Chapter 26

“Ugh!” Eva grumbled at her brother’s cell phone vibrating against the oak centre table. It was the 11th time that night, the tremor interrupting their movie night. She couldn’t immerse herself in the movie with all the external noises. What was the point of him babysitting her while their parents were out if she had no fun? Not that she was a baby, of course.

“Aren’t you extra moody today,” Harvey smirked. He’d learnt to ignore the pulsation of his cell phone to the point that he barely realised notifications coming through. It was a difficult skill to acquire; the urge to procrastinate important tasks by staring at his phone had long evaded him. He had to work long and hard for the board members to see him as a Regal, the skills he honed a reminder of his perseverance.

“That’s just annoying. At least put it on silent or do not disturb mode.” She’d paused the movie and frowned at how unbothered he seemed. His commentary on her mood hitting her hard. She was always telling herself and her friends that menstrual hormones didn’t make her more irritable and yet here she was, bring called out by her brother for being ‘moody’ and she was on her period. Did she really not know herself?
Harvey slid the cell phone off the desk to place it on silent, the most recent text message catching his attention. He debated whether to read it now or later, he glanced across to Eva, her eyes staring off into the distance as she waited.
He’d been waiting, hoping for some other sign that she was interested in him, because he kept wondering whether he was able to trust his instincts when it came to Mia. One minute he saw her eyes undressing him and the next she acted cold and uninterested. He didn’t know what he should reconcile himself to believing.

*Screw it* He’d been waiting and waiting, it was time to put it to rest. He opened the message and read it:

*I am free Wednesday…that is, if you are still interested.*

He didn’t see the point of revisiting the question of his interest. He read the text slower the second time around to ensure he wasn’t hallucinating, a small smirk seeking refuge on his face. He peeked at Eva; he couldn’t risk her noticing any change in him. She was like a hound once she got a whiff of something amiss. He didn’t want her being nosey especially since Mia was her teacher.
He knew he wouldn’t hear the end of that. He didn’t want to think of the things Eva would tell him, the accusations she would make and the warnings.
He squinted down at his cell phone, his fingers working on a response.

*Is there anywhere specific you’d like to meet?*

This time she should get a say in the particulars. It was wishful thinking that she would be less inclined to flake on him if she actively participated, or he may get a glimpse of her true intentions.
Mia gawked at the text message, her palms sweating. A surge of panic laden electricity ran through her veins. She took in a breath, her entire body shaking, and her head dizzy. She typed the text and sent it before she talked herself out of it;

*As long as it’s private*

The message came through instantly, Harvey ignoring the huffing sound coming from his sister. She knew he was distracted, but Eva was accustomed to the men in her life having work related emergencies and while she could understand, she also felt that family should come first.
Harvey smirked, if Mia only knew the thoughts that popped up in his head like smoke clouds taking form, she would have rethought her wording. He replied on impulse, the sexual part of his brain activating, not that it took much to awaken it.

*Dinner at my house then?*

He said as a joke, about to reply with something more appropriate. He didn’t want to scare her off my giving the impression that he was solely interested in sex. Mia had been very two minded when it came to matters relating to him and he had to threat carefully, go at her pace.
Harvey was always very open about his needs when he met someone, if he only wanted sex he’d say that. He found no shame or harm in that. With Mia, he knew he was attracted to her, more than he had thought possible but he didn’t know her well enough to be precise about what he wanted with or from her. He also wanted a private setting, which was the best way to get to know each other by promoting conversation. Prior to setting the record straight, a message came through:

*Sounds fun, send me the location on Wednesday.*

Harvey smiled, he didn’t intend to respond, he thought it unnecessary to force a conversation beyond its integral points. That didn’t stop him from staring at it until his cell phone went into sleep mode.
“Are we going to watch the movie or not?” Eva grabbed the cell phone away from his hands and slid it back onto the table. She fell back against the sofa and folded her arms across her chest.
Harvey was stunned and slightly amused. “Ready when you are, brat.” He teased.
*****
“Where are you off too?” Mia clutched her gym bag to her side, missing a step and almost tripping over the carpet. Gabriel was staring at her, his eye brows raised. They hadn’t said two words to each other since they picked up Amiyah from his mother’s house yesterday morning. Mia had avoided him at all costs.

“It’s my workout day.” She replied, “Am I not allowed?” She straightened to her full height, her brain begging her not to draw attention to the change of clothes in her bag, heels and makeup. She’d planned to go to her sister’s and get ready for her meeting with Harvey.

“No, I’ll allow. I like seeing your toned little ass walking around here.” He cocked his head to look at her butt in her yoga pants. Mia rolled her eyes, his gazes made her uncomfortable and disgusted.
She desperately needed to change the pace. She hated hearing him talking about her body. Her incentive to wipe his memory off her illuminating again. She’d gone through stages of should she or should she not. So many times she picked up her cell within the last day to cancel the meeting she’d set up with Harvey. “I’ll drop Amiyah off…”

“Hold up.” She paused as per his request, “Why can’t you leave her here?” Gabriel questioned, appearing almost hurt.
Mia looked around “Because she isn’t old enough to look at herself?” she replied matter of factly, staring at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“She won’t be alone.” He countered, shrugging his shoulders.

“Who will be with her?” Mia questioned slowly.

“Me, silly.” He said as if that was a natural occurrence. Mia snorted, this had to be a joke.

“Oh, you’re serious?” She turned serious by the confused look in his eyes. Gabriel blinked a few times, the question unworthy of his response.

“I didn’t think you would want that.” Mia responded honestly. He always craved his own freedom, taking care of a child didn’t seem like his forte.

“Leave her with me, I’ll take care of her, she is my daughter after all.” He walked closer to her, a sense of pride filling his chest. How hard could it be to take care of a three year old?

“Will you actually look after her and not run around chasing someone’s skirts?” Mia switched her weight between her two legs. She crossed her arms across her chest. There was no way he would have that much patience to put someone else’s needs above his own.

“Have you no faith?” he gave her that roguish smile that she used to swoon over in their early days.

“Ask me a question I can actually answer.” She re-joined, completely unaffected by whatever charms he thought he still possessed.

“My mother is coming over to drop food; she’ll help if you are so worried.” He countered, turning away and going off into the opposite direction,

“I’ll wait for her to get here then.” Mia called out behind him. She’d pack up her stuff in the meantime.

“Suit yourself.” He waved her off and disappeared.

****
Harvey marched out of his office at 4:00PM on the dot. The security detail taking over the evening shift exchanged confused looks as they saw him walk out of the building. This was definitely not his usual hour of leaving his office. However, he had preparations. He’d invited Mia over to his house for dinner and he intended to surprise her with his cooking skills.
He’d texted her earlier to confirm their meeting. She’d insisted on meeting him at his house, she rejected every one of his attempts to collect her. He shook his head, he would use the time to make tonight comfortable for her.
Harvey over looked the dinner he made, he fixed the crystal cufflinks and stared at his wrist watch. From his experience women were usually late. He poured himself a drink, the cool liquid caressing his tongue when his doorbell rang. He placed the glass down and walked over to the front of his apartment.
He pulled the door towards him, he had to blink a few times. It was definitely Mia, but he was seeing her as he never saw her before.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” She drawled, her red lips rising up seductively.