Page 26 of Ruthless Heir

“Itisa whole other world.” I chuckle.

His smile fades and his shoulders sag. “I gotta go now, Harper. Are you feeling okay?”

Bless his heart. He can see that I’m not okay. “Yes.”

“Need anything else before I dash?”

“Just a hug from my big brother.”

“I have plenty of those.” He smiles wide and I take a mental picture of the way he looks so I can keep it in my heart.

We hug and I savor the safety I feel from being with my only family member who I know will always take care of me. I hope that one day I can return the favor. And I hope like hell thatnothing bad happens to either of us and this isn’t the last time we’ll hug.

When we pull apart he plants a kiss on my forehead and ruffles the top of my hair like he used to when I was little.

He dips his head and leaves, and I stand there until I hear the front door close then the car driving away.

I’m alone now, thrust into a new situation. And from the looks of it a whole new world.

I gaze around the living room and take in the French Provençal décor and wrought iron chandeliers hanging above me. Everything is so beautiful and elegant I feel out of place just being here.

This is the first time I’ve been to the Hamptons, and I never thought I would be living in the home of one of its top-tier billionaires.

Asher only just turned thirty. Who knows where he’ll be in a few years? I guess that’s what happens when you’re born with the right kind of wealth.

Pulling in a deep breath, I steel my mind and prep it to venture down this new path. Then, like Alice going down the rabbit hole, I follow the marbled hallway to a state-of-the-art kitchen that’s bigger than my last apartment.

Olga is in there talking to a younger woman who looks to be the same age as me. The woman gives me a welcoming smile that makes me feel more at ease.

Olga introduces her as Kimberley, the head chef. Again, I’m impressed and I wonder who and what else I’ll come across today.

After I eat a delicious meal of gourmet sandwiches on the terrace, Olga gives me the tour. By the end of it I decide that it doesn’t feel right to call this place a mere house.

With its eight bedrooms, three living rooms, function halls, dining room,Beauty and the Beaststyle library, and garages,this place feels more like a palace. Or a manor at least. Like one of those English countryside manors with a moor and a lake.

The only real difference here is that Asher has private beach access and the woodlands. He has the best of both worlds, and I feel like I’m in a dream.

My bedroom is certainly the finest room I’ve ever stayed in in my life, and I’m almost too afraid I’ll mess it up.

There’s a queen-size bed that looks like something designed for a princess, a walk-in wardrobe, shelves galore, and a boudoir dressing table.

Nick made me feel like I was less than human. No wonder I feel like I don’t belong here. Because I don’t.

As nice as this all is, when I sort out the loan I have to get my own place. Campus housing or not—and I have a feeling it will be the latter.

I don’t know how life is at NYU but back at UCLA those who get turned down for campus housing don’t often get placed later, so they have to find somewhere near campus.

My problem is I applied way too late, so I’m not at all surprised.

The day wears on. I don't have that many things to unpack so I’m all set up within an hour.

Beth comes by to see me and she’s as besotted with the place as I am. We spend the rest of the day on the beach, then she leaves at nightfall.

At eight thirty I make my way down to the dining room with butterflies flapping around in my stomach.

Asher is home. Olga told me to come down for dinner at this time and I heard his car when he arrived.

When I reach the dining room door I breathe deeply to calm myself, then I take that step inside as if I’m about to start the first day of the rest of my life.

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