Page 35

HARLOW

The second I get in the building, I pull my cell out and find the number for the letting agent. I have no doubts this time as I connect the call and put my cell to my ear.

It rings a couple of times before someone answers. My heart hammers in my chest, but I know I’m doing the right thing.

“Hi, I’d like to make a payment on an account,” I say to the cheery woman on the other end.

“Okay, great. Do you have any of the account details?”

“Um, no. I have the address of the apartment in question, if that helps.”

“Sure.”

Between us, we eventually figure it out, although she’s very professional and doesn’t divulge any of Corey’s information. By the time I hang up, all I know is how much in rent arrears he was. No longer. I’ve secured him a home and hopefully taken a weight off his mind for a while.

Something inside me aches to do more, to turn that empty and cold apartment into a home, but I know I might have already overstepped.

He could either be really grateful for this, or really furious.

Only time will tell, but I fear doing any more will definitely push him into the latter category.

I might not know him all that well yet, but I know he won’t take too kindly to charity—not that that’s what this is.

I’m just helping a friend in need. He’s more than welcome to pay me back if he feels the need.

Feeling better about myself and my good deed for the day, I walk through to my office with a smile playing on my lips. It doesn’t go unnoticed by my colleagues.

After dropping my purse at my desk, I head for a coffee.

“Good morning,” Reese sings from where she’s waiting for the machine.

“Morning.”

She narrows her eyes at me suspiciously. “There’s something different about you.”

I’m not naive enough to think that Brooke hasn’t already filled her in.

“Oh yeah? How so?”

“There’s a twinkle in your eye. He’s doing good things for you.”

I bark a laugh. “It could certainly be described that way.”

“From what I’ve heard, that would be putting it lightly.”

“Fucking Brooke,” I mutter, much to her amusement. “Is there anything she hasn’t told you?”

“Only the things you haven’t told her.” She winks at me as she takes her now full mug from the machine.

“She’s in so much trouble when she finds a serious guy. I’m going to shout all the details from the rooftops.”

“Aw, she’s just happy for you. And maybe just a tad jealous.”

“Just a tad. She’d had Corey locked and loaded, as far as she was concerned.”

“It’s going to take someone very special to put up with her brand of crazy.”

I snort. “You said it.”

We switch places so I can make my morning coffee.

“So, is it serious enough for him to attend your masquerade ball?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t invited him yet, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“You should. Fletch and Milo will be there, so he’ll have people to talk to.”

“I’ll see. I’m not sure getting dressed up in a tux and making small talk is really his thing.”

“You think it’s Fletch’s?” she laughs.

I shrug, because I know from first-hand experience just how easy he makes all the schmoozing look. “He’s a natural.”

“Years of practice. Invite him,” she says before moving toward the door as our boss, the team owner’s wife, pokes her head in.

“You ready, Reese?” she asks softly.

“On my way. Give us an hour and then come join us to go through the final details?” she directs at me.

“Sure thing.”

I make my coffee and head for my desk to get all of those details together.

I’ve been working on this almost since my first day. It’s like my baby, and I’m terrified that I’ve missed something or that something is going to go horribly wrong at the last minute.

I’ve got a couple of incredible celebrity guest speakers—Fletcher Ferguson included.

I’ve managed to sell tables to some insanely wealthy and influential people, all of whom I hope will be more than generous on the night as they bid on the vast range of donated items. They range from a case of champagne to a two-night stay in a private chateau in the Loire Valley in France.

I shake my hands out as nerves hit me. I’ve never organized something so big before, and although I’m confident that I’ve covered all angles and thought of all the potential downfalls, my fear is still there, niggling that it’s not going to be successful.

By the time my hour comes to an end, I’ve got everything ready to go. I’m over-prepared, I know I am, but my need to prove myself and this event gets the better of me.

With my clipboard under my arm, I make myself a fresh coffee and head for the conference room.

I knock before Mags calls for me to join them.

Pushing the door open, I’m relieved to find it’s just her and Reese waiting for me. It’s what I was expecting, but there was a part of me that was worried I’d have more eyes on me.

“Come and grab a seat, Harlow,” Mags says softly as Reese smiles at me.

In previous years, she’s organized this event. But this year, she’s handed it over to me so she could work on other things. I’m certainly feeling the pressure of stepping into her shoes and raising the funds we need to help support the ice hockey players of the future and our local community.

“Right, hit us with the details.”

I talk through my schedule for the night, how I’ve arranged the rooms we’ve hired, and the costs versus my projected profit based on the rough figures each auction lot should bring in.

“Harlow, this is incredible,” Mags says, pride oozing from her kind face. While her husband might be the big boss around here, Mags loves getting involved where she can, and especially with any kind of event we’re running. The woman lives to get dressed up and socialize.

“T-Thank you.”

“It looks like you’ve got it all covered. But if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me,” Reese says encouragingly.

“I will, thank you so much. I think—” My words are cut off as the conference room door behind me flies open.

The tension in the room changes instantly, and a shiver of fear runs down my spine, but I have no idea why.

Reese’s eyes widen in shock for a beat before her chin drops.

Poor Mags just looks confused.

“I’m so sorry, he just stormed past me,” Sharon, our receptionist rushes out as I shift in my chair.

I have no idea who I’m expecting to find behind me, although that shiver of awareness should give me a clue.

Spinning on my seat, I turn to look.

My eyes lock on to a very familiar face, but I’ve never seen this expression before. The anger laced through every inch of him has dread sitting in the pit of my stomach. His brows are pulled tight, his lips are pressed into a thin line, and his shoulders are bunched with tension.

“Corey, what’s—” I jump from my seat, desperate to know what’s going on.

Reese and Mags are already both on their feet, waiting to discover what’s about to happen and if they need to get security up here—assuming they’re not already on their way.

“Please.” His voice is hard and cold. “Please tell me you didn’t. Tell me it wasn’t you.”

“What … I don’t….” My mind spins, failing to connect the dots for a few moments.

Then it hits me.

His rent.

He knows.

I swallow nervously, and it’s enough for him to know that I’m guilty.

“I’m not a fucking charity case, Harlow. You had no right to go behind my back like that. No fucking right, let alone snooping to find out in the first place.”

“I wasn’t snooping, I?—”

“I don’t care. It was out of order. You had no right,” he repeats again, his body almost vibrating with anger. His hands lift to his hair as he tugs, trying to get himself together.

“Sir, I think you need to leave,” Mags says calmly as Reese comes to stand at my side in support.

“I’m going,” he spits before turning to the door.

I race forward, afraid of what this might mean for us.

“You can pay me back. I just needed to help. You’ve been through so?—”

“No,” he bellows, making me take a step back. “I’ll figure out a way to get it back to you. But we are done here.” He storms through the door and down the corridor. I’m powerless but to watch him leave.

Inside I scream for him to come back, for him to hear me out, but none of the words pass my lips.

“Oh my God,” I sob, stumbling back until Reese manages to get me on a chair.

I knew there was a possibility that he’d be angry, but I never expected…

Mags places a fresh glass of water in front of me before Reese drops down beside me.

“He’ll be okay. Just let him cool off, then he’ll listen.”

“You think?” I ask through tear-filled eyes.

She chews on her bottom lip for a second. “Sure.” She sounds about as uncertain as I feel, and it doesn’t ease the dread filling me.

“I was just trying to do something nice. To help him out. I knew I should have told him, but—” My voice cracks, and I stop.

“I know. And when he calms down, he’ll see that.” I can see the question in her eyes, but we’re not close enough for her to feel like she’s able to pry.

“His arrears and six months’ rent.”

“Jesus, Harlow. Are you some kind of secret millionaire or something?”

I shrug, my eyes drifting to Mags because she knows the truth. But she doesn’t say a word. “Or something. I’ve got inheritance,” is all I give as a reason. It’s not a lie. It’s just the kind of inheritance that keeps on giving.

Reaching out a shaky hand, I take a sip of the cool water and try to get myself under control. Everything was going too well. Everything was too perfect. This was always going to happen. I was just too blissfully unaware as I enjoyed the perks of finally having a man who understood me.

“Just give him some time. If I’ve learned anything from Fletch, it’s that men are almost as complicated as women; they just don’t like to show it.

Let him cool down and then, when he least expects it, prove to him just how much he needs you.

Rock his world the way it needs rocking and prove your place beside him. ”

“Wise words, right there,” Mags agrees with a soft smile playing on her lips.