his fingers impatiently on the polished desk.
"I can work, I can clean, I can arrange the books in your office, I will do anything. Her unexpected words, uttered with fear, seemed to echo in his mind.
Dylan's lips curled into a half-smile, as he looked up from his desk, only to be confronted by Harper's presence. She was standing right before him.
"How did you get here," he asked her with irritation in his voice.
Harper stood without knowing what to say, her gaze wavering.
"I was let in by one of your men" she finally replied.
"Poor people," Dylan exclaimed, looking back at his desk.
"You told me I'd be given the work to do today," Harper said.
"Very well, then. You can start by tidying up this office. Make yourself useful."
Dylan leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her.
Harper didn't know what to reach out to, the office was well cleaned and properly arranged.
"Where should I begin?"
Dylan gestured to the cluttered papers and scattered reports on his desk.
"Start with my desk. Make sure everything is organized to my liking."
Harper nodded and moved toward the desk, she began to arrange the papers, not knowing which to separate from each other. As she worked, she couldn't help but feel the weight of Dylan's gaze upon her, then he walked out.
Harper let out a sigh of relief, his presence had been imposing. Seating herself in one of the office chairs, she took out her phone and quickly dialed Evie's number.
"You won't believe what just happened," Harper began as soon as her friend picked up.
"What's going on? You sound upset." Evie's voice sounded from the other end.
"He's insufferably arrogant, Evie, and it's annoying. I don't know how I'm going to handle working for him."
"Firstly, what job were you given?"
"I'm in his office, working on tidying up his desk that he intentionally littered the papers with."
"His office? What happened? Are you now his secretary?"
"Why are you always ridiculous? You know I'm only qualified for a cleaning job here."
"But why are you cleaning his office?"
"I guess he wants to pour his riches on my face. He's spoiled."
"Keep your distance girl, I don't want to hear your head being chopped off."
Harper burst into laughter, raising her legs in the air.
"Hey, the way he looks at me, it's like he's trying to figure me out." Harper whispered.
"Now I can say you're crazy, maybe he's thinking of chopping off your head."
Both friends kept on laughing as they spoke.
Dylan strode back into his office, his eyes immediately falling on Harper, she was still laughing with her legs in the air.
"I see you're still here." Dylan said, clearing his throat.
Harper looked up, quickly staggering to her feet and hands reaching out to the papers on the table.
"Yes, Sir. I'm just finishing up here."
"Very well, then. It's time for you to leave."
Harper nodded and began to walk towards the door, Dylan followed closely behind her.
"From now on, you'll be cleaning the lower floors, where you won't be in the way of more important matters."
Dylan spoke again.
"You're done here."
Harper's heart sank at his dismissive tone, but she nodded obediently, not wanting to show her emotions.
"Understood, Sir. I'll do my best."
Dylan turned to one of his security personnel.
"Take her downstairs and show her where she'll be working."
Tears welled up in Harper's eyes as she descended the staircase, feeling the weight being worthless.
Back in his office, Dylan returned to his work, his expression unreadable. He couldn't deny that there was something about the lady, but he had no intention of letting her disrupt his carefully controlled world.
In his eyes, she was just another employee, and he was determined to maintain his sense of control and authority.
****
Dylan Knight had worked late into the night, poring over files and documents to clear his name of the scandal that had threatened to tarnish his reputation.
The office was silent, he had dismissed his bodyguards, wanting to be alone. It was well past 11 pm when he finally decided to call it a night and head home.
As he drove through the dimly lit streets of the city, his thoughts were consumed by the weight of his responsibilities.
He couldn't afford any more missteps, not with the relentless scrutiny of the public and the media.
As he turned a corner, his headlights showed a figure lying on the sidewalk, a girl alone in the darkness. It was Harper. He pulled over and stepped out of his car.
"Hey, are you alright?" Dylan called out.
"What are you doing out here at this time?"
Harper didn't respond coherently, her words slurred and barely audible. She seemed disoriented, lost in her own world of sadness.
"I'm just a misfortune, my whole life is messed up. Mama, please forgive me, I promised to be a good girl, but I'm so weary."
Dylan knelt down beside her.
"Can you hear me? Why did you get so drunk?"
Harper's unfocused gaze met his, and she mumbled something that was unintelligible.
"I clean for the rich, I'm a low life, I have a lot of debt to pay.
"Alright, I'm going to get you out of here. Can you stand?" Dylan asked, already frustrated.
Harper struggled to her feet with his assistance, her movements unsteady.
"Thank... thank you, she whispered. I just hope you aren't rich and arrogant."
Dylan gently led her to his car and helped her get in without responding.
"You're taking me in your car. Hope I won't clean for you too."
"You're going to just clean some more."
"I needed an escape." Harper cried out, struggling not to enter the car.
"You're so naughty." I guess I went too far trying to help you," Dylan murmured, pushing her into the car.
****
Harper's eyes shot open as the morning light streamed through unfamiliar curtains. Panic surged through her as she realized she was in a strange apartment.
"Bloody hell, where am I?"
She quickly looked down, her heart pounding, and discovered that she was wearing a man's oversized t-shirt. Fear and confusion washed over her.
"What have I gotten myself into again?"
"This doesn't look good. Where's my phone?"
Without a second thought, she bolted out of bed and dialed Evie's number.
"I'm in a big room, in a man's shirt, with a nice fragrance, my hair is messed up, and I'm off my mind," Harper said in a hurry. Immediately, Evie picked up the call.
"Hey, calm down girl, how do you always get in a mess?"
"I guess I had alcohol," Harper whispered.
"How could you take alcohol without somebody with you, girl? You know this."
"I was sad, I was overthinking."
"You're crazy," Evie shouted from the other end.
"How's my mother?"
"I'll check her, just get your clothes and shoes, don't bother to change, and run out now."
"Run out to where?"
"Outside girl, send me the address. I'll come pick you up."
"Okay."
Harper made a beeline for the door, her mind racing with questions. How had she ended up here? What happened last night?
But as she flung the door open, she froze in her tracks.
There, in the living room, seated on a sleek leather sofa, was Dylan Knight. Harper's heart sank, and she swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper.
"D-Dylan? What... What am I doing here?"
Dylan leaned back, his eyes lingering on her disheveled appearance.
"Good morning to you too, Miss. Or should I say, Harper?"
Harper felt a blush creep up her cheeks at being caught in his shirt, her vulnerability on full display.
"I... I don't understand. How did I end up here?"
Dylan's lips curled into a wry smile.
"You were in no condition to make it home last night. I brought you here. Maybe you should be more responsible."
Harper's mind raced as she tried to piece together the events of the previous evening.
"I... I must have had too much to drink."
"Clearly. I suggest you think before you get yourself messed up."
Harper felt a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
"Thank you for helping me, but I should go."
Dylan raised an eyebrow.
"In such a rush, Harper? Don't you want to know why I brought you here?"
Harper hesitated, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Oh, your shirt, I'll pull it off?"
Dylan leaned forward, his gaze penetrating.
"Because I have questions, and I think you have answers. It's time we had a conversation, Harper."
"Question, question, yes, question." Her words staggered.
"Will you marry me?" Dylan asked, his face straight forward.
Harper ran back into the room and then to the toilet. She was throwing up.
- Writer
