Chapter 4 - The Man Who Came Looking For Her
Three days later, Brandon Hale arrived in Boston.
He entered the luxury hotel lobby like he owned the building.
Expensive suit.
Perfect haircut.
Confident smile.
The same smile Harper once loved.
The same smile that now made her sick.
His assistant handed him a file.
"Apartment confirmed. Harper Collins."
Brandon opened it.
Inside were photos.
Her workplace.
Her building.
Her routine.
He smiled.
"She always was predictable."
The assistant hesitated.
"Sir..."
"What?"
"There's something else."
Brandon looked up.
"She has a neighbor."
"So?"
The assistant swallowed.
"Dominic Russo."
The smile disappeared.
For the first time in years, Brandon looked uncertain.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Brandon closed the file.
"That changes things."
---
That evening, Harper came home and found Dominic waiting in the hallway.
"You knew."
She stopped.
"Knew what?"
"Brandon is here."
Dominic didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I wanted confirmation first."
Harper became angry.
"You don't get to decide what information I can handle."
Dominic looked at her.
"You're right."
The immediate agreement surprised her.
"I should have told you."
The anger faded slightly.
She wasn't used to men admitting mistakes.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I knew your first instinct would be fear."
"And?"
"And I wanted you to remember something."
"What?"
Dominic stepped closer.
"You are not the woman who ran anymore."
Harper looked away.
"I don't know if I believe that."
"I do."
The answer was immediate.
Something about his certainty unsettled her.
Because Brandon had always made her doubt herself.
Dominic made her question whether she had underestimated herself.
---
That night, Brandon appeared.
Not at Harper's door.
At the building entrance.
Security stopped him.
But Brandon was calm.
"I am here to see my fiancée."
The receptionist frowned.
"Sir, nobody by that name lives here."
Brandon smiled.
"She changed her name."
The receptionist became uncomfortable.
"Sir—"
Then a voice interrupted.
"Leave."
Dominic stood behind him.
Brandon slowly turned.
The two men looked at each other.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Brandon smiled.
"So you're the neighbor."
Dominic's expression didn't change.
"And you're the problem."
Brandon laughed softly.
"You think you know her?"
"I know enough."
Brandon stepped closer.
"She belongs with me."
The hallway became silent.
Dominic's voice dropped.
"No."
A pause.
"She belongs to herself."
For the first time, Brandon's confidence disappeared.
Just slightly.
But Harper saw it.
And she realized something.
Brandon was not afraid of losing her.
May you like
He was afraid of losing control.
---
