Xander's POV

"I'll do it." My eyes switched over to the door. "I'll help you." Her clumsy body staggered around as she stood holding the doors open. It all happened so fast. My body only registered when I heard Henry speak to her.

"Harley, Have long had you been standing there?" Henry cocked his head to the side and looked at her.

"Not long." She huffed, out of breath. Her uneven breathing was causing her large chest to move up and down "Just long enough."

Without much thought, I curled my fist at my side and started marching towards her.

"Wait. Wait, boss." Felipe stood in front of my path, trying to hold me back. I should've known with her stubbornness that she wouldn't calmly walk away. I was too irritated to see. By not long, I knew that meant she had been standing there the whole time. I felt myself calm down slightly but not because Felipe was holding me back but because I was glad we hadn't mentioned Daniel Miller's name in our discussion. At least she hears anything of value. "Let's hear her out. It's up to her if she wants to help." Felipe said to her.

"Yeah, let's be civilized," Pedro spoke and moved towards her. I saw as she visible cowered as Pedro towered over her. The sight made me twitch in discomfort. Nonetheless, I moved back. It took all the patience and restraint in me to not carry her body out of here. "I'm Pedro; these are my brothers. Emilio, Ralph, and Julian."

"Hi." She forced a small smile on her face. Her eyes moved to mine after she shook all of their hands respectfully.

"Get out while I'm being nice, Harley." I gritted through my teeth. Harley was a ticking time bomb at this point. She is smart and determined. It wouldn't take long for her to put the pieces together if someone happens to slip up and mention Miller. She would find out eventually. I haven't had the issue of her trying to escape because of this fabricated lie. I wanted to convince myself that that was the only reason why I didn't want Harley to assist us, but I knew far too well it wasn't.

"Sir, I won't mess anything up. I just want to pay off my mom's debt a little faster. Let me be of assistance to you." She pleaded. The zeal in her voice left me more irked than before. Could living here be that bad?

"Boss." Henry stiffened next to me. He wasn't someone who contradicted my word; however, he did along with everyone else. " The plan will run smoothly and quickly this way." He such in a more hushed voice. "There will be no room for error. We get in, and we get out. Nice and simple. You know I wouldn't entertain a bad idea." I knew he was right. If Henry didn't think it was a good idea, he would tell me immediately without beating around the bush.

"We don't have time to circle this a million times," Julian spoke up. "We need to decide what the fuck we are going to do now."

I turned away, running my hand through my messy hair with a hiss. I never realized how arduous this situation would become. But that's just the thing, this plan was difficult or overwhelming it was solely because I couldn't push emotions aside and do what needs to be done.

"Fine." I spat, "but let me make something very fucking clear, Harley." I began, "You only speak when I tell you to, you only move when I tell you to, you only say what I tell you to. Other than that, you are silent and still. I can't have to worry about what you're going to do." I almost barked towards her. Her lips stayed sealed as she only nodded in agreement. "Go over the plan again. I'll make the last adjustments to it; then we prepare for tomorrow."

"Gladly." Henry was back to his usual puppy-like self. "Huncho hasn't been pushing enough product the past couple of years, so in order to get business, he is known to sell to A list celebrities for their A list parties." He began. "First, Boss will pose as a high-value bachelor from LA looking to score some weed and cocaine off of Huncho. Of course, there will be no suspicions since he has never seen the boss, nor is this request new to him. In the likely chance that Huncho isn't interested in this deal, we add you, Harley, into the equation. So it's now a young rich bachelor and his beautiful girlfriend. " he gestured to Harley with a smile. Me, Felipe, Ralph, Pedro, and Julian will pose as bodyguards as we enter the house and as you talk out an agreement with him. Huncho will mostly insist that his guards leave him to discuss with you both alone, and at that moment, boss will take him out." Henry breathed out. "It should work in our favor, but if we do leave during open fire, we will have backup on standby."

"Good," I said. The plan was efficient and well thought out; however, something still needed to be changed. "It'll work. Nothing changes except Harley will not be in the room with Huncho and me." I could see the look on her face as Henry spoke. She looked disgusted, even revolting at the fact that she was helping a killer like myself. I couldn't bear the look on her face as I killed him. I wouldn't be able to do it. Now she looked too quiet and occupied. It was unusual that she wasn't asking a million questions right now.

"What? Why? That's the whole po-" Felipe started.

"Drop it. I won't budge on this one." I sighed. After a brief moment of silence, I spoke again. "Make sure everything is in order for tomorrow. You all may go." I said.

"Yes, sir," Henry said

"See you later, boss," Felipe muttered along with everyone else.

"Harley." I stopped her movements towards the door. "Stay," I said.

"Okay." She nodded and turned around to walk back over to me.

"Sit down." I motioned towards the leather seat I was standing in front of. My heart was heavy at this moment, just thinking about Harley leaving this house. I must be going insane. She complied and took a sit placing her hands into her lap as she waited for me to speak. Truthfully I didn't know what I would say to her, but I didn't want to be rid of her face yet.

"Talk to me," she said suddenly. My eyes snapped to her. Desire and longing twirled in my stomach. No one ever spoke to me the way Harley did. It felt like a splash of cold water just coated my face whenever she spoke. She woke me up. She made me feel refreshed her shocked even if that wasn't her intent. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing." I shook the thoughts away. "I just wanted you to stay a little longer," I admitted.

"S-sure." She pushed herself back on the seat, so she was no longer sitting on the edge of the chair. Again, I was comforted just looking at her. Even if I repulsed her, she still consoled me.

"I don't like the idea of you coming along, Harley," I spoke. "This isn't a game, and I can't promise I can protect you."

"If something does happen to me, then it happened on my own accord. It's not your job to protect me. It's my job to assist you, and that's what I'm doing." She looked pained even to say such words. It wasn't her job. Her job wasn't real to me, and I didn't want it to be real to her. Now Harley will do anything to pay off her false debt so she could return home. So she could get away from here.

"I shouldn't have brought it up ." I shook my head. "I don't even want to consider that a possibility." I moved to sit in front of her.

"Well then, let's just talk about something else." She said. We sat just sitting in comfortable silence, sneaking glances at each other and listening to each other soft breathing. It was peaceful.

"Tell me something about yourself," I said without warning. Her face shifted to me like she was analyzing my words.

"What do you want to know?" She asked after a couple of seconds.

"Anything," I said. I didn't want to be stuck in my cycle of loneness right now. I want to liberate myself from my own head just for a moment.

"Anything?" She said more to herself than to me. "I like to sew and crotchet, or even do embroidery." She rushed out.

"Really?" I knew she had a sharp mind.

"Yes." she grinned. "It's peaceful yet thrilling. The hours spent on projects are always worth it when I see the end product."

"Make me something," I said.

"Why, you could just buy whatever it is that you wanted me to make." She scoffed.

"Maybe so, but It's not the same." I retorted. It wasn't the same at all. I'd take something personally made from her for me over anything from an overpriced store any day.

"Okay." She grinned. "I have the perfect thing in mind." She almost squealed. I couldn't help but smirk at her excitement. We sat in a comfortable silence again, just listening to the sounds of each other's breathing and sneaking glances at each other.

"What about you?" She jumped up. "What do you do when your alone or off duty." She asked. Again catching me off guard since no one has ever asked me such a thing.

"Read." I paused. "Work out." I tried to think harder. "That's it."

"That's it? What do you do for fun?" She asked, "Don't you ever just hang out?"

"Sure. With Henry and Felipe." I paused

"Well, What about the rest of your men?" She asked

"What about them?" I looked at her, confused.

"I've never seen you converse with any of the other people here." She said.

"It's not my job to be their friends," I replied. "They haven't shown me anything besides laziness and untrustworthiness. I don't want to associate with that."

"Isn't proof that your men are more trustworthy than you think, the fact that your cartel is alive and doing very well. They must be doing something right." She stated. I've never considered it in that manner. That isn't how my father explained it. "You live on this large estate with all these people, and yet you are alone constantly." She said

"I'm not alone." I looked at her, confused again. " I have Henry and Felipe." I paused "and you," I said softly. I don't think she expected me to say such a blunt thing, and neither did I, but it was all true. I felt less alone with Harley here. Just knowing she was around.

"B-b-but what happens when Henry and Felipe want to hang out with other people or when they want to be alone, and what happens when I-I-I leave. You'll be alone." She looked away from me. Leave? An anxious calm took over my body after she spoke. It took me out of this fake fantasy I was dipping into. I wasn't the type of man that could have Harley. She shouldn't be getting close to me or growing used to me at all.

"I've held you up long enough." I stood up from where I was sitting. "You should go get some rest before tomorrow." I began walking to my desk.

"O-okay." I heard her leave her seat. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well." She mumbled the last part before I heard the door close behind her.