Chapter 5 5

Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the towering windows of Mercer Industries, casting golden hues over the conference room. Harper sat at the long glass table, her design sketches spread out in front of her. The showcase was fast approaching, and every last detail needed to be flawless.

The door clicked open, and Holden stepped inside. His presence was as commanding as ever rolled-up sleeves, a crisp navy shirt, and the kind of effortless confidence that made people sit up and take notice.

Harper didn't look up from her sketches. "You're late."

Holden rounded the table and dropped into the chair beside her. "Busy day."

"I need your final approval on the showcase order," she said, sliding a neatly organized document toward him. "Everything's arranged, but I want to be sure we're on the same page before we finalize the models."

Holden skimmed the pages, fingers tapping lightly against the table. "Looks good. You're leading the dress rehearsal?"

"Of course."

His gaze lifted from the paper, settling on her. "I'll be there."

A flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly masked by professionalism. "Didn't think you'd want to get involved in the pre-show chaos."

Holden smirked. "I like to keep an eye on things."

Harper leaned back, crossing her arms. "Or maybe you just don't trust me to handle it."

A slow exhale left him. "You know that's not true."

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken history.

Harper shifted her focus back to the papers. "If everything's set, I'll have the team move forward."

Holden didn't move. "We should talk."

The words sent a ripple of tension through her. "About what?"

"You know what."

She braced herself before meeting his eyes. "That's not a conversation we need to have."

Holden leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "Maybe not for you."

A sharp breath escaped her. "What do you want me to say, Holden? That the past still lingers? That working together hasn't erased what happened?"

His jaw tightened. "I want the truth."

Harper's pulse kicked up, but she refused to let it show. "The truth is, this project is my priority. Nothing else."

Holden studied her, as if searching for cracks in the walls she had carefully rebuilt. After a moment, he nodded. "Then I won't bring it up again."

The finality in his voice sent an ache through her chest, but she ignored it.

Pushing back her chair, she gathered her files. "I'll see you at the rehearsal."

Holden didn't stop her as she walked away. The rehearsal venue bustled with activity the next evening, the space alive with models, stylists, and set coordinators. Rows of spotlights illuminated the runway, casting a glow over the sleek black flooring.

Harper moved through the controlled chaos, clipboard in hand, double-checking everything. The music cues. The lighting transitions. The model rotations.

Holden arrived just as the first walkthrough began. He took a seat near the runway, hands clasped, eyes sharp as he observed.

Harper barely spared him a glance, keeping her focus on the models striding down the catwalk. Everything had to be seamless. A slight misstep caught her attention.

"Pause," she called out, stopping the model mid-walk.

The young woman, draped in a flowing silk gown, looked up nervously. Harper stepped onto the runway, adjusting the gown's hem. "It's dragging too much in the back. We need a better pinning solution."

The stylist rushed forward, nodding. "I'll fix it."

Holden watched the interaction with quiet interest. "You're meticulous."

Harper turned, giving him a pointed look. "That's why you hired me."

His lips twitched. "Among other reasons."

Heat curled in her stomach, but she shut it down. There wasn't room for that-not here, not now.

The rehearsal continued without further issues, the models moving flawlessly under the bright lights. By the time the final walk-through ended, exhaustion pressed against Harper's shoulders. She stood near the runway, mentally running through a final checklist.

Holden approached, hands in his pockets. "It's going to be a hell of a show."

A tired but satisfied smile touched her lips. "That's the plan."

The venue had emptied out, the remaining crew wrapping up last-minute adjustments. Only the two of them remained near the stage, the air between them thick with unspoken words.

Holden broke the silence first. "I meant what I said earlier."

Harper's fingers tightened around her clipboard. "About what?"

He stepped closer, his voice lower now. "Not bringing up the past."

She exhaled slowly. "Good."

"But that doesn't mean I've forgotten."

A shiver ran through her, but she kept her expression neutral. "It doesn't change anything."

Holden studied her, then nodded once. "I'll see you at the showcase."

Harper watched him go, her heartbeat unsteady. No, it didn't change anything. But it didn't mean she wasn't feeling every single fracture in the walls she had worked so hard to build.