Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Warning Signs

By the end of Harper’s second day, she was exhausted.

Not just the usual kind of tired—this was a full-body, deep-in-the-bones kind of fatigue that came from being constantly on edge. Every move she made felt like it was under a microscope. Every email she sent, every calendar change, every word out of her mouth.

She had to be sharp. Fast. Perfect.

Because Easton Wolfe didn’t give second chances.

And yet… something about it all lit a fire in her. She hadn’t felt this alive in a long time.

After her last job—after the mess with Alex, the betrayal, the whispers behind her back—Harper had almost forgotten what it felt like to believe in herself.

But now?

Now she was standing her ground. Pushing back. Holding her own with a man who made other people shrink with just a glance.

And the craziest part?

He seemed to like it.

⸻

“Leave it,” Easton said without looking up as she walked into his office with a thick file.

She stopped halfway to his desk. “Leave it where?”

He finally looked at her, like he hadn’t realized who he was speaking to. “On the corner.”

She placed the folder down gently, then didn’t move.

He glanced up again. “Something else?”

“You asked me to look through this report. There are three errors in the totals, and one of the signatures is missing. It’s not ready.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Then fix it.”

“I already did.”

He blinked.

“And I called the legal team. They’re correcting the original file,” she added, crossing her arms. “I thought you should know.”

Easton’s lips curved, just a little. “You don’t wait for instructions.”

“You don’t give them clearly,” she shot back.

That made him laugh—a quiet, low sound that made her pulse skip. She hated that he had that kind of effect on her. Hated even more that she couldn’t hide it.

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” he said, “but you’re a pain in the ass.”

Harper smiled sweetly. “And yet here I am.”

“You’ll either be the best thing that’s happened to this office, or you’ll crash and burn.”

“Guess we’ll find out,” she said, then turned and walked out.

⸻

At 5:47 p.m., she was still at her desk.

The office was nearly empty. Most of the staff had cleared out by five, but she was still cross-checking a vendor list Easton had thrown on her desk twenty minutes before the end of the day.

He didn’t say it had to be done tonight.

But he also hadn’t said it could wait.

And she was starting to learn that silence in this office meant “figure it out yourself.”

“Still here?”

Harper looked up to see Madeline standing by the edge of her desk, coat in hand.

“Just finishing something,” Harper said with a small smile.

Madeline gave her a look. “Wolfe’s assistants don’t usually last more than a few weeks. Just a heads-up.”

“I figured,” Harper said.

Madeline hesitated. “It’s not just the work. He’s… intense.”

Harper nodded, unsure what to say.

“He doesn’t do small talk. He doesn’t do friendly. And he definitely doesn’t do second chances,” Madeline said quietly. “So whatever’s happening in there—be careful.”

Harper tilted her head. “Are you warning me… or telling me to back off?”

Madeline’s expression didn’t change. “Just giving you the lay of the land.”

With that, she walked away.

Harper stared after her for a long second before turning back to her screen.

It wasn’t like she needed anyone to tell her that Easton Wolfe was dangerous. She already knew that.

What she didn’t know was why she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

⸻

At 6:12 p.m., she finally shut down her computer and stood to leave.

She was halfway to the elevator when his door opened.

“Harper.”

She froze, then turned slowly. “Yes?”

Easton stood in his doorway, sleeves rolled up again, tie loosened like it was a habit. He looked like power and sin in one perfect package.

“I’m going out for dinner,” he said. “Come with me.”

Harper blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Dinner. You’ve earned it. And I need to go over a few things.”

“I didn’t realize this was part of the job description.”

“It’s not. It’s me being… generous.”

She hesitated. Every part of her told her this was a bad idea. Office rule number one: never mix business with pleasure. And this man? He was nothing but danger wrapped in a suit.

But another part of her—one she didn’t want to name—was curious.

About him.

About what this dinner would mean.

About what it wouldn’t.

She lifted her chin. “Fine. But I pick the place.”

Easton’s brows rose. “You don’t even know where we’re going.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re used to people saying yes to everything. I’m not one of them.”

He studied her for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “Interesting.”

She turned back toward the elevator, heart pounding.

She didn’t know what the hell she was doing.

But she knew one thing for sure—this wasn’t just work anymore.

Not for her.