All Chapters of Paperwork and Hearthbeats: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Harper smiles softly. “God, you are hot when you are being all possessive,” she breathes out before clearing her throat softly. “But we have to think logically. Like you said there is more at stake in this situation. If you just fire him or make his life hell. He could sue. But if I make a report to HR, then there will be official grounds for termination.” Oliver’s expression shifts from fierce determination to something more calculating as her logical points sink in. the practical side of his brain, the CEO who built this empire on strategic thinking, begins to war with the possessive man who wants to eliminate any threat to her. “You are right,” he admits reluctantly, running a hand through his black hair in frustration. “Legally, you are absolutely correct. HR provides formal documentation, protects both parties from false accusations…” he steps back slightly, creating distance between them even as his hand lingers on h

Around 4 pm, Knox stepped off the elevator wearing a suit and a brown leather jacket, his sharp Scottish accent cutting through the hallway noise. “Harper, lass! Good to see ye.” He clapped his hands together, his green eyes canning her form appreciatively. “Ye look as bonnie as ever, even stuck behind that desk.” He strode purposefully toward her, the leather of his brown jacket creaking with each step. “Marius expectin’ me, then?” Knox winked at her as he approached her desk. From Marius’s open office door, the sound of shuffling papers could be heard. Marius himself appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a weary expression. “Knox,” he acknowledged flatly. “Took you long enough. Come on in before you charm all my employees away from me.” His tone was dry, but there was an underlying tension in his posture.Knox chuckled good-naturedly at Marius’s comment, giving Harper’s sho

“Fair enough,” Marius conceded, taking a step back to create space between them. “You are right. Our personal lives should not interfere with our professional responsibilities.” He moved back toward his desk and sat down, picking up his glass of scotch but not drinking it. “Alright then, Secretary Miller. From this point forward, we operate strictly within the boundaries of employer-employee dynamics.” He swirled the liquid in his glass thoughtfully. “Which means no discussing your relationship with Oliver during work hours. No sharing personal details. Just business.”“I am glad we are on the same page,” Harper says professionally with a nod. “I will get back to work. Do you still want me to cancel your afternoon plans?” Marius’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, considering her question. He took a final sip of his scotch before setting the glass aside with decisive click. “Yes, cancel them,

“No,” Marius admitted grudgingly. “Tera likes me because I make her laugh, I listen when she talks about her stupid yoga classes, and I do not try to impress her with fancy titles or expensive gifts.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, clearly uncomfortable with the parallel harper had drawn. “She does not give a damn about my job title or back account. She just… likes me.” He moved back toward his desk, leaning against it heavily as if the conversation had drained some of his usual energy. “So yes, Tera is probably just as guilty of falling for someone without caring about their status as you are.”“Yeah, it happens,” Harper says with a light smile. “I am heading out.”  Marius’s expression softened at her smile, the tension from earlier confrontations melting away. He nodded approvingly at her professional exit strategy. “Right, go home to your boyfriend,” he say

Oliver’s hands migrate from Harper’s back to the hem of her dress, his fingertips grazing the bare skin of her thighs. The sensation makes him pull back just enough to look at her, his breathing heavy and uneven. The reading glasses are now hanging precariously off one ear, but he does not care. “You are going to be the death of me,” he mutters, his forehead dropping to rest against hers. His voice thick, stripped of the professional veneer he wears like armour at work. “I spend all afternoon in meetings thinking about this. About you.” He shifts his grip, one hand moving to cradle the back of her head, his fingers threading through her auburn hair to hold her steady as he kisses the corner of her mouth, then her jawline, working his way down to the sensitive spot just below her ear.“Tell me you want me as much as I want you,” he murmurs against her skin, his lips barely touching her. “Want you?” Harper echoes breat