<b>Chapter 73 </b>


    Harper


    When I heard a feminine voice behind me, calling Maddox’s name, I turned my head and saw someone around my age strutting towards our table like the restaurant was her runway. She had long legs, a sexy short dress and was dripping with confidence. She was the kind of girl that looked like she belonged on a magazine


    cover.


    I looked back at Maddox just in time to catch a strained smile and that said enough. He knew her well. It must have been the yboy in him that had history with her.


    Even when she got to our table, she walked past me and stopped by his chair like I wasn’t even sitting there.


    “It’s been a while,” she said, her voice breathy.


    “Been busy,” he replied, his tone just as cold as his expression.


    He wasn’t being weing, but that didn’t stop her. She leaned closer, trying to ce her hand on his shoulder but he moved to the side, a sign for her to stop.


    “I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” he said.


    She pulled back her hand with a light chuckle. “I just got back in town and thought I might order a meal here. The food here has always been so excellent. I’m d I came because I got to run into you. We have so much to talk about.”


    “I’ll talk to youter.” Hezily gestured in my direction. “I’m in the middle of a date.”


    She finally looked in my direction and I caught the scorn in her eyes. “I can see that. I even saw you on his page, apart from all the other posts I’ve seen about you in the past few weeks.”


    I could already feel the subtle aggression towards me, but I smiled politely and tilted my head. “Who are you?<b>” </b>


    She chuckled before introducing herself. “I’m Juliet.”


    The name rang a bell. I couldn’t stop the little scoff that escaped my lips as I leaned back in my chair.


    Maddox frowned while Juliet narrowed her eyes, like they were both wondering why I reacted that way.


    “I’m Harper,” I said to her.


    “You look like a nice girl and all, so I’ll give you a piece of advice. Run. Maddox had quite a long list of girls he liked to-”


    “Whatever you want to say, don’t.” I cut her off. “The past is the past, so I don’t care.”


    She smacked her lips, like she wasn’t expecting that. Then, she straightened her back, as if trying to regain herposure but her ring nostrils gave it away.


    “Can I borrow Maddox for a moment?” she forced a smile.


    “No,” I said bluntly.


    355 vouchers


    Maddox let out a littleugh with raised eyebrows, like he couldn’t believe I had just said that out loud. I didn’t even regret it at all as I watched her part her lips like she wanted to protest.


    But before she could speak, Maddox shut it down. “It’s good to see you, Juliet. We’ll talk some other time. <b>I’ll </b>call you.”


    And just like that, he ignored her, turning his attention back to me and talking about the exhibition as if she wasn’t present. Embarrassed, she had no choice but to walk away. Even though Maddox wasn’t my boyfriend, it felt good to watch her storm off like that.


    He also watched her for a few seconds, then brought his gaze back to me, leaned forward and said, “That was hot.”


    I yfully rolled my eyes. “Isn’t that what girlfriends do?”


    I expected a chuckle or something. Instead, what I got was a curious expression as he tilted his head. “When Juliet said her name, what was that?”


    “Oh, that.” I paused just to take a sip from my ss of wine. “I’ve heard that name before.”


    His eyebrows furrowed. “But I never mentioned her before.”


    “Grayson told me.”


    He nodded in understanding. “Of course he did.”


    “Yup, he mentioned it once, when he was still trying to give me reasons to stay away from you. He also mentioned ire.”


    He chuckled. “Those two names usually go together. The three of us had a….thing.”


    “Oh, I see. The steak is delicious.”


    “You don’t have to do that.”


    “Do what?” I paused.


    “Change the topic so suddenly. You can ask me whatever you want. I know you want to.” He daringly smirked.


    He was right. I had a few questions about Juliet and ire.


    “How did you meet them?”


    “At a friend’s birthday party. I wanted something different that night. They’re friends, so I took them both with me. One night of fun turned into several more, behind the other’s back. You’re judging me, aren’t you?”


    “What? I didn’t say anything.” My tone was defensive.


    :


    He shook his head like he didn’t believe me. “It was fun while itsted, but I got bored.”


    “So let me guess<b>, </b>ire might show up someday like Juliet?”


    “Yup. You better be ready for that.”


    “I’d be pissed if I were hearing this as your girlfriend. Good thing I’m not.”


    “Yeah.” His voice was suddenly low. “Anyway, ever since this rtionship went public, has Grayson contacted you?”


    “Yup and I don’t pick up his calls. He’s actually been trying to reach me since what happened in London with Tiffany, but I’d rather not talk to him. Ever since he said he’s only made an exception because I saw Anna, things just aren’t the same anymore. It’s because I know that if not for her, he wouldn’t even be talking to me and I’d still be blocked.”


    “Then why did he call you after our fake rtionship went public?”


    I paused, then shrugged. “I don’t know and I don’t care.”


    He chuckled, lightly shaking his head.


    “What?<b>” </b>


    “It’s easy for you to say all this because he’s not actually here. It’s always easier to ignore someone over the phone. Let’s see if you’ll keep this up tomorrow at the estate.”


    I almost choked on my wine.


    “See?” He teased me.


    “Yoi know what? I’ll be right back. I need to use thedies‘ room.”


    Maddox


    Harper was gone for at least five minutes and thedies‘ room was on the same floor, which meant she shouldn’t have taken that long. She must have been touching up her makeup or something.


    I opened my gallery checking all the pictures I’d taken of her. I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I had finally decided that I was going to post all of them.


    Quickly, I opened my page, added the pictures and a caption, then posted.


    <b>As </b>soon as it was published, the sound of approaching heels caught my attention, so I looked up and I nearly rolled my eyes. Juliet was back.


    “I thought you were gone,” I said with a little irritation.


    “I’m still around. I just noticed you’re all alone and I had toe over. I didn’t believe you when


    when you


    said


    <b>11:39 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>


    you’d call me. I know you’ve had your fun with me.”


    “Then why are you even here?”


    She chuckled dismissively as she took a seat. “Where’s your girlfriend?”


    “In thedies‘ room.”


    “Then I better leave before she finds me in her seat. Ugh! She’s so mean.”


    “She’s just trying to keep her man from girls like you,” I bragged.


    “You keep forgetting that I’m not just any girl.” She leaned forward flirtatiously. “You and I had <i>a </i>good time and then you just… stopped calling and texting me.”


    “You could’ve texted first.”


    “I know, but I loved the chase when you chose me first and not ire. It was fun while itsted, but you know what? If you ever need something a little more…exciting-”


    “No.”


    She scoffed. “Damn, you didn’t even let me finish.”


    “No need to hear it. The answer is no.”


    She thoughtfully ced a hand on her chin. “You know, I always thought you’d never get yourself a girlfriend because you always made that so clear, but here you are. I can’t help but wonder what Harper did right. What’s that one thing that made you fall for her?”


    I took a few seconds to think about it, leaning back in my seat with a sigh of wonder. “I don’t know.”


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