HARPER
My heart nearly burst out of my ribcage as I stared at the door. I looked at Dominic. He was watching me.
He didn't seem to care about Owen's arrival. Perhaps I shouldn't be too concerned. He had broken my heart. Took my sister and decided to marry her instead of me after seven years. If you ask me, this should be the time to let him know that I could do without him and had moved on.
But…no! I couldn't.
The last time he had thought so wrongly about me. Now, I couldn't bear to see the look of disgust in those eyes; he often stared at me with love. And what if he told Camilla, who'd in return tell father, while twisting it to her satisfaction?
"What do I do? I can't let him see me here!" I blurted.
"Hide then, although I don't think it's necessary." He answered.
I glowered at him. This was necessary!
The door went ajar as Owen twisted the handle with force. And I scrambled for the first hiding spot I saw—the curtain behind the bathtub.
My back pressed against the glass of the window, and I felt the warmth from the sunray through my bathrobe. The sunlight outlined everything in its path.
I could see my own silhouette, and the curtain's thin, translucent fabric wasn't doing me any favors. Hiding behind a see-through curtain from an ex who lived to humiliate me? Such a terrible idea.
Still, it was better than nothing.
"What do you want?" I heard Dominic grunt.
Owen said through gritted teeth. "You know what I am here for. Now hand it over."
My stomach turned at his voice. He was overly rude. Each time I heard him speak to Dominic, he had never shown him respect. Of course, I knew he was a useless uncle. The wasteful one. The one who couldn't do anything other than rely on his daddy's money and still come out useless, unlike the other brothers. Lazy. He was the one Fletcher the family tried to keep out of the media because he was prone to scandal.
However, what I still couldn't understand was why Owen would talk down to him each time. Was it because of the kiss? No. He had always been this rude before then.
"Now did your father make you do this?" Dominic questioned. I imagined staring at Owen with an amused smile on his face.
"This has nothing to do with my father!" Owen snapped.
I groaned as his voice pierced my ears. My head began to thump, and I held onto the curtain tighter. I don't feel good. I should certainly not be standing, as dizziness was starting to wash over me.
"Well then, I have no business with you, nephew," Dominic said in a calm voice.
"I knew it would come to this. You wouldn't give in easily. Of course, I came prepared. I'd be damned if I leave here without the key."
"Do as you wish, nephew," Dominic answered.
The sound of shoes clicking on the marble floor was audible, and I breathed a relieved sigh, sagging down the length of the window and mistakenly holding onto the curtain too tightly.
My eyes widened as the bracket above me groaned. A single hook snapped. Then two, three—shit!
The curtain's weight collapsed over my head. I gasped and tumbled forward, completely forgetting I was meant to be in hiding. The footsteps near the door stopped.
"You have a whore in here. Why the hell am I surprised?" Owen said with disgust.
My cover was blown. Great, Harper.
"You promised to keep the family name out of the media's mouth and not do anything to embarrass them. But you're doing the opposite. First Harper, and now a whore!"
"I'll throw her out of this place this instant."
My breath locked as footsteps came closer. Through the thin curtain fabric, I saw the outline of someone leaning forward, their hand reaching for my head. My eyes snapped shut, and my heart began to drum while my stomach twisted from the strong scent of Owen's cologne.
What would he say?
You're a whore. You're sleeping with my uncle!
More evidence against me, even though none of it was true.
The hand pressed against the curtain, about to lift it, when I heard Dominic's cold voice.
"Back off."
"Why should I?" Owen asked arrogantly. "This is my father's apartment. He never said you could bring in whores, and as his sole heir, I have every right to toss out unwanted trash from his property."
"I said Back off, Owen Paul Fletcher." Dominic's voice was tight, and I pictured him glaring.
This was the first time someone said Owen's name with that much authority. And the first time Owen actually listened.
He straightened and took two steps back. "Fine. Do whatever with your whore. I'm still going to find that key."
Okay, go, then! I wanted to scream. I didn't understand the stupid key he kept yapping about. I just wanted him to leave. Finally, he did.
In a panic, I tried to yank off the fabric wrapped around my body. But it was tangled. The more I struggled, the worse it became.
"Let me help you, kitten."
Kitten?!
I stopped fighting, and Dominic lifted the curtain effortlessly. He dropped it on the floor, crouching low in front of me. I swallowed, my eyes latching onto his.
How could blue eyes be this mesmerising? My fingers itched on the cold marble floor to caress the day-old stubble on his cheeks, but I clenched them into fists. He was so handsome up close, and his cologne was making me feel giddy again.
"Are you alright?" he asked. His voice was gentle, igniting a low-burning heat in my belly.
"I… I—" I stuttered, heat creeping into my cheeks.
"Uncle Dominic!"
Owen's voice snapped me out of my daze, and I jumped to my feet, rushing toward the coat rack. I grabbed a jacket and threw it over the bathrobe.
"I'm sorry, but I'll have to borrow this. I'll return the last one I took. Both will be washed and ironed. Thank you for saving me—twice—even if you have no reason to, and I'm sorry for the kiss. It's my fault Owen's being disrespectful to you. And… bye!" I rambled, squeaking out the last part.
Dominic only watched me with raised brows, saying nothing as I sprinted to the door and fumbled with the lock.
I looked over my shoulder, opening the door slightly. "Safest way out without being seen?"
"Kitchen door," he replied.
"Thank you!"
I bolted out of the bathroom, heading where I assumed the kitchen would be. Then I opened and nearly bumped into someone. I staggered, startled, and blinked at the person I had almost collided with.
My jaw slackened. The word came out strangled. "Camilla?!"