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*THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED*

Harper groaned into her pillow. Why did her head hurt? And what happened last night? She couldn't remember how on earth she got into bed. One second, she was dancing with him. And then the rest, well it was a blur. At least the bed is so comfy, she thought to herself, as she stretched herself out like a starfish.

Harper sat up, startled as looked down at herself noticing she was wearing a white t-shirt and huge navy blue shorts. She glanced around the room to find last night's dress was neatly folded across the back of the chair opposite the vanity mirror. How on earth did she manage to change herself?

Swinging her legs off the bed, Harper headed to the door, exiting out into the corridor and heading towards the lounge room. There was not a sound or sight of another human being until she jumped in fright feeling a breeze hustle behind her. She turned around, startled once again at the sight of him standing there. He was completely shirtless. Nothing but a loose pair of grey joggers hugging his lower body and barely hanging onto his toned hips. His brown locks were wet, droplets falling from each strand and cascading down onto his shoulders. It appeared he must have just come out of the shower and from the fact he held a white, cotton towel within his hands. Harper blinked a couple times trying to detach her eyes from the mountain of abs.

James cleared his throat, before he teased. "Never seen a half-naked man before?" He walked past her heading to the penthouse kitchen where he continued over to the fridge to collect a bottle of orange juice.

Harper felt a surge of redness occupy her cheeks as she bit down onto her lip.

"You better get yourself ready, we have an appointment at two o'clock with Walter," he added casually as he shook the bottle of orange juice.

"Y-yes, er, can I ask you something?" Harper piped up.

"Yeah, what?"

"Did I get drunk last night?"

James smiled to himself. "Yes, you did. I think you must have had too many of the champagne. I'm surprised you were able to walk back to the lobby. I had to help you most of the way. Not...really professional, Miss Daniels," he said, amusement surging throughout his tone.

"Oh, I-I apologise, Mr Brewer—did I—I mean, I don't remember changing last night," Harper stuttered, "Did you?"

"Yes," he said matter of flatly. "I did. But don't worry, I was careful not to look," he looked up, a playful glint within his eyes. "I couldn't have the dress all creased. Samuels is going to return it today."

"I-I think I'm going to take a shower," she muttered, a little dazed as she turned around. She wasn't quite sure how to take in that vital bit of information. He had unchanged her. Wasn't that a bit bad? Against company policy? And damn, she wasn't wearing a bra so, again, major. Harper crossed her arms across her chest feeling a little self-conscious as she headed into her room.

After standing under the shower head for about fifteen minutes trying desperately to calm her thoughts, Harper jumped in fright as she heard the bathroom door open before through the glass, spotting her boss, entering her en-suite.

"Hey!" she screamed, fighting to cover herself with her hands. "What are you doing in here?"

"Won't be a second," he said casually, ignoring her plea as he searched through the mirror cabinet.

"This is totally inappropriate!" she snapped, "I'm in the shower!"

"I can see that," he replied, a playful tone accompanying his ignorance. "I'm just borrowing something. I'm out of stock in mine."

"You can't just walk in here like you own the place! I could have you done for this!" Harper yelled, cowering even back into the shower.

"Ah, got it," he piped up, closing the cabinet. Then he coolly turned around, grabbed the towel off the toilet seat and held it out. Harper snagged it from his hands quickly as she wrapped it around her torso. She then switched off the shower and stood there with fury written across her face.

The silence between them could have been sliced in half by a knife.

"Do YOU mind?" she said through clenched teeth.

"I'm going, I'm going," he sang, holding his hands in surrender as he left.

~~~

Harper was humiliated. However, she was also strangely sitting in the SUV when she should have been reporting him for indecency. She was so confused how he had meandered so calmly into her bathroom without a fleeting thought of 'I shouldn't being doing this'. And how submissive she was being by allowing it to just be as it is. A feminist would be pulling their hair out with frustration if they ever knew this. And they had the right!

"Miss Daniels, I must kindly apologise again for my intrusion. A mistake I will not allow to happen again," she heard him say beside her. It didn't sound genuine, it sounded like he found it very funny.

All morning she had ignored him. She knew she had every right to. If she wanted, she could go to the press, report him, tell her story. But instead, here she was, folding her arms across her chest and looking out the window like a child. He was finding this amusing, she knew that. She had seen how he had smirked here and there; she could hear the amusement throughout his tone. He was an arrogant, selfish and conceited man. Was this what women liked? Did they like an ass? A man who seemed to care for no boundaries? No decency? Was this what the 21st woman had to resist against? Forget his charming looks, he was a dick. Maybe, she needed to quit her job.

"Miss Daniels?"

Harper frowned as she turned to him. "Mister Brewer, I'm ignoring you because what you did this morning was inappropriate. So, excuse me—wait, no, I have every right to be mad at you."

"And mad you should be," he replied, clearing his throat. "I shouldn't have done it."

Harper paused at what seemed to sound a tad genuine. No, no, she told herself. Don't let him fool you.

"I mean it," he added, "hopefully we can get back onto speaking terms." Then he turned his attention towards Samuels who was sat in the driving seat, blissfully either unaware or deliberately acting as if there weren't drama going on in the backseat. "Let's head off. You have the address, right?"

"Yes, sir," Samuels reported back to him.

Walter Jefferson seemed to love to impress his clients and partners from showing off his riches. After driving for about 20 minutes around the city, they arrived at a conference centre that spoke money. From its neat manicured mini grassed areas and towering water fountain in the centre, it was no surprise he had chosen this place for their meeting.

They climbed out of the SUV as Samuels parked up outside the centre. Already they could see the podgy man, that was Walter Jefferson, in the reception area, badgering to whoever on his phone. James took lead with Harper following after.

"Ah, you're here," Walter announced, sliding his phone into his pocket. They shook hands firmly before following Walter's lead into the one of the many of conference rooms.

"Right, let's talk business then," he added, snapping his fingers to usher his assistant to attend to his needs. "Get us some water and tell them to sort out the air conditioning in here, it's too cold." The young assistant dashed off, offering a sympathetic smile as they passed Harper, fully well knowing they were alike in the matter.

"So, I believe you're happy with the terms, the equity, right?" James said, sitting at the end of the oval table.

"Well, yes...but I've been offered an alternative deal," Walter replied, clicking his tongue at the roof of his mouth.

Harper stood off, holding the contract within her hands, watching as the scene unfolded between them.

"Who?" James asked.

"Ethan Donovan."

She could see James flinch at the sound of his name rolling out Walter's lips.

"He made a better return. More equity offered. And his company are rolling out in more countries to gather better oil supply," Walter added casually, dismissing his assistant as they returned with a glass jug of water and three empty glasses.

"But we had a deal-" James began to object.

"And we still do-only, I'd like to speak in confidentiality," he muttered, his eyes flicking to Harper as a silent cue. James turned catching onto this as he politely asked Harper to leave, leaving the two men alone in the conference room.

"So, what?" James asked with some vexation. "What could I possibly offer to persuade you to invest. You know Ethan Donovan is nothing but a fool. His plan of action is silly. Half of those countries he's planning to mine have internal conflict- they are not going to agree to western intervention."

Walter Jefferson nodded, seemingly distant to James' argument. "Ah, ah, let's not tilly tatter. I'll agree to invest if in exchange I get—"

"Good returns?" James inputted, "You will."

"Yes but I want something else."

"What?"

Walter Jefferson's smile seemed malicious as he paused for a second or two before announcing. "The girl," he muttered darkly.

"What?" James said, perplexed. "What do you mean the girl?"

"Your assistant, whatever, she is called," he said amused. "I'll take her on. I could do with a personal assistant like her. A woman so—"

"You're out of your mind," James snapped as he stood up out of his chair. "I do not want to know what you're implying but I'm calling this off."

"Oh, James," Walter sang, "Come on. We're men of business. What's it to you? I'll invest triple."

"And have her as one of your trophies? I know about you, Walter. We're done," James spat as he stormed off to the door.

"Suit yourself!" he heard Walter call after him.

Harper had been stood outside by the water cooler next to the male assistant working for Walter. They had said a word or two before what seemed a quick agreement, came with a furious James exiting the room and ushering Harper to follow. Quick on her feet, she bid the assistant goodbye and followed James.

"Is everything okay? Did he sign the contract?" she asked.

"No, it's not. Scrap the contract. Take it out off our agenda," he replied, anger consuming every inch of his tone.

"O-Okay," she said, sighing a little to herself as it dawned on her how pointless this weekend had been.

James got into the SUV without another word, fury appearing to eat him from the inside as Harper wearily sat beside him. Samuels was instructed to drive on.

"Are you okay?" Harper felt to ask, a little unsure what had taken his attention.

"I'm fine."

He didn't say anything for around forty minutes of the journey until Samuels reported to him, they needed fuel. As soon as they reached the petrol station, James got out. From the window, Harper watched as he headed further afield from the station to the patchy field of grass and hastily took out his phone to speak to whoever. He seemed pissed off. Harper could see Samuels had a way to go and wouldn't really leave until James returned to the SUV, so she got out.

As she headed over to James, she could hear his anger but was unable to decipher what he was exactly saying.

"It's a fucking mess! The man is a predator!" she heard him spit.

Then with surprise, she watched as he launched his phone with frustration into the grassy area. "Fuck you!"

"Are-are—"

""What!" He shouted turning quickly around on her feet, making her flinch.

"I just wanted to check if you were okay."

"I'm—" he sounded defeated as he ran his right hand through his hair. "I'm fine, Miss Daniels. I just needed some air."

"Do you want me to get your phone?" she asked.

"No, just leave it. I'll arrange for a new one," he said, dismissing it.

She wasn't sure what to say then. It was a little awkward especially when she'd just witnessed him going full on mad rage. It didn't stop her curiosity. You didn't have to be no Einstein to realise it had something to do with the deal. Maybe the offer was crap. Who knew?

"Look, I'm sorry. This weekend has been a complete waste of time for you, Miss Daniels," he piped up. "Monday you're more than welcome to come in an hour later." Then he walked off heading back to the SUV, hands in his trousers pockets as he left behind his mobile device somewhere hidden in the grass.

Harper stood there for a second or two, confused. Whatever had gone on in there?

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