The room tilted, and I took a breath to right it. “You saw what they’re saying about us. About me. They think you forced me. Or that I trapped you. They’re destroying everything.” My desire to set the record straight roared up.
“They’re wrong, and we’re going to prove it.” Alexander gave me a sad but solid smile and kissed my temple. “We’re not going to take this lying down.”
The absolute fury in his voice brought my head around to look at all of them. They wore matching expressions of barely contained fury.
“What do you mean?”
Dante’s lips curved in that predatory smile I’d come to appreciate. “Julian’s PI tracked down the source of the text messages. We know who’s been sending them.”
“And we’re going to ride this out together. We’ll plan and strategize tomorrow. Once we’ve had time to clear our heads and the PR strategist we’ve hired has a chance to come up with a plan.” Julian rubbed my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Once we have the evidence we need, we go all in.” Dante pulled me to my feet. “Until then, I have a few ideas for how we can spend our time.”
The low huskiness in his voice told me exactly what he had planned. Dante kissed me, his lips firm but loving and as demanding as ever. When he pulled back, his eyes blazed. “I’m not losing you again, Harper. I don’t care if the stock drops tozero. I don’t care if every investor walks away. You and our baby are worth more than all of it combined.”
“I love you.” I fought through another rush of tears to tell him. “All of you. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” Julian caught my chin and turned my face to his. “You have nothing to apologize for. You tried to protect us. It’s our turn to protect you. We’re going to figure this out.”
The weight pressing on my chest eased.
Dante kissed the side of my neck, then slid around to the pulse point below my ear. Julian slid a hand into my hair, tilting my head back. Alexander traced a pattern on my thigh, his touch searing through my thin leggings. Grief and fear lived inside me, but my need for them rose up to challenge it. “I want you. All of you.”
Julian trailed kisses down my shoulder. “Good. Because we need you too.”
We barely made it to the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothing from the living room and all the way down the hallway. By the time we fell into bed, naked and aching to have them inside me, I could almost forget about the threat looming overhead. Julian settled between my thighs, and I opened for him. He slid inside with a smooth stroke that buried him balls deep, then began to move. I’d expected rough but passionate sex. Julian gave me control and passion with a steady building orgasm that tore through my body and ripped out all of my doubts.
38
HARPER
Days of strategizing passed, and the initial outburst from our scandal had calmed down. Not enough to bring profits up, but the decline slowed. We had to do something or Elevate would go under within a year.
Enter today’s adventure. I straightened my shoulders and stared at my reflection in Dante’s mirror. I looked like the kind of woman who had her shit together. Tailored black blazer with sharp lines, along with a cream silk blouse and black pants that hugged my curves. I smoothed my hands over my hips and smiled.
Four days since the scandal broke and Elevate’s stock began to crash. Four days of near terror held at bay by the four men who never left my side.
They’d made statements and appeared on business networks. They’d done everything the PR strategist suggested.
Nothing worked.
I would not let them lose their business because of some ridiculous narrative that painted them in the harsh brushstrokes of old men seducing young women. We were more than that, and I planned on proving it to the world.
Today, I fought back and told the world the truth. If they would not hear it from Dante, maybe they would listen to me.
My phone buzzed, and Lila’s name appeared on screen with a text.
Lila:You’ve got this. Show them what happens when they mess with Harper fucking Bloom.
I smiled despite the nerves threatening to choke me. She’d been my rock through all of this, fielding calls from reporters, managing my chaotic social media, and making sure I stayed focused on the truth.
The door opened behind me and Dante’s reflection joined mine in the mirror. “You look incredible. Are you ready?”
“No, but I’m doing it anyway.”
His lips curved against my neck. “That’s my girl.”
Julian walked in, bare arms crossed and a wide smile dimpling his cheeks. “Car’s waiting downstairs. Alexander’s wrapping up a call with the board. He’ll meet us at the office later.”
