Chapter 116: When You’re Jealous
** Harper **
With a soft stroke, Harper floated closer to the rim of the pool. "Come sit," she patted on the sleek tiles in front of her, "it’s a long story."
Eli hesitated, though only for a second before he obliged, perching over the spot she indicated and letting his legs dangle over the edge into the water. Harper resisted the urge to grin, feeling like a hunter watching her prey walk closer and closer into her trap.
"Wallace was assigned to my project the week before your venture investment visit," she began. "He’s actually a nice person to work with, pretty capable and friendly," — she paused when she felt a sudden cold glare icy enough to freeze the whole pool — "well, I mean, he was friendly, to the right extent ... until he stumbled upon my web novel."
Eli’s head snapped toward her. "He what?" The words came out almost a growl.
Harper winced sheepishly. This part of the story wasn’t her proudest to tell. "Well ... He accidentally saw the web novel notifications on my phone one day ... And I think he somehow figured out everything about my hidden side gig from there. Since then, his friendliness started to feel ... a little much. The coffee thing Naomi mentioned started a few days after that, for example, and I think I might’ve been the first person he asked to schedule flights together with."
The coldness in Eli’s eyes was deadly now. Harper paused, waiting for him to probably curse or demand why she hadn’t reported the guy to HR yet. But what he did next took her by surprise — he got up without a word and turned, obviously heading toward the door.
"W-Wait!" Harper splashed in the water and, in a thoughtless moment of haste, reached up and grabbed his ankle. "Where are you going? I haven’t finished expla—"
Her next syllable turned into a sharp gasp as Eli slipped on the wet tiles from her pull and fell unceremoniously, straight into the water with an enormous splash.
Harper: "..."
Eli: "..."