Two days had gone, two days without work and two days she had spent moping about. Harper would spend half the day in bed snuggled against her pillow in bed and discarding snotty tissues that were reaching to the point that she would have to go buy another huge box from the store soon. Even books weren't helping; the hero venturing far into a journey just to announce his love for their lover. Harper would snort rolling her eyes as she flicked through wanting to hear no more about true love or even the cliché. Perhaps she would change her genre, go back to crime that she once used to love. Yeah, maybe that would be a better alternative. The fridge was raided. Harper took advantage of no work to fill herself with junk food or garbage. Then there was fact she didn't have to chance or look her best, not that she did anyway. Gosh, she was sounding so dull with all this feeling sorry for herself.

Harper climbed out of bed shoving the book she had been reading back under her pillow as she headed for the bathroom. For the moment she was home alone, Dani was at work and Duke was off out. She couldn't wait when he was back off to the states. She could see the enjoyment of it all to see her such in despair. No pity for her there.

Harper stood in front of the mirror scrunching her nose or rather pulling a face as she took in the noticeable bags under her eyes. She looked a mess. Harper placed toothpaste onto her toothbrush as she took to brushing her teeth. Today she had to go shopping or it was rather her excuse to get out and actually accomplish something. Her hair was a bird's nest. Harper pulled a silly face to herself as she placed her toothbrush back.

"Well that's all you're going to manage." She sighed as she tied her hair into a messy bun and left her face naked as can be.

Harper relaxed back in the seat as she watched passengers scramble onto the bus. The world was blocked out with her earphones in and she intended not to listen to any of those cliché love songs. Starting from today she wanted to make a difference and that meant a job. Tomorrow she was meeting Ethan reminded by Dani numerous times that he had asked for her presence. Of course she couldn't refuse his offer, it would be unfair and what excuse could she come up with anyway? Oh I'm sorry but I have just had a major break up with James Brewer so I am not feeling it. It's bad enough it makes herself feel stupid knowing she had a fling with her boss. There she goes on about him again. Harper rolled her eyes as she looked out the window. Take the other night when she fainted right on the dancefloor at the club, it was an example that she wasn't strong at all. Harper knew it was going to take time for her heart to mend. The man she loved, still and taken it away. Cue in the tears she thought to herself as she sighed. It was at that moment she felt the vacant seat be taken, she looked through the corner of her eye meeting that of a very handsome man. Oh great just what she needed. Harper kept from looking over and hoped that she wouldn't have to encounter an awkward conversation when she needed to get up and pass.

Her bus stop came right around the corner and still the man remained seated next to her whom she hoped might have got off earlier and now that mean actually speaking to the man. It wasn't like it was his fault, it was just every man reminded her of James, and if they reminded her of James then it meant no trust whatsoever.

"Excuse me." Harper muttered as she began to get up. The man took recognition getting up allowing her to pass by. The bus at this moment was still in motion as he returned back to his seat and her clumsiness had to kick in, just as the bus hit a swerve around the bend of the road she collapsed back into the man's lap. Her cheeks inflamed red as she felt the man's steady hands on her back to keep her from falling back anymore. Words fell from his mouth but she couldn't quite comprehend what he was saying and instead jumped up in embarrassment as the bus came to the stop. She could hear distant voice in the background over her music but carried until she was out onto the pavement. Her humiliation had toppled over the roof, trust her clumsy nature to cause her to fall into the arms of a stranger. She didn't even have the audacity to thank him for steadying her. Harper felt a hand tap her shoulder and she turned in fear as the same man stood behind her.

"Miss? Are you okay?" He asked as she pulled her earphones out. Harper didn't utter a word, then he spoke again. "Miss?"

"Y-Yes. Sorry. Thank-k you." She blurted turning on her heel. "I-I-I...got to go."

"Sure...No problem." He muttered in defeat or how it sounded as she rushed on without looking back. So this was how it was going to be she thought to herself, dodging guys afraid to trust or to even think they only want one thing. Act nice then just bed a girl without second thought on if they might break their heart afterwards. Gosh, why did everything have to be about James? James this. James that. James! Freaking James Brewer!

She had enough and stormed into the store grabbing a trolley as she headed down the first aisle. Harper packed the trolley food full of unhealthy alternatives not bothering to even look at the prices. Her steam though had eventually cooled down as she slowed the trolley down. She took a deep breath then shook her head in dismay at her behaviour.

"Calm down." She muttered to herself.

It was on the cereal aisle she had to lure herself up onto the shelves to reach for the top box in struggle. That wasn't the problem, it was when she became very uncomfortable when she heard few men snickering or whistling inappropriately.

-"Hey baby, why don't you come and play down here?" One snickered.

Harper sighed inside finally grabbing cereal and attempting to step back down to face these jerks. It was only when her foot slipped that she lost grip and fell back onto the floor with a thump. She bit her lip at the sudden impact. She could see the two men smirking before she heard a hoarse voice bark at them.

"Go on, move!"

Harper watched as they walked off snickering to themselves. What was with this guy she thought to herself as the man she had fallen on in the bus crouched down and offered his hand.

"You okay?" He asked as he pulled her up.

"Yeah, thanks for that...and earlier." She muttered refusing to look at his eyes more than a second.

"I'm Josh." He said offering a genuine smile then added as he rubbed his palms together. "I wasn't following you if that what's you were thinking." Then he tried a smile again. "Actually shopping myself." His eyes moving towards the trolley beside him.

Harper said nothing as she looked down to the floor.

"I don't bite." He muttered cocking his head to the side waiting for her response.

Harper took a moment before she replied. "It's Harper." The man before her smiled as he dug his hands into his pockets. "Nice to meet you. You've taken a bit of fall today?" He chuckled slightly. Harper didn't smile back as she crouched down and picked up the cereal box that thankfully hadn't burst open.

"Are you okay? I'm not trying to hit on you anything. You do talk right? I mean I know they say to never talk to strangers when you were a child and all." He blabbered on that soon his words became irrelevant.

"I'm fine." She said watching his smile deflate. Great job Harper. Really? The man is only trying to be nice.

"Oh, erm. Well. I'll leave you to it." He said, trying to disguise the defeat in his tone.

"Wait." Harper blurted out before he had chance to turn on his heel. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be and I normally not this...rude. I just having not a lot in trust in guys these days." She confessed, looking to her feet and back to him. It was strange to see him still standing there but no he remained where he was and only offered a genuine smile back.

"Yeah, I know how that feels. But with women." He admitted. "I don't mean to intrude seeing as you don't know me and I don't you but you just come out from a relationship?"

Harper sighed. "I wouldn't even call it that." Then she spoke up. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be. Nevermind, I've got to go." She headed towards her trolley placing the cereal box into the trolley.

"Hey, Harper." Josh called out to her. Harper turned to face him. "Look, it's okay if you don't want to but I know a great place where they serve coffee. I'm a good listener or just a good person to talk to. I just wouldn't want to leave here knowing I didn't try." Harper looked to the floor then met his eyes once again. "I'd prefer if I just went home really. But thank you." She said.

"It's fine. Look if you ever need anyone and I mean anyone to talk to then here." He said, taking a piece of scrambled paper from his pocket and quickly writing on it with a pen from his pocket. Harper watched as he handed it over as he added. "Honestly it wouldn't matter if you threw it away, I understand. I'm a stranger but...generally I would love to get to know you. Yeah that didn't sound cliché." He laughed, his cheeks resembling that of a tomato.

Harper offered a smile placing it in her jumper pocket. "Thanks, I'll think about it."

He smiled before heading back to his shopping. Harper carried on, taking one glance to him before turning off from the aisle. She could guess there were some people who were nice out there. Didn't mean she entirely chanced her thoughts about guys from her experience with James.

James sat tapping his pen uncomfortably on the desk, his brow sweating as he felt Jackal's eager eyes upon him. James took one last look at the contract before him and then without second thought signed his name. His new PA took his carbon copy and took it away out of his office. Jackal smiled clapping his hands once together. "Job done. Welcome to the top game, son. Just so you know, this does mean your coverage on the press has to be still limited."

James frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Your reputation affects mine now so I expect you will continue to not cause havoc in the papers." He said.

"Wait." James said shaking his head. "Shouldn't that have been mentioned before?"

"James, I thought this deal is what you wanted?" Jackal objected still smiling.

"Sorry, its fine." James replied in defeat as he looked away for a second. Jackal clapped his hands together once more as he announced. "Great, right. Let's head down to the press. Let the world know that Brewer Enterprise has got itself a new partner." Jackal snapped his fingers signalling his PA to grab his coat.

They headed to the main reception where the road lined with press preparing to snap at any moment. James wasn't pleased that Jackal had failed to tell him but there wasn't much he could do, he had signed away.

Jackal nodded his head at James as they headed out. Jackal turned to James offering his hand. James could hear the anticipation in the air waiting for that significant shake of hands. Taking a deep breath, he plastered his face with a false smile looking out to the cameras and shook hands with Jackal as the press eagerly snapped photos.

Harper threw the newspaper onto the side just seeing the jerk she loved printed on the front page. He had signed a deal with Jackal and how the newspaper described it, "An much anticipated deal" Harper flopped her head onto the table as Dani scrambled into the kitchen.

"I see you went out then?" Dani said.

"Yeah, I did." She grumbled.

Dani sighed sitting down opposite her. "How you feeling?"

"Good." Harper grumbled again as she sat up.

"You know you don't have to go tomorrow." Dani said. Harper shook her head. "No, I have to go. You're cooking tonight." She said as she got up. "I'm heading to the gym."

"Harper." Dani called out after her.

"What?" Harper sighed.

"I'm here for you." She smiled.

"Thank you Dani." Harper smiled as she headed for the front door dodging Duke who entered with a stranger following after. Harper didn't even want to know and picked up her bag leaving Dani to deal with that mess.

Every blow to the punch bag came with power behind it. She couldn't care less of the looks she was getting, she was angry and needed some way to get it all out. The first hour she had spent exercising on the treadmill, then the weights and now she had the spot in the corner of the gym punching and kicking the life out of this poor bag. She could picture James' face on it. Picture the moment she heard those words leave his mouth, picture the heartbreak she went through and is still. She slowed down where she collapsed against it resting her arms in defeat.

It was like yesterday, the first time they kissed stuck in that dam lift. Or even the first time when she dropped coffee into his lap. She smirked to herself at that. Oh, how clumsy she was. And there was her first time, she had gave it to him. He had made her feel so special. How stupid, right? Surely she might have took in the fact that he knew how to act. Men like him, they knew how woman worked. They study, learn, and then act to get what they want.

James sat uncomfortably in the VIP room, the neon lights shining across the floor as waitresses enter half-dressed placing drinks onto the table before them. Jackal beside him laughed darkly as one of the women sat on his lap caressing his shirt collar.

"James, my good fellow. You seem distracted." He said then snapped his fingers. "Enjoy the night." As he did, a petite woman just as near to Harper's size entered the room dressed to expose skin. James was numb and didn't response as she carefully manoeuvred to sit on his lap. She attempted to get a reaction but he wasn't having it. As her hand went to his chest, he grabbed her wrist gently shaking his head as she got off as he stood up.

"Where you going?" Jackal laughed out as the woman moved her hands upon his shoulders.

"I'm tired." He lied. "Excuse me." Then pushed back the curtains heading out into the night.

It was strange how James just sat there in his car parked outside the familiar apartment. His fingers gripped the steering wheel as she looked forward. He could feel her presence. Feel her energy. Everything he loved about her was here.

Harper headed for her curtains but halted as she looked out onto the road. It was a car but she knew it, knew who it belonged to and for that moment she had hoped he had come back for her. But when she looked again, the car had disappeared from view. And that burst of hope soon diminished.

Two hearts spent a night alone from each other once again.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I do apologise if not a lot happens in this, it was more on about how Harper is coping. As you will know, I have published two chapters so enjoy! If you enjoyed this chapter, then please VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE! It really means a lot to me!!!

Thank you as ever

VAMPIREFANGSRULES

xxx