HARPER
Camilla. She circled me, clasping a lock of my hair, and began to twirl it in her hand. She leaned into me, her lips curling with disdain. "Interesting choice of outfit."
No hello. No apology for what she had done. Just that. I wasn't surprised, though.
I slapped her hand away, taking a step back.
She faced Owen. "Harper got drunk last night and fell into the pool. So, I jumped in and saved her. Did she tell you that? I can't watch my sister suffer even though she doesn't appreciate things I do for her."
I scoffed. Was she serious right now? How the hell was she taking credit for things she didn't do?
"You tried to kill me, Camilla. And I don't drink!" My voice rose in anger. Seeing her again after what she'd done last night, I couldn't help but be consumed with rage.
Camilla glared at me, teeth gritted. She started to speak, but Owen's harsh voice cut her off.
"I'm glad I made the right choice because how can you not appreciate your sister? She saved you, and you went on to have sex with my uncle's room. Then you have the nerve to say it was an emergency. How dare you lie to me?"
"You think I am the one lying to you and not your supposed 'right choice'? Wow, why am I even surprised by how shallow you've become?"
Before I knew what was happening, Camilla's hand shot out and seized a fistful of my hair. "I'm warning you, Harper. Stop calling me a liar!"
"But you are!" I snapped, wrenching her hand from my hair and shoving it aside. Camilla staggered back two steps and fell dramatically to the floor.
"How can you be so mean?" She wailed, tears streaking down her cheeks as she threw a glance at Owen. "She pushed me!"
Owen burst out, pointing to the door, "Out of my office!"
"Fine," I muttered, walking out. I couldn't stand being in that room with him and Camilla. The ache in my chest deepened, and tears gathered in my eyes. I hurried to the restroom before anyone could see them fall.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the privacy I desired. I met a blonde and a red-haired person there. Maria and Juliet. The biggest office gossip and two of Owen's biggest fan girls.
"She tried to ruin Mr Fletcher's engagement party by kissing his uncle!"
"No way!"
"My brother is a security guard, and he snuck me an invitation. I saw it happen."
"You're so lucky, Maria. How I wish to be you right now," the other girl sighed dreamily.
I ignored their eyes on me, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a hot mess on my head. Perhaps it was the reason the accusation of me sleeping with Dominic Fletcher got far worse. I turned on the faucet to use it, but a hand slapped it off.
"Excuse me," I murmured, glancing briefly at Maria.
"How could you be so irresponsible last night?" She spat.
I didn't respond. Instead, I reached for the faucet, but she snapped it shut again and shoved me.
"I'm talking to you bitch."
My back hit the wall, and I swallowed back lumps. To be honest, it wasn't the first time I'd faced bullying in the office. It had always been this way, especially from Owen's fangirls, who insisted I didn't deserve. I told Owen about the nasty messages they sent me every day, but he never once believed me.
"You thought you could snag a Fletcher by sleeping with them?" She snarled, approaching me menacingly.
I moistened my lips and muttered. "I did nothing to you, Maria. Leave me alone."
Maria snorted a laugh. "How can you pretend to be the victim?"
"Then, who am I?" If I wasn't the victim, who was I?
Maria's eyes slit with fury as she shoved at me again. I knocked her hands away and pushed her hard, sending her stumbling back. Her ankles twisted, and she nearly went down before her friend caught her.
"Why do I get punished when I did nothing wrong?!" I shouted in her face.
Maria looked at me in disbelief, sneering, "You…!"
Her words were cut off by a familiar voice, sharp and loud. "What did I tell you about showing your face around her?"
Clara.
I heaved a relieved sigh as she stepped in. She redid her hair into a high ponytail, and my eyes followed her movement as she bent. In between her legs was a baseball bat. My eyes went wide as she began to swing.
"Who are you to butt into our discussion!" Maria retorted.
"Oh, you know me. You skanky bitch." Clara sassed.
Maria backed away, her eyes wide with fear, and her voice shook. "Juliet, call security to take this crazy bitch out of here!"
"By all means, do so, my sweetheart," Clara beamed, and did a mock bow. "Let's see whose brother would be fired this instant when the Fletchers and Wilson's family know he stole tickets and tried to sell them!"
"You can't do that. You don't even have any evidence!" Maria snapped.
"You think so?" Clara grinned, pulling out her phone from her pocket. Then she clicked on it, and Maria's voice began to play in the room. "I have your videos too."
Maria's body shook with rage, and her hands clenched into fists. "Don't think you'll get away with this!"
"Bye," Clara enthused, pointing the bat at her mockingly.
Maria shrieked, running out of the restroom like a headless chicken. And I couldn't help myself. I burst into a peal of laughter, quickly forgetting the reasons I had come in here.
When my laughter subsided, I turned to Maria.
"Thank you."
Maria tutted, shaking her head in disapproval. "I really want to blame you for allowing them to walk over you like this. But then, I know it's not your fault."
"What would I have done without you?" I pouted and faked a sniffle.
"Nothing. Everyone needs a Clara in their life to teach those bitches a lesson," Clara boasted.
I'd agree with that. She was the opposite of me. She was vivacious and had a no-nonsense attitude. And not biased one bit. I believed it was why I loved her out of the sea of people here.
"Anyway, never mind anyone. I have what can cheer you up right here," she waved two cards in the air.
"What are those?" I inquired.
"Let's go gamble, baby!"
I snatched one of the tickets from her hand, my brows were knitted as I stared at it. "What the hell, Clara? An underground Casino. Really?"
"I know you'll say that," Clara rolled her eyes, taking the ticket back from me. "Loosen up, Miss Saint Harper. One night of sin won't kill you. Besides, we're doing nothing. We just watch."
I didn't trust Harper when it came to things like this. She had dragged me to a striptease club before and called it an art gallery. I hadn't prepared myself for the horror I saw that night, and I'd never forget about it.
"I'm not going, Clara. That's…risky." I murmured. I still had a scandal hanging over my head; I didn't want another one to appear.
"That's all the more reason you need to get out of that cage you're placed in!"
"Thanks, but no thanks, Clara. I need to return to the office." I said, stepping out of the restroom.
"You're such a spoilsport," she grumbled, walking away.
The rest of the day dragged on and didn't finish as quickly as I'd hoped it would. I returned to the stupid office to find piles of unfinished work on my table while Owen had left with his 'choice'. I finished a little later in the night and got home around 8 pm. Elizabeth was already waiting, furious.
"You whore. Where are you coming from?" Elizabeth snarled.
I ignored her. I was exhausted, and all I needed right now was sleep. She jumped in front of me, blocking my path and continuing to yell.
"Did you think you could leave the house to return anytime you desire?"
I tilted a brow. "I just got back from the office. Where else could I have possibly gone?"
"She's lying, mother. I saw her coming out of Dominic Fletcher's room in his jacket. You can see the evidence on her body!" Camilla chimed.
I shot her a dirty look but remained silent. No matter how I defend myself, Elizabeth would believe her daughter over me. I tried to walk past her, and she blocked the opening once more.
"How can you go to Dominic Fletcher's room after all that was said last night?!" Elizabeth growled.
"Perhaps if your husband and daughter didn't try to kill me, I wouldn't have a reason to sleep in his room," I answered, my voice cold. I pushed Elizabeth out of the way. She gasped, clasping her chest.
"How dare you?!" Camilla screamed. "Come back this instant to apologise to my mother!"
"Force the apology out of my mouth," I let out, slamming the door closed and locking it. I slid down the length, raking fingers through my hair. After a few minutes of hearing Camilla and Elizabeth ranting nonstop, I believe I've had enough.
Get out of that cage you're placed in.
Clara was right. I needed to get the hell out of this place, at least, for tonight. I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
"Do you still have the ticket to the casino? I want to go."