I hate her.

All these years no one dared to touch my books and it took her only a few days to create havoc in my library.

I am possessive about my books. I don't lend it to anyone nor let anyone touch it.

I don't even know why I lend that book to her, that too one of my favourite and she fucking torned it.

I rubbed my temples looking at all the books and paper planes scattered on the floor.

Firstly I took a clean, new sheet of paper and wrote a warning over it.

A warning to Ms. Harper Collins:

You are strictly prohibited from entering my study from this moment onwards. You won't like the consequences if I find you here.

I promise to make your life a living hell if you touch my books ever again.

-Gareth

After writing down the warning on the paper, I pasted it out on the door.

And then I started to pick all the books carefully one by one and started placing them back on the shelves exactly where they were before.

It took me an hour to place the books back exactly in there place and picking up the paper planes. I cleaned my desk keeping everything neatly in its place.

I sighed in relief having cleaned all the mess.

There was a rythmic knock at the door and I knew it was Harper because Diana doesn't knock like that.

What does she want now?

I opened the door a bit and peeked at her. She had a sheepish smile on her face while I stared at her coldly.

"Hi." She muttered.

"Can't you read the warning?" I gestured to the warning I pasted to the door.

She rolled her eyes. "I did. I just wanted to apologise for what I did. I am sorry."

"You apology has been rejected. Have a nice day, Ms Collins." And I shut the door in her face and heard her cursing underneath her breath.

She is definitely not a trustworthy person.

.

.

.

Fixing my tie, I walked downstairs to the front door not bothering to have breakfast so that I don't have to see her face. I have been avoiding her since yesterday.

As I was about to open the door, the doorbell rang. Wondering who might it be, I opened the door and all the colour drained from my face.

"M-m-mother?" I stuttered seeing my mother standing at the doorstep looking cheerful as ever.

She opened her mouth to speak but I shut the door immediately.

What the hell?

What is she doing here?

Did Diana tell her?

Mother pounded on the door. "Gareth! What's the meaning of this? Open the door!"

Shit!

I opened the door with a fake grin plastered on my face. "Mother! How lovely to see you."

She folded her arms and frowned. "Why did you shut the door on my face?"

"Did I?" I chuckled nervously. "I couldn't believe you would be here so I closed the door thinking I might be dreaming."

"Unfortunately, it isn't", I mumbled to myself.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Of course, mother! Why are you here by the way?"

"Won't you let me in first?"

"Sure", I muttered, moving aside to let her enter.

God, just don't let her see Harper. Or I am so doomed.

She scanned the house as if looking for some threat.

"Umm...mother. I was leaving for office, it's Monday, you must know. Why did you come?"

"I wanted to meet my son. Am I not allowed to?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Oh... o-kay..."

"And oh", she exclaimed. "Aeryn is pregnant! Did you hear that?"

"Yes, I did. Brother told me."

She smiled widely. "I am so happy, Gareth. You have no idea."

I smiled softly. "Me too, mother."

"Where's Diana by the way?" She asked looking around searching for her.

"I'll call her." I said and then called for her. "Diana?"

Instead of Diana, Harper walked down the stairs, she must have heard me call for Diana because she said dryly, not noticing mother's presence. "Diana took a day off. Since you were not present at dinner last night, she told me."

1...

2...

3...

"And you are?" Mother directed her question to Harper and it was then she saw mother and her eyes widened.

Harper's mouth opened and closed, unable to form any sentence.

Mother frowned walking closer to her. "Have we met before?"

Harper smiled nervously. "At Aeryn and Everette's wedding?"

"Yes...but I don't seem to remember you clearly."

"Harper. Aeryn's friend."

"Oh, yes, Harper! How are you, dear?"

"I'm good as usual, Mrs Wilbrose." She said softly avoiding eye contact with her.

"Don't be so formal, child. Call me Maria."

"Okay, Maria."

"You work with Aeryn, don't you?" Mother started her question-answer session.

"Yes, I work with Aeryn."

Please don't ask what she is doing here!

"I wonder why you are here..." Mother said sweetly but I know there were a million questions she wanted to ask me and her.

Since mother's back was towards me, Harper looked at me for help and I shook my head not knowing what to say.

If I tell mother that she's my girlfriend, she will see right through my lie.

I took a step back already planning my escape. My hand reached for the door's handle.

But mother's question was enough to root me in the place. "Gareth, who's she to you?"

I looked down at my watch. "I am getting late for a meeting, mother. I'll see you in the evening. How about you go stay with Aeryn till then?"

"Get your ass here right now and sit down. And answer my questions!"

"You too", she said to Harper who nodded and promptly sat down on the couch and I did the same sitting beside her at a distance. Mother sat down opposite to us.

I sent a quick text to Eve. Mother's here. Help!

Eve was online and replied immediately. What?! Why?

I don't know! She is interrogating us! Help quickly! I replied back.

"Put down your phone, Gareth", mother scolded and I put it down quickly.

"Who's she again?" Mother looked between us.

"Aeryn's friend, Harper", I said as innocently as possible with a tight smile.

Mother's lips pressed into a thin line. "That I know. Why is she here? And what relation she has with you?"

"Would you believe me if I say she's my girlfriend?"

"No." Mother stated.

"So, I can't lie about that..."

"Why will you lie to me?!" Mother hissed.

My phone rang and saw Eve's name flashing on the caller ID.

"Mother, it's a really really important business call. Just give me two minutes and then I will answer your every question. Please?"

Mother rolled her eyes. "Fine. Make it quick."

Sighing in relief I got up and moved to the kitchen so that she can't hear me.

"Brother!" I said picking up the call.

"What's happening, Gareth?"

"I don't know! She showed up all of a sudden and now she is hell bent on knowing who Harper is to me." I explained in a panicked tone. "I can't tell her that she's pregnant with my child."

"I don't know what to do..." He whispered.

"I have an idea, brother."

"What idea?"

"Okay, listen." So I explained to him my plan to which he agreed even though he said that it sucked.

I went back to the living room and sat down beside Harper.

"Okay, I am ready to tell you everything." I told mother. "But, while I am explaining, no one, I mean no one, not even you Harper will interrupt me. Questions will be asked later."

Mother nodded eagerly, Harper gave me a blank stare.

I leaned forward placing my elbows on my thighs and intertwining my fingers. My voice turned low. "Harper had a fiance. They were a happy couple, of course. Everything was going smoothly...untill...Harper got pregnant with his child. She tells him about it and he says he doesn't want it and so the engagement breaks."

Mother gasped softly, her features softened with sympathy for Harper and her gaze dropped down to her belly. And Harper's gaze bore into my skull, making a face that said, "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Thankfully, she stays silent.

I continued. "So...Harper had some financial issues. The landlord of the apartment she was residing in kept bothering her for rent. She could ask Aeryn for help but she didn't. She didn't want to worry her, so she tells her nothing and decides to deal with it herself."

My eyes searched mother's face for any sign of suspicion, but there wasn't any.

Thank God.

Coming to the main part of my cleverly plotted lie, I spoke. "Eventually, her landlord kicks her out. And she has no where to go. That day at night I found her sitting outside her apartment on the street. I had met her a few times before so I knew her. I inquired her about her problem and being the gentleman I am offered to help." When I said gentleman, Harper snorted and I gave her a small glare.

And continued anyway. "So, coming to the conclusion...I brought her with me to my house and she requested me to not tell Aeryn anything to which I complied. But unfortunately, somehow Aeryn now knows about it all and she could be here any moment to drag her away."

I finished with a grin feeling satisfied with my story.

Mother turned to Harper and asked softly. "What about your family?"

Harper lowered her gaze. "I am an orphan since birth."

What?! Why didn't I know that?

She's an orphan?

"Oh, dear." Mother muttered sympathetically. "I am so sorry."

Harper gave her a small smile. "It's okay."

The front door burst open and in came Aeryn and Eve and of course Carmel, Aeryn's adopted 12 year old daughter.

"There you are Harper!" Aeryn exclaimed walking to her. Carmel following behind her while Eve was at the door. "How could you not tell me about your problem? You lied to me."

I got up and went to Eve. "Thanks, brother." I whispered.

"I assume mother believed your story."

"Yup. She did. I'm clearly a better liar than you."

He rolled his eyes. "Lying isn't something to be proud of."

"It was either lying or getting myself killed. And I still have a lot to do in my life."

"Some day or the other, she will find out. She always does."

I sighed. "I know..."

I looked up to see Aeryn holding Harper's hand and dragging her towards us.

"Thank you, Gareth for keeping her with you." She said loudly enough for mother to hear.

I smiled. "No problem, sister."

"Yes, thank you, uncle." Carmel chirped in winking at me and I winked back.

"You will stay with me from now on, Harper." Aeryn stated dragging her out, Carmel and Eve followed.

Sighing in relief I turned to mother. "I am leaving for office. I'll see you in the evening, mother."

"No. I am leaving."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like staying here."

"What? Why?"

"Because your house isn't homely enough."

I frowned sadly. "Don't say that mother. I worked really hard to design it."

"I am not talking about the design but the homeliness. Everette has a wife and a child and another one is on the way. That's what adds homeliness to his house."

I sighed in exasperation and mumbled to myself. "I am having a child too." Which, I don't know how, mother heard it.

Her head snapped to me. "What?"

Fuck.

"What?" I questioned back innocently.

"You said something?"

"What? Me? No." I chuckled nervously. "I didn't say anything."

"Anyway, I am going back home. You can go to office now." She said gesturing me to lean down since I am much taller than her and she placed a kiss on my forehead before leaving.