The Bad Boy

Chapter 158

Stephanie's P.O.V.

Well, if tonight taught me anything, it's that I have willpower of steel. I could've stood with Harry's lips pressed to my forehead until the sun came up, but I had the willpower to be the one to step away. This is a step in the right direction for me. It doesn't feel like a good thing right now, but I know that it is.

I get in the elevator and collapse against the wall. I'm drained, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I just want to sleep.

When I get into my apartment, I pull off my clothes and put on a grey ribbed tank top with three buttons at the top and a pair of grey cloth shorts with pineapples printed on them. My phone pings with a text and I pick it up. It's from Harry, and it's the address and room number of his hotel, along with the code for the electronic lock on the door.

I shake my head and smile, sitting my phone back down on my nightstand. My eyes are so heavy, that when I hit the pillow I think I will fall right asleep. I don't. I might as well have laid down on the floor for how uncomfortable I am. I toss and turn for a few minutes before resigning with a sigh and getting back out of bed.

I go out into the living room and sit down on the couch with my laptop. As soon as my butt hits the cushion, I'm back to being exhausted. So, I put my laptop on the coffee table and try to lay down. As soon as I'm horizontal I'm back to being uncomfortable.

Before my common sense and willpower catch up to my extremities, I've picked up the phone and dialed Harry's number. It rings twice, before my common sense busts into my brain and I click end. Almost immediately he calls back, but I press decline.

After giving myself a little pep talk, I get off the couch, swallow one giant sleeping pill, and go back to my bed room. I collapse onto the bed, determined to get some sleep. Ten minutes later, the sleeping pill kicks in, and my eye lids fall closed.

Harry's P.O.V.

Stephanie called, but hung up after two rings and then didn't answer when I tried to call her back. She's battling herself, I can tell. Her common sense is telling her not too, but everything else about her is telling her to do it. I won't push her, because I know her common sense will lose in the end, like it does every time. I just have to be patient and wait.

Stephanie's P.O.V.

Even with that sleeping pill, I didn't get more than an hour of sleep. When my alarm clock goes off in the morning, I'm wide awake. I climb out of bed, take a hot shower and then get dressed. I decide on a white lace shirt with cap sleeves and a silk nude skirt that goes just over my hip bones and flows loosely down to almost my knee, with a little bow on the front at the hem. I slip on a pair of floral print pumps and run my fingers through my hair before pulling it into a half bun on the top of my head, wrapping the extra over the top and turning it into a bow.

I'm too tired to eat anything, so I just grab my bag and head to work. I'm not looking forward top seeing Miles, especially looking like I do, and being as tired as I am.

I get to work and go straight to my office. If I'm going to have to talk to Miles today, I'm going to avoid doing it for as long as I can. I grab the first manuscript from the tray on my desk and crack it open.

I'm not two paragraphs into it when Caroline knocks on my door and steps in.

"Good morning Stephanie!" She smiles brightly, hands clasped behind her back.

"Is it?" I sigh, setting down the manuscript.

"What's wrong? You've been acting...different for a few days now." She asks, walking up to my desk.