Page 52 of Irreplaceable

I didn’t knowwhat was responsible for Harper’s sudden change of heart, but I was grateful to have the opportunity to talk with her alone. I pushed away Val’s warnings and gave Harper the details of where I was staying.

Me: How are you?

I staredat the phone for a long time, willing her to respond. But she never did.

I must have finally fallen asleep at some point because I awoke to the sound of a knock at the door. I frowned and draped my feet over the side of the bed, sunlight trying to break in at the edges of the blackout curtains. My phone told me it was after nine, but surely that wasn’t right. I never slept this late, no matter what time zone I was in.

“Just a minute,” I called, pulling on some sweat pants. I rubbed a hand over my face, feeling disoriented.

I peered through the peephole. Harper stood on the other side, clutching her purse as if it were a shield. I took a deep breath and pulled open the door, wishing I’d had more time to prepare.

“Buongiorno.”

I invited her inside but refrained from kissing her like I wanted to. She brushed past me, the hair on my arm standing on end. It was as if my body was reaching out for her, even when I wouldn’t let it.

“Buongiorno.” She glanced around the space, her eyes anywhere but on me. I hated it.

“Have you eaten yet? Are you hungry?” I led her farther inside toward the couch.

She shook her head but said nothing.

“Can I get you some water? Something to drink?”

“Some water would be nice, thanks.”

I went over to the wet bar, grateful for an excuse to move, to do something. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and loosened the top before handing it to her.

“Thank you.” She took a sip.

“Thank you for coming. How did you get up here, though?” The top floor had its own security guard, and the elevators required a room key.

“My friend Juliana plans weddings for some of the biggest celebrities in the world. It’s her job to know how to access locations so that the couple can avoid the paparazzi.”

I nodded. “She told you how to sneak in.”

She lifted a shoulder, her pleased smile endearing. “More or less.”

I nodded. “I, um—” I stood, smoothing my hands down my thighs. “I have something for you.”

I went to the bedroom and returned with her SD card, a new camera, and a check. After I’d left the event last night, I’d ordered the camera over the phone and paid extra to have a courier drop it off within an hour. Harper swallowed hard and stared at the items but didn’t move. It was as if she’d turned into a statue.

“Here,” I said, holding out the camera for her. “For you.” When she still didn’t say anything, I peered down at it. “Do you not like it? Is it not a good model?”

She barked out a surprised laugh. “Are you kidding? It’s the best model.”

“Then why do you not accept it? Any of it?”

“Because…it feels like you’re trying to buy me off. I mean, this camera had to cost at least $10,000.”

“Buy you off?” I growled, stepping closer. “Harper, I bought this camera because I destroyed yours. I’m attempting to right a wrong.”

She opened the case, blinked at it, then up at me. Then back at the camera, holding it carefully as she removed it from the leather enclosure and studied the buttons, the lens. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Did she hate it? The guy at the shop had assured me it was top-of-the-line, but now I was having second thoughts. Especially when she set it on the coffee table and gently pushed it away from herself before ignoring its existence.

“I know it won’t replace the camera you had, but it’s better,” I said. “And here’s your SD card.” I pushed it and the check closer to her.

“And the check?” she scoffed. “If that’s not hush money, I don’t know what is.”

“It’s not—” I sighed. This was not going well. “I want to purchase the rights to the images you took of me. They’re beautiful shots, and they’d be perfect for my foundation.”

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