Chapter 14


Harper was awestruck when she entered the restaurant. The décor was beautiful. She was mesmerized by the architectural beauty of the place. She was looking around lost with glee. Her dreamy look was broken by the scruff voice of a beardy man who was dressed in a pristine suit.

"Mr. Maxfield. What an honor for us to have you here."

Harper rolled her eyes at the clear attempt of kissing the boots of Jason. The act was noticed by the man and he looked sharply towards her. Harper was not amongst those who cowered in fear. So she held her head high despite the scrutiny.

"I have reservation under my name for 8.30" Jason said.

"Of course sir, come I will escort you to your designated seats." He replied too sweetly.

When they reached their designated seats, Harper noticed that their table was near a floor to roof glass window. The view outside of the city was breath taking. On the other sides of the seats few feet away was a fountain of water that was changing colors.

Jason pulled the chair for her, like a gentleman causing a flutter in Harper's heart.

"Such a charmer." she complimented him to which Jason smiled adoringly.

He took the other chair in front of her. "I told you; tonight's is your night."

Harper blushed and Jason chuckled.

A waiter arrived and asked about their order. He suggested few food items to try and told about chef's special. 

Harper was lost in her own world. She was thinking herself at his place as a waiter and how the hospitality at the Heavens differs from here. She was busy in comparing and Jason was asking her about the menu to which he did not got a reply.

"Harper" Jason tried to call her for the third time.

"Hmm" She replied absent minded.

Jason placed his right hand on hers. The warmth of his touch brought her back from her reverie. She looked towards him. Jason smiled and repeated the question. "I asked what you would like to have"

"Oh, I don't know. Why don't you order for me and no wine for me, thanks."

Jason nodded and ordered the food. Once the waiter was gone Jason looked intently towards her and asked. "Where were you lost?"

She blushed. "It's nothing, I was comparing my job at Heavens as waiter and how different the hospitality here at this restaurant is."

"I thought you left that job?" Jason asked.

"Oh no, I will be continuing there for the weekends. I need every penny."

"Student loan?" Jason asked.

"No I was a scholarship student."

"Then?"

Harper sighed. "I need the money. My mother is battling cancer, so I need every penny I can earn."

"What about health insurance?" He asked bewildered.

"It's exhausted."

"What about your father? Isn't he employed?"

Harper cringed at the mention of her father which did not go unnoticed by Jason.

"He left us."

Jason gasped. "What a coward! You have a brother I guess?"

Harper nodded. "Yea he is also trying to help me out, but he is in senior year and wants to pursue career in soccer. He is trying very hard to get scholarship in that. Being a guardian of seventeen year teenage boy is not easy."

"Wait a minute, you took his custody?" Jason asked surprised.

"Yea it was not easy but I managed with the help of Smiths and my grand parents."

"Wow. You are a super woman. I am seriously very impressed and you sure you are just 21."

"Turning 22 next month" She replied giggling.

Their food arrived and for few minutes their conversation was put to a halt. Harper enjoyed the exquisite taste of the food, she was enjoying the food and the evening very much.

They talked about their likes and dislikes. Jason shared his childhood stories and Harper laughed at the number of times he created trouble at school. She learned that he was a prom king in his high school and worked in a garage to earn money for a world tour after finishing his high school.

She was impressed after learning that he earned his own money despite born with a silver spoon in his mouth. The evening was progressing very beautifully. She learnt that she is attracted towards Jason romantically. She blushed at her thoughts.

The ringing of her cell phone put a stop at their conversation and Harper's thoughts.

"Ethan!" She asked surprised attending the call.

"Where are you?" Ethan asked.

"At Regency" She replied.

"The restaurant?" Ethan asked surprised.

"Yes, I came here with Jason to celebrate my first day at job"

There was silence at the other end for few seconds and then a long sigh was heard.

"I am coming to get you"

"Why?"

"It's Alex, he got arrested."

"What? Why?" She asked panicked.

"I will explain everything. I will be there in ten. Just come outside."

And just like that the phone was disconnected.

"Everything okay?" Jason asked worried.

"No, it's Alex. I need to go. I am sorry for cutting short our time."

"No, it's completely okay. Should I accompany you wherever you are going?" Jason asked.

Harper thought about it for a minute and then decided not to involve a millionaire in her problems.

"No I have got this. Besides Ethan is coming to get me, so I will be alright."

"Alright, I will escort you out." Jason called the waiter in hurry and paid the bill. When Harper demanded to pay for her own food, a look from Jason shut her up.

They had just reached outside the restaurant when an Ashton Martin skidded in front of them and Ethan came out from it.

"Jason" He said and extended his hand for a shake. Jason took it and asked politely "Can I help you guys in any way?"

"I have got it covered." He replied and for the first time looked towards Harper. He sucked a breath when he saw her. She was looking beautiful in the red dress and the makeup accentuated her features. The look of panic on her face brought Ethan back from his trance. He opened the door to the passenger seat and Harper slid in after telling goodbye to Jason.

Ethan followed suit and revved the engine.

"Were you on a date?" He asked in clipped tone.

Harper looked surprised towards him. "No!" She replied defensively. "I told you it was a friendly dinner."

Ethan was not convinced but he decided to drop the topic and came to the current topic.

"Alex is arrested."

"What?" Harper asked flabbergasted. "Why? And I am his guardian, why was not I informed by the police themselves."

"Alex asked them to call me instead of you and he is arrested for drinking underage or some stuff like that. He was arrested in a tacky bar downtown."

"Oh my God" Harper sobbed. "I am a trashy elder sister, Alex is into stuff like this and I didn't know"

"Stop beating yourself. You are doing everything you can for your family. I have called dad, he will meet us there."

"But won't media be problem for him. I mean considering he is a business tycoon."

"Don't worry he has got everything handled."

They reached police station and Harper was out of the car before Ethan can park it properly.

"F*ck" He cursed at her carelessness. Once he parked the car properly he ran to meet up to Harper's pace.

"Are you mad, you jumped out of the car like a lunatic. You could have injured yourself."

Harper looked unimpressed towards him. "Try a dose of anxiety and stress then talk about lunacy."

Ethan groaned. "you are stupid, you know that."

Harper did not pay attention to him and fasten her pace. She opened the door of the police station and looked around to find Alex.

A hand on her shoulder startled her.

"Sorry" Ethan replied. "Calm down, you are not helping the situation. Take a deep breath. Dad is coming with a lawyer."

Tears were glistening in her eyes, but she took deep breath and nodded. Ethan saw an officer coming their way, he asked him about Alexander Daniel. The officer informed them about his whereabouts. When they reached there they found a lady officer standing outside the prison in which Alex was sitting looking gloomy.

"Alex!" Harper gasped.

The lady officer looked unimpressed towards her. Harper looked towards her sheepishly.

"I am Harper Daniels, her sister and guardian. May I know why he was arrested?"

The officer gestured them to follow her. When they reached her office she asked them to take a seat.

"Your brother and his friend were arrested because of a brawl in a bar. They were drinking too and he is underage. I haven't pressed any charges yet. I know how these students make fake ID's to enter such places. His record is clear, so I will give a fair warning.

"Thank you for understanding." Ethan replied.

Just then the door of the office opened and William Wright entered with a lawyer.

"Dad" Ethan exclaimed and stood up.

"Officer" William said in a no nonsense tone while shaking hands with the lady. "Any serious consequences?"

The lady shook his head. "The other party was hell bent on pressing charges. I know how teenagers are. I am dealing with two myself back at home. The others guys were wrong too but they were above 21. I think they instigated them. So I am leaving Alex and Tristan with a warning. But next time I won't be so lenient."

Harper stood up. "Thank you so much." She said while sobbing.

Ethan wrapped his arms around her shoulders. The officer let Alex and Tristan go with a warning and a hefty fine for the damage of the property which was filed by William Wright.

"Thank you so much Mr. Wright" Harper said once they were standing outside the police station.

William sighed. "I haven't done anything Harper."

"Still your presence was enough."

William nodded his head. "But I am very disappointed in you Harper, the way you behaved and cut off all ties from our family. I didn't expect such thing from you. Ethan was your best friend, still is."

Harper looked down ashamed. "But we will talk about it some other day. I am leaving, Ethan will drop you off. Make sure to visit us someday. No excuses this time"

Harper nodded and when William left she turned towards Alex. "Would you like to tell me what exactly happened?"

Alex did not reply but looked down ashamed.

"It wasn't us who started it." Tristan piped in. "We were doing the exchange peacefully but they started...

"Hang on" Harper cut him off in mid sentence. "What sort of exchange?"

Tristan looked anxiously towards Alex, who was avoiding making an eye contact.

"Dr..drugs.." Tristan stuttered troubled.

"What!" Both Harper and Ethan exclaimed.

Ethan grasped Alex's collar and dragged him towards his car, Tristan and Harper followed them. Once in the parking, he pushed Alex in the back seat of the car followed by Tristan. Harper took the passenger seat and Ethan started driving. Once they were away from police station, Ethan parked the car at the side of road. He killed the engine and looked back towards the two teenage boys.

"Explain" He commanded authoritatively.

"I was trying to help Harper." Alex replied sheepishly.

Before Ethan could ask him to elaborate, Harper cut him off and said. "Can we please just drive? I want to discuss this matter in the confines of my apartment."

Ethan sighed and did as told. For the wholejourney Harper avoided Alex. She texted Colton to call Mr. and Mrs. Smithurgently. Alex knew he has crossed a line and has disappointed her sister.     


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