Chapter 34: Chapter 34

"Jessica!"

My whole body froze when I heard Harry's voice calling her name. I slowly turned around to see him running towards us. His eyes were fixated on his girlfriend, who leaned on the elevator, crying while clenching her cheeks. I think I went too far on that since it hurt my palm. I mentally cursed, thinking I shouldn't react violently.

"Are you alright?!" Harry was hysterical when he helped her stand up. Jessica rested her face on Harry's chest and then cried there. I took a step back while watching them. Good thing Harry hasn't looked in my way. He didn't recognize me because of the face mask and the hair all tied up.

Jessica peeked at where I was standing, pointing her finger at me. My body went numb, and my hands trembled in fear when Harry turned his heel on me, narrowing his eyes into slits while staring intently into my eyes. I took a sharp breath when he pulled me out of the elevator.

"Who do you think you are?! And why did you slap my girlfriend?!" Harry shook both of my shoulders, shouting furiously. His voice thundered and echoed throughout the whole floor.

In the corners of my eyes, I saw people standing at the end of the hallway, watching us. Some are sticking their heads out of the door, trying to look at what the commotion is all about. I parted my lips since I couldn't breathe properly in my mouth when Harry was yelling at me. His eyes were sending chills down my spine.

"I was just trying to look at the paper bag she's holding, but she said it's none of my business. She suddenly pushed me away and slapped me!" Jessica yelled, pointing at me, and I heard gasps from the audience.

I wanted to shout it's not true, and she's flipping the table to put the blame on me, but I didn't dare to even defend myself.

"Talk!" he lost his composure, and I understood where his anger was leading at.

"I-I'm sorry…." I whispered, my voice cracking. Harry probably didn't hear my apology since he looked up and then roamed his eyes around the area, looking for something.

"Guard! Take this woman outside the building."

When I averted my eyes to see the guard walking toward me, holding a gun and wearing a uniform triggered something inside me. I suddenly saw memories of me kneeling on the ground and begging for Allen to spare us our life. It was as if the space around us was pushed together to create a small space, and I was trapped inside that small room, getting crashed little by little until my existence won't last.

I pushed Harry on the chest and suddenly kneeled down on the ground, my forehead touching the ground. I couldn't care less if they are looking at me as if I am some sort of freak right now.

"P-please, spare my life. I didn't do anything wrong. Please…" I said repeatedly.

"What are you doing? They are taking you out. Get up from there! Guard, ceased her and take that filthy awful woman outside-"

"-wait…" Harry stopped Jessica then I felt him kneeling down on the ground, his eyes boring into my head. He touched my shoulder, but I flinched, shutting my eyes firmly.

"Please…give us a chance to live. I-I have a family…." I begged and prayed. I heard whispers of judgment coming from the audience. I clenched my fist tightly.

"What are you doing, Harry? Didn't you see she slapped me earlier? She even-"

"Natasha? Is that you?"

I didn't say anything, but I felt his hands gently lifting my upper body. This time I didn't wince or make any noise. My body responds to him. My eyes were drenched from the tears, and my whole body was trembling with fear. When I saw the guard behind Harry waiting for me, I looked away and crawled back when Harry grabbed me on the arm.

"Hey! Shh! It's okay. I already recognize you from the dress. I bought that for you." Harry commented while looking at me from head to toe. He sighed, massaging his head. I caught Jessica dropping her jaw on the ground, blinking rapidly while looking back and forth at us. Even the other people watching and gossiping were taken aback when they realized Harry knew me.

"I mean, why are you here? Who brought you here?" Harry asked, and I mustered my strength to answer his question with shivering lips.

"I-I was just actually delivering your lunch…." I explained, looking at the elevator, which was still open. Harry's eyes glance at it, inspecting the food and the discarded container. I saw how his eyes widened when he realized what I meant and looked at me.

"You came all way here just to give me my lunch…." Harry whispered before shaking his head and standing up. I thought he was just going to leave me on the floor when he bent his body and wrapped his arms around my waist and legs, lifting me up slowly.

I was startled when he carried me. My ears could hear his heart throbbing in his chest. I swallowed, and suddenly the anxiety that was building up in my system eased down, and I no longer felt unsafe.

"Harry!"

Jessica's voice echoed throughout the whole hallway. I just noticed that all eyes are on us now. I gulped, avoiding making eye contact with other people. This is humiliating, and I want to get eaten alive by the floor right now.

Harry twisted his body, looking at his girlfriend, who was fuming mad and almost throwing tantrums if there weren't people here that could watch her.

"You're really choosing that freak over me?" Jessica pointed and pressed the word freak while her eyes were shooting daggers towards my way.

"Jessica…" Harry called her, and Jessica stood straight.

"W-why?"

Harry turned his heels to face Jessica. As he said these words, no sentiment was witnessed in his eyes.

"We're through, and you're fired." harry exclaimed, leaving her speechless in the middle.

I wanted to protest because he took that way too far. Still, I couldn't step in to say anything because I saw intense choler in his eyes, and any man speaking may be scolded by him. I just remained quiet and just let myself flow of what was happening.

"Meeting is over!" Harry announced before closing the door behind him.

A deafening silence prevailed between the two of us as we entered. Harry went straight to his office sofa and slowly laid me down on it. When he left me for a moment, I couldn't help but look up and roll my eyes to observe the look inside.

Ample, spacious space, clean and simple interiors, and design but redolent money. I swallowed up and couldn't help but shrink from my seat. Why did I accept their offer to bring Harry's food? I will never come here again. I can be compared to a rat when I am next to him.

"Here."

I almost jumped in panic when I heard Harry's voice. I looked up and caught him looking down at me and offering me a glass of water. I swallowed before I accepted it from him. He sat down on the sofa in front of me and looked up, exhaling violent breaths. His legs were spread apart, and his hands slumped down beside him.

"Sorry, I'm tired and have been working non-stop this morning. I was just about to talk to someone when I saw the commotion earlier." Harry explained before sitting up straight to look at me.

"But how did you get here? Did Eddie drive you here?"

I nodded in response, and he sighed in relief.

"Glad to know that he did. Please tell me what really happened between you and Jessica." he clasps his palms together, waiting for me to explain everything to him. I thought of it for a minute before finally deciding to explain everything, from how we prepared his lunch to why the sudden thought of delivering it and how I got here inside his office.

"But you shouldn't have gone too far like that, Harry. She looks like she cares for you, and you just dump her like that in front of other people. You need to talk to her about this." I told him that he might just be tense earlier because of the situation.

Harry sighed, "It's okay. Our relationship was a red flag even before because I caught her cheating. However, I still forgive her, and now that I finally know the whole context, I was glad I dumped her."

He smiled bitterly, "And besides, I know what Jessica is capable of. I'll admit, I was shocked to see she was slapped on the face earlier because Jessica wouldn't let anyone dare to touch her on her face except if it's someone she likes. But the reason is valid for you to get mad at her. She pushed you to the edge."

I suddenly felt awful for him when he said that Jessica cheated on him. I mean, Harry has everything, and he can give Jessica anything she wants, but still, it wasn't enough for her.

"I'm so sorry about that…" my vision dropped on my lap, but Harry dismissed it.

"No, no. I'm used to it." he laughed and shifted the topic.

"By the way, have you eaten your lunch?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"Harry…" I called his name and twisted my body to face him. He raised his brow, waiting for me to say something, when I placed my hand above his knee, giving him a warm smile.

"You can tell me everything, and I will listen to you," I told him.

A moment of silence filled the room, and only our hearts beating in sync could be heard.

"You can trust me."