I Once Married You (Harper and Benjamin)

Evaded His Question

Frank flashed a smile. "Curious, huh? Hoping I'll soon date someone?"

"Of course not." Harper quickly clarified, worried he might get the wrong idea. "I'm just looking out for you. If it's awkward, we can drop it."

Deciding not to push further, she acknowledged everyone had a private side they preferred to keep to themselves, and she might have overstepped.

After a brief pause, Frank continued to fix his gaze on her. "Harper, it's not that I don't want to tell you. You might have seen her before, but you don't know her. There's nothing between us. So, I don't see the point in bringing it up."

"Okay, got it."

Harper nodded, sharing a smile with him.

Shifting gears, Frank said, "Summit Realty has been reaching out to me all morning, asking when the project will kick off again. Harper, given the situation, what's your take? Will you stick with Benjamin for the sake of the project?"Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

She glanced at him calmly, her tone even. "If Summit Realty contacts you again, just tell them we need more time, and there won't be a quick fix. I'm doing my best, and I don't want the project to go down like this, but it's not a walk in the park."

She didn't address Frank's final question.

Seeing her silence, Frank pressed further. "Harper, Benjamin has put the project on hold and turned a blind eye to the rumors about your divorce online. Is it because of me? If so, I can talk to him and make it clear that we're just friends."

Shaking her head, Harper replied, "Frank, it's not about you. Why would you think that?"

"I'm just worried I'm putting you in a tough spot. If it's about me, just tell me straight, okay? Harper, we're more than just friends, we're like the ultimate team. We face stuff together, right? I don't want you to feel squeezed because of me. So, is there really no connection to me?"

"Of course not. Don't even go there."

Harper grinned but dodged the question about staying married to Benjamin.

Frank didn't push it further. He didn't want to get her all worked up. Instead, he just looked at her, his gaze getting a bit deeper and more intense.

Back in his office, Frank dialed a number on his phone. A voice answered promptly on the other end. He kept it cool as he said, "Hold off on hitting me up for a bit. She clocked us at the café today. It's not time for her to know yet."

The woman on the other end replied softly, "Got it. But... when all's said and done, will you really be with her?"

Frank didn't respond and just hung up.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, he looked down at everything, feeling like being swallowed by a pit.

...

At 7 p.m.

Harper rolled up to the airport, and after about ten minutes, she met up with a woman around her age at the arrivals gate. The woman was rocking a black knee-length coat, long boots, and some killer chestnut curls flowing down her shoulders, framing her pretty face.

They hugged it out, and Harper whispered, "Annie, it's been ages!"