Her thunderous expression tells me there’s something wrong. So does the way she marches to my desks and smacks something onto the timber surface.
“Lose something?” she asks.
When she snatches her hand away, my gold watch glints under the light. I’d been looking for it all morning. “Where did you find this?”
Harper rests her hands on her hips. “I didn’t. I got a call from Alyssa asking me to give it back to you.”
Shit! I must have dropped it in Alyssa’s apartment. And judging by the death glare Harper is throwing my way, sheknows I ran out on her friend without an explanation or a goodbye. “Harper, let me explain—”
She slaps her palms on top of the desk and leans forward. “What’s there to explain? I already know you led Alyssa on then disappeared without saying a word. How could you?”
I know I fucked up. In the moment, I panicked. I feel like absolute shit. “I’m sorry I ran out on her. It was a shitty thing to do. But I never meant for things to go as far as they did.”
Harper pushes away from the desk. “So, that’s your excuse? That doesn’t justify leaving her like you did.”
“Who left who?” Lucas strolls into the office.
Fuck. Why did he have to come in here now? I don’t need the whole family knowing my business.
“None of your damn business,” I snap.
Lucas holds up his hands. “Woah. What’s up with you?”
Harper glares at me while she says to Lucas, “Your brother is hopefully feeling guilty about treating my best friend like crap.”
Lucas props a shoulder on the wall. “What did he do?”
“What part of ‘none of your business’ don’t you understand?” To change the subject, I turn the conversation toward work. “I noticed you didn’t include the photography costs in Juliette’s budget. Why not?”
“I’ve been busy,” Lucas says without an explanation. Lucas is the head photographer at Alessi Fashion. Photography is his art, and he sometimes has a more laid-back attitude toward the business.
“I need it by no later than four o’clock this afternoon.”
Lucas straightens from the wall and salutes. “No problem, boss.”
He’s just as much the boss as I am. Finn, Lucas, and myself took over Alessi Fashion after our father retired, and we built the company up to be one of the biggest and most prestigious fashion houses in the world.
“So, what did he do?” Lucas asks, grinning at Harper.
Before Harper speaks, I point to the door. “Get out and stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“Okay, geez. Don’t get your panties in a twist,” he says and ambles out of the office.
“Scared to tell Lucas what a jerk you are?” Harper crosses her arms over her chest.
Christ, she isn’t letting this go. I blow out a breath and push myself from the chair. Walking to the window, I stare out over Central Park. “I’m sorry I ran out on Alyssa. I panicked.”
“Why?” she says, coming over to stand next to me.
“I don’t do one-night stands. Not since Lily was born.” I turn toward Harper.
Harper’s face softens. “I know. I understand. You’ve had to raise Lily on your own. It’s difficult. If I didn’t have Finn, I don’t know what I’d do. But what you did—”
“Was a fucked-up move. I know. I’m sorry. Am I forgiven?” I give her a hopeful smile.
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to.” The heat in her words have died down.
I rub the back of my neck. “Should I talk to her and explain?”