Chapter 6 6

"Listen to me very carefully, Sloane," Harper whispered, her tone laced with deadly seriousness.

Sloane gasped sharply on the other end, her gossip radar fully activated.

"Sterling didn't dump me. He's not even in Hawaii," Harper lied smoothly, not blinking an eye. "He suffered a massive overdose."

"Oh my god," Sloane breathed.

"He's in a lockdown rehab facility," Harper continued, her voice tight. "The Bright family is spending millions to bury this so the stock prices don't tank."

"What is he on?" Sloane demanded, her voice vibrating with greedy excitement.

"I'm not discussing details," Harper said flatly. "If this leaks, my father will know it was you."

She knew Sloane. The threat wouldn't stop her; it would only make the secret more valuable.

Sloane promised absolute silence and quickly hung up.

Harper stared at the black screen, a cold smile touching her lips.

That rumor would consume Manhattan by dinner time.

She tossed the phone onto the table and picked up her water glass to cool her dry throat.

As she lifted the glass, her eyes caught the reflection in the chrome napkin dispenser on the table.

The curved metal distorted the image, but it was clear enough.

A man in a black suit was standing in the narrow hallway leading to the restrooms.

It was one of the guards from the parking lot.

He was standing perfectly still, his body angled toward Harper's booth.

He was staring directly at the back of her head.

Harper's blood turned to ice in her veins.

The cold glass slipped slightly in her sweaty grip.

He was close enough. He definitely heard her talking about the Bright family and the stock prices.

In the reflection, the guard turned his back and walked away.

A cold sweat broke out across the back of Harper's neck.

Her pulse pounded violently in her ears.

Chloe waved a hand in front of Harper's face.

"Hello? You look like you're going to throw up."

Harper forced a rigid smile. "The AC is just blowing right on my neck."

She grabbed her menu and held it up high, using it as a shield.

She peeked over the laminated edge, tracking the guard.

He walked straight to the dark booth in the back.

He leaned down and whispered directly into the ear of the towering man.

The boss didn't move a single muscle.

He didn't look up. He just continued to stare at his black coffee.

The waitress suddenly appeared, slamming two massive, greasy cheeseburgers onto the table.

The smell of charred meat hit Harper's nose, making her stomach churn violently.

Chloe grabbed her burger and took a massive bite, completely oblivious to the lethal tension in the room.

Harper stabbed her fork into a french fry.

She couldn't hide now. She had to know if the man in the back was the cleaner.