Page 147 of Ruthless Heir

I shouldn’t have allowed Harper to leave. But what if she made her choice then and decided to leave me?

My thoughts are interrupted by a tap on the door. It’s already open and when I look up I expect to see one of the maids.

Instead I find Josh standing there. I’d almost think we were back to yesterday when I first saw him, except his clothes have changed. It’s also later in the day and the bruises from his fists are on my face.

I stare at him, wondering why he’s here.

Yesterday changed everything between us and I’m not sure I know him anymore. But if he’s here it means he wants to talk. There’s only one thing I want to know.

“Where is Harper?”

“She’s at a hotel I booked for us.” He keeps his gaze fixed on me as if he’s waiting for me to strike back and retaliate in vengeance for yesterday.

“Why are you here?” I decide to get to the point. “Come to fight me again?”

“No.”

“Really? Because if you do it won’t be like yesterday, and you won’t win. I wasn’t going to hit you in front of Harper. And I allowed you to hit me because I lied to you.”

“I know.” He breathes out a sigh and walks in, stopping by the desk. I hope like hell he’s not going to tell me some bullshit because I won’t sit here and listen to it. This whole thing is outrageous.

“She’s in love with you,” he finally speaks after what feels like an eternity of waiting.

He pulls out the seat in front of my desk and plants himself on it.

“I always knew but she’s never had the guts to tell me the way she has now.”

I’m ready for another fight but decide to tamp down my rage so I can speak to him in a calm manner. He seems to want to talk it out with me.

“Josh, for years I tried to respect boundaries and keep my distance, but I wish I hadn’t. If I had done what I wanted to there’s no way in fuck she would have ended up with Nick.”

He bows his head for a moment and when he looks back at me I can see in his eyes that he’s acknowledged what I said and the rage from yesterday is gone.

“I always worried that you’d hurt her. You’ve never been serious with anyone. The only time I saw you try was with Natalia. She was the longest relationship you ever had.”

“You blame me for her death.” The words feel worse outside my head. “I know people did. I know you did, too.”

“I didn’t blame you.”

“You could have fooled me. Years ago, when you warned me away from Harper, you mentioned Natalia and cursed me out.”

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

“If you didn’t blame me you wouldn’t have mentioned her at all.”

He breathes out a ragged sigh. “I mentioned her because I was being an asshole. I knew how Harper felt about you and I never wanted you to hurt her. What happened to Natalia was the worst thing ever. I knew it was a sensitive topic for you, but it was the only thing that would make you listen to me. So I thought that reminding you about Natalia would keep you from screwing around with Harper.”

I can’t even believe what I’m hearing. “You knew how hard I took Natalia’s death, Josh. I didn’t need anyone to blame me because I blamed myself enough. I was fucking eighteen years old when she died and it’s haunted me every day since. How the fuck could you use that against me?”

“I was used to you hooking up with a different girl every week. Sometimes less than that. I didn’t want you to treat my sister like that. Not when I knew she had real feelings for you.I’m her brother, Asher. I’m supposed to protect her from guys like you.”

“I would never have treated her like that.”

“I didn’t know that. Istilldon’t.”

“Yes, you do. You just don’t want to accept it.” I glare at him.

“Then maybe I just need you to humor me, on account of the fact that I’ve had to take care of her pretty much from when our mother died because our father was sick. Then she nearly died in that accident that took her memories. She survived that only to be with Nick, who nearly killed her. Now I have to trust you with her.”

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