His Heart For Collection

Chapter eighteen

"If you don't mind me asking, what were you doing at the Harimot Mansion?"

"Excuse me?"

"I meant, do you have a relationship with the Harimot family?" I asked, the bite in my tone noticeable because he regarded me with a skeptical look.

"Of course we have a relationship. We are in corporate together, so I'm bound to know people in corporate," Finley said, scrunching up his nose.

"What was the party about?" I asked, trying to figure out what I remember from that night.

"Mr Harimot officially signed over the company to his son. The party was over at ten and-"

"What do you mean at ten?"

"The Harimots had other guests to entertain, so we were told to vacate the main house. We were given bedrooms in the other houses. What? You didn't vacate?"

I ran a hand down my face, not sure how I should answer. Finley and I have become quite close the past few weeks and I didn't know if I should divulge my personal life to him.

He did tell me all about himself. He showed me pictures of his family, his five year old daughter and his ex wife. He told me why they separated and that they had shared custody of Lisa, his daughter. He told me about how he felt like he was a deadbeat dad because he only goes to see his kid on holidays. The reason they separated was because of his demanding job. His ex wife, Hope, complained about him not spending enough time with his family.

I asked if he ever cheated. He said he was not the kind to do that. The relief I felt when he said that was so great. Let's just say I wouldn't tolerate a cheater, even if they were my friend. I had strict values and morales, and I was not going to associate with people who did not share my values.

Nothing in particular makes me hate cheaters. To me, there's nothing to justify cheating. If your feelings changed along the way or you fancied someone else, it's better to break it off first with your partner than go and cheat on them. I sometimes wondered if people did not feel guilty going back to their significant others while knowing they were betraying them.

When Finley told me about his divorce and how it was the most devastating time of his life, I felt sorry for him. Yes, he was in the wrong for dedicating all his time to his job instead of his family, but he was still human at the end of the day.

I've never had someone I would consider a close friend who I would divulge my personal problems to them. The only person I had was Drew. He was my best friend above all else. He was my everything before I met his family and realised that I was not his everything.

I was so ashamed because I went ahead and married him even when I saw that I was not his priority.

When Finley offered to be my support during my divorce, I cried. I cried because I realised how lonely I was. How alone I was. How I didn't have anyone by my side.

He said he went through his divorce alone and it was hell. He didn't want me to go through what he went through.

So, I had no choice but to disclose who I was married to.

"Drew Harimot? As in the owner of Leamington Enterprise?"

I nodded, my eyes cast down in shame.

"And it was a secret?" I nodded. "And why was it a secret?"

I sighed, explaining how his family didn't welcome me into their lives. "We eloped."

"You rebellious you!" he said, an easy smile on his face.

I laughed, feeling a bit relieved that he didn't judge me for eloping. I was young and stupid. When I'm looking at it now, I realise that I shouldn't blame the Harimots for hating me. I forced myself into their lives. Like, I barreled into their lives. I kicked down their locked door just so I could be their family.

"That's how we got married. I knew that I wasn't his priority, but I still went and married him. I let him convince me that we'll be together forever and all that bullshit. I'm such a fool," I said, beating myself up.

"No. I've met Mr Harimot. That man is something else. I wouldn't say he's resentful, but yeah, he is."

I laughed, trying to blink back the tears. "He's such an old fossil."

"Yes!" Finley exclaimed. The moment I saw the gleam in his eyes, I knew he was about to gossip. "Can you believe that he's seventy? One of my colleagues heard one of our colleagues that the man was seventy and not fifty like he claims. There's this theory people have made up that-"

"Woah! Calm down," I interjected, surprised by the excitement Finley seemed to harbor.

"Haven't you heard? And please answer me because you have been married to the son for many years. Are they really vampires?"

I coughed on my spit, trying to stop myself from the laughing attack that I experienced. "Excuse me?"

Finley went right ahead and explained himself. "I don't know if you know this, but have you seen Mr Harimot? He barely looks a day over forty, but he's seventy. Well, that's what people say. And his wife? Have you seen her? That woman looks thirty!"

"Where did you get this information?" I asked, starting to become worried. I've never heard anything about the family. And the parents were definitely not over fifty.

"It's on the internet. Here, let me check for you."

I shook my head at the ridiculousness of the situation.