HARPER
A maid went to the door to open it, and we all turned our attention to it. My father paused, frowning, as if he had forgotten what he was saying.
Shiny Gucci loafers clicked on the marbled floor as they stepped inside the elegant living room. My eyes moved up the long, straight legs highlighted by the stranger's pants. The yellow gold Jaeger-LeCoultre on his wrist glistened as the light hit it, and slowly I looked up to meet his eyes. My breath hitched, and the room suddenly grew chilly.
Nico Faletri!
I shook my head, snapped my eyes shut, and opened them to be sure I was seeing Nico in our living room. He stood there, feeling so relaxed as if he was in his element.
What was he doing in here?
I frowned, staring at the broad smile on Nico's face at my father. I saw the recognition there, and my father hurried to welcome him in. Ever since I arrived in this house, I'd never seen Nico with my father. And I never thought they'd be that kind of friends. I know Nico was wealthy. According to what Clara told me. He was rich and held considerable influence. She had even said he could snap his fingers and destroy everything Fletcher and Wilson had.
Did he come here to do it? It could be a payback for what happened in his club. He must have come at a loss.
I swallowed, wincing as he acknowledged me with a tilt of his head. I quickly averted my gaze, pretending not to notice him. My eyes were fixed on the hydrangeas in the sculpted vase near the door. I turned around to walk away when I heard my father's voice.
"Meet my daughter," he said, beckoning to Camilla with a wave of his hand.
"Hi!" Camilla said in an irritatingly shrill voice. She swayed her hips as she walked towards him, as if she were in a beauty pageant, and she needed everyone's eyes to be on her.
I saw Nico's dark gaze fixated on her, and his lips twisted into what looked to be a smile.
"I'm Camilla Wilson. The heiress of the Wilson family and I will be getting married to Owen Fletcher." She introduced herself, her hand extended towards Nico.
Nico eagerly took it and brought it to his lips. "You're as beautiful as they say."
Camilla giggled. "Of course, I am the reigning Miss Empire City and two-time national titleholder." She flipped her hair, her lashes fluttering in Nico's direction.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. Such an attention-seeking bitch.
She turned to look at me and gave me a mocking smile, whereas I waited for my father to make an introduction, but nothing was said. So, I proceeded to my room until I heard Nico's voice.
"I'm curious about her. Isn't she your daughter as well, Harper Wilson?" He questioned.
I froze in my tracks, my heart beating fast. I gulped, wincing as my throat tightened. Would he tell my father about the night before? That I had gone to his casino and got knocked out? My father wouldn't even care to listen to my side of the story; he'd scold me for trying to get abused.
Although it was totally my fault, I shouldn't have been in there in the first place. My throat ran dry as I saw Nico bring out his tablet, and he swiped through it before looking at my father. Then his eyes travelled to mine. I gripped my dress with my clammy palms, and my legs shook. Was he going to show them a video?
God. He was truly the devil. The glint in his eyes made me feel worse than usual.
"Harper?" My father wrinkled his nose, his lips turning up in disgust as if my name had brought a bitter taste to his tongue. "You don't have to worry about that one. She's nothing."
Then he turned to me with a stern gaze. "Take your worthless self out of here this instant."
I nodded, walking away from them before my father would get pissed at something I didn't do.
Um, actually, I didn't leave. I stopped at the pillar near the spiral staircase, crouching low. I strained my ears trying to pick up what they were saying. I needed to be sure that Nico didn't come to report me to my father. Also, I want to be prepared for the punishment that'd accompany my father's anger if that were the case.
They discussed work-related matters and investments. I couldn't understand why my father would discuss business with someone like Nico. The way Clara had described him, he seemed to be a dangerous man. Also, while with Dominic, he had mentioned Nico being the devil, even though I had eye-fucked him the whole time, barely paying attention to his words.
"You have a habit of being nosy. Don't you, Harper?" Camilla stood in front of me, blocking my view. She bent, meeting my eyes. "Is that what your mother taught you?"
"Oh, I forgot." She murmured. "Your mother is a whore who doesn't care about the child she gave birth to. I'd say that old hag that you lived with."
I dragged in a deep breath, standing from where I was seated. One of my hands clenched the railing of the staircase. "I don't appreciate you talking about my grandmother in that way," I said, allowing a warning to seep into my voice.
Camilla scoffed. "What would you do, Harper? Hit me?" She goaded.
I refused to respond to her, walking to my door. It was fortunate that my room was on the first floor, whereas everyone else had their room upstairs. I opened my door, stepped in, and was about to shut it when Camilla stuck her leg between to leave it open.
"What do you want?" I questioned, slightly irritated. She had taken what I thought to be the most precious in my life. She wanted Owen from the onset. She had him now. Yet, she was still after my life.
"What could I possibly want from someone like you?" Camilla rolled her eyes, pushing her way into the room.
"Then leave me alone." I snapped. "You took everything from me already. You lied. Spun the story and made me look as if I did something—"
"Oh, please," Camilla cut me off. "You should be grateful I made you go viral."
I let out a disbelieving laugh. "Really? You made me go viral by telling lies about me. How cruel can you be?!"
And she was making it seem as if it was the right thing to do. "Whatever did I do wrong to you, Camilla? What do you want from me?!"
"What do I want?" Camilla tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. She looked at me with gleaming eyes, and then a slow, wicked smile appeared on her face as she leaned into me.