I shook my head and couldn’t help the line that marred my forehead. “But how on earth can I afford to keep a kitten when I can barely function, or feed myself? Not to mention the likely possibly that’ll I’ll be homeless soon.”
“Well, I certainly don’t want that, and I’ve been meaning to bring this up anyway. What with your mother’s passing, I forgot all about it, but how about this?” He took my hand in his after I’d let Humbug down to scamper around our feet on the rug. “I’ll make you a deal. You take the kitten in, give him a good home, look after him, and I’ll give you a job at my company.”
Sceptical, I narrowed my eyes at him. “That doesn’t sound like a very fair deal—for you, I mean. I get an adorable kitten and a job? Win-win for me… What’s in it for you?”
He shrugged. “I need the help, and there’s plenty of work to go around. I just landed another contract. But if you’re not interested, I’ll take my kitten and leave,” he replied, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards, his hand outstretched as he reached to grab Humbug, who darted away from his grasp at the last second.
“Pfft, over my dead body. Humbug’s mine now. What’s the job?”
“My secretary.”
“Ha!” I blurted. “Wait, you’re serious, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “I’m not that bad to work for.”
“Yeah, sure, totally undemanding, not wanting everything your own way all the time…”
“I do like things a certain way,” he huffed. This was clearly not the reaction he was hoping for, I thought, but I was only teasing. “So, do you want the job or not?”
My head reeled for a moment, and my heart pounded against my chest at his dangerous proposal—but dangerous for whom? Me, or my heart? I was so dazed and lost in my own thoughts that I barely heard him say, “It’s good pay, Sara. I’ll even loan you some money to pay off your missed mortgage bills.”
I stared up at him with wide eyes. “Don’t be silly, Harvey. That’s too much! I don’t think I could take your money, not like that.”
He shrugged, and his fingers tightened around mine. “Nonsense. You’re family, and you’re not exactly taking it from me. I’ll lend it to you, and you can pay me back later on if you want. I’m an idiot for not offering sooner; I could’ve saved you weeks of worry.”
“I probably wouldn’t have accepted, anyway,” I replied.
“I want to help you in any way that I can, Sara,” Harvey insisted, “and I can’t do that if you won’t let me. You’ve got to let someone help you. You’ve got to start letting someone in…”
I looked at him again with narrowed eyes; we were no longer talking about the job or the money or the house. His words vaguely touched upon something else. I swallowed a rising thickness in my throat.
“You’ve helped me plenty already. I don’t think I can keep doing this to you,” I muttered and avoided meeting his gaze.
But he wouldn’t allow me off the hook; he took my chin with his thumb and forced me to look at him. “You aren’t doing anything to me… I want to be here. I want to help you. I promised I’d be here for you, remember? Let me do this for you. Let me in. I’ll be at your side whenever you need me. Always.” He spoke in a whisper, his lips close to mine. I felt my head spin. Oh god, oh god. My heart was fluttering out of control; it was as if he was swearing an oath to me, and I couldn’t help the rush of tears that started to well up or the feeling—instinct, really—that I should lean in and kiss him. In the heat of the moment, I desperately wanted to. His hand was upon my chin, and his eyes were searching my soul; I so desperately wanted to meet his lips with my own. Oh god, what do I do?
Humbug jumped up onto my lap, and his needle-like baby claws sank into my flesh through the fabric of my trousers. I reached for the kitten and scooped him up. “You need your claws cut, Mister,” I said to the ball of fluff who now squirmed, wanting to be back down on the floor.
I let Humbug free and glanced back at Harvey. The need to kiss him was still there, but the moment was lost.
I smiled. “All right, if you insist. I’ll take the kitten and the job, but I will pay you back. I’m serious about that.”
“Fair enough,” he said, beaming.
I shivered against the winter cold and pulled at my thick coat. Burrowing deeper into it, I carried on towards Harvey’s offices. I was anxious and delighted all at the same time. This could be the break I needed, I thought, the opportunity to get my life back on track after being derailed so many times. And though it was hard to say goodbye to Humbug’s fuzzy face that morning, Momma had to go out and earn some money so we could both eat. He wasn’t too fussed, anyway, curled up in his little plush bed without a care in the world.
The sun was in the process of fighting its way up into the sky as I made my way towards the large building. The chilly breeze wafted into my thick dark blonde mane, spinning it up into the air as it drove me forward on my first Monday morning commute to work.
My fingers trembled slightly when they connected with the building’s glass door. I pushed a button to let myself in. Though it was only eight in the morning, a crowd was already forming, queuing for the lifts, as I stepped inside. Shiny leather shoes padded against the polished floor; heels clicked softly as I looked around. Feeling self-conscious, I unbuttoned my coat to reveal a black pencil skirt, a white blouse and a mixed cotton cardy. I couldn’t help but think I was underdressed, surrounded by men in pristine three-piece suits and ladies in dresses I would only think of wearing to an event like a wedding or a ladies’ day at the races.
I was here now, I thought. There’s no going back. They’d have to take me as I was, even if I was dressed simply, the ugly sister at the ball. Instead I concentrated on the day ahead, wondering how Harvey would react at work. Would he treat me differently? Dismiss me as just another one of his minions, or would he continue to nurture our relationship, which I considered almost bizarre. He was becoming my best friend, which puzzled me to no end. The mere thought of working by his side, taking orders and doing what he wanted, sent an odd yet electrifying sensation down my spine. The idea of being at his beck and call made my stomach flutter. I had an interesting day ahead, that was for sure.
I pondered whether Harvey was feeling the same at the prospect of ordering me around, having me within his inner sanctum. Or would it just be another ordinary day for him? Surely not… I wanted to believe the small connection we’d made over the last few weeks, months even, was real. That I wasn’t just his annoying, ugly, helpless, damsel-in-distress stepsister, that maybe he saw me as something more…
I shook my head. The thought was ludicrous. I didn’t even want to form the words in my head, let alone let them develop and grow. There was absolutely no way Harvey could or would feel more about me in that way. You’ve lost your tiny mind! Especially when his actions had always made it very clear that he desired and would only settle for the perfect woman. Skinny, flawless, and downright gorgeous. Someone who was the total opposite of me. I was the imperfect Sara Chambers.
Why am I even thinking about this anyway? He’s my stepbrother. Playing in a loop, though, chanting in the background, was a little voice I barely paid attention to. Not anymore, he’s not…
14
Sara
A strong gust of air conditioning hit my face as I entered the office. It was nearly as bad as the frigid gale outside! I shivered against the cold and pulled my cardigan tighter around my plump body as I dithered after getting out of the lift. Workers behind me bumped into me; I mumbled apologies and quickly hopped to the side as I took in the long row of desks and computers. The inner office walls were a soothing, inoffensive cream while the carpet was a rich shade of burgundy. Apprehensively I made my way over to the reception area and tried to ignore the curious looks I was receiving from the passing employees.