Chapter 58
HARPER
Oh boy.
My mind has been wandering back to Alex and every delectable thing he did to my body last night. I keep remembering how it felt to wake wrapped in his arms and how tender my body still feels after what we…
“You seem distracted,” Andie says, dragging me back to the present and to the class I should be concentrating on.
“Sorry,” I say, my cheeks heating.
“Is that a man who’s put that flush in your cheeks?” she whispers, spinning to face me, her eyes wide.
“I… what makes you say that?”
“Girl, you have a well-loved look on your face. Who is he? How long have you known him? Spill to this single mother. I need to get my kicks from somewhere.”
“Erm… a couple of months,” I admit, knowing I shouldn’t be saying anything, but needing someone to talk to.
It’s been three weeks since Alex returned from Paris, and our relationship is intense.
We’re trying to keep away from one another during the week, not to blur the lines between work and pleasure, because the pleasure is fierce.
My desire is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, but it’s also so much more.
I feel connected to him, not in the way I am to my family, but as someone who truly sees me, even though everything he knows about me is a lie. How can that be?
“And?”
I look up to find Andie waiting. “It’s been amazing,” I say, unable to contain my grin.
“What the hell are you doing here then? Why aren’t you with him?”
I sit back. “I, we…”
It’s hard to explain how I work with him every day, how I need space to reset.
She laughs. “It’s okay, I’m teasing. It’s good to have your own space and hobbies.
” Her face grows serious. “That’s where my relationship broke down.
I let him dictate everything I did, who I spoke to.
I didn’t realise what he was doing until it was too late, and I was stuck at home alone, raising two children. ”
I lean over and squeeze her forearm. “Hey, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I was young and foolish. He was older, a somebody, while I was a nobody. He was great at keeping secrets… it was a lack of trust that finally had me walking away.”
The word trust burns in my chest.
What would Alex think if he knew the truth about me?
“Hey, that was me, not you.”
I give her a weak smile. “It’s still early days and…”
“You’re just enjoying the sex,” she says, laughing.
I feel my cheeks heat.
“Enjoy yourself. You’re only young once.”
“You’re right,” I say.
At that moment, Debra enters, and we all look up.
“Evening, everyone. I have a surprise for you tonight.” She turns towards the door, an enormous smile on her face. “Let me introduce Elise Brown, creative director at St Clair. One of New York’s most exclusive exports.”
A rush of adrenaline shoots through my system, my breath becoming quick and shallow.
My eyes dart around the room looking for an escape, but there is none.
Fuck!
I drop my head and stare at the table, flinching as Elise speaks.
“Evening, everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’ll be taking you through what it’s like to work for a fashion house like St Clair and career path options.”
“Oh. My. God. St Clair,” Andie squeals next to me. “Her designs are legendary. Not to mention the CEO. He’s hot.”
Double fuck!
I have Andie fangirling not only over Elise but also over Alex. Ground, swallow me up. Not that I can blame her, Alex is hot, and Elise is a truly amazing designer.
“I agree,” I all but croak out, earning myself a frown.
She grips my leg, her excitement palpable.
“They’re coming over,” she hisses between her teeth, her smile wide and welcoming.
I glance up as Debra approaches with Elise in tow.
“This is Andie and Brooke. Brooke is the student I was telling you about.”
“It’s lovely to meet you both,” Elise says.
I smile awkwardly. One she returns, but the look in her eyes lets me know she has questions but is not going to out me.
“Brooke, can I show Elise some of your designs?”
Heat spreads up my neck and into my cheeks, and I resist the urge to cover them with my hands.
“Of course.”
Debra picks up my sketchbook and hands it to Elise.
She flicks through it before looking up and meeting my gaze.
“Brooke, these are really good,” she says before returning her attention to my sketchbook. “Have you thought about your fabric selection, stitching detail, trim?”
Debra laughs as a trail of sweat trickles down my back. Elise holds my gaze. She has questions and will no doubt want answers.
“Elise, I love your enthusiasm,” Debra says, with an awkward giggle. “Give the young woman a chance. We haven’t reached that part in the course yet. Although you can see why I wanted to introduce you.”
“I look forward to seeing how you progress,” Elise says with a smile before handing back my sketchbook.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Brooke, wow, that was the Elise Brown… you should be jumping around in your seat. She loved your designs,” Andie says when Elise and Debra finally move away. “Maybe Elise will offer you an internship at St Clair if she likes your work that much.”
“I’m sure she was just being polite,” I say awkwardly.
Andie scoffs but turns her attention back to her own designs.
No one here knows where I work. They simply know me as the PA. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, which working for one of the major fashion houses whilst studying fashion design was bound to do. Not that I can give them any insight into their creative process, as that’s top secret.
I’m on edge until we’re dismissed.
Elise stays talking to some of the other students as I make my escape.
Mitch is waiting for me in the car.
“How was tonight’s class?”
“It was fine.”
Mitch looks over and raises an eyebrow.
“Fine?”
“I think my cover’s been blown,” I say, making him swerve towards the kerb and slam on the brakes.
“Sorry, not that cover,” I say quickly.
“Shit, H, don’t do that. My brain went instantly to extraction protocol.”
“I have an extraction protocol?”
“What did you think would happen if they found you or your cover was blown?”
“You’d rush in? I wasn’t entirely sure.”
He chuckles.
“We would have,” he says. “But it would have been a little more structured.”
“It’s good to know there’s a plan. It was the only thing I could think about when I first arrived,” I say.
“I’m sorry. It must have been hard.”
But life’s different now, more settled. Brooke is starting to make a life for herself. Having them both in my corner is helping, although I know they’re not thrilled about my relationship with Alex.
“A little. I imagined myself running around in a panic, throwing clothes into a suitcase, calling Kris or my family.”
“Should something happen, there won’t be time for that. You’ll be extracted from wherever you are and moved to a safe house. The rest will come later.”
My heart rate speeds up. I suppose, over time, I’ve pushed the threat to my life and freedom to the back of my mind. I’ve simply been living day to day.
As if sensing my change in mood, Mitch looks across.
“Don’t worry. It’s why we’re here.”
“I appreciate it,” I say.
“You really aren’t what we were expecting,” he says suddenly.
“Dan said the same thing,” I say. “Is that a good or a bad thing?”
“All good,” he says with a smile.
“You mean, you were expecting a rebellious diva?”
His smile widens. “Something like that.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
We arrive back at the apartment.
“You never did tell me which cover is blown?” Mitch says.
“Elise, the creative director at St Clair, was tonight’s guest industry specialist. No one at St Clair is aware I’m taking this course.”
“Not even Alessandro?”
I drop my gaze.
“It hasn’t come up and…”
“You don’t want him to think you’re only with him because you want to be a designer?”
“Something like that,” I admit.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but don’t you think there are enough untruths between you?”
I harrumph. “That’s a very polite way of saying our entire relationship is based on lies.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No, Harper, it’s not. All I’m saying is there are some things you don’t have to lie about.”
I drop my chin to my chest and close my eyes.
“Has there been any news?”
It’s Mitch’s turn to sigh.
“Nothing new. They’re still working through all the documents. If it was as simple as a name, we’d have the bastard.”
“You think it’s one man? A ringleader, kingpin?”
Mitch chuckles. “You’ve been reading too many spy stories.”
I chuckle. “Probably.”
“Whoever he is, he’s a nasty bastard. He’s also good at covering his tracks, but we’ll get him.”
I lean over and squeeze his arm. “I believe you.”
He smiles as we pull up outside the apartment block where we live. “Back to tonight. Do you think Elise will say anything?”
I groan. “More than likely.” I just hope she speaks to me before going to Alex.
“If you want my advice, be honest about why you haven’t said anything.”
I quirk an eyebrow as we make our way inside.
“You know what I mean, as honest as you can be.”
“You’re right,” I say. “How did you get so knowledgeable?” I ask, nudging his shoulder.
Mitch grins as we reach our respective doors. “Years of practice, and two daughters who are both older than you and work hard to keep me on my toes.”
“Good to know. Have a great rest of the week, Mitch. See you at work.”
“You too.”
I let myself into the apartment and drop my bag onto the sofa.
Elise is going to want to speak to me.
What do I say? Our trip to Italy inspired me? Do I admit I started studying design in England? If I do that, she might ask where, and that will open a can of worms.
* * *
“Hey, Alex, Brooke,” Elise says as she approaches my desk, where Alex is standing.
He turns. “Hi, is everything okay?”
“All good,” she says with a smile. “I was wondering if I could borrow Brooke for half an hour?”
“Of course. Is everything okay?”
“Giovanni has sent over some new fabric samples.”
Alex’s brows draw together, and I can hear the unasked question.
Why would Brooke want to see fabric samples?
Elise must also sense the question because she smiles at him.