Healing Together

Chapter - 5

Kate

(Harper POV)

He informed me after dinner that he was heading to his office to do some work and leaving me alone with his phone. I hurriedly dialed her phone, eager to hear her voice again after all this time. I'm glad I can remember her phone number.

She is not picking up the phone even though it is ringing. After being gone for one and a half months, I'm not sure if she wants me back in her life, so I'm not sure what to expect from that. Nobody wants me, not even my dad, so I can't blame her if she decides she doesn't want me back in her life. I wonder if my father was looking for me or if he is pleased that his family has completely forgotten about me.

I hesitantly tried her phone again, fearing that if she didn't answer, I might never see her again. I must start my life over again without anyone in my life. She picks up just as I'm about to hang up.

I was welcomed with "Hello" by her voice, and I could tell she was exhausted; maybe I should have called her later.

After responding "Hello," I feared it because I couldn't hear a single voice on the other end. I quickly check the phone to see if she's still on the line, but she was.

"Are you there?" I questioned with a scowl. What if she doesn't want to talk with me at all?

"Harper...is that you?" she whispered, making me tear up after hearing her concerned voice for me.

"Yes, it's me, your friend Harper" there was a pin-drop silence for a few seconds before she started asking questions in one go.

"Harper, how are you? Where were you? Did something happen to you and from whose phone you are calling? I was worried about you". My heart was warm up by her last sentence. No one said they were worried about me except her. I can rely on her anytime. I was wrong thinking that she didn't want anything to do with me.

"Just relax, I'll answer your questions."

"Then answer" I sighed and started explaining whatever happened to me from the time I got kidnapped and completed how Xavier lend me his phone to talk to her. I was pleased that she kept quiet the entire time and didn't interrupt me when I was talking.

"Harper, you alright?" I want to tell her that I'm not alright, but I don't want to add to her worry.

"Yes, I am; after all, why wouldn't I be?"

"Don't lie to me Harper, I know you are not. Just give me the address and I will be there to pick you up." I shook my head as I recalled something.

"I have no idea where I am at all. And Xavier said I could leave when I'm physically recovered," I mumbled the final phrase.

"How long will it take?"

"I'm not sure," I sighed in response.

"Does he treat you right?"

"Yes, he is". She sighs in relief as she hears me. I wanted to ask her something but I didn't know how I would feel when I would hear her response.

"Do you know what my father is up to?" Before responding, she remained silent for a moment.

"Yes, I know, I went to his house regarding you being missing for almost a week." my heart started beating faster than normal.

"Then?" she heaved a sigh.

"I don't want you being upset." I realized it was a bad idea to ask her about my dad by her tone.

"Please"

"Fine, I told him you went missing but he didn't give any f**k about it and his wife kicked me out of the house. The next day, when I went to his house with the police, his house was locked and when we asked his neighbors about it, they told us that they were all left for a vacation." My heart clenched when I heard it. I remained mute since I was at a loss for words.

"I am sorry, Harper", I wiped my tears which decided to fall.

"It's not your fault, you know, I expected this." we fell into a complete silence.

"There is someone at my door. I will call you later. OK"

"Ok" I replied before hanging up the call.

I took a deep breath and glanced down at his phone. I don't have anyone to talk to, so it will be nice to give it back to him. I'm not sure if he will mind if I interrupt him when he's working, but there's the possibility he could get an important call on this phone. With my mindset, I decided to return it.

I chose to ask the maid who was doing the dishes in the kitchen for the directions to his office. I clear my throat to grab her attention. She turned around with a smile. She doesn't appear to be older than 30.

"Can I help you?"

"Actually, can I know where Xavier's office is?" she smiled at me and directed me to his office.

After saying thank you to her, I moved towards his office. It was on the second floor, and as I approached the door of his office, I started to feel nervous. I firmly knocked on his office door.

I heard "Come in" before I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The office was bigger than my actual bedroom in my dad's house. He was working on his laptop while sitting behind the desk. When I walked into the office, he didn't even glance up.

"Didn't I tell you not to disturb me" I flinched at his voice.

"So...sorry" I apologized for disturbing him. When he heard my voice, he looked up and his eyes softened. He shook his head.

"Don't apologies, I thought you were the maid; I just didn't expect you to be here." I nodded and walked up to his desk, where I gave him his phone.

"Thank you for letting me use it." He nodded and kept his phone on his desk. I was going to walk away when he called my name,

"Do you need something?" he shook his head and handed me a box.

"What is it?"

I was startled when he said, "I thought you needed a phone." Not even my father had ever given me a phone in my entire life. I once used the money from my part-time work at the bakery to buy myself a phone, but my stepmother took it from me after a week and gave it to her daughter. I shook my thought and look at him.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"So that you may get in touch with your friend anytime you want and I have already stored my number if you need it.” I was touched by his thoughtful gesture.

"Thank you" he nodded, and then got to work. When he realizes I didn't budge from my position, he raises an eyebrow and glances up.

"Do you need anything?" I'm hesitant to question him because I feel awkward.

"Huh...All I wanted to know was, where am I?" He gave me a cold, expressionless gaze before speaking.

"Why?" His deadly voice caused me to wince.

"My friend Kate said she would pick me up whenever I am ready to leave." His eyes go gloomy as he heard me reply.

"You don't need to worry about anything; if you are ready to leave, I will personally drop you so that I can be sure you got there securely."

"But...you don't have to do that." He shook his head.

"I insist" I sighed and gave up; I think I don't have a choice here.

"Fine" he smiles and my heart melts after seeing his beautiful smile. I walked out of the office and into my room. My temporary room has a large window from which I can see the garden, and it is beautiful. It includes a gazebo in the center of the garden, and it is surrounded by many kinds of flowering saplings, providing an appealing view. I decided to go to the garden. I hurriedly descended the stairs and went through the backdoor to the garden. I took a deep breath and inhaled the fresh air, which made me smile a little.

I sat on the freshly mowed grass and looked at my surroundings. To my right was a huge tree, and I wished it had a swing attached. I sighed and relaxed while taking in the beautiful view. I wondered what my dad was thinking at the moment. Whether he was thinking about me? No, he never thinks about me because he has his own family. I was so deep in thought that I failed to see the person sitting next to me.

"I think you are enjoying the view" I froze in disbelief as I heard Xavier's husky voice say.

“Y...Yes" Why should I have to stutter in front of him? He chuckled before speaking. "What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing"

"It seems like nothing to me, now tell me and don't lie." I couldn't just tell him about my family problem right. So, I told him what I was thinking when I saw that big tree.

"I wonder what it looks like when there was a swing over there" I pointed over the huge tree. He looked at me before standing.

"Come on" I tilted my head in confusion.

"Where are we going?"

"I want to show you something." I went wherever he was leading me by following him. Hopefully it will be worthwhile.