Harper's POV

I was stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom critiquing my appearance, I had struggled to tame my hair in the end giving up on straitening the monstrosity and settling for loose curls. My eyes were slightly glittery, and my eyelashes had been curled and my false ones applied.

It had been a few days since Angelo had seen my dressed up like this. When we usually spend time together my hair was piled on top of my head in a bun and my face clear from any make up, a part of me wanted to show him the part of me that wasn't plain and simple I wanted him to see my sexy and sophisticated side not just the side of me that wore baggy jumpers and skinny jeans. I pulled out my phone from my purse to check if Angelo was still meeting me at the club tonight.

To: Angelo

From: Harper

You still coming tonight?

His reply was almost instant, it made my heart flutter.

From: Angelo

To: Harper

Of course, I'll see you soon

I tried to find any hidden meaning behind his text, anything that may indicate that he might feel the way I do, but I found none it was a simple message between friends. That's all we were, friends. The though depressed me slightly but I knew that a simple girl like me didn't deserve the love and affection from the likes of Angelo Deluca.

Angelo was the type of man that will end up falling in love with a woman with good breeding who's undergone years of training to become the perfect socialite and wife to a man with as much power as Angelo. I on the other hand would be classed as lucky to even be in the same room as the man let alone class him as a friend. The ping from my phone alerted me to the car waiting outside and I smiled, the thought of spending time with Angelo made me feel warm inside.

I made my way down stairs and out towards the car waiting for me. A wave of fear washed over my body and I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself before I got into the car. I sat back in the cool leather seat and tried to push the feeling of impending doom to the back of my mind but something in my gut told me that something was seriously wrong. I masked the uncomfortable feeling with a smile as I made my way inside the club, making my way to the executive suit I sat down at the booth me and Angelo usually occupied and waited for him to arrive.

It was 2 hours into my shift and there'd been no sign of Angelo. The anxiety I had felt earlier had only increased and I worried that something bad had happened to him. Calm down he probably had a meeting. Or he forgot about you and is with another woman ... my subconscious was really a massive bitch, I knew Angelo would never ditch me for someone. A bitter taste appeared in my mouth as reality set in, we were just friends so if he decided to blow off us spending time together to see someone else it shouldn't bother me, but it did. I was desperate to get my hands on my phone, to know the reason why he was so late. Another ugly thought appeared in my brain, maybe he had just forgotten about me, maybe I wasn't that important to him after all.

I tried to occupy myself serving other people in the suite, I need to take my mind of Mr no show. I wasn't angry I was just upset that he didn't tell me. I'd glance over at the clock every few minutes to see if it had moved drastically since I'd last looked, it hadn't all I could think about was checking my phone, he might be in trouble or hurt. Stop being so morbid Harper pull yourself together, you have a job to do. The logical part of me was right, I have a job to do. I put on my best 'hello sir, how can I help you' smile and made my way round all the tables offering the men scattered around the suite top-ups for whatever they were drinking.

After I pulled myself together, my shift went pretty fast, the men in the suite kept me on my toes with their constant refills. As soon as the clock hit 1 I made my way to the locker room to check my phone. Walking down the corridor someone calling my name caused me to turn around. "Jesus Harp, you walk so fast" Jack panted as he caught up to me.

"Sorry, Jack, is everything okay? I replied, trying not to laugh at the worn-out man.

"I was going to ask you the same thing, no Deluca tonight?" he asked with his eyebrow raised. Shit, I really don't want to have this conversation with anyone let alone Jack.

"Nope, I think he's busy tonight and don't look at me like that were just friends"

"Whatever you say Harp, just don't get hurt okay? oh and your car's waiting out the front for you, I'll see you soon".

With that, Jack turned and walked towards his office; I had to stop myself from sprinting to the room where I kept my phone. Pulling my phone out of the locker, I unlocked it to see if I had any missed calls or texts from Angelo to tell me why he hadn't shown up. There was nothing, no calls or texts my phone was as dry as the Sahara Desert. I shoved my phone back inside my purse and decided that wallowing in self-pity wasn't on the menu for me tonight, I had school in the morning, so I decided that a quick shower and a somewhat early night would be the best thing for me.

As soon as I got home I made my way into my bathroom, throwing my hair up into a messy bun I stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash away all the stress of the evening. After I'd showered I felt slightly better than I did before, I went to the drawer beside my bed and pulled out a baggy top and a pair of shorts and climbed into bed. I put my head phones in and let the music playing lull me into a deep sleep.

A loud buzzing pulled me out of my sleep; I opened my eyes slightly to see who'd interrupted my sleep, my heart skipped a beat when I read the name that had flashed up on the screen, Angelo. I debated for a second whether answering the phone would be a good idea, but my self-control wasn't a strong point, so I answered the call.

"what do you want Angelo, it's 2 in the morning I was asleep" I hissed down the phone, I felt bad for snapping at him, but I was tired and still slightly upset that he didn't show up tonight."Harper, where are you?" Angelo's voice came through the speaker in a slur , I knew the man drank but I'd never heard him drunk before. 

"I'm in bed Angelo, it's late I've got school in the morning, what do you want". I heard him shuffling about, it sounded like he was walking on gravel. My heart rate quickened, what was he doing walking about outside at 2 in the morning on his own.

"Angelo, where are you?" I asked, trying not to let the worry show in my voice.

"At the penthouse I think"

"Angelo why did you call me", I didn't know how to feel. The man had drunk dialled me and the thought that he might have been thinking of me caused my heart to flutter but it swiftly stopped when I realised that I might just be in the long line of girls he'd drunkenly called tonight.

"Please come to me Harpurr I need you, I feel so alone." A choked sob cake from Angelo's lips and at that moment a part of me broke, it was one of the most heartbreaking sounds I think I've ever heard.

"Shh Angelo it's okay give me your address, and I'll come to you, okay I promise, you're not alone you have me" I was rushing around my room trying to find a pair of shoes not caring that I still had my pyjamas on.

"Do you think you can tell me your address, Angelo, so that I can get to you?" I was hoping he wasn't too far gone and that he'd remember his address so I could get to him.

"Umm think so I'll send it to you now".

For a few short moments I thought he might have passed out on me and I'd never get to him, but then my phone vibrated, it was Angelo's address. Thank god.

"Angelo I'm putting the phone down, so I can call a taxi to get to you okay?"

"Hurry" was the last thing I heard before the phone line went dead.

My mind went into overdrive. I had to get to Angelo, I'd never heard a person sound that desperate and sad before. A tear slid down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away, whatever was wrong with him I had to be strong, I had to get to him and make sure he was okay. I rang the only taxi firm I could remember and prayed that they could get to me soon.

"Hi, I'd like a taxi from 21 Blossom Hill Avenue to the Majestic Hotel please". After the call It was a waiting game, they said they'd be here as soon as possible but every minute I was left waiting felt like an eternity to me.

Finally, I got a text to say that the taxi was outside waiting for me, grabbing the nearest jacket I could find and grabbing my purse I ran downstairs and outside towards the taxi. I sent Angelo a text to let him know that I was on my way to him.

To: Angelo

From: Harper

I'm on my way, don't go anywhere.

The ride to Angelo's hotel was excruciatingly long, in reality, it was only a 20-minute journey, but it felt like an eternity. I hadn't heard from Angelo since the phone call, and I was seriously starting to freak out. When the taxi stopped outside the majestic, I threw the money at him and sprinted into the hotel's reception area.

If I was here any other day I'd be in awe of the beauty that surrounded me in the hotels foyer, but I needed to get to Angelo. I knew I looked out of place with my baggy shirt and vans but all that mattered at the moment was Angelo and whether he was okay or not.

I made my way over to the lift and pulled out my phone to see what floor I needed for Angelo's suite. Penthouse room 1001, I pressed the button with the large P printed on it and hoped that would take me to Angelo's floor. I was in luck when the lift came to a stop I stepped out into a large hallway that thankfully only had two doors. I found the door that belonged to Angelo and my anxiety peaked.

My legs felt like jelly, and my palms were clammy, I didn't know what I was going to be met with on the other side of the door. Angelo's choked sobs had been playing in my head non-stop since our phone call, and I knew that I had to grow a pair and open the door because Angelo needed me.

 I took a deep breath and prayed that the door was open. Thankfully it was, I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't. The sight that greeted me when I walked into Angelo's penthouse was breath taking, the entire first floor was an open planned master piece and had a breath taking grey, and white colour scheme and the kitchen was something a Micheline star chef would be envious of. 

I walked further into the room, and I still couldn't see Angelo but something on the floor caught my eye and it was like my heart had stopped beating completely the moment my brain registered what it was.

Blood, little droplets of the red liquid were scattered across the marble floor. I couldn't breathe what if something had happened to him, hot silent tears ran down my cheeks at the thought. I walked further into the penthouse and that's when I saw him. 

Angelo was slumped up against the sofa surrounded by shattered glass and an empty bottle of whisky. The sight broke my heart, the powerful man that I knew the one that had the whole of London at his disposal was currently a drunken mess and I had no idea how to fix it. I ran over to him and realised where the blood was coming from. Angelo's hands were covered in cuts some worse than others, his usually crisp suite was rumpled but It was his eyes that broke me the most they were glassy and vacant not and not their usual hypnotic blue that never failed to make my heart rate quicken.

He looked broken, but I knew I had to get him up of the floor and clean up his hands. "Angelo can you stand up I need to get you up on the sofa so that I can sort your hands out."

"Harper?" Angelo murmured

"I'm here Angelo it's okay everything's going to be fine, but I need you to help me. I can't get you up on the sofa on my own". I bent down and wrapped my arms around him, and with a lot of effort, I managed to get him up and onto to sofa where he promptly slumped back down in his drunken state. 

I walked over to the kitchen and after a few moments rummaging around his cupboards I found a medium-sized bowl and filled it with warm water I brought some kitchen roll back into the living room with me and set it down on the floor beside the sofa. I then realised where all this glass had come from, a metal frame that resembled a coffee table lay in the corner of the room stripped of any glass. 

"Oh Angelo" I mumbled softly as I brought my attention back to his hands. I gently picked up both of his hands before I started bathing them, I picked out all the small shards of glass from his skin the best I could and then began bathing them in the warm water to remove the dried up blood. Angelo mumbled incoherently throughout the process but by the time I had finished he'd nearly fallen asleep.

I debated whether or not just to leave him there to sleep on the sofa, but I knew that he'd want to wake up in bed in the morning as he'd probably have the mother of all hangovers. 

"Angelo do you think you can stay awake long enough for me to help you get to your room?" I asked as I gently shook his arm. I prayed that it was on the first floor and I wouldn't have to haul him up a flight of stairs. "Think so, only down the corridor". 

Right this shouldn't be too hard, I wrapped his arm over my shoulder and placed my arm around his waist and after a few minutes of trying I managed to get him up on his feet. The steps we were taking were slow and it took nearly all of my energy to get Angelo to the direction of his room. 

Trying to open Angelo's bedroom door while trying to stop him from collapsing to the floor was a task in itself but I managed to do it and we both stumbled into the room.

I had been blessed with a minor miracle as I managed to slip the duvet down on Angelo's bed and helped him get into it and covered him back up. I knew sleeping in his shirt and trousers wouldn't be the most comfortable thing in the world, but I wasn't brave enough to strip him and put him in something more comfortable. 

After making sure Angelo was asleep, I made my way over to the bathroom to try and find the pain killers he'd desperately need in the morning. After a few minutes rummaging around in the cupboards, I found them and brought them back into the bedroom and placed them on the table beside his bed.

I knelt down beside his bed and placed my hand in his, tonight had been physically and emotionally draining and I still had no idea what had caused him to drink a bottle of whisky and smash up his coffee table. I looked up at the clock on his wall and I'd been here for just over an hour and a half. 

I decided that I'd clean up Angelo's living room before I made my way home. I got up from where I'd been kneeling but Angelo's hand gripped mine "Please stay, don't leave me" the quiet mumble came from Angelo.

I knew I couldn't stay there with him, but I almost gave In and sat back down next to his bed. "I can't stay, I'll be over to check on you once I've finished school, I promise" I gave his hand one last squeeze before leaving his room.

It didn't take me long to wipe all the blood splotches up and get rid of all the broken bits of glass in his living room but by the time I was done my body was aching and I was exhausted. It was 5 minutes to 4 when I found myself back in a taxi on my way home. Tonight, had been an emotional roller-coaster and I only hoped that Angelo would open up to me about what had happened tonight, I wanted to help him, but it was up to him to decide whether he'd let me in or not. 

The thought of him having something bothering him that much depressed me but by the time I got back to my nans house I was too exhausted to torture myself with the thought of Angelo anymore. I made my way up to my room and collapsed into bed, exhaustion taking over and pulling me into a restless sleep.

A/N

I had so much fun writing this chapter !
I hope you all enjoyed reading this update ❤️

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