Chapter 7

• Harper arrived back at her office building and went straight to her office. She wasn’t one for small talk, mingling or confrontations. Most people just greeted her as their boss and left her alone.
• *knock*
• “How was the meeting?” A familiar voice came from her office door.
• Harper smiled. She had asked her best friend Morgan to come work with her when she started her business and though publishing magazines was never her intended future job she didn’t hesitate.
• Of course Harper had always anticipated her leaving for what she really wanted to do, but she hadn’t.
• Harper let out a sigh of fresh air and she slumped in her chair.
• “That bad?”
• She put her face in her hands as she leaned onto her desk. Her fingers running through her hair.
• “The photographer has an excellent portfolio. And would be perfect for our magazine.” She said still looking down.
• Morgan stepped closer and sat down in the chair across from Harper’s desk. “I’m confused. That sounds great. You’ve been looking for a photographer for a while now and I noticed you always gone back to his work. So then what’s the problem?”
• Harper looked up at Morgan, her hair now a bit messy in the front compared to her normal perfectly styled hair. She leaned back in her chair before speaking. “The problem is I don’t judge anything in business due to personal feelings. But I am having a difficult time with this one.”
• “Why?” Morgan asked curiously.
• “Because the photographer is…” Harper took a minute before she spoke the name that haunted for years “Caleb Knight.”
• Morgan’s eyes grew wide. “What?” She practically yelled as she jumped up from the chair.
• She then began pacing back and worth.
• “You can’t hire him then.”
• Harper said nothing. She just stared off in the distance.
• “That man humiliated you! He caused you so much pain and suffering. I’m sorry but you haven never been the same person since then. I still love you but something changed in you. You can’t let him work here. Will find another photographer.”
• “No” Harper voice barely registered but Morgan heard it.
• “Harper.”
• “I can’t run a business on emotions or feelings. I may not like the man. And very large part of me hates him, but he is one of the best photographers I have seen in a long time. And from a business standpoint point, there is no reason not to hire him.”
• “But…”
• “No buts Morgan. I’ll just deal with it. It’ll be fine. Plus if he fucks up then I’ll have the pleasure of firing him. And we both know if I fire him his reputation will go down with him.”
• “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
• “Warn me, really?”
• “Yes, you had a massive crush on him in high school. I mean Harper you have his jersey number 23 tattooed behind your ear! And though I’m sure he’s not the same person anymore that doesn’t mean those feelings aren’t somewhere buried down deep in that cold empty heart of yours.”
• “Ouch.”
• Morgan chuckled. “You know what I’m saying.”
• “I’ll be fine Morgan, I promise. Just have Cara from the hiring department call him. He can start Monday.”
• Morgan nodded and left Harper’s office, she knew this wasn’t going to be good but she was going to have Harper’s back no matter what.
• -
• Caleb had just gotten home when he heard his phone ring and ran to answer.
• “Hello?”
• “Hi, is this Mr. Knight?”
• “Yes”
• “Ms. Black would like you to come to her office Monday morning, at 9.”
• Caleb let out a large gasp of air. “Of course, I’ll be there.”
• “We will see you Monday morning then.” And she hung up.
• Caleb let out a large breath of air and put his hand on his chest. His heart beat was pounding. “Now I just have to figure out how to make her forgive me and realize I care about her.” He said to himself looking up at his ceiling as he laid back on his couch.
• -
• Monday came and Caleb was ready to go see Harper. He wasn’t sure how it would go but he had a bit of excitement in his step as he arrived at her building. He asked the receptionist what floor she was on and headed up to floor twenty.
• When he got to her floor he then asked another receptionist where her office was.
• “It’s right this way.” She said.
• Caleb followed as he looked around. There were different collections of desk put together. They seamed like different little teams. There’s a large amount of people in the office. Each doing something.
• “Right in there sir.” The lady said pointing at a door and then walked back to her desk.
• *knocks*
• There was a moment of silence before Caleb heard a voice. “Come in.”
• Caleb took a breath in and opened the door. His eyes scanning the room. The whole back of the room was windows looking over the city. On the right side was a wall of book shelves covered in books and magazines. There was a small bar cart in the back corner and couch and coffee table that sat in front of the wall of shelves. And straight Dam in the middle was a desk. And his eyes went straight down.