Calliope's ex-boyfriend, her high school sweetheart, crash-landed back into her life like a rom-com sequel she never ordered, ready to rewrite the script of her existence once again.
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"You...
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Andersen, Harrison, & Smith, P.C.
A place my father built with nothing but a dream and luck. To start a new tradition to the Harrison name. Testament to his vision, a legacy he desired to leave behind. A promise he made that one day it'd be mine, despite the merger. I was a dutiful son. Followed orders, hoping to carry the legacy that eventually got me through law school and positioned me as a high-achieving associate within the firm.
He had many roles, but father wasn't one of them. Instead, he functioned solely as a boss, barking orders for the next fool to obey — namely, me.
So, why do I give a shit that a heart attack put the man down for good? Or that I took a month off work after?
I can't say it's because my girlfriend, Zoe, broke up with me. I'm not one for relationships, but it was easy, low maintenance. Didn't ask for much, didn't require much, just easy. With both of our schedules, we were in it for sex. Something always on tap, but apparently, she found someone she actually likes, and called it off.
Nah. I'm happy for her. She deserves what I can't give her because my heart has been with someone else for as long as I can remember. But I fucked that up, and my dad fucked me up. Now that I had time to think, I see it now. How he manipulated me into becoming his sole heir since he cut off my twin brother, Kyle.
That one tragic night changed us, leaving my brother shattered under the weight of guilt. Even though he lives in California, I make it a point for him to know he's not alone. That's my duty as a big brother for being a born a minute before him.
Moral of the story? We're both fighting our own demons, but the devil is dead. Just have to clean up his messes.
With my head in my phone, I scroll through my email as I walk down the hallway to my office. The walnut wooden paneling, with its rich hues, adds a touch of darkness to the overall atmosphere, accentuated by the overcast sky outside. Outside of the hallways, we're all glass. Fifty-two floors high, towering glass windows, and nothing but sky.
"Chase?" I hear my assistant, Amara, but I don't lift my head. She clears her throat. "Mr. Harrison, I mean?"
Just as I'm about to step into my office, I pause abruptly. Tilting my head upward, I fix my gaze on the distant view and it's my dad's office. His nameplate is still on the door, and it doesn't look like anyone has stepped foot in it since he died.
"What are you doing?" she asks with a hint of humor and shock in her light voice.
"Going to my office?" I say, snapping out of it, turning around to face her.
Her gaze meets mine, and her big brown eyes hold an intensity that suggests she's sorry for my loss. The tendrils of her curly brown hair frame her golden complexion. She's a beautiful girl and I know she has had a crush on me since she started, but I don't entertain it.
Within seconds, she springs to her feet, surpassing the confines of her cubicle. "I thought you were taking some time off? I wasn't expecting you to return so soon," she remarks, surprise etching her face.
