James sat casually on his couch as he sipped from a glass of wine, the taste dancing upon his taste buds. He sighed as he flickered through the tv channels on the plasma tv upon his wall. It was way too early to be drinking but he couldn't resist not to.

"James, where's your bathroom again." A voice came from upstairs. James looked up to the top balcony of his first floor and sighed. "Just on your right. Don't be long, I need to go work." Taylor who was leaning over the banister, snorted rolling her eyes before skipping off to the bathroom still barely covered in his shirt. This was one of the reasons why he was drinking. Sleeping with woman seemed to be the only answer when he was drugged up about how he was feeling. He thought treating Harper harshly would have dissolved his feelings however instead the lush of not being able to hold her just sent him crazy, he was distracted by her. After yesterday, on the night he was so bundled up that he called over Taylor, slept with her but it did no good whatsoever. She had promised not to breathe a word to anyone, she had the apparent reason that she only wanted a good time. Ring her up anytime was her words.

What was wrong with him he thought. A month ago at least, he was a filthy rich billionaire player, slept with models and couldn't give a dam what the press thought of him. Now he was drawn to a woman that he would have never thought was his type and now trying to hopefully press a deal by keeping out of trouble with love scandals.

Taylor soon came springing down the stairs, her wrinkled sundress hardly leaving anything to her imagination as she pursed her lips reapplying her lip gloss.

"Swear none of this will go out to press." James said. She rolled her eyes putting on her denim jacket. "James, I never said a word that last time. Look, I won't be running to anyone soon. I told you, I come with no strings attached. Call me again." She said battering her eyelashes before heading for the door. Manny was coming out the kitchen headed over to James. "Not staying for breakfast?" James shook his head as Manny jerked her chin to the door where Taylor had exited out. "Are you okay, sir?" She asked as she picked up his empty glass. James nodded getting up."I'm fine, just call Samuels to get the car ready." Manny nodded, sighing as she shook her head. It was obvious to her, her boss was just as oblivious as it gets.

Harper was refilling the kettle in the kitchen of their apartment when she heard the patter of feet heading downstairs. She turned slightly, her smile deflating as she hoped it was Dani but rather was Duke. Since the nightclub, she had dodged from being specifically left alone with him,it had been difficult but she managed, now that failed. She held her breath waiting, daring not to turn her head around. Duke headed straight where she was, he moved his arm that brushed against hers trying to reach for a cereal box, Harper gasped stepping to the side in disgust, it felt like she had been touched by a lit match.

"Harper." He croaked, holding out his hands.

"No, Duke! Don't." She protested, as he tried to step forward. "Just don't even dare." Duke sighed in frustration before knocking off the cereal box that was on the counter onto the floor. Harper jumped back, her back hitting into the counter. The grains of cereal were spilt all over the floor, Duke threw his hands in the air before heading out the kitchen. "Screw this." He spat. Harper felt her eyes threaten with tears, she couldn't cope with this. Not only was she being messed about with these dam feelings, she hadn't got past what Duke tried to do. Was she a bad person for not forgiving him yet? Turning off the kettle she grabbed her bag off the side in the hallway and headed straight out the door even bypassing Dani who was coming downstairs probably from Duke's actions.

Harper climbed into the car starting the ignition, the tyres burning against the road surface as she headed onto the road. She drove going nowhere, didn't have a clue but stopped off on the curb near a park. Harper couldn't keep it in as the growing urge of crying fell upon her, she held her head into her arms upon the wheel steering. The feeling like she kept this all in. Even more so, now her boss was treating her like none of what happened the past weeks or the fact she played as his fake girlfriend didn't matter, he didn't want anything to do with her. Sniffling she used her sleeve from her cardigan to wipe away her tears, she looked in the rear mirror, she was grateful her mascara hadn't smudged yet.

"Come on Harper." She encouraged herself before starting the car again.

At his office, James was on the phone to Jackal who was praising him about no scandals yet posted out to the press.

"Yes, I do expect this till be kept up." He said on the phone. Nodding he played with a pen by rolling it on the desk, listening as Jackal on the other line went on about this deal could benefit both sides. There was knocking on the door before the door opened, he watched as Harper entered, her brown wavy hair bounced upon her shoulders as she stood in the centre waiting. He couldn't help to notice though how there appeared be redness below her eyes.

Harper looked to the window, her ears welcoming the sound of his infectious laugh. James ended the call putting his phone on the desk, before scratching the back of his ear. There was this awkward silence, she watched as he got up.

"Grab my jacket." He ordered, his arm stretched behind his head, the drooling effect it would have on many woman as his muscles teared through his shirt. Harper walked over grabbing his jacket specifically a peacoat off the cream couch before returning back to him. James turned around. "Hold it out for me." He said. Harper held the jacket out, the weight of it weighing down on her arms, James put his arm through as Harper held it up before sliding the other one in. Harper stepped back, the scent of his cologne lingering well. James coughed distracting how being so close to her now was driving him insane.

"I'm meeting someone downtown. I need you to sort out the conference room for my meeting at eleven. Before that though I have some more errands needing to be done. Here's the list." He said, grabbing a piece of paper on his desk and passing it to her. "Complete these, the first task is important for my meeting. That's all." He said before heading for the door. Harper sighed to herself inside before reading the paper. She had to some photocopying which was easier enough, then she had to ensure the inspector for health and safety came on time to evaluate the workshops. Then asking on each department for any issues of employees turning up late, ect. The list did go on after that, but instead of dwelling on how much work he had set her, she went about getting started on the few set of things to do.

By eleven, she had photocopied everything required, set up the conference room ensuring a glass jar of water and cups including excluding any snacks with nuts in for one of the guests. The department checks weren't as bad as she expected however by all of it she was exhausted. James entered back on the top floor removing his peacoat as he threw it carelessly onto her desk which caused her to jump. Harper got up picking it up as she hung it onto a hanger on the far wall near her desk. James headed straight for his office before halting.

"Miss Daniels, meeting has been called off." He informed her, then snapping his fingers. "Go tidy it up." Harper's forehead wrinkled as frowned to herself, she had spent most morning making that look the part ensuring she had followed every instruction, now she had to take it all down. She even had the struggle of moving the actual conference table around because on the plan he had set her, some of the visitors preferred a certain point of view. Harper trudged towards the lifts sighing as she rested her head against the cool surface. Then reaching the floor again to the conference room she spent the rest of the hour tidying up, even coming back with a scrape to her knee where she cut it on the edge of the table. Harper was so tired on her feet, that she slipped off her heels and fell to the floor as she lay her head onto the chair seat.

A knock on the door a few moments later frightened her from her relaxed composure, she didn't make on her feet in time as someone walked in. Loosing her feet, she nearly fell on her bottom before two hands caught her just in time. Harper looked up to her saviour, a genuine smile from Elliot who looked upon her. Helping her up, Elliot chuckled as he brushed his hands together. "Nearly a fall there. What was you even doing lying on the floor?" Harper rolled her eyes playfully. "Exhaustion got to me. I was resting for a while." Then she frowned. "And what are you doing here?"

Elliot looked bemused before pulling a chair out and ushering her to sit. "I was sent to see if the meeting was going on as planned." Harper shook her head smiling as she sat down.

"Ouch." He hissed shaking his head.

"What?" Harper insisted.

"Your leg. What did you do?" He asked studying it closer as he crouched down. Harper shook her head. "Its nothing. Scraped my knee. I'm fine." Elliot frowned. "No, your not. Wait here, there's a first aid kit on every floor, I'll go get it." Harper insisted she was fine but Elliot had only returned with a green box labelled with first aid kit out ready to mend her leg.

She didn't realise how bad it would sting when he applied anti-septic. He dabbed it gently and smirked as he looked up to Harper who was gritting her teeth. "You okay?" He asked. Harper all by nodded as she dung her nails into the chair legs. Then he removed it ,adding only but a middle sized plaster.

"Thank you." Harper smiled. Elliot grinned patting the plaster down to ensure its tight, until he stood as a presence by the door entered in.

"What's going on here? Miss Daniels, I expected you to be in my office a while back ago." James declared, his eyes piercing towards Elliot who was wiping his hands together. Harper stuttered on her words as James pointed a accusation at Elliot. "Get out here, before I consider firing you now." Elliot nodded offering a sympathetic smile at Harper before going out. Harper got up off her seat as she met face to face with her demanding boss.

"What was that all about?" He spat. "You were so far busy getting cosy in here, that you forgot the inspector was coming, it took me a while to get someone else to go and I find you here devoting your time to some man." Harper shook her head but couldn't get the words out as he marched out the door not bothering to wait for her.

"Wait!" She called out after him. Her leg was burning from every slight movement, it felt like her entire leg had gone stiff. "He was helping me." James stressed with anger more, he didn't know what to think but jealously it felt like was rising up at him. "I don't want you near that man ever again. Understood."

Harper frowned. "He's my friend, you can't stop me from seeing him. I'm sorry,okay? I was on my way to the inspector beforehand, but you...sent me to sort out the room! Tidy my mess up!" She could feel frustration burning up inside her. "And he was only helping me cause I hurt my leg." She pointed to her leg which James casted his gaze upon.

"And why would you think I'd be having it with a guy at work? And why anyway? Since the past few weeks, I've only claimed my lips to yours!!" She yelled. "I'm...so stupid! I knew this was all a big mistake, I knew this was only fun for you. I...thought you felt...something for me." Her gaze softened as she looked elsewhere. James was shocked, he looked elsewhere accept at her, feeling guilt tear away at him more.

"I'll continue to work." She said. "But whatever happened between us...was a mistake. I know it now. I'm going to go finish up my work, then do I have your permission to go?" Her stern glaze locked with his, James didn't do anything accept say yes. He felt like a coward and much of a fool as she headed for the lifts.

Thanks for reading. Another update. Hopefully you liked this chapter. Just proving how James is getting a little stressed, he is so oblivious that the fact is he has feelings for her. I know most of you will be annoyed he slept with Taylor, like I am too however I can ensure things will only get better for Harper and James. And what do you guys think of Elliot? And Friday's date? Think any chemistry between the two? Or is it just a one way street?

Thank you as always, please VOTE, COMMENT and FOLLOW for more updates. :)

VAMPIREFANGSRULES xxx