Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Jennifer Marie.

Saints Night Club

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There’s a stripper on her knees on the main stage. The DJ announces that the man who sprayed her the most money gets a reward, and the crowd roars like they already know what that means.

I don’t but I find out the moment she presses her tongue to the centre of his pants and traces the shape of him through the fabric like she’s drawing something only he gets to see. The guy’s jaw tightens.

I look away immediately.

“Jennifer, don’t look away-” Flora grabs my wrist.

“I can’t. Do men actually like this stuff?”

She laughs. “Yes. Watch and learn.”

When I glance back, I see the way the man’s chest rises. The way his eyes darken. Something clicks in my brain;

So it works.

And that thought spirals, because maybe that’s why Harvey won’t even look at me right now. Maybe I’m just… inexperienced. Too soft. I backed into him intentionally in the storage room but unintentionally assaulted him with my foot, which somehow managed to make everything worse.

If I ever told this story out loud, no one would believe me.

Baxter and Nisha insisted on coming to this club for something about Instagram stories and “Italy wedding vibes.” Alexa sent me, Flora, and Brooke along to make sure their touch–ups were perfect while the rest of the team stayed back with the pre- wedding outfits.

“Brooke, do you have a man you could try that on him?”

Brooke rolls her eyes and walks toward the VIP section, where I can already hear Baxter’s yelling at his boys through the

bass.

“She’s such a snob!” Flora hisses.

“You think it really works?” I ask quietly.

“What works?”

“The… stripper thing.”

“Damn right it does–oh shit. Nisha’s snapping her fingers at me. I’ll be back.”

Flora leaves me alone and I bite my finger.

Can I do that?

Of course I can.

But he’s my best friend.

Does that even matter anymore?

FLE

3

O OOG

III O

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Harvey kissed me, and I loved it. I’m not going to lie to myself and pretend I didn’t. I’m tired of being Jen–the–virgin, tired of feeling like everyone else has crossed some invisible line I’m still standing behind, pretending I don’t want to know what’s on the other side.

And honestly… what better man is there to explore that with than Harvey?

He looks like a Greek god who decided to get really, really into martial arts. All bad intentions and danger, but he’s gentle where it counts, patient, protective in a way that doesn’t feel fake. He cares, even when he’s angry.

And he’s… I clear my throat. I felt him. Through his pants. I know what I’m working with, and logically, it seems… promising. I don’t know if that’s a bad thing considering I’m a virgin, but Tinka once said mafias give the best orgasms and-

Okay. I cannot believe I’m thinking this.

If someone asked me what changed between the day I swore I could never want anything romantic from my best friend and now, I’d know the answer immediately.

It was the way he kissed me. That’s when everything shifted.

“Hey there…”

I turn, startled, and it’s Baxter, holding out a drink. His hair is sleeked with gel but has one curl falling onto his forehead. High school me would’ve been melting right now.

Now? Nothing.

“The shoot’s over?” I ask.

“For the most part. Nisha’s still taking pictures.” His eyes flick toward the stripper on the stage. “You watching that?”

“Um–no. Why would you think that?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, right. Don’t tell me you’re trying to explore men and picking up tips.”

“Baxter….”

“Relax.” He smirks. “You used to have a crush on me. Now we can’t even talk because what… you’re pretending to date Harvey?”

“That’s not it. Our last conversation kind of… made things worse between me and Harvey.”

“Then that’s Harvey’s problem. Not my fault he’s controlling. It’s not like you guys are dating.”

“You know what, I used to have a crush on you,” I say calmly, and that word matters. “Used. And no, it’s not that we can’t have a conversation. It’s the kind of conversation.”

I grip the railing and glance down, watching a server struggle with an oversized sign headed toward a VIP table.

“Are you sure you don’t have a crush on me anymore? I’m usually the kind of guy girls obsess with forever.”

“Well, every girl isn’t me. Thanks for the drink, but I shouldn’t be drinking anyway. I’m here to work for you and your fiancée.”

“Contract fiancée,” he corrects quickly with irritation.

“Okay, pretend it’s not me. I swear, Jennifer… I feel so awful about how I treated you back in high school. I’m just trying to make up for it. Even if it’s just being a friend you can call, or ask questions… I was such a douchebag to you. I’m trying to be a better person. Give me a chance. Please?”

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He hits me with the full puppy–dog eyes. Awwn, it’s the apology I never got.

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“Fine.” I say. “But I’m only saying fine because it doesn’t matter anymore that you broke my heart back then. And it’s obvious there’s some… tension between you and Harvey, so let’s not talk about him when we’re speaking

“I agree but just so you know, the only reason I brought up Harvey in the last conversation was because I felt like I owed you. I wanted you to watch your back. Alright? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

There it is again… Baxter saying something without actually saying anything. I don’t understand it but I’m not going to ask.

I look at the stripper on the stage and a question presses at the back of my mind. He’s a guy. Should I just ask him? Who better to know what makes a guy unable to resist a woman?

“I have a guy friend,” I say, then quickly add, “it’s not Harvey. It’s someone else. And it’s nothing special. Just casual. You think if I got on my knees like that, he would… love it?”

Baxter listens then exhales.

“It would drive any guy crazy. But honestly, Jennifer… as beautiful as you are, you shouldn’t be doing anything casual. You should be with someone that prioritizes you.” It’s the possessiveness in his tone that throws me off. Why is he looking at me like I’m the sun and the moon all of a sudden?

I’m about to question it when someone slams into me hard enough that the drink in my hand shatters on the floor.

“Oopsie, sowie!” It’s one of Nisha’s minions.

I glance back and catch Nisha watching us. That’s when I know she sent her because I was talking to Baxter. I’m talking to her property. Message received.

I step back. “I should go.”

“Wait, you’re going to trip on the glass.” Baxter says, already bending down to pick up the bigger pieces and that’s when a glass shard injures his thumb.

“Shoot. Don’t move. I have bandage in my purse.”

I hurry past the VIP tables toward where Flora and I left our bags. That’s when I see dark shirt. Dark hair. A few buttons undone. Tattoos peeking out. Smoke curling around his face like it belongs there.

Harvey?

I stop so suddenly my purse slips from my hand. I recognize that watch on his wrist like the one I saw on the table this morning. He’s walking with two men who look like club security and they step into a glass elevator.

I watch the numbers light up. 12th floor.

My heart starts racing. Could it not be him? Could it actually be him? I hesitate. If it’s not him, I can just come back down. What’s the worst that could happen?

Before I can overthink it, I step into the elevator with a few others and press twelve.

The doors open to a quiet hallway. A sign on the wall reads STAFF & MANAGEMENT ONLY – PLEASE RETURN DOWNSTAIRS.

Maybe it wasn’t him after all. I mean… he doesn’t own a night club. He runs a casino. There’s no reason for him to be up

here.

“Harvey, no freaking way!”

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I hear his name and my body moves before my brain can stop it. Toward the office. The door is already open when I reach it.

It’s Harvey. A cigarette rests between his lips. A gun is in his hand and that’s not the only one. Spread across the desk are more of them.

My brain shuts off.

My body freezes.

Gun. Harvey. Smoke. Metal.

He pauses when he sees me. Slowly removes the cigarette from his mouth and exhales through his nose.

“Who let her in here?”

There are other men in the room. I barely register them at first. My chest tightens so badly I realize I haven’t taken a breath since I walked in.

Is this what Baxter meant? Is this what I was supposed to be afraid of?

“Jennifer, for god’s sake, breathe! You’re turning red. Th

are security guns and they are legal.”

That’s when I notice the badges of the club security men in black vests.

My lungs finally work again.

“Here. I fixed them.” Harvey loads the gun and hands it off. One by one, the men secure the weapons and go past me.

“Hi. Jen.”

I flinch slightly when someone reaches for my hand. I look up and recognize him.

“Nate?”

“Yeah.” He grins, shaking my hand. Then he looks at Harvey like he’s trying not to laugh. “I’ll give you two some space.”

The door closes behind him but there are still on the table.

Harvey finally turns to me. He doesn’t smile. Neither is he softened.

“What are you doing here?”

“I–uh–I got on the wrong floor. I was going somewhere else. Actually, I should be asking you what you’re doing here.”

“I own this nightclub.”

“You…what? You own Saints… how come-

“Since you made a mistake coming up here, Jen, you can go back down.”

Harvey walks toward a safe like I’m not standing right here with my heart practically in my throat. God, he’s so stubborn. So closed off. It feels like he’s already decided I don’t get a say.

“Wow. You can’t even look at me? So much for saying you returned to win my heart.

That makes him pause.

He doesn’t turn around right away, but when he speaks, his voice is heavier.

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Chapter 15

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“Maybe I’m not the man you need. For your own conscience, you can’t stand a man who’s around strippers and casinos and this kind of shit, then I’m probably not the right one for you.”

He finally faces me.

“You’re Jennifer. We were best friends. I know what you love….you love the kind of life with clean money, golden boys, Disney love. This,” he gestures around the room “is me. When we get back to New York, this is what my life looks like. It gets. dirty. It’s not pretty and I don’t want you to have to deal with it.”

He thinks he isn’t worth…being with me!?

“Harvey, I’m now saying yes. I don’t want you to stop chasing me. I’m changing my decision. I want us to explore this.” I say.

“Well, now I’m saying no.”

His words land.

“I made a mistake. I should’ve looked at my life and yours before I came after you. I’m not the dream man. You deserve someone better. Just not me. And definitely not Baxter.”

Why is he acting like this now? I finally admit I want him, and he’s treating me like a stranger, like the kiss was a regret.

“Why are you saying this all of a sudden?” I stammer. “Harvey, you’re acting like you unalive people. I don’t want to be a virgin anymore. And I’m telling you yes. I want to explore something…with YOU. Bend me over and take me…that’s how

serious I am.”

His jaw tightens like I’m a kid asking for something I don’t understand.

“If we cross that line I won’t be able to let you go. When I’m done here, I’ll join you downstairs. Don’t drink alcohol—”

I don’t listen!

Instead, I kneel on his rug before I fully realize what I’m doing.

Harvey looks down at me.

“Jennifer…. what are you-”

I don’t answer. I rest my hands on his legs, grounding myself, grounding him. Then, before my courage disappears….I lean forward. My eyes never leave his as I bring my mouth to the centre of his pants, to the hard line of his zipper and press a soft kiss against the fabric where I can feel the firmness of him.

Harvey flinches. He blinks rapidly, his lips part and throat works.

Emboldened, I let my tongue trace a line over the same spot. The taste of expensive cotton. When I reach the tip, I close my lips around the swollen head, sucking lightly through the cloth. Harvey’s breath breaks.

His throat works as he swallows. He closes his eyes for half a second, like he’s fighting himself, like it hurts to stand there and

not