Harper's POV

My mind was racing, and my heart was pounding. I tried my best to gather my thoughts as I crawled into bed but failed miserably. All I could concentrate on was Angelo, his words swarmed around my mind and the warm tingling sensation I got when I grabbed his hand and again when our legs were pressed together in the limo still ran through my body.

You intrigue me, Harper. Those four simple words had continued to run through my head on a loop since they left Angelo's lips. The way he looked at me, those beautiful blue eyes radiating raw emotion caused a fire inside me to ignite, and I was scared that this feeling would only begin to grow more intense as time progresses. 

The tension I felt between us throughout the evening could've been sliced with a knife, and it only got worse when we were inside the limo in such close proximity to each other along with our legs touching, it was almost painful. The tension was almost too much to handle. Images of me sat in his lap locked in an embrace with his mouth trailing hot kisses down my neck had invaded my thoughts during the journey home. I hope he didn't notice the blush I felt spread over my cheeks.

The image of his piercing blue eyes was something I'd never be able to erase from my mind. Angelo, in his own right, was undeniably gorgeous but there was something about his eyes. The way they were always full of unspoken emotions, I noticed the way they get slightly darker and his gaze feels more intense when something bothers him. The man was genuinely hypnotic.

My mind drifts to what had happened earlier that night. Our long conversations about anything we could think of, the intense gaze that pulled me towards him at the beginning of the evening and the feeling that coursed through my veins when I grabbed Angelo's hand to lead him through Opal. 

The whole night was full of untold emotion that I was scared to confront. Yes, I was attracted to Angelo, what sane person wouldn't be. However, I'd just met the man, and I had priorities that I needed to put first before pursuing a relationship with a man that I barely know anything about, I don't even know if he feels the same way about me.

Managing to drag myself from my bed, I change out of my work uniform. The scent of Angelo's aftershave clung to the material due to our proximity in the limo. I was throwing on a baggy t-shirt as I made my way back to bed to try and rest. I doubt sleep would come easy to me tonight, not with all the thoughts of Angelo running through my mind, every time I closed my eyes all I could see were his hypnotic blue eyes looking back at me, however after a few hours of tossing and turning I finally managed to fall asleep.

I must have slept awkwardly when I finally woke up my neck was stiff. I groaned running a hand through my hair a trait I exhibit when I was particularly frustrated with something. Nothing about last night's sleep had been rest full, after spending over two hours trying to get my mind to shut off and let me sleep, greeted with the dream version of Angelo Deluca. 

I just couldn't get him out of my mind, granted he looked devastatingly perfect shirtless, even if it was just a figment of my imagination. I needed to stop torturing myself thinking about this man who probably only wants to use me as a plaything until he gets bored and moves on to some other naïve girl.

I make a vow to myself, from now until Tuesday I will not think about Angelo what so ever. I can't let the first man I've ever been seriously interested in completely take over my mind and cause me to ruin what I've worked so hard for. I'm not being that girl that's fascinated with some handsome man who pays her the teeniest bit of attention and goes and starts planning their wedding and naming their three future children.

 I have school to think about, exams to pass and a Grandmother to support. I need to get my priorities straight, and at the moment, Angelo isn't one of them. I push all thoughts of him to the back of my mind, where he'll stay until I know what to do with the situation.

I roll my neck a few times trying to relieve some of the stiffness and decide that I was going to spend my Sunday lounging around the house and spending some time with my nan. It felt like it had been weeks since we both spent the day in the living room watching trashy day time TV, with the extra hours I'd been doing in Opal along with the gruelling revision and homework regime I had set myself I felt like I'd barley seen her at all. 

Making my way downstairs and into the kitchen, I found my usual Nutella on toast and steaming black coffee waiting for me on the table. I don't know how she does that. I hear my nan laughing at something on the TV, so I inhale my toast and bring my coffee into the living room to join her.

"Morning dear" my nan greets me as I walk through the living room door, stepping over to her I kiss her on the cheek. "Morning, what's on TV" I reply as I flop down in one of the arm chairs and wrap my grandads favourite blanket around me. "Some trashy program with lots of people shouting at each other, it's quite entertaining".

With that, we spent most of the day lounging about skipping between channels when we couldn't decide what to watch, at around 4 pm we decided to put a documentary on about Britain's most dangerous serial killers, my nan's decision, not mine sometimes I forget that she's a little old lady.

I must have dropped off some time into the documentary as I woke up to my nan, placing a warm bowl of chicken and sweetcorn soup in front of me. I smiled at her as I rubbed my eyes and started to eat as I mumbled the best thank you manageable while trying to eat my food. I'd always loved my nans cooking especially after her, and my grandad took me in after my parents died the large bowls of chicken and sweetcorn soup and quality time with both her and my grandad helped me come to terms with what had happened.

I groaned as I realised I had to be up for school in the morning, I made a conscious decision to go to bed relatively early and for once not show up to school feeling and looking like a member of the living dead. At around 9 pm, I made my way up to my room to take a long hot shower to prepare for whatever hell I was going to face tomorrow. It was nearing the end of October, and my exams were in a few months I was looking forward to the whole process being over, I could finally relax until I had to start looking for full-time employment, but that could wait. After drying my hair, I put a new t-shirt on and got into bed.

♡--Tuesday--♡

Today had come around way too fast. I was standing in front of my bedroom mirror applying the finishing touches to my hair and makeup; subconsciously I knew I'd tried to make myself look nice for Angelo. My hair curled perfectly, and my make-up was Smokey and sexy, not the usual subtle approach I took. I'd managed to not think about Angelo since Sunday, I was proud at the accomplishment, but now he was all I could think about. The noise from my phone alerted me to the car waiting for me outside. I took a deep breath, grabbing my phone and purse. I made my way downstairs.

Angelo DeLuca's POV

It had been two days since I'd last seen Harper, I'd tried my best to get the image of her out of my head, but I couldn't. The woman was intoxicating, my hands itched to touch her, but I knew I'd have to wait, she wasn't the type of girl that would give herself up easily. I knew I'd have to do this properly; this wasn't going to be the same as mine and Jessica's relationship. I was going to make Harper realise that I was worth her time. I was willing to devote myself to this one woman; the thought scared me slightly I'd thought the same about Jessica for a long time I didn't want to feel that level of emotional pain again.

I'd been ready for over an hour, for the past 45 minutes I'd been pacing around the Penthouse I'd never been this nervous to see a girl before. However, this wasn't just a normal girl; it was Harper, the only girl that's ever made me feel this way before. This one woman had single handily dragged me out of the darkness I had surrounded myself in for the past six months and placed me in the light. I'd be dammed if I didn't do everything in my power to make her realise how perfect she is.

Five minutes later, a text from Craig came through telling me he was outside and ready to take me to Opal. The car ride was torturous, even though it was a short 15-minute drive away from the club I already knew Harper would've started her shift by now, the thought of another man talking to her let alone touching her was making me feel murderous. I don't know what it was that made me feel so protective over Harper, the girl was more than capable of handling herself, but there was something deep inside me that had this need to make sure she was safe at all times. What is she doing to me? I'm losing my mind.

Pulling up outside Opal, I made my way to the front of the line, flashing my membership card at the bouncers before making my way through the club towards the executive suite, towards Harper. Walking through the door, I was pleased to see that Harper was stood off to the side, waiting for something to do. Walking over to the booth we occupied last time I saw her, I motioned for her to come over.

"Fancy seeing you here," I say as she slides into the booth opposite me. She looked different tonight; her make-up was more dramatic; it made her look older, more exotic.

"Would you like a drink, Angelo?" Harper asks, the way my name sounded as it rolled off her tongue made me shudder, I did my best to suppress a groan I felt trying to escape my lips, she was driving me mad. "What we had last time would be fine Harper, thank you," I say keeping my eyes locked onto hers. "Your wish is my command Mr Deluca" she replied as she gracefully slides out of the booth and walks over to collect our drinks. 

I'd only sat with her for a short while, and I could already feel my self-control slipping, her smart remarks and the way she swayed her hips as she walked to collect our drinks were almost enough to push me over the edge.

When Harper returned, she skilfully pored both of our drinks and sat back into the chair, one of her brows lifted slightly. I knew she wanted to know why we were sat here again, and I planned on telling her tonight, it was make or break time, and I just hoped that she'd give this a chance.

"I can see you trying to figure out what you're doing sat here again Harper" I began chuckling slightly at her confused expression " as I said, you intrigue me, Harper, I want to get to know you, spend time with you outside of Opal as friends, of course. I feel different when I'm with you make me feel like myself again; it's refreshing to be with someone that doesn't see me as a walking bag of money. You see the real me, the real Angelo. I don't have many people. I can call a friend Harper, but I'd like you to be one of them".

It wasn't what I wanted to say to her, but I couldn't just dive in at the deep end without testing the waters first, I wanted to get to know her. The real Harper, not the version of her I see in Opal, hopefully, in the end, she may feel the same way about me, and I could finally have her all to myself. It was going to be torture having to be friends with someone that you wanted to lock in your bedroom and make them scream your name until the early hours of the morning, but I had to be patient, I was going to do this properly.

For the rest of the night, we spoke about whatever came to mind. I told her how the plans for the new hotel in the middle of London were coming along fine and that I hoped to start the construction of it in June once the builders had ordered the materials they would need for the massive project. Harper then went on to talk about how much she despises maths, it made me chuckle all these little facts about her may seem pointless, but I would remember them all because they were about her.

Towards the end of the night I could see she was starting to get tired, she struggled to keep her eyelids open, but every time I asked her if she was okay, she insisted she was fine. "Do you have school tomorrow?" I asked, my heart clenched knowing that she'd only be getting a few hours' sleep, to then wake up again and spend 6 hours in school. "Yeah" she replied sleepily, trying to disguise another yawn "my shift ends soon as soon as I get home I'll go to sleep and be right as rain in the morning, it's nothing a little coffee can't fix honestly".

"Harper?"

"Yes, Angelo?" she replied, even when she was half asleep, she still managed to send tremors down my spine every time she said my name. "My drivers on his way, let me take you home, I want to make sure you get back safely" I silently hoped that she'd say yes. A few moments passed, and she looked up at me, her perfect green eyes meeting mine. Even when she was on the verge of falling asleep she still looked perfect; it made me wonder what it would feel like to wake up next to this exquisite woman every morning, my arms wrapped around her waist as her head rests on my chest, Harper's reply pulled me out of my thoughts.

"A lift home would be lovely, thank you, Angelo, let me just go and get my things I won't be long" she slid out of the booth as I watched her walk towards the room where she stored her things. Downing the rest of my drink I waited for her to come back, as she was about to reach my side a text came through from Craig to tell me that he was outside and waiting for us. This time instead of Harper grabbing my hand to lead us through the club I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close to me as we walked towards the front door, the central part of the club was thankfully empty making it easy for us to get to our car.

I watched Harper climb into the back of the limo as I quickly told Craig that we would need to drop harper home before I returned to the penthouse; after that, I climbed in after her. By the time id gotten into the limo she was already lent up against the window fast asleep, her thick lashes fanned out across her cheeks, she looked mesmerising. I took the opportunity to add my number into her contact list, thankfully her phone didn't have a password, and I sent myself a text, so I could save her number once I got home.

Once we pulled up outside her house, I gently coaxed her awake; she tried slapping my hand away a few times mumbling about how she wanted five more minutes rest. "Harper, you're home you've got to wake up" I whispered as I gently shook her arm. This time it worked, and she sleepily sat up brushing the hair out of her eyes when she realised where she looked shocked. "I-I'm so sorry, Angelo, I didn't mean to fall asleep I just -". 

I cut her off her "don't apologise Harper its nearly quarter to 5 in the morning; any normal person would be fast asleep by now". I got out of the car and opened the door for her, as she stepped out of the car she did something that surprised me, she wrapped her arms around my waist and gave me a little hug.

"Goodnight Angelo, thank you for the ride home," she said sleepily, and with that, she turned around and walked towards her house. "Goodnight Harper" I whispered, I knew she wouldn't be able to hear me she was too far away, the small act of a simple hug had left me spell bound. If this were to be the last night of my life, I'd die a happy man.

A/N

I hope you enjoy this chapter it was a really fun one to write 😋& remember to vote and comment your support means everything to me ❤️

I'm looking forward to writing next weeks chapters, Fridays one is going to be BIG and full of drama so remember to add Day and Night to your library, so you don't miss out 😊❤️