His Naughty Lessons-Chapter 287: Give Him a Good Slap

** Harper **

"Oof, what did I say, did I totally jinx it? Seems like we just missed out on the biggest engagement party of the year going on in there!" A gloating laugh came right on time behind Harper’s back. "Look at everyone toasting to the new couple. I think you’re all set for joining the club of ’Eli’s exes’ now, darling."

Harper had a moment of impulse to turn around and empty her glass of wine onto Julie’s face. So this woman must’ve already known the news before she showed up on the terrace ... and that was the real jealousy she was trying to work on tonight!

"Maybe you should give him a good slap before that happens, by the way," Julie continued her monologue. "At least you’ll get to go out in style."

Harper tried her best to ignore all the provocations from the annoying voice behind her. The truth was, she would never question Eli’s choice of the heart. They had come far enough past that kind of doubt, and she knew from the way he always talked about Vanessa that he didn’t like the woman any more than she did. The rich heiress had no place in his eyes, no matter how dazzling she might look in that excessively ornate dress covered in diamonds.

But when things started involving his father ... then it might become an entirely different story. It wouldn’t be the first time that Eli had made a deal with the devil. Maybe there was another bargain, or some sort of threat? Or maybe it was a cover story for something else she wasn’t aware of?

Whichever way it might be, the thought made her uneasy, and she didn’t like how closely Eli was letting Vanessa cling to his side like a highlighted sticky note. Harper wasn’t usually the type to like making a scene, yet despite her better judgment, her feet were already moving on their own, taking her automatically toward the glass doors.

~ ~

** Eli **

"Who was that beautiful lady who arrived with you this evening, CEO Sterling? What role will she be playing in the future of your company and your leadership?"

The chaos in Eli’s head, along with all his hypotheses of why such an absurd announcement was happening in the first place, snapped to an abrupt stop when that question sounded from the back of the crowd.

Right, where was Harper? He still hadn’t seen her, even with the crowd flooding toward him from every direction right now, and he wished more than ever that she could be here at a moment like this.

Not precisely to bathe in all the congratulatory glory by his side — that was a slightly questionable situation to enjoy, considering he himself wasn’t even sure how to process the surprise news quite yet — but at the very least, to stand at the center of everyone’s attention with him and simply be seen. After all, the whole point of coming to the gala tonight was to introduce her to this business circle, and he regretted letting her out of sight at such an otherwise perfect time to achieve that goal.

As his thoughts momentarily wandered, he suddenly heard Vanessa speak up from behind him. "I believe the girl works at a local startup in the entertainment industry, one that has recently signed a sponsorship deal with Sterling Trust."

Eli frowned, instantly realizing that the woman was up to no good.

"Entertainment industry" and "sponsorship deal" weren’t exactly incorrect words to describe an investment partnership with a gaming company, but when spoken with a meaningful emphasis, it was easy to make it sound ... ambiguous. And who did this woman think she was anyway, to interject like this and answer the question on his behalf?

He swiveled around, about to shut her up and clarify the nonsense rumor she was trying to spread. That was when he realized two things—

First, that he was standing uncomfortably close to this annoying woman, who had apparently snuck up once again despite his repeated stepping back and putting distance between them. Disgusted, he brushed off the hand that he didn’t realize was clinging to his arm, and he took a big stride aside.

Second ... that the figure he had been looking for all evening had finally reentered his view.

Harper was slowly weaving her way through the crowd, coming up behind Vanessa and straight toward them. Just as he expected, she stood out so much from the background of a sea of people, like the light she always was that shone ever so brightly wherever she was, making it hard to tear one’s eyes away. But ... As she came closer and closer, he noticed that she looked ... a little different.

The perfect arcs of her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. The sweet curves of her lips were slightly pursed. She seemed ... troubled, and even the look in her eyes seemed harder than usual when she finally met his gaze.

A feeling of uncertainty made Eli pause, and he forgot all about whatever Vanessa was just saying. Where had Harper gone, and what happened to have seemed to put her in an unusually bad mood? Was it the announcement his father had just made, or was it the question Vanessa had just invited herself to answer and stir up trouble?

Pushing straight through the crowd, he strode toward Harper, worried. Another question had followed from within the crowd in the meantime, but he paid it no heed, all the while Vanessa continued to play the hostess and answered it behind him: "I don’t want to say their relationship out loud, but imagine a large scale business partnership based solely on private favors ... What kind of quality do you think one can expect, both personally and professionally from whoever was involved? I’m sure that going forward, CEO Sterling would be more cautious while making decisions like this—"

She stopped abruptly when the crisp and loud sound of a slap cut through the air, echoing resoundingly across the hall.