Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Harper : 36 55 vouchers MADDOX : " Since you want to know so badly , I'll tell you , but I won't waste it over the phone . You're coming to London on Friday and don't bother to show up if you're not ready to obey ." I should've rolled my eyes and told him to go to hell . Instead , I bit my lip so hard that I nearly tasted blood . I wasn't supposed to like that . As the heat began rushing between my legs , I reread his text over and over again until my phone suddenly rang , the name flashing across the screen bringing me back to reality . It was Aunt Patricia . " Hi , Auntie . I'm here ." " You're right on time , sweetie ." Her voice was warm but tired , just as it always was after shift . " Wiat for me in the hotel lobby . I'll be there in a few minutes , okay ? " After the call , I placed my phone against my chest , now making my way up the stairs as Maddox's text was still stuck on my mind . The air in the lobby was cool , but not enough to help fade away the heat from my body . I sat on one of the chairs and crossed my legs , pretending like I wasn't imagining Friday and wondering how far he'd go once he had me right where he wanted me . I even chuckled to myself at how I had already decided that I was going to show up . I only meant to read his message one more time , but my gaze dropped to Grayson's name right below Maddox's , still waiting for that fucking reply . Quickly , I looked away , opening Maddox's message thread to text him back , my hands a little shaky . " Fine , I'll come . " " Of course you will , just like you always do ." I scoffed and was still lost in the double meaning of his reply when Aunt Patricia called my name . " Harper ! " My head shot up to follow the sound of her voice and there she was , approaching me in her faded work uniform . She didn't just sound tired , she looked tired , but her face lit up when she saw me . I quickly rose to my feet , throwing my arms around her and inhaling the smell of faint bleach 16:06 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 44 and lavender fabric softener from her uniform . When she pulled back , she still had her hands on my shoulders . 36 E55 vouchers " My goodness , Harper , " she paused as she studied me from head to toe . " You look prettier than you did on your graduation day . What's the secret ? Is it a new diet ? A new boyfriend ? " I chuckled dismissively . " It's definitely not a new boyfriend ." " Are you sure about that ? Considering everything I've been seeing online lately about you and Mad- " " What ? You saw that ? " I raised my eyebrows . " We're going to have a long chat about that when we get home ." Her eyes narrowed like she was warning me . " I didn't know you were now into social media . " " I'm not . Penelope and Tracy show me everything . " I forced a laugh . Of course it was my cousins . As we began walking towards the exit together , I said , " You should see my face without all this makeup . I look awful today , dark circles and all . " " Probably from working too hard . " I let her make that assumption when I knew that it was far from the truth and the one guy who had kept me up at night was waiting to devour me on Friday . Then , my phone buzzed in my hand . I only took a glance at the screen and it was Maddox . He had just texted me again but I wasn't about to open it just there . I wouldn't dare do that . Who knew what he had sent me this time ? On our way to the bus station , we stopped at a corner store . Aunt Patricia insisted that we grab some cans of soda for the road . Mine was so cold that I popped it open as soon as we were outside and even took a sip . She kept talking about work but I still couldn't fully pay attention to her , thinking about what was in Maddox's most recent text . I needed to shut him out of my mind . It was the only way to make my heart stop racing . " So ," I said , keeping my eyes on the sidewalk that would lead to the bus station , " are my cousins still giving you trouble ? " 16:06 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 44 : 55 vouchers She smiled as she adjusted the strap of her handbag . " That's nothing new to me . You know I've dealt with that for years . They're actually home . You should have seen their faces when I told them you were coming over . They've been asking about you all week . " I forced a laugh . " They could have just called or texted me . " Her smile faded slightly . " You know how they are . Now that they're in college , they're even more difficult . " My cousins had always treated me like I was part of their little crew whenever I was around them , but underneath all that , was just the aim to make me look like I didn't belong there . Our steps came to a stand still when we got to the bus station and she said , " Now that I think about it , I've been going on and on about my work , but how is it going with you ? " I gave her a warm smile . " It's great . I turned down Grayson's offer to work with him . I'm ok with DataSphere Solutions ." " I actually thought you would have accepted since you've known each other for years . " " Well , yes , but things are different now . " " You're right about that ." She gave a sad smile . " I saw his parents the other day at the mall and they treated me like they didn't know me . I guess that's what happens when some people turn filthy rich . I'm just glad nothing has changed between you and Grayson . " I sighed . If only she knew how much had changed between us . Aunt Patricia opened the front door and as soon as I took my first step in , I flinched a little at how loud my cousins were the moment they saw me . " Harper ! " They both rushed to hug me before I could even fully get inside , Then , they pulled me along to the couch , both of them squeezing on either side of me as Aunt Patricia made her way to the bedroom to get changed . The three of us sat in silence as their eyes scanned my outfit , hair and the way I now carried myself . " You know ," Penelope began , twirling a strand of hair around her finger . " I still can't believe this is you . Like ... you used to hide behind those giant hoodies , remember ? " Tracy snickered , nudging my shoulder like it was that funny . " You were always the shy nerd 16:06 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 44 36 55 vouchers with her face stuck in a book and here you are with silky hair , flawless makeup and clothes that actually fit . You look different and actually pretty ." It wasn't the first time they were saying that to me . I'd heard it when they came to my graduation , but it seemed that they just couldn't fully believe it . " And yet when I look at both of you , there's nothing different ," I said with a chuckle , their smiles instantly faltering . " The new coat of paint seems a little darker and actually fits the rest of the room better . " My voice was casual . They nodded in agreement but seemed less enthusiastic , more like I'd managed to turn the tables . To them , I had always been the awkward Harper that no one took seriously . The one exception was Aunt Patricia . She was the only one who ever looked at me and saw more than that . Maybe that was why I loved her the way I did . " Ooh ! That reminds me ! " Penelope turned to face me with wide eyes . " Are you Aldridge a thing ? " I chuckled dismissively . " No , we're not . " and Maddox " Oh , come on , no need to deny it . " Tracy teased me . " We saw his reply under Tiffany's post . " " Yeah , but he was only clearing things up about how he wasn't my boss ." Tracy snapped her fingers . " Exactly , he didn't deny anything else , like the fact that you two are sleeping with each other ! " " Damn , how do you do it ? It's one thing after another . There's so much drama , Harper . " Penelope leaned back in her seat as she studied me . " You know what bothers me the most ? " Tracy chuckled with disbelief . " It's Tiffany . She has some nerve to expose others when she's cheating on Grayson with another guy ! " My eyes narrowed . " What ? " B Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!