Chapter 142: Déjà Vu
** Harper **
Harper’s lucky streak of meetings lasted throughout the afternoon. Even the panel she shared with Wallace wasn’t awkward anymore after their chat from the day before, and she giggled without pressure when HappyRoastedBeans sent her a Chapter kudos just before the presentation began.
She couldn’t have asked for a better way to top off the day when the last meeting ended with a buzz of her phone:
[ Eli: Want a break from the hotel today? ]
[ Eli: Come to the main entrance whenever you’re done. Go as high profile as you like, I’m dressed for paparazzi. ]
Ohh, yes!!! She had been waiting all day to tell him about the amazing surprise from the Future Vision demo. Where better to do it than the mysterious destination of his choosing for the evening?
As requested, Harper made no effort to hide her radiant smile as she packed up her things in a hurry. When Wallace and Naomi threw her a meaningful glance, she returned only a wink, darting out of the conference room and all but scurried toward the estate entrance.
Her high expectations were met the moment she stepped across the gate. On the plaza lined with Tiki totems, a red convertible Ferrari was parked between columns of lush palms and plumeria trees, with Eli leaning casually against its hood. And damn, he truly was dressed for paparazzi, dazzling even Harper’s eyes with ... a bright Hawaiian shirt?
She would never expect to see him wear something so chaotically colorful, with tropical leaves and white flowers blooming wildly against a flaming red background. But the sharp and vivid contrast looked shockingly flawless on him, and it made him seem ... so invitingly untamed. So deliciously hot, too.