Harper's POV

The days leading up to Thursday were excruciatingly long but thankfully after a heated debate Angelo had agreed to let me come back to work , the thought of pacing around the house for 4 days with nothing to do didn't appeal to me what so ever. After I'd spent the night at Angelo's we spent the day together watching shitty daytime TV and talking about the Hotel and how on Wednesday we were going to visit the building site to check on the progress.

Going back to an empty house that night was hard , even though I was technically an adult I'd never been on my own before. There had always been someone there when I got in but not this time , I was completely alone and it was awful. Angelo had made it clear that I could stay with him until my nan got better but I needed to put some space between us.

Waking up in his bed that morning felt too good , being surrounded by the smell of his musky aftershave and body wash was pure heaven and the thought of him carrying me to bed made me think of what it'd be like to have him all to myself. It was getting harder and harder to supress my feelings for him , I had come to terms with the fact that I was practically besotted with one of my only friends who also now happened to be my boss.

Thankfully the only times during the week I was in close proximity to Angelo was Wednesday when we made the 30 minute trip to the building site. My hands itched to touch him , we hadn't been this close since I had basically passed out in his lap Saturday evening and I wanted nothing more than to have his arms around me again and my head buried in the crook of his neck.

By the time Thursday morning came around I could barely contain myself , my nans operation had been successful and they had managed to move her to the private clinic that Angelo had generously paid for. As soon as my mobile rang that morning I practically sprinted to the limo , I couldn't wait to get this day over and done with so I could go and see my nan.

"Morning boss" my voice is surprisingly cheery as I drop down into my usual seat in the limo. "Morning Harper, do you need a lift to the clinic later to see your nan?"

"If you don't mind , I had something to ask you anyway"

"Ask away" he turned his body slightly so he was facing me and as usual my heart fluttered when his eyes met mine. " I just wanted to ask whether you wanted to meet my nan or not , you're practically bank rolling her hospital treatment." He went silent for a moment, but then a heart-stopping smile appeared on his face. "I'd love to Harper , I've got a meeting at one o'clock and I should be out by three, so I'll take the rest of the day off and we can go then."

This man was making it much too hard for me not to fall in love with him.

As soon as we reached work I immediately threw myself into little tasks that needed doing that day , I wanted to be able to leave as soon as I could. It was a little after 1 o'clock and there was a knock at my office door. "Come in" I called from my place at the desk.

" I'm off to my meeting now Harper , I'm diverting all my calls to your office phone. Take notes of the important ones and as soon as I'm done we'll head of okay ?"

"Sounds good , before you go is there anything you need me to add to your planner for next week , I'm in the middle of doing it now ?"

" I don't think so , if I think of anything I'll let you know. I'll see you later."

" Enjoy your meeting" I called out as he left the office.

It didn't take me long to organise his planner for next week , for a business man he had quite a lot of time on his hands , the man barley had any meetings to go too. An hour into organising the office phone rang. "Angelo Deluca's office Harper speaking"

" Harper , it's Kelly one of the receptionists from down stairs. Just a warning you've got an extremely pissed of blonde bombshell on her way to your office."

Before I could even ask who the person on their way to my office was , my door burst open.

Stood in the doorway was a devastatingly beautiful woman who looked like she'd just come from London's fashion week. She was fully decked out in designer clothing , something I could only dream of doing. "Can I help you?" I still wasn't exactly sure who this woman was , but what I did know she looked absolutely seething. The woman's eyes roamed over my face and then down to the clothes I was wearing , I almost saw a ghost of a smirk appear on her face. I decided then and there I didn't like her , to hell with whoever she is.

" I think you might be able to, I'm looking for Angelo" her voice was sickeningly sweet.

"Do you have an appointment?" I reply, my eyes not leaving my computer screen.

" Not exactly , Angelo never minds when I drop by unannounced"

" Well he's currently in a meeting and won't be out until 3 and then he's off for the rest of the day , why don't you drop by tomorrow I'm sure he can make time for you then" I tried my best to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. The woman walked towards my desk , her perfectly manicured hands slamming down next to my keyboard.

"Listen here you; I suggest you pick that phone up this instant and call him. I'm an extremely busy person, and I don't like to be kept waiting by the likes of you" She hissed. Trying my best not to roll my eyes at angry Barbie, I picked up the phone and dialled Angelo.

"Hey , sorry to interrupt but there's someone in my office who wants to see you"

"Do you have a name for this person ?" his voiced was mixed with a slight chuckle that never failed to put a smile on my face. " He wants to know who's asking for him" I asked the woman who had thankfully taken a few steps away from my desk.

"Jessie, I'm his special friend" as soon as those words left her lips my heart sank.

" She said her names Jessie" the line was silent for a few moments.

" Harper would you be so kind as to tell Jessica to remove herself from the building and also tell her that I have blocked her number for a reason and if she ever comes near this building again there will be consequences, I'm sure she'll be familiar with them." His voice was clipped and to the point, almost emotionless.

"Will do , see you later"

After I relayed the message back to Jessica she was livid , to the point of where I thought she was going to explode. She turned on her heels and strutted out of my office not before shooting me a look that could have turned water into ice and slammed the door so hard that the walls shook. 

When I knew she was far away enough from the office I burst into an almighty fit of laughter. I'd never met anyone as ridiculous as this woman. It got me wondering who she was and how did Angelo know her. She didn't seem like the type of person that Angelo would associate himself with. 

They were polar opposites , he was calm and business like while she just seemed like a spoilt brat. I decided I'd grill Angelo on the whole situation when he came back from the meeting.

The rest of the afternoon was quite , I only had to deal with a few phone calls from other businesses who wanted to partner up with Angelo's for various projects. 

I hadn't ever considered myself wanting a job like this , I'd always thought office work was a complete bore but after working here for a while I had completely changed my mind. All these projects that Angelo's business were involved with interested me and I loved that I was able to have my own personal input and involvement in them.

By the time 3 o'clock rolled around I was practically bouncing out of my seat. I was completely packed up and all my work was done. It was just a waiting game for Angelo's meeting to finish. Moments later he strode through the door , looking slightly more tense that he had before he'd left for the meeting. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah , I'm all packed up. How was the meeting?"

Grabbing my stuff I made my way to where Angelo was stood In the doorway. "Full of Boring business stuff" , I was dying to ask who this Jessica girl was but I decided to wait until we got back to the limo. As soon as we ducked into the car and sat down I let loose.

"So, who's Jessica, and why did her angry self-burst into my office this afternoon?"

" I was debating on how long it would take you to ask about her , you waited longer than I thought you would"

" I just want to know why I had an extremely angry Barbie doll in my office , you don't have to tell me if you don't want to though"

"No it's fine , it's only right that you know. It's another story if you're up for it?"

I give him a small smile "I'm all ears"

"Jessica is my ex , we were together for a long time , My father and hers used to do a lot of business together that's how we met. I ended things shortly after my father died. I was in love with her , but it turned out that my love for her blinded me. I caught her sleeping with one of my senior board members and I ended things with her. She's always been a manipulative and needy person but I was too blind to see it. She's been calling non-stop and threatening to show up at the penthouse if I don't speak to her but I'm done with her , she's more trouble than she's worth."

"Oh wow that's rough, I'm sorry that she turned out to be such a bitch. No offence, I'm glad I've never had to deal with shit like that. I'm not about giving someone my heart to give them the ability to break it." A part of me was over the moon that Jessica and Angelo were a thing of the past, but I also felt sorry for him, no one deserves to be left heartbroken especially by someone they love.

"Does it hurt still thinking about her? Thinking about what the two of you could have been if things worked out differently?"

"No , not any more. Jessica is the type of person that seeks company from material possessions and will do anything to make sure she gets it , one day I hope she realises that shoes and jewellery can only make her so happy but she's going to have to learn that on her own"

The car fell silent , both of us lost in our own thoughts. I knew I'd been right to not like her earlier and now I didn't have to feel bad about disliking her.

I couldn't help letting the smile show on my face, I was finally going to see my Nan, and as it happened, I was introducing her to Angelo. A few minutes later, the car came to a stop outside a beautiful white building with an elegant sign that read Appleton's across the entrance. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I can't wait I've missed her so much. Are you sure you want to do this? You can wait in the car if you've changed your mind?"

"Of course I'm sure Harper, I'm honoured that you asked me to come and see your grandmother, I know how much she means to you."

We both left the car and made our way to the reception desk at the front of the building. "Hi, I'm here to see Penelope carter. I'm Harper Dawson, her granddaughter."

"Your nan is in room 217, it's down the corridor on the left, and it's the last door on the right, a nurse will be in shortly to discuss her progress." The receptionist gives me a genuine smile. "Thank you for your help."

Angelo and I made our way down the corridor and towards the room that my Nan was in. This was nothing like a normal hospital , it was bright and airy. It didn't have a normal hospital feel too it and I was glad , the thought of my nan in a bleak and dismal hospital depressed me. I tentatively nocked on the door and waited for an answer. "Come in" my nan's voice floated through the door and I almost burst through the door.

"Hi Nan" my voice came out in a small whisper , I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. "Harper dear , how are you?"

"Don't worry about me, how are you? How have you been?" I walked over to the chair beside her bed, and Angelo followed behind me. " I've been okay, I'm a bit uncomfortable with the pain in my hip, but I'm on the mend."

"I'm glad you're doing well. I'd like you to meet my friend Angelo. He's the one who got you moved here so they could keep a better eye on you."

My nan's eyes scanned Angelo and then turned to me and smiled. "It's nice to meet you Angelo I'm glad my Harper has finally made a friend. I'm not sure how to thank you for paying for my treatment but I suppose I could start by inviting you round for dinner once I'm better"

"I'd be honoured Mrs carter and it's my pleasure , Harper is a dear friend I'd do anything to make her happy."

The rest of the visit went well , the nurse had told us that my nan's wounds were healing well and that she could go home in as little as two weeks. Saying goodbye was hard but Angelo had assured me that we'd both come back to visit tomorrow if my Nan was feeling up to it.

"Thank you for taking me to see my Nan, Angelo. I appreciate it."

"It's my pleasure, Harper; You look much happier now that you've seen her."

"I am, it's difficult not seeing her every day."

"I understand, I've got a surprise for you at the end of the week I'm sure it will improve your mood even more."

"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me?"

"Defiantly not, you'll just have to wait."

A/N

Sorry it's so late ! Writers block is a bitch 😫
I hope you enjoy the chapter & please remember to vote and comment ❤️