Afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the bed.
For a moment, I remained half asleep, enjoying the warmth wrapped around me.
Without thinking, I shifted closer, instinctively snuggling against the heat beside me.
My arm draped loosely across Harley's chest as I rested my head against his shoulder.
He was warm… and comfortable.
A faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air.
It felt safe—too safe.
A soft chuckle rumbled beneath my ear. My eyes snapped open.
Harley was looking down at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Good morning," he murmured.
My brain froze for a second before reality hit me all at once. I was practically wrapped around him.
My face burned.
"Why didn't you move?" I blurted, quickly pulling away.
Harley raised an eyebrow. "And ruin the moment?"
I sat up in bed, covering my face. "This is so embarrassing."
Harley chuckled. "Relax, Sophie. Nothing happened, okay?"
Instead of replying, I climbed out of his bed and dashed out of the room toward the bathroom in my room.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror above the bathroom sink. My face was as red as a tomato. I cupped my face.
How embarrassing. I can't even look at him.
I stripped down into my birthday suit and filled the tub with cherry blossom-scented bubble bath.
When the tub was halfway full, I turned the knob off and climbed in. The warm water instantly relaxed me.
I can't believe I went four years without taking a bubble bath.
Showers are fine, but there is something about a warm bath that relaxes you in a way showers can't.
After getting out of the bath, I put on the white robe and made my way toward my bed. My phone was vibrating on the nightstand.
My face lit up when I grabbed my phone and saw a message notification from Samuel. It had been a while since we last spoke. I unlocked my phone and opened the message.
Samuel: Hello beautiful, long time no see. How is Seoul treating you? I hope Sasha is behaving.
Me: There's no place like home, and Sasha is adjusting well.
Samuel: I missed seeing your smiling face every day.
Me: Then make your way over here.
Samuel: Maybe I will. But listen, I have to go. We will talk soon.
I put my phone back on the nightstand and changed into a white T-shirt and black leggings.
For some reason, my thoughts drifted back to Harley… and the way he had looked at me this morning.
Harley has been getting bolder by the day… and it scares me.
I walked down the stairs and looked around the main floor. Harley was nowhere to be seen. I let out a relieved sigh.
"Boo."
A loud scream escaped my mouth when I felt cold air on my neck. When I turned around, Harley was trying his hardest not to laugh.
"You're going to pay for that."
He regained his composure. "You're off today, right?"
"Why?"
He placed his arm around my neck. "Come to work with me. I need your help with something."
"You want me to spend my day off working for you?"
"I will take you out to a fancy restaurant afterwards."
My eyes sparkled with excitement. I had developed a taste for foreign food during my stay in England.
"Deal."
We walked into Huang Group side by side, chatting and laughing.
Harley was so focused on me that he didn't notice his staff had paused what they were doing to stare.
From the corner of my eye, I caught the ladies blushing when Harley smiled at something I said.
If I were a staff member here, I would probably do the same. His looks and charisma were second to none.
The private elevator dinged and then opened. We stepped inside. When Harley turned around to press the button for the fiftieth floor, his staff hurriedly made themselves busy.
The ride to the top floor was quiet.
Harley leaned against the left side of the elevator with his arms crossed, staring at me on the opposite side of the elevator.
"What?" I asked.
"You're quite popular with my male staff."
I rolled my eyes. "They're admiring your presence, and your smile made all the ladies swoon."
Harley chuckled. "Including you?"
"As if," I said as the elevator dinged when it reached the top floor.
The doors opened, revealing the executive floor of Huang Group. The entire space was sleek and modern, with polished marble floors and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.
The atmosphere was calm and quiet, a sharp contrast to the busy offices below.
Glass-walled meeting rooms lined one side of the hallway, while the opposite wall displayed minimalist artwork. At the far end stood the large double doors to Harley's office.
Harley pushed open the doors to his office and stepped inside. I followed behind him but stopped almost immediately.
The office was breathtaking.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, revealing a panoramic view of the city skyline below.
A large black desk sat near the center of the room, perfectly organized, while a sleek seating area rested near the windows with leather chairs and a glass coffee table.
For a moment, I simply stared.
Harley set his laptop on the desk before glancing back at me.
"Planning to stand there all day?"
I blinked and looked at him. "This office is incredible."
Harley leaned casually against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms.
"You should see the one my father used to have."
I scoffed. "Don't ruin the moment."
Harley chuckled softly.
"Come here," he said, gesturing toward the window. "The view is better up close."
I walked over and stood beside him, looking down at the city stretching endlessly below us.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Harley glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
"Still not impressed?"
I rolled my eyes. "You know I am."
His lips curved into a small smile. He took a seat in his office chair and turned on his laptop.
"So," I asked, turning around. "What am I helping you with?"
"You're going to be my assistant for the day."
When I didn't speak, Harley looked up and saw my blank expression.
"I gave my assistant the day off."
I placed my hands on my hips. "Okay then. I will do my best."
Harley pointed at the desk to his left.
"Take those papers to the fifth floor and shred them."
My eyes widened at the stack of papers neatly piled on the miniature black wooden desk.
"Geez, Harley," I mumbled as I walked over to the desk, my heels clicking against the marble floor. "No wonder your assistant needed a day off."
"You have thirty minutes."
The stack of papers I held in my hands fell to the floor from shock.
"Are you crazy? This will take all day."
"Thirty minutes," he repeated.
I was about to say something else when a knock on the door interrupted me. I bent down and quickly picked up all the papers.
"Come in."
The door opened and an older man walked in. He stared at me as I rushed past him before turning his attention toward Harley.
I let out a long sigh as I waited for the elevator doors to open.