Page 10

By the end of the week, Harper was as frustrated as she was angry. After the third day, she'd gotten a cooler to take her lunch in, and put it under her desk out of sight. But they'd still gotten to it, presumably when she had been called to attend a meeting with the other personal finance officers. They didn't waste time with sabotaging it, they simply stole everything from the cooler.

And that wasn't all. She'd undergone the humiliating experience of requesting a customer to sign some papers, and every pen in the cup on her desk was out of ink. As were the pens in her top drawer, and she'd had to leave the client in her office while she went to the supply room to get an all new pack of pens.

The spare pairs of stockings she'd put in her desk drawer had been neatly cut in half, probably with the scissors from her top drawer (whose tip had been bent and was now unusable). She now kept new pens and spare stockings locked in the top drawer of the filing cabinet. But her cooler wouldn't fit in there.

There was more, too, but, like the pens and the stockings, it was all petty things. Nothing she could lodge an official complaint about without looking like a fool, even if she had proof of who was doing it, which she didn't. Smirking looks and giggles could hardly be counted.

The only bright spot in her week… after dinner with Nathan, of course… had been Wednesday evening. She'd gone to have dinner with Jake and his fiancee, Becca, and had poured her woes into their ears. Predictably, Jake had been furious, but Harper and Becca had a good laugh at the mean girls setting their sights on Jake, and together they razzed him about it all evening.

"Just think how mad they'll be when Jake keeps bringing you to work and taking you home," Becca giggled.

"Oh, geez. I was planning to go car shopping tomorrow after work," Harper sighed, pushing the remains of her pasta around her plate. "But after dealing with those three all day, I don't think I'll have the energy. I'll go Saturday instead, after I go apartment hunting."

"Oh! Can I come with you?" Becca's eyes lit up. "I'd love to help you apartment hunt. I've never done that, it'll be a new experience for me in this century." She blushed charmingly. "Well, Jake and I will be married, and it didn't make sense for me to enter a lease. So I am living at the pack house for now. But still I would like to see how it is done."

Harper accepted her offer with enthusiasm. "That would be wonderful. I've only seen listings online, and everything looks so different in person."

"Plus, I can check for any residual magic or weird energy. You'd be surprised how many places have... interesting histories." Becca's nose wrinkled. "There's this one building on Oak Street that gives me the creeps every time I walk past it."

"Noted. Definitely crossing that one off my list." Harper reached for her phone to pull up the apartments she'd bookmarked. "Katerina's coming to pick me up at nine, she's going to be driving. The first apartment on my list, the one I really think I want, is over on Maple, near that little cafe you mentioned."

"Perfect! We can leave early and grab breakfast there first. They make these amazing cinnamon rolls that are bigger than your head." Becca leaned forward, peering at Harper's phone screen. "Oh, and that second one - on Cherry Street? That's right by Nathan's music school."

Harper's cheeks warmed at the mention of Nathan. "I hadn't noticed that," she mumbled, though Reyna's happy yip in her mind suggested otherwise.

Jake chuckled. "Sure you hadn't." He held up one hand, his expression serious. "Coming back to the car issue, I still think I should drive you to work every day," "Those women are trouble."

Harper stabbed a piece of pasta with more force than necessary. "I appreciate the offer, but that'll just make things worse. They already think I'm trying to steal you away from them."

"Jake's right though." Becca touched Harper's hand. "You shouldn't have to deal with this alone. And honestly? Those women need to realize you're not a threat to their delusional fantasies about my fiancé."

"Delusional is right." Jake's jaw clenched. "I've never given any of them the slightest encouragement. I barely speak to them except for 'good morning' when they come in."

Becca giggled. "That's probably part of the problem. You're the strong, silent, mysterious type." She pitched her voice higher in a mocking tone. "'Oh, he's just shy! He's playing hard to get!'"

Harper burst out laughing. "Oh my god, you sound exactly like Vanessa!"

Harper's laughter died as Jake's expression remained serious.

"Your car would be a target, you know that, right?"

"He's right," Becca said, pushing her plate aside. "They're sneaky and underhanded. What would you be willing to bet they wouldn't do something to your new car? Especially if it's brand new?" Her stormy eyes darkened.

Jake nods. "Sugar or water in the gas tank, scratched paint, slashed tires - those are classics for a reason."

Harper set her fork down, appetite gone. "But I can't keep relying on rides from you forever. That's not fair to you."

The reality of her situation settled over her like a heavy blanket. She'd escaped one threat in California only to face a different kind of danger here. These women seemed determined to make her life miserable. And Jake was right. The simple act of keying a car took no time at all, and could be done quickly and surreptitiously.

Harper pushed her plate away, her appetite completely gone. The thought of having her new car vandalized made her stomach churn.

"Actually," Jake said, leaning forward, "the bank is planning to upgrade security soon. Lydia's going public about being a shifter soon, so they're adding more cameras and guards outside."

Hope flickered in Harper's chest. "Really?"

Jake nodded, his blue eyes serious. "They're installing new cameras next week - high-definition ones that'll cover the entire parking lot. And they're doubling the security staff. Plus, I can have a quiet word with security about keeping an extra eye on employee vehicles. I don't have to give details - I can just mention the potential for vandalism."

"That would help," Harper admitted, her shoulders relaxing slightly. The thought of watchful eyes on her car eased some of her anxiety.

Becca reached across the table to squeeze Harper's hand. "See? You shouldn't have to put your life on hold because of those women."

Harper nodded, relief washing through her. The increased security measures wouldn't stop the petty office pranks, but at least she wouldn't have to worry about her future car being damaged. And knowing the security team would be watching gave her an extra layer of protection.

"And here's the thing," Jake continued, a slight smirk playing at his corners of his mouth. "If they're dumb enough to try anything and we catch them on camera? You won't even have to deal with insurance. They'll be legally responsible for all damages."

Becca's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Absolutely. The bank takes vandalism seriously - especially if it's done by employees. Harper could sue them for their socks off, and they'd definitely lose their jobs." He shrugged. "Might teach them to think twice about acting like petty teenagers."

The thought of the mean girls facing real consequences for their actions sent a surge of satisfaction through Harper. She didn't want revenge, exactly, but she was tired of being their target.

"I just want them to leave me alone," Harper sighed. "I didn't ask for any of this drama, and I hate it, so, so much. I just… I just want them to stop. I keep hoping they will get tired of it, and forget about me.""

"I know." Jake's expression softened. "But at least this way, you'll have some protection. And evidence if they try anything stupid."

Becca gave her a sympathetic look, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "I know what it is to be a target. You can always come talk to me, Harper, any time. I'll be here for you."

"We both will," Jake promised, and Harper smiled at them.

"I know you will, and thank you. I couldn't have better friends."

By Friday, however, Harper was at her wit's end. Today had been the worst day yet. While she'd been out to lunch... a necessity, now that she could no longer bring her lunch to work... they had apparently found a way to jimmy open her top desk drawer. The ink pens, which she now kept in her drawer at all times, were missing, and the drawer was filled to overflowing with tampons. New ones, thankfully, still in their packaging, but still. Tampons. And there were a handful of dead cockroaches under her desk. And thank you but she did not want to dwell on how they had come by those.

And the vase of fresh flowers she'd brought that morning for her desk... well, suffice it to say, they'd done something to the water she'd put them in. She wasn't going to hazard a guess, but she'd tossed out the flowers and poured the water (or whatever) down the toilet, holding her breath all the while to keep from gagging.

Harper was able to keep herself together, holding her emotions in check, all through the rest of the day, and for the drive back to the inn. But somehow, reaching the comforting safety of the inn was a trigger of some kind, because no sooner had she walked in the door, than a flood of tears arose.

Trying to see through her tears, blindly groping for the staircase banister to lead her up to her room, she heard her name called, and she turned.

"Harper? Oh, my goodness." Her hand was taken in a warm clasp. Renee made a disapproving tsk sound as Harper tried to dash the tears from her eyes with the back of her other hand. Something soft was put into her hand, and Harper used it to wipe her eyes.

Renee chuckled. "Good thing for you that I still carry handkerchiefs."

"Thank you," Harper quavered, moping her cheeks.

"Come on, I'll make you some tea and you can tell me what's wrong."

Still holding her by the hand, Renee led Harper back down the hall, and to a door, usually locked, that led to her and Angus' private quarters.

Even with everything that had been going on, Harper broke into a smile at the sight of an old-fashioned parlor, with velvet sofas and chairs, and even a chaise lounge, around a distinctive fireplace. Built-in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covered one wall, with a bank of windows on another wall overlooking the wide, lush lawn and the edge of the thick woods beyond. Bright rugs were tossed haphazardly here and there across the highly polished wood floor.

"Ohh!" Harper breathed, taking it all in. "It feels like..."

Home , her fox said, equally rapt.

Yes, but not ours , she told it.

Ours should be just like this , Reyna decreed. Harper couldn't find it in her to object.

Renee released her hand, and nudged her toward a chair. "You sit, and I'll make us some tea," she said, moving toward a sideboard that held an electric kettle and a variety of tea bags and such, similar to what was always available in the inn's dining room.

Harper had to chuckle, as Renee returned with two cups of tea, pressing one of them into her hands.

"Is tea your answer to all woes?"

Renee's smile gleamed white against her dark skin, and she sipped her own tea. "At all events, it can't make things worse. So what's happening with you? I thought you were liking your job?"

Harper stared morosely into her teacup. "It's not the job that's the problem."

She'd held back some when relating her troubles to Jake. She knew without doubt that he would take up cudgels in her defense if he knew how bad it had gotten, and she didn't want him to put his job on the line. But with Renee as a sympathetic auditor, with no ties to the bank, Harper was able to pour everything out, not only the tricks and the harassment, and the odd foot tripping her as she walked past one of the women's cubicles once, but her own internal angst, the feelings of helplessness, and fury, and the unending apprehension of what would happen next.

"The worst is that there isn't anything I can do," she finished, wiping more tears away. "I feel so... so helpless. I have no control over this, and no way to combat it, either. All I can do is wait, and pray they'll lose interest. It makes me feel weak, except I'm not! And yet, at the same time, I don't see a solution. And I hate feeling like this... like a victim," she said bitterly.

"Yes, waiting them out isn't likely to work," Renee concurred. "I suppose telling your manager, Lydia, is out of the question?"

Harper combed her fingers through her hair, loosening the curls from the bun confining them. "I've thought about it," she admitted. "But it feels so juvenile. 'Mommy, Billy tripped me' and "Mommy, Billy stole my pens.' It's just all little, petty things. If they did something truly awful, something dangerous, or illegal, I wouldn't hesitate. And I don't even want revenge, or to make trouble for them or anything. I just want them to stop ."

"If one of the other employees was having this trouble with them and came to you for advice, what would you tell them?" Renee asked shrewdly.

Unable to meet her gaze, Harper stared at the floor, brushing the tip of one shoe across the thick nap of the carpet. "Tell her to report them," she mumbled.

"Mmhmm."

There was a moment of silence.

"You know," Renee said gently, "you say that you're not responding to them at all, not acknowledging them. Have you considered that your own lack of response, even simply looking them in the eye and letting them know that you know what they are doing, is actually pushing them to try harder, to get a reaction from you?"

Harper's head came up, alarm making her heart pound in her chest. "I can't... I can't do that," she whispered. "I just can't. And even if I did, the chances are that would make it worse, because they would know they are getting to me. So either way, they win, you know?"

With a grimace, Renee admitted the truth of this. "Yes, you could be right." She hesitated a moment. "You aren't going to let them push you out, though?"

Inside, her fox growled, bristling. Harper straightened her spine, squaring her shoulders. "Never," she vowed. "I may not like this... in fact, I hate it! ... but they're not driving me away from my job! They are not going to win!"

Then she slumped a little, taking a deep breath. "I just have to figure a way to get through it with my sanity intact."

Renee chuckled, and reached for her cup. "Let me get you some more tea."

Harper managed a wobbly smile, dabbing at her eyes with Renee's handkerchief. "Do you often have to rescue your guests from emotional breakdowns?"

Renee's warm laugh filled the cozy parlor. "More often than you'd think. This room has seen its share of tears and troubles." She settled back in her chair, cradling her teacup. "Sometimes people just need a safe place to let it all out."

"Well, your tea and sympathy are working wonders." Harper's shoulders relaxed as she breathed in the soothing chamomile steam. The fire crackled softly, casting dancing shadows on the bookshelves.

Renee leaned over to pat Harper's hand. "You are exactly where you need to be, Harper." Her voice held absolute certainty. "This inn has a way of collecting people who belong here."

The words struck a chord in Harper's chest. Despite everything happening at work, she felt more at home here than she ever had in California. Even Reyna, usually so wary of new places, had settled in immediately.

Safe den , her fox agreed, curling up contentedly in her mind. Good pack.

"I can't argue with that." Harper traced the delicate pattern on her teacup. "Though I didn't expect to find such good friends so quickly."

"The right people tend to find each other here." Renee smiled mysteriously. "It's part of the inn's magic."

Harper set her empty teacup on the side table, warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the tea. "Thank you, Renee. I really needed this. I should let you get back to your evening. I'm feeling much better now."

"Sometimes a good cry and a sympathetic ear are the best medicine." Renee rose gracefully from her chair. "That, and knowing you have people in your corner."

Harper stood as well, touched by the older woman's kindness. The parlor's cozy atmosphere had worked its magic, soothing her frayed nerves. Even Reyna felt more settled, the fox's earlier agitation replaced by calm contentment.

"I'm ready to face whatever comes next," Harper said, squaring her shoulders. "Even if it means finding more cockroaches under my desk." She wrinkled her nose at the memory.

Renee's warm laugh followed her to the door. "That's the spirit. And Harper?" She waited until Harper turned back. "My door is always open if you need another cup of tea."

"Thank you." Harper's voice caught slightly on the words. "For everything."

Harper climbed the stairs to her room, feeling lighter after her talk with Renee. The chamomile tea had worked its magic, soothing her frayed nerves. Even Reyna seemed calmer, no longer bristling with indignation over the day's events.

In her room, Harper changed into her favorite loungewear - soft gray yoga pants and an oversized sweater that hung off one shoulder. She pulled her hair free from its strict work style, letting the red waves tumble down her back. The simple act of removing her work clothes felt like shedding armor, allowing her to breathe easier.

Cozy now , Reyna approved, as Harper slipped her feet into fuzzy slippers.

The inn's lounge welcomed her with its warm lighting and comfortable furniture. A fire crackled in the stone fireplace, though the summer evening hardly warranted it. Something about the dancing flames just made the space feel more homey.

Harper curled up in one of the oversized armchairs near the fireplace, tucking her feet underneath her. Her Kindle powered on, and she pulled up a paranormal cozy mystery novel, the familiar comfort of losing herself in a story beckoning.

Harper had barely settled into the story when her phone chimed. Her heart skipped a beat as Nathan's name lit up the screen.

?How was your day?? his text read.

She groaned, letting her head fall back against the chair. ?ugh, don't ask?

The typing bubbles appeared immediately. ?Mean girls again??

Harper's fingers flew across the keyboard. ?Mean girls doesn't even begin to cut it. I've decided to call them the Hostile Harpies ?

A moment later, Nathan's response came through - a crying-laughing emoji that made her snort with unexpected laughter. Trust him to find a way to make her smile even after the day she'd had.

? That bad? ? he added.

Reyna perked up at Nathan's texts, her happiness warming Harper from within. The fox's enthusiasm for their mate hadn't dimmed one bit since that first meeting.

?Worse ??? Harper typed back. ?But just had tea ??with Renee & feeling better. Going to try not to think about work for the rest of the evening.?

Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since lunch. After the day she'd had, comfort food seemed in order.

?Also, ordering in pizza ??? She added.

?Good plan. Supreme??

Harper shuddered. ?Fox here. Meat Lovers with extra cheese ???

Pizza good , Reyna chimed in.

Nathan's next text made her grin. ?Ah yes, I forgot about your inner carnivore. I'll leave you to your meat feast then. Hope apartment hunting goes well. Sweet dreams, my foxy lady ???

Harper's heart fluttered at the endearment. She hugged her phone to her chest, warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the nearby fireplace. Even after such an awful day, Nathan found a way to make her smile.

?Sweet dreams, Nathan?

Mate sweet , Reyna sighed contentedly. Makes us happy.

"He does," Harper whispered, her fingers tracing over his last message. The simple text somehow managed to wash away the last lingering tension from her shoulders.

After ordering, a large pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni from a local pizzeria Katerina had recommended, Harper settled deeper into the armchair. The soft cushions embraced her, and the fire's warmth wrapped around her like a blanket. For the first time all day, she felt truly at peace.