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*THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED AND ALTERED*

Duke pulled up to the curb, a growing smile leaping onto his lips as he spotted Harper waiting patiently outside the entrance of the building. She was excited to get home, throw a blanket around her shoulders and binge watch a couple TV shows, all without guilt, whilst shovelling ice cream in her mouth. But that seemed at a loss as she climbed into the passenger seat of the vehicle and was instantly bombarded with Duke's excitement. 

"Right, hon, you better get your game face on cause we're hitting the clubs tonight," he announced, as he pulled away from the curb and drove onwards. 

Harper frowned. "What? Why? Oh come on, I wanted to watch telly. I thought we were having a movie marathon and eating popcorn and ice-cream. But clubbing? I'll pass."

"You're not worming your way out of this one, Harp. Daniella gave me strict instructions to get your ass into the partying mood. Besides, we're celebrating. Her fashion project got crowned the best this month, so, you're coming out with us," he objected, rolling his eyes playfully. 

"Can't we just celebrate at home? You know? In the comfort of our PJs? We could pop open a bottle of champagne there.  I don't mind popping to the shop to get some," she offered, knowing it was pointless to argue back as there was no way she getting out of this. 

"You know my answer. We're gonna have fun, trust me," Duke encouraged, "Now get your ass into gear. We're gonna get drunk, party and dance the night away!" 

___

After sitting in the kitchen chair for an hour or so as Daniella glammed her up, the three of them were eventually sat in the back of a taxi on their way into town. As much as she wanted to hate wearing heels and a flimsy red dress, Harper couldn't lie that she felt like a million bucks. Everything from the black smoky eye look, red matted lips and her brown hair effortlessly curled made her feel unstoppable. She felt fearless, powerful and couldn't lie she had sneaked a selfie or two in the bathroom to savour the moment. 

"God, I can't wait to get drunk," Daniella said aloud, as she held a compact mirror in front of her and teased her pixie hair to add extra volume.  She had gone a little more glam than Harper, opting for a black crop top and matching short skirt paired with 6 inch silhouettes. 

"Me too," Duke agreed, "I need a good night out." 

Harper was squeezed in the middle between the pair of them, a little too uncomfortably close to Duke. He hadn't made it anymore easier when he next leaned in and inhaled. "Damn, Harper, you smell good. I could almost eat you," he laughed, before tugging her into a quick side embrace.

"Haha, thanks," Harper awkwardly replied, trying her best to not overanalyse the situation but in the short space they had been in the taxi, she could have sworn he had brushed his hand across her left thigh here and there. 

Maybe, she just feeling on edge with the whole James situation? But even so, as the taxi pulled outside onto the busy street, joining the queue of restless taxi drivers attempting to get business, Duke's hand appeared to acquaint itself around her waist. Harper shyly glanced over to him, a little unsure how to react. 

He returned a smile before looking over to Daniella who sat on the curb side of the road. "Right, let's get this show on the road. Out you guys get. We're on a mission to get wasted."

As Harper slid across the backseat and began to climb out, she suddenly felt his hand briefly playfully slap her bum. She froze, looking quickly back as his coy smile glimmered ahead at her. "C'mon, babes, let's get going. We have a club to enter," he said casually, offering no sign of remorse. 

Harper shook it off, hoping it was just a playful gesture as she re-joined Daniella who stood in the queue to get into the club. 

After fifteen minutes of standing outside, they finally entered the threshold of the club. Inside, it was a cool and dark atmosphere, lit up only by the luminous green and purple spotlights overshadowing the dance floor and bar. Daniella pulled on Harper's arm dragging them through the energetic crowd as they headed towards a booth, a booth she figured her best friend had reserved for the entire night. 

"Right," Daniella announced loudly, trying to compete against the blaring house music echoing throughout. "I'm going to get the drinks. And we should be getting complimentary drinks for booking the booth so I'll double check on that. Duke, the usual?"

Duke put his thumbs up with a cheeky smile. "You know me well."

Harper restlessly scooted further into the booth. "I'll just have a glass of water," she piped up.

Daniella laughed. "Yeah, right. I'm getting you your favourite." Then she moved away meandering through the crowd as she attempted to reach the bar which was full of people trying to get their drinks in. 

"So, having fun?" Duke said, sliding closer to Harper. His thigh rested against her left, suffocating the distance between them. Harper felt her stomach drop as anxiety crawled across her skin. She could smell the heavy whiff of his earthy cologne, a scent that was starting to become too overwhelming. 

"Yeah...so much fun," Harper replied back sarcastically. She kept her eyes forward watching the surf of crowds jump, dance and grind to the beat of the blaring music. In an instance, she felt her skin repulse at the sudden touch of Duke's hand stroking her lower back, dangerously teasing circles with his fingertips. She bit her bottom lip unsure whether to speak up. It was a little too flirtatious than friendly. Maybe, she was over-thinking things? But before she had time to dwell any further he spoke up again, inviting further anxiety to the pits of her stomach. 

"So, I was gonna ask...you been seeing anyone?" 

"W-what?" She stuttered, awkwardly meeting his eyes for a second before looking back into the crowd ahead. 

"Have you been seeing anyone?" he chuckled lightly, "I'm just curious that's all."

"Er, I-I--"

--"Okay, guys, are you ready to get shit-faced?" Daniella's voice broke into the space giving Harper the cue to quickly slide away and eagerly grab her glass of what she knew was vodka and lemonade. She took a huge mouthful instantly regretting her decision as she watched the glimmer of humour clasp Daniella's face. 

"Woah, woah, does that mean party-animal Harper is coming out to play tonight?" she said, "but hey, as much as I love that idea. We haven't made a toast yet." Then she scooted into the booth, holding her glass up as she proclaimed proudly, "To my latest fashion project piece getting crowned victorious this month. Haha, fuck Emily, that bitch!" 

Duke laughed as he clinked his glass of vodka and coke against hers. "To you!"

Harper awkwardly lifted her glass up, gently clinking it against theirs before sinking back into the booth. She was of course proud of her best friend's achievement but something about Duke's behaviour had neglected her ability to feel fully in the moment. 

"Anyway, come on," Daniella encouraged, getting out the booth. "Let's go dance."

"I don't feel like dancing," Harper meekly replied, "can't I just mann the booth?"

"No, get your ass up now. There's some proper fit lads I've seen on that dancefloor. Who knows? Maybe you'll score lucky tonight," she teased, before moving to the opposite end of the booth and gently tugging at Harper's arm. 

"Come on, it will be fun," Duke interjected, getting out the opposite end and joining Daniella. Harper didn't have much choice so she allowed herself to be tugged out onto the dancefloor. As soon as they joined the bunch of people, obliviously dancing in their worlds of their own, Daniella disappeared, locking eyes with a stranger, she preceded then to dance with. Harper was a little vexed at that, but perhaps wouldn't have been any other time, if Duke wasn't acting so out of character. 

"Just me and you then," he smiled, giving her quick wink as he danced to the beat of the music. Harper awkwardly side-stepped, feeling uncomfortably close to the sweaty bodies aside her that were lost and completely entranced within the club's intoxicating atmosphere. 

She couldn't even look him in the eyes but she felt his eyes upon her. 

Duke pulled her suddenly close to him, placing his hands upon her waist. Harper looked around hoping for escape but Daniella was already far away in the arms of that stranger still. She gulped as she felt him pull her closer into an embrace. Duke smirked as his hands trailed further down her body, his hands gently squeezing her bum. 

"Relax, come on where's my confident Harps," he said with a playful grin.  Duke grabbed her hands placing them on his shoulders as he then moved their body to the beat. His eyes were focused upon her. The way he was dancing wasn't normal at all, his body pushed against her was more suggestive and totally crossing the boundaries of just a friendly dance between two close friends. 

It was clear this was not the Duke she had known and loved as her friend. Eventually, Daniella danced over, holding onto a stranger as she whispered to her best friend with excitement. "Look what hottie I found."

Harper pulled away from Duke immediately finding this was her best chance to detach herself from the situation. "I'm just going to sit down." 

Harper pushed back through the crowd over towards their booth and sat down. She wanted to go home, back to her warm bed and curl up under the sheets. If this was Duke's way of being friendly, she couldn't agree with it. 

After what seemed another half an hour, Duke and Dani returned back to the booth. He was  carrying a tray of shots as he cheered, "Right, ladies, the grand finale!" 

Harper took one immediately hoping to get the drinking games out of the way. She knocked back the first nearly choking on the taste hitting the back of her throat.

"Woah, you okay there?" Duke asked with amusement as he patted her back. Harper nodded refusing to take another.

The whole night, she watched as her two friends ordered more drinks and swallowed them back in a blink. They were both blindly intoxicated.

Daniella wailed as she went back to the dancefloor leaving her alone with Duke. He tried sliding back over again before Harper held out her hand to his chest. "I'm just going toilets. Be back soon."

Duke saluted. "Don't be long, babes." 

Harper rushed through the crowd towards the toilets, she didn't even need to go, she just needed to get away from him for a while. Standing outside she took a breather before someone came up to her. "Hey, need a drink?" They asked.

She was about to refuse when she saw Duke walking out into the dancefloor looking as if he was searching for her. So instead, she took the drink from off the stranger, before knocking it back.  

Harper nodded to them before making her way back to the booth, grabbing her bag and then pushed back through the crowd to go outside to get some fresh air. 

She immediately sighed in relief as she felt the gentle, evening breeze comfort her. She needed it. All that sweat and heat inside was making her head spin, plus adding Duke's strange behaviour on top made the situation even more uncomfortable. 

All of her sudden, her phone began to ring in her bag. She pulled it out not even looking at the caller ID. "Hello," she answered.

"Miss Daniels."

It was James. 

"Mr Brewer..i-it's...what," she stuttered, blinking and feeling a little tipsy as she tried to desperately make out the time on her phone's screen as she pulled it from her ear and then back to answer, "it's half past one. Why are...you calling this late?"

"Are you drunk?" He asked. "Where are you?" 

Harper didn't feel like herself as she answered slurring. "Why do you care? It's not of your business. I have my own life you know!" She then hiccupped. 

James sighed down the line. "Of course I care, you're... you're my employee." 

Harper snorted. "Do you always k-kiss your employees then?" 

--"Harps, babe there you are. I wondered where you went."  A voice broke into the space summoning her attention away from the phone.

"Duke, I'm...fine," Harper replied, seemingly forgetting she had her phone still glued to her left ear. "Duke. Woah, back off a bit." James heard her snap with fear and without a second thought, ended the call, adamant to get to her. 

Harper tried pushing Duke off, but instead he grabbed her hand and tugged her along, pushing her against the wall into the far alley. His fingers trailed her cheek before he clashed his lips against hers. She protested pushing him off.  He reeked of alcohol. And his hands were only getting eager as he launched them around her waist. 

"Duke. Get off!" She cried. 

Duke grinned holding back both her wrists. "Oh Harper, don't push me off now. It's just a bit of fun, come on!"

Harper tried pushing him off. "What is wrong with you! Duke! Get the fuck off me!" 

Suddenly, she felt his body released from her as she witnessed James throw a punch at Duke who stumbled from the force and met the cold, concrete floor. 

Harper gasped as she held her hand to her mouth. 

James stepped over Duke who was moaning and rushed to Harper holding his hands on her shoulders. She just couldn't hold it back as she began to cry hysterically. James pulled her into a embrace. 

"It's okay," he muttered. 

Harper tightened her grip around his waist as she nuzzled closer into his chest. James kissed the top of her head.

He pulled Harper away wiping the tears away from her cheeks with his thumbs. Harper studied his eyes, any little tears she had now were drying up as she glanced at the man who had saved her for what could have been a disaster. She broke away from him feeling utterly embarrassed, before looking over to Duke.

"I can't believe what he did," she muttered, "what am I supposed to do now?"

"You're coming back with me, first. I need to keep a eye on you. We'll sort this out the morning," he said, before grabbing his cars keys out of his trouser pocket.

"I-I need to message my friend, she's still in there," Harper said. 

"Come on, you can do that in the car," he replied, ushering her with him. Harper stole a quick glance back watching as a couple passer-by's noticed Duke's body lying hard on the floor. They were trying to help him up unaware to the toxic situation that had occurred moments before. She wasn't sure what to do about him. What would she say to Daniella? That he tried to- no, she couldn't even finish the sentence in her head. Surely, he wouldn't have. 

___

James headed into the underground garage and parked up before he helped Harper out the car.

Harper felt very anxious as she realised she was alone with him again. Her heart was going wild, the mere sight of him sent her hormones into overload. 

"I am sure I have some spare attire you can wear," he offered, as he held her steadily and ushered her to the elevator. 

She felt anxious as the elevator doors opened into his penthouse, the apartment she had stepped in before. James gently guided her through, heading straight towards the master bedroom. He steadily helped her to sit on the end of the bed as he disappeared briefly into the walk in closet, rummaging for a t-shirt or shirt that she could borrow for the night. 

"Here, you can wear this," he offered, passing over a white t-shirt. "My en-suite is just there." Pointing towards the door on the left side of the bed. He pointed. Harper thanked him quietly as she took the shirt and headed for the bathroom. She couldn't believe where or what she was doing in that moment. Her boss was right next door, not to mention, the man she had been kissed by. How was this remotely sane? 

James pulled off his shoes as he sat on the edge of his bed before raking his hand through his brown locks. He caught glance of Harper exiting the bathroom. His breath hitched. She looked like a temptress he thought. A part of him just wanted to pull her into his arms and just take her to his bed but he didn't want to ruin this.

 "You look better in my shirt than I do," He playfully teased.

Harper blushed.

James got up walking towards the bathroom. "You don't mind sharing?" He said casually before disappearing into the room. 

Harper gulped. Sharing a bed? Maybe she should offer to sleep on the couch. She could hear him whistling on the other side of the door. She felt too intoxicated to complain and a little lightheaded, so, it didn't take much to convince her to slip into the bed. 

As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep

~~~

James' alarm commanded Harper to wake up. She froze, however, automatically acknowledging  that she was laying in his arms, their legs tangled with one another and pretty certain she could feel his 'member' intruding into their space.  

"Morning," she heard him mutter.

Oh shit. 

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