Chapter 28: Full of Contradictions
** Harper **
Harper enjoyed the next two days of brainstorming. It felt nice, to have the freedom to dream up whatever grand plotlines she wanted and design something a hundred percent to her own liking. Though at the same time, she had to admit that it was exhausting to go into the details of such a large-scale open world game like this ... And when weekend finally came, all she wanted was to turn into a cat and stretch out under the sun in a lazy, long nap.
She was doing almost that — stretching her arms out in a yawn under the dappled shades of a tree in front of her apartment — when Eli's car pulled over.
"Need an afternoon nap?" He smiled as he stepped out of the driver's seat to greet her with a hug. "Maybe I should've taken the company car instead. Much more comfortable seats for you to nap on in the back."
Harper chuckled and begrudgingly reassembled herself with some more grace. Then her eyes landed on the car he was talking about, realizing slowly that it was ... still the same old Honda he had when he was in college?
"You're still driving this?" She gasped in disbelief, her sleepiness stunned away. "The heir of Sterling Trust, where is your Rolls Royce? And where is the black-suited chauffeur?"
Eli laughed out loud at the question. "Sorry to disappoint, but no chauffeurs invading my personal time on weekends. Why, should I change into a black suit myself and come back for you?" He gave his white polo shirt an exaggerated tug.
Harper pretended to not notice how good he looked in that shirt, with the form-fitting fabric bringing out all the toned muscles on his arms and chest. Tilting her head, she faked a serious and pensive expression. "Hmm ... So I have the choice of seeing you in both an apron and a black butler suit today? I should ration such a rare visual treat ... Maybe that calls for saving the suit for next time, so I can fully appreciate each fashion show with a fresh eye."
It took Eli a second to recall the reference to their conversation from last week. An eyebrow raised when he did. "I'm getting curious about your taste in fashion, Harper, if those two are the types of outfits you're most looking forward to seeing someone in."
Harper chuckled again. "Not just someone. Only because you are too full of contradictions sometimes." She nodded at the car as he held the door open for her. "A bigshot like you driving an ancient Honda? Or wearing an apron to make dinner for a guest? I would've laughed it off as a bad joke if anyone told me such anecdotes a month ago, so of course I'll have to keep my eyes wide open when it's happening for real."
Not that she was complaining, she thought when she finally got in the car and sank lazily into her seat. The old cushions were familiar, as was the ocean-scented air freshener that he always liked. The feeling of home closed in around her like a cozy embrace, quickly driving away all the weariness from a busy week of work.