Harper picked up the bouquet of flowers ensuring she picked out the card as she approached the waste bin. What a waste she thought but her boss made it quite clear he didn't want them a radius near him.

"Wait." She heard someone call out, just as she about to throw them away. James who she hadn't heard even come out the lifts, held his one hand as he sighed. "You don't have to throw them away. Just make sure I don't see another bunch of flowers on your desk again." Harper considered his answer watching as he couldn't meet her eyes but just nodded to her, so in doing so she placed them back on her desk. "I do apologise, I didn't have any idea." She insisted. James shook his head. "Just don't let me see anything...like that again." He informed, as he raked his hand through his hair. James clenched his fists slightly as he glanced at the flowers then putting behind his true feelings he walked back over to his office leaving Harper alone again.

The rest of the afternoon didn't go as planned, James never once showed his face again and during her lunch hour, there were apparent rumours going around that the big boss showed his face on fourth floor and didn't look exactly happy. This was big news because most of the employees here hardly ever saw him so it meant something whereas Harper had the privilege of seeing him everyday. Well it used to be she thought as she stirred her straw in her drink, now it was like a challenge knowing how close she had gotten to him to try and stay out of his way. There she actually thought after her night out with Elliot, that James had went to prove his feelings, admit he wanted something between them but instead his only answer could be; I don't know. Hearing those words aloud were difficult to hear but what did she expect, that yes, James would come on horseback and prove his worthy love and they'd ride off in sunset. No, the reality was, James her boss would rather jump from one woman to another and Harper, a fool she felt indeed had given in, allowed herself to be a easy target making it more like a game for him. Its like hunting season, he was a hunter and she was the prey and every time he got her, just like how she falls for him every time. Of course the ridiculously good looking men would have to be difficult. Harper rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she glanced outside to the busy city. How simple might it have been if she had never spilt that coffee, or even not kissed in return her boss. Perhaps she would be stress free? And wouldn't have to dare think about the consequences or how her heart feels like it breaks a little further every time. But that's how is it. Then again without James, what might have happened if he wasn't there for her when Duke had attempted to move on her? Harper frowned, tucking her herself in as she held her arms on the table just faintly remembering that made her insecure.

Someone tapped on her shoulder instantly removing her from her thoughts. Harper turned meeting Elliot who was bowing as he held a single rose in his hand. She cocked her eyebrow, then in realisation she thought it must have been Elliot who had given her the flowers this morning. Who else?

"Another one? You're sure are going all out for me!" Harper smiled. Elliot stood up as he shook his head slowly. "What are you talking about love? I've just brought this off the street from someone selling roses today. And I thought you might have liked one." He smiled. Harper parted her lips. "So, you...didn't get me a bouquet of flowers this morning?" She asked. Elliot continued to smile but shook his head. "No...I don't recall doing so." Harper shook her head. "Never mind. Must have been someone else then." She smiled falsely, now fretting on who the hell had got her them. Elliot passed her the rose then sat opposite her.

"Thank you." She smiled as she placed the rose near her on the table. Elliot shook his head. "Not at all. Oh, yeah. Did you hear about today?" He asked as he folded his arms leaning further on the table. Harper shook her head slowly.

"Mr Brewer actually came onto our floor today. I didn't see but apparently he seemed pissed. And we never see him, he usually just gets his..." His chin jerked to Harper. "PA to do his work. Sorry. I know how you hated being put in that position in the first place."

"No, No. Its fine. Yeah, he would've. I don't know, he seemed alright this morning." She lied, biting her lip as Elliot opposite her shrugged his shoulders in return. "Well who knows. But someone on our department was saying it was like he was heading for me. Like I'm a red flag against a bull." He joked. Harper laughed in return, but there was a slight suspicion that there was truth to what he said.

"Well. I better be going. My own boss needs me on a project. I'll see you around and leave you to the big boss." He said, smiling as he got up. Harper smiled back as she got up too, though without leaving him empty handed pecked his cheek. "Thanks for the rose. It means a lot." She blushed watching as Elliot's own cheeks faintly turned pink. He grinned at her, giving a playful wink towards her before walking off. So Elliot didn't answer her question, he didn't get her the flowers what she should have expected first but instead she had gone straight to thinking it was James; fat chance that was. Now she was clueless, who and why? A secret admirer too? She snorted to herself though nearly knocked into someone carrying their lunch on a tray.

"Sorry." She muttered as she dodged away.

Reaching back to top floor, she pulled out her phone that was ringing upon her desk just in time before it became a missed call.

"Hello!" She said out of breath. Though she should have saved her breath, with it being her best friend Dani shouting down the phone. "Harper! Harper! I need a favour!" Harper scratched her forehead as she leaned on the edge of her desk and grumbled back. "Dani, I'm at work." Dani sighed. "I don't care about what that d**khead thinks."

"Dani! He's my boss!" She snapped back. "Look, what is it?"

"I told you, I need a tiny favour." Dani mumbled down the line. Harper narrowed her eyes instantly knowing that tone. "What is it?" Harper chimed. Dani laughed, " I need to borrow your car."

"Of course I was expecting this, your favours aren't small. Dani you do realise I need it, to take myself home." Harper said.

"Yeah, I just need it tonight. I've been invited to this event, so its kinda of short notice and I...don't want to show up on the bus...and since your car is like...woah! I was hoping I could come now and pick it up and...perhaps you might get lift from that colleague of yours, you went with. Promise that's all." Dani assured. Harper heard the door open from James' office so she had to end the conversation quick. "Fine. Text me when your outside and I'll bring the car keys to you. You owe me Dani."

Dani squealed down the line. "Oh thank you. Thank you. Your the best Harps!"

"Okay, look I gotta go. So no more phone calls." Harper warned before ending the call, hoping he was still around the corner. James however was not and was directly in the centre watching as she placed her phone down on the desk. "Sorry. I-I..." Harper soon failed in words just watching as James didn't at all react and just stood there. He said nothing, stood there for a moment before clicking the button to call the lift, his glaze was still heavy upon her then he left still saying nothing. Harper sighed as she flopped onto her chair.

At half past four, Harper had dropped the keys off to Dani outside the building, threatening her to not dare get a scratch on the paint before she was left to figure out whether she was going by bus or perhaps Elliot wouldn't mind giving her a lift. She was just grateful, Dani hadn't suggested Duke over their conversation early, she would have freaked out and refused knowing the last time she had travelled in her own car with Duke. She should have stopped it then and there but then again, why would you suspect your own friend?

After grabbing her bag trying her best to fit those flowers in and shutting off her computer and whatnot, Harper remained sitting in the reception area seeing if she could spot Elliot. Every blonde head she would tilt her head up to look closer but each one failed to be Elliot and she eventually gave up. It was nearly 6'oclock, so making her way over to the bus stop, she sat at the stop pulling out her earphones as she sat waiting for the next bus to come. Some wait it was, in the end she had nearly listened to her playlist over twice and in boredom spent counting all the red cars that drove past. Even more so, she had received a message from Dani stating she was having a great time and wasn't planning until coming late until the event finished. That made her stomach turn over, she had almost completely forgot that meant she would have to be left alone in apartment with Duke. It was a frightening thought but her main concern was when this bus was going to show up. She checked the bus schedule on the side then checked her phone looking for updates but everything seemed to be working in order. Seven was not far from drawing and the sky wasn't exactly comforting as night drew in. It was starting to become much colder, the wind itself was biting and Harper hadn't really had a coat.

"Just g-great. T-Thanks...D-Dani." She stuttered, shivering against the cold. And where was this dam bus she thought.

James threw his jacket into the passenger side as he climbed into his sports climb. He had managed to finish all his work, even though all throughout that day it was distracted after nearly attempting to beat a man up so it was good that he even got on with it. He sighed as he removed his tie then unbuttoning his top shirt a few buttons as he started the engine. James drove off the car park joining in the congestion that was still building up even as dark as it was getting. He leant his elbow on the side as he held his one hand on the steering wheel with the rate of cars going at snail speed. As soon as he got back he needed a drink, he needed a drink to rid of today especially with his overreaction. Flowers, he reacted over. James sighed, how ridiculous did he act. There was once a time that feels so long away, when James couldn't care less about a woman if she was off flinging with another man just as long as it wasn't when they were, f**k it was not like they couldn't get enough of him anyway he thought smirking at the thought. What If she never had spilt that coffee on him, would this have all been different? Would he have been the same player? But then admittedly there was something that pulled him in, the first time he saw her. He had purposefully asked Mr Collins' department to get one his employees to grab his coffee knowing just if , it might have been her who brought it him. His smile deflated on the thought knowing just how everything is mess now.

James glanced out the window as he drove his car forward making no difference but noticed a familiar face within the bus stop. His heart started beating faster, even his hairs stood upon his arms. It was her. Harper. What was she still doing here he thought. It was getting after seven and he would have expected she would have been home by now. James looked to the front, trying to distract his mind away. He wasn't going to stop. He wasn't he kept promising himself but turns out he failed at that too.

Harper sighed as she turned her phone off realising it was draining her battery right off. She stood up looking out towards the thousands of flaring headlights trying to see if could see the top of a double decker bus. No sign whatsoever, mind you if it meant she could drag off getting home to where Duke was, she gladly would take it. Harper flopped back on the bench as she rubbed her arms trying to get herself slightly warmer but it was making no difference.

Out of nowhere, a familiar car approached causing her breath to hitch. It wasn't, it couldn't be she said to herself. The car pulled up in the bus lane as the driver's side window went down. All surroundings stopped, it was like everything in the world stopped with just James before her. Harper hesitated then slowly walked over to the window.

"Hi." Was all she managed to say. James raked his hand through his hair meeting her eyes with struggle. "Need a lift?" He said calmly, though inside his heart was racing and he was on edge. Harper looked back onto the traffic. "I'm waiting for the bus. I'll be fine." James smirked shaking his head. "Yeah, the bus is sure on its way. " Sarcasm filled his tone as he looked to the front. "I'll drop you off." Harper didn't like his tone at all. "I'm fine." Was all she said as she looked away.

"Miss Daniels. Its late, I'd prefer if you got home safely. Just get in...please." He said, this time meeting her eyes almost with plead. Harper bit her lip looking once more into the traffic before finally agreeing as she moved onto the road to get in passenger side. James sighed in relief to himself inside as he watched her get in before he pushed his car out to go the other way. Harper could feel herself overheating already and that wasn't the fact the heating was on, it was because of simply being in his presence. Music played softly in the background as James passed through the city, no one dared to talk. Harper glanced out her window taking a deep breath as she tried to settle her nerves.

"Where's your car?" James asked, finally breaking the silence. Harper looked over to him and muttered. "My friend needed to borrow it. She picked it up this afternoon." James looked over for a second nodding, hesitating before asking. "Why...didn't your friend give you a lift?" It was a struggle even asking that he thought as he turned on a corner. Harper shrugged her shoulders, unable to manage a word as she looked down to her hands upon her lap. James looked over briefly before returning back to the road.

James pulled up outside her apartment turning off the engine, suddenly the comfort of the radio turning off leaving both of them silence. Harper looked out the window, she couldn't find herself moving at all. Instead she was more afraid to go in there looking to the window with the lights on in there. Knowing Duke was in there was unsettling, she could imagine him interrogating her, or...worse.

"Harper?" James repeated again noticing how Harper was looking outside and how her hands were shaking. Harper turned to face James, her face itself had turned pale as she answered. "Sorry. Erm...thank you for the lift. I-I..." James shook his head as he reached out for one hand that was resting on the edge of her seat. Harper flinched easing her hand away.

"Harper. You're pale and your hands are shaking like mad. And you keep looking at your apartment like its a death trap." He said. Harper bit her lip meeting his eyes as her other hand that had gripped the handle dropped slowly. "I-I-I....can't go...in there." She stuttered, the tears threatening even how much she tried holding them back, there was no way she was crying in front of him. Grow up she said to herself as she took a deep breath.

"He's still there, isn't he?" James said, the truth threatening his anger again. "Why haven't you told your friend? I thought you had it sorted and you've just been living with him under your roof. Harper if I had known, I would have told your friend myself. Dam, Harper he tried to." He sighed with frustration as his words failed to finish off his sentence. Harper looked down knowing just as well naïve she was being, anyone else would have admitted it but it wasn't as easy as she thought. Friendship lay on the line.

James started the engine shaking his head. "Your not going in there. I refuse you to stay a night with that creep in there." Harper parted her lips as she protested. "Its only for a while, she's coming back later anyway. I'll be fine." James shook his head this time, evoking authority in his voice. "No." Harper this time didn't protest back and watched as James pulled out back on the road.

"Why are you doing this for me?" She said, not realising she had said her thought aloud. James looked over, his own arms tensing as he gripped onto the steering wheel. "I don't want to see you hurt Harper." He said, keeping his eyes on the road.

Harper kept quiet throughout the entire journey as James entered the penthouse.

Deja vu.

Thanks for reading. Hope you are enjoying the book so far. Please do VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE for more updates. So a lot is happening, who are those flowers from then? And what will happen at the penthouse? I guess you'll hate me for the cliff-hanger too. :P I really do appreciate all your support and it means a lot.

VAMPIREFANGSRULES xxxx