“How about dinner tonight?” he asks, hurrying to catch up with me.
“I have plans.”
“Of course, it’s dinner with your parents tonight.”
Oh, bollocks.
“Actually, that’s been rearranged,” I lie, making a mental note to rearrange it. “I have an awards ceremony tonight.”
“Ah.” He nods. “Hey, did you remember both shoes this time?” he adds, attempting to lighten the tone, but I’m not having any of it.
“Yes,” I say matter-of-factly, getting into the lift and pressing the button.
“Harper,” he begins as the doors shut and we find ourselves alone, “I’d really like to find some time to talk to you.”
“Sorry, Ryan, but today is not a good day,” I say, looking straight ahead. “And anyway, you haven’t really given me the impression that you’ve wanted to talk to me at all recently.”
I see in the reflection of the silver lift doors that he bows his head, dropping his eyes to the floor. He looks pained, as though he’s wrestling with something.
“I know, it’s been a bit… I’ve had a lot… there’s something…”
The doors ping open, interrupting him, and I march out, leaving him stumbling over his words.
“Harper, please,” he whispers urgently, rushing alongside me. “I need to explain.”
“No need to explain,” I snap back, holding my head up high.“If you’re going to be hot and cold, I’m not interested. Anyway, I have a very important phone call to make now, so I’ll see you later.”
“Didn’t you just get off a phone call outside?”
“I can make more than one phone call a day, Ryan,” I huff, making a sharp turn into an empty meeting room and closing the door behind me.
Looking dejected, he heads back to our desks, while I quickly phone my dad.
“Harper,” he says gruffly, “let me guess. You have to cancel.”
I wince, shutting my eyes tightly. “Sorry, Dad, I have to go to an awards ceremony tonight.”
“You know we all have lives, don’t you, Harper?” he snaps. “We all have important events and social occasions to attend, but somehow we’re able to maintain a level of decorum, and when we give our word, we stick to it.”
“Dad, this was an honest mistake and I’m genuinely sorry,” I say as earnestly as possible.
“We were expecting it from you. Hardly a surprise,” he grumbles.
“Well, I’m glad I’m such a constant disappointment that letting you down isn’t such a big deal,” I say impatiently.
“I don’t have time for dramatics,” he replies dismissively. “Do you want to try to rearrange or is there simply no point?”
Collecting myself, I take a deep breath in an attempt to remain calm and brighten my tone again so we can keep things civil. “How about next week?”
“I’ll have to check our calendars and of course liaise with your sister.”
“Great, let me know. I can book somewhere.”
“I think it’s best for you to leave the arranging to us,” he counters, his voice laced with disgruntlement.
“Fine,” I say briskly, unwilling to take any more stings from him today. “I have to go.”
Hanging up, I bury my head in my hands and scream, the sound muffled by my palms. Looking up when I hear a polite knock on the door, I see a group of journalists standing there watching me, waiting to use the meeting room.
