Chapter 10
Harrison’s eyes had always been impossible to read: dark, still, the kind that made
people look away first. Up close, they were devastating.
Part of me wanted to tell him everything. But would he even believe me?
“Tell me.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Whatever it is, I’ll believe you. Then
I’ll fix it.”
I closed my eyes, took a breath, and let it all spill out.
Harrison’s frown deepened. “Comments. Floating in front of your eyes.” He took a
second to process that. “Are they here right now?”
I looked up, blinking through swollen eyes, and glanced around the room. “No. They disappeared the second we got in bed.” I sniffed. “Maybe things got too rated-R for
them.”
Harrison pushed my head gently into his chest. “Good. As long as they can’t watch this
part.”
“Now, baby. About you sneaking out to a club and trying to buy another man.
“That was your fault!” I tried to squirm away, but he held me in place effortlessly.
His voice dropped low. “What do you think I should do with you?”
“You shouldn’t be punishing me. This is all your—”
He shut me up the only way he knew how.
By morning, whatever happened behind those closed doors, stayed there. Harrison drove us both to Hayes Corp.
The comments were back, scrolling furiously.
[WHAT DID WE MISS?? we pay for this subscription and you’re fading to black on us?? SHOW US]
[i need to see the ML shirtless i am BEGGING the universe]
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[wait aren’t you the same person who hated the wife?? but honestly… tiny trophy wife x
buttoned-up older husband… it’s kind of fire actually]
In Harrison’s office, Audrey stood with her hands clasped, barely keeping herself together. “Mr. Hayes, you wanted to see me?”
“This won’t take long.” Harrison didn’t look up from his desk. “You’re fired. And settle
the bill for my suit before you leave.”
The color drained from Audrey’s face. “May I ask what I did wrong? Or is this about—”
Her eyes slid to me. I was perched on the office couch, legs crossed, watching the whole
thing play out.
“Is this because Mrs. Hayes got the wrong idea? Because I can assure you, there is absolutely nothing between us. She’s reading into things that aren’t there.”
I didn’t even have to open my mouth. Harrison beat me to it.
“You spilled coffee on me, and my wife walked in right on cue. You showed
up
her parents’ building to discuss work and just happened to fall into my arms.”
outside
“Those aren’t accidents, Ms. Miller. That’s a pattern. And it’s more than enough for me
to question your professionalism.”
He looked up, and the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. “And just so we’re clear, my marriage doesn’t have room for a third party.”
Audrey looked like he’d slapped her.
(my ship… is it sinking?? did they really get a bad ending??]
[honestly should they have ever been together?? the FL is literally just a homewrecker who showed up the second the ML got rich. that’s not a love story. it’s giving gold digger]
[where was this energy before?? funny how fast you switch up the second the plot changes]
[lol i just call it like i see it. thought y’all were here rooting for the mistress. glad to
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know some of you have standards. barely]
I blinked. The comments were actually turning. Maybe the so-called destiny between the male lead and female lead wasn’t as ironclad as I’d thought.
Harrison tapped his knuckles against the desk. “The suit. Don’t forget.”
Audrey forced a brittle smile. “Mr. Hayes, I don’t have that kind of money right now. Could you give me a few days? For old times’ sake. We go back to Belmont, after all.”
“A few days is fine. But the part where you pretend we were close? Drop it.”
Harrison’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “If by close, you mean the time you let the entire campus believe you were carrying my child, I honestly don’t know how you’re bringing
that up like it helps your case.”
[the ML is really making her pay?? it was just talk back then, right?? why doesn’t he just let it go]
[you break it, you buy it?? also can we stop acting like the ML owes her anything. he earned all of that himself]
[what kind of “independent woman” gets pregnant, drops out, and then chases a married man?? the FL stans were really out here calling her a queen. queens don’t wreck homes]
Audrey had nothing left to say. “Fine.” The word was forced out through gritted teeth.
Whatever composure she’d been clinging to shattered as she left. She practically ran.
I let out a long breath, watching the last of the comments flicker and fade as Audrey disappeared down the hall. That was it, right? It was over?
Harrison caught my eye and nodded. “It’s over.”
I grinned. “I’ve decided I’m going to turn over a new leaf. Starting today, I want to be your secretary.”
Harrison pretended to think it over. “What kind of secretary? Professional… or
personal?”
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I fixed him with my most serious look. “I’m here to keep an eye on you. That’s the entire job description.”
Harrison’s smile spread slowly, real and warm, the kind I fell in love with.
Some stories ended with the leads getting together. Ours ended with us refusing to let go.
-The End-
