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Chapter 2 - Chapter 2

Harper burst through the entry of Owen Industries. She'd run the entire way up here. 

"You're not crazy," she gasped. "This is real."

She looked nothing like the broken woman who had begged for her father's love in another life.

Good.

The whispers followed her, as Harper walked the corridor, 

"Is that Harper? She looks terrifying."

"Is she here for another tantrum in the CEO's office?" 

"Ungrateful little bitch. After everything her father has done for her." 

Those whispers had been nothing but daggers in her soul. Each one slicing away pieces of her confidence until nothing remained but hollow compliance. Now they were white noise, background static from people too small to matter.

The elevator to the top floor moved like a coffin ascending to judgment. Her chest heaved as she pressed her back against the cold metal door.

The doors parted with a whisper. Harper was now staring at the executive level's marble expanse. 

The boardroom was steps ahead. Its doors bore the Owen Industries logo. Harper paused. Her hand was hovering over the handle. 

Behind that door had to be her father. Henry Owen had shaped her into his perfect disappointment; he had clipped her wings for full control over her.

And another Vernon would be there too.

Her stomach churned at the thought. Bright smile and easy charm that masked the rot beneath. Each gaze was like one small death, a reminder of how thoroughly she'd been sold.

Not this time.

"Harper." She spun around. Oliver Vernon stood behind her.

He looked exactly as she remembered. Broad shoulders filling out an expensive suit, sandy hair artfully tousled, green eyes that sparkled with manufactured warmth. This golden boy, who had inherited everything and understood nothing. 

She once thought that his smile meant safety. Now she could see the predator lurking behind it.

"You look..." His green eyes swept over her disheveled appearance. "Flushed." 

"I'm fine." The words came out sharper than intended.

"You seem upset about something."

"I said I'm fine."

"Harper." His voice once made her believe he cared. "You can talk to me. You know that, right?"

You destroyed me. You took everything I was and twisted it into something unrecognizable. 

But this version of Oliver didn't know what he'd done yet.

"We should go in," she said instead. 

Oliver caught her hand. "Why are you so cold?"

Harper stared down at his fingers wrapped around her wrist.

She pulled her hand away and pushed through the doors before he could say anything else.

The room fell silent as she entered. Ten pairs of eyes tracked her movement. She only cared about two. 

Henry sat at the head of the massive oak table. Silver hair perfectly styled, his expression unreadable behind wire-rimmed glasses. 

 "Ah, Harper," his voice carrying that particular tone he used when he was disappointed but trying to hide it. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd join us."

"Sorry, I'm late." Harper chose a seat as far from Oliver as possible. 

She wanted to escape the cloying scent of his aggressive cologne. This had once made her feel sophisticated. "I was reviewing the Vernon acquisition files."

"That speaks very highly of your... dedication," Oliver said.

Harper met his gaze steadily. 

"We have been discussing terms," Henry started.

 "This purchase requires careful handling. Oliver leaned forward. Leadership with the right... perspective."

Henry folded his hands on the table. "And whose perspective would that be?"

"Someone who can close the gap between our companies." Vernon's face creased with amusement.

Harper's jaw clenched. "I see."

"Harper has strong opinions about the business," Henry replied smoothly. 

"Sometimes those opinions need guidance." 

Guidance. The word tasted like poison in Harper's mouth. 

Henry's guidance had led her into a business transaction dressed up in white silk and empty vows. She needed to escape her father. She needed to keep herself as far away from Vernon's family as possible.

"The Vernon Group has always believed in mentorship," Henry said. "Perhaps, Oliver, you could provide the help my daughter would need."

Oliver straightened, pushing away from the window. "I'd be happy to ensure it, Mr. Owen."

Harper froze. She watched Oliver and saw the familiar flash of entitlement cross his features. 

This was how it had started before. Small steps, reasonable suggestions.

"Actually," Harper's voice was steady despite the chaos churning in her chest. "I think I can manage just fine on my own."

The room went quiet. Even the air conditioning seemed to hold its breath.

Oliver's lips curved in something that wasn't quite a smile. He stopped beside her sit, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. 

In her peripheral vision, she caught the slight tremor in his hands. He quickly squeezed his hands behind his back.

"Of course, you're famous for making your choices." Then he continued. "A strategy would be needed for a company acquisition." His eyes found hers. "Can you do that, Harper?"

The way he said her name made her feel fury and disgust. 

Fury? She felt anger. It had been a few hours since her fall from the bridge, and now her wish came true. Whatever was happening to her, Harper felt alive.

She remembered how she had melted under that voice. How she had let it convince her that destruction was devotion. Now it caused the nausea churning in her stomach.

"Oliver's approach to business has been...interesting," she said carefully.. 

Henry continued. "His work on the Henderson deal was impressive."

Impressive. Harper almost laughed. She'd learned about it six months after her wedding. 

Oliver had botched the negotiations so badly that they'd nearly lost the entire deal. His brother had to step in at the last minute to salvage what remained. 

"Henderson," Harper repeated. "Yes, I remember reading about that… eventual success."

The pause was accurate. 

"You need to adapt for a deal to happen." Oliver's jaw tightened. 

"Adapt. Is that what you call it?" Every word hung in the air like a challenge.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Everyone's eyes sharpened, clearly recognizing the subtext.

"I'm not sure I follow." Oliver was confused.

 "From where I sit, it looks like the Vernon approach to business involves taking what you want and damn the collateral damage." Harper's voice was steel. 

"Is it an accusation? Or just an observation? Harper, I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but.."

"What's gotten into me is clarity. This acquisition? I think you are the last person who should be leading it."

"We should discuss this privately," Henry's voice carried a warning.

 "No." Harper's eyes never left Oliver's face. " This is exactly where it needs to be discussed. 

The room went dead quiet. Even the air conditioning seemed to hold its breath.

"You don't know what you're talking about." Oliver's mask slipped completely, revealing the child beneath. 

"Don't I?"

"Harper, I think you're.."

"Perhaps," she continued, "this acquisition requires someone with a more...proven track record."

"You have no idea what I've accompl.." 

 "I have every idea. That's the problem. Family connections when actual competence fails?"

"This acquisition needs to be executed firmly," Harper said. 

Or it should be stopped.

She was walking a tightrope now, using her knowledge of the future to plant seeds of doubt about Oliver. Putting someone else as the alternative was dangerous. Still, anything was better than being trapped with this acquisition again.

"I think," Henry interrupted smoothly, "that Harper raises valid concerns. This acquisition is too important for sentiment." 

Oliver's expression tightened. "I am.."

"If Oliver isn't suitable, who is?" He looked at Harper, studying her expressions like a chess master estimating her next move. 

"Someone effective?" 

The words were dropped, and understanding was shown across the faces around the table. She saw Henry's slight nod of approval.

"Do you know what you're asking for, Harper?" Oliver Vernon paused.

"I do."

"..." Oliver's dawning horror as he realized what she was suggesting. "He's unpredictable. Difficult to work with."

"Maybe that's exactly what this acquisition needs. Someone who doesn't play by the usual rules."

Oliver's face was flushed now, his golden-boy composure cracking like poorly made veneer. "He's different."He doesn't understand family loyalty."

"He understands results," Harper cut him off. 

The black sheep who'd been systematically excluded from the family business. In the future, he'd stood in the shadows watching the proceedings with dark eyes, seeing everything and crashing it later.

"My younger brother has no interest in the family business."

"That's not what I heard." Harper met his gaze steadily. "Word is he's built quite a reputation for turning failing companies around. Without family. Without advantages."

"An interesting proposal."Henry was watching the exchange with growing interest. 

Finally, he voiced. "Oliver, would Ivan be available for a partaking?"

"Mr. Owen.." Oliver Vernon looked smashed. "I...arrangements could be made."

"Excellent," Henry said. "Then it's settled. Harper will co-lead the Vernon acquisition alongside Ivan. A joint venture between our companies."

"Excuse me?" Harper felt the room spinning.

"You wanted responsibility," Henry smiled. "This is what responsibility looks like." 

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