Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Jennifer Marie.

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I shut the door to Harvey’s villa, pushing in the cart loaded with his outfits for tomorrow’s shoot. The place is way too quiet.

“Harv?” I call out once and my voice bounces off the marble floors. No answer. Weird. I thought he’d be here since wasn’t one bit interested in Baxter’s Lake party.

I leave the cart by the entryway and head further in. Just as I do, I hear a faint sound from upstairs—like something dropping on the ground, maybe. My ponytail swings as I look up toward his bedroom.

“So Harvey’s upstairs?” I mumble to myself.

He didn’t answer, but he’s definitely up there. I let go of the cart handle and start climbing the stairs, my sandals are silent on the plush runner. His bedroom door is slightly ajar and dim.

I push it open slowly. “Harvey?”

The room is all moody and dark, just the way he likes it. And I see him or, I think I see him…standing by the far wall, his back to me, facing a huge abstract painting. What’s so interesting over there?

Honestly, I care less about the painting and more about him. A mischievous smile plays on my lips. We’ve got time before we need to see if these clothes even fit. Might as well make this fitting session… fun.

I reach down, grab the hem of my shirt, and pull it over my head. I’m not wearing a bra since I’ve been testing fabrics all day, and honestly, I’m done with straps. I toss my shirt toward his massive bed, waiting for him to look at me.

“Harv?” I whisper this time, stepping closer.

He turns. And in that split second, even in the dark, I know. The way he holds his shoulders is different. Leaner. The silhouette is just… off.

Before my brain can fully process the panic, the main light blazes on, blinding me for a second. I twist and Harvey is standing in the doorway with his eyes wide in a way it has never been before after yelling.

“Jen, no!”

My body freezes. I’m standing here, totally topless, in front of… who!!!??

Harvey moves like lightning. He’s in front of me. His arms wrap around me, spinning me and pulling me three steps back. He’s using his whole body as a shield so that his back is to the stranger. He snatches my shirt from the bed, fumbling for a second before pulling it over my head.

“I…” is all I can stammer out as my arms mechanically find the sleeves as he yanks the fabric down. In his haste, his knuckles graze my chest, and my face flames with a heat that’s equal parts humiliation and terror.

I look up at Harvey’s face. He’s not looking at me. He’s now staring over my head at the other man, and he looks… stressed. More than stressed. He looks like

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Chapter 36

time.

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I’d keep staring at him, trying to read the disaster in his eyes, but a sound from the stranger stops me cold.

He chuckles. Low, faint at first, then darker. Amused.

Harvey’s body tenses against mine.

I peer around Harvey’s shoulder to see the strange guy leaning against the wall now. He’s got dark hair, same height as Harvey, which is why I mistook him. But he’s leaner. Brown eyes that aren’t smiling even though his mouth is. Tattoos snake up his arms. He has that chiselled, dangerous look like someone from Harvey’s underworld.

But my boyfriend is prettier.

“Can you go… out to the sitting area… and wait for me?” Harvey’s voice is tight. It’s not a request. It’s a plea. He doesn’t even want me breathing the same air as this person.

I’m numb. I just flashed a complete stranger. I hope he didn’t see anything, but that’s a stupid hope because he is still letting out a dark chuckle is and he’s looking right at me.

The man tilts his head to ask. “Is she your girl?”

“Harv-“I start.

“Jennifer, go. Now!”

Harvey raises his voice at me, and I look at him, completely appalled. It hurts immediately, a sharp sting right in my chest. But I don’t even have it in me to argue. I just turn on my heel, walk out, and shut the door behind

I rush down the stairs with my hands coming up to tap my burning cheeks. What did I just walk into? What did I just DO? And who is that guy? Why was Harvey acting like I’d just stepped into a lion’s den?

This is embarrassing in every single way. Humiliation crawls up my neck.

Is he some kind of enemy? The thought crosses my mind, and I blink, pausing halfway down. If he was, wouldn’t I have heard them start fighting?

I go to the sitting room and sink into the plush white sofa, pulling a pillow to my lap for moral support. My cheeks are still on fire, and now I’m just… angry. Angry at the situation, at Harvey for yelling, at myself for being so stupid.

After what feels like forever but is probably only a few minutes, I hear them coming down the staircase. I peek over the back of the couch.

They both walk into the living room, and they look like… I don’t know. Like they belong in some gritty part of the world. Harvey looks a bit more relaxed now, though. So I guess they’re not about to throw punches. Maybe the tension I felt in the room was just my own, a freak-out after basically flashing a dude who looks like he drinks human blood for breakfast.

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Chapter 36

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Once Harvey is down, he strolls over to me. I roll my eyes, looking away, but he doesn’t let me sulk. He slowly pulls me up by my waist to speak.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you.” he whispers.

This is Harvey… he usually apologizes. But now that he’s my boyfriend, it feels different. It sends a flutter through my stomach, even though I’m still mad.

Instead of just accepting it, I peer from the side of his face to look at the strange guy. “Did he… see me?”

“I didn’t. Unfortunately,” the dude says from across the room, scratching his jaw. Harvey shoots him a look….a proper death stare. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look at anyone, not even Baxter, that way before. Am I reading this wrong, or do they totally hate each other?

“I’m Reign. Nice to meet you, Harvey’s girlfriend.” he pokes his head out so I can see him clearly. I stay plastered to Harvey’s side.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were… him. I… I feel so embarrassed to have done that.”

“You thought I was the enforcer?” He looks at Harvey with a smirk. “Do I look like him?”

Harvey returns the look with another icy death stare.

“No, you don’t!” I say quickly. “I just didn’t expect you to be there. Are you… friends?” I look up at Harvey, needing him to explain this whole weird vibe.

“He’s Jenna’s brother.” Harvey answers, and I see the way his jaw is still set like he doesn’t even want to be having this conversation.

“Jenna… from the club?” I ask, my brain trying to connect the dots.

“Oh, you know my sister?” Reign arches a brow.

“Wait. Do you know her too?” I turn fully to Harvey now, confused.

“Of course he knows her. We’re all friends. We were invited to the wedding.” Reign says smoothly, just as the front door opens.

And in walks Jenna herself. She’s wearing a glittery, impossibly short dress and sky-high heels, looking like she just came from the VIP section of a club.

She’s not alone. Baxter is behind her, and her face turns into the brightest smile when she sees me. She opens her arms for a hug.

“Jennifer, hi pretty girl!”

“Hi,” I say, feeling a little overwhelmed now that we’re all just… here. She looks over my shoulder and her eyes land on Harvey. I see a moment of pause in her stare, her smile falters just a fraction.

“Wait, don’t tell me it’s Harvey that is your boyfriend?”

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Chapter 36

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I look back at Harvey. When I spoke with her the last time, he wasn’t my boyfriend, but now he is. So, of course, my face heats up as I answer. “Yes, he’s my boyfriend.”

Baxter scoffs behind her.

“How do you know her?” Reign asks.

“At the amusement park, actually,” Jenna answers for me, chuckling. “We were running from a clown.” I remember, and it makes me laugh too, breaking some of the tension.

“Wait, you were at the amusement park?” Baxter comes forward, looking between us.

Jenna nods.

“I was there too,” Baxter says, as if piecing it together. “So, Jennifer knows Jenna from the amusement park, and Harvey knows Reign from being in Italy when our dad asked him to come learn how to run a casino. That clicks. Guess I’m the new one to this friendship.”

When Baxter says that, I nod. So that’s how Harvey met Reign. No wonder they look like they come from the same world. But I thought Harvey mentioned the person that taught him the ins and outs was named Antonio or something.

“Baxter told me Reign was here, so I came to check. Hope we weren’t disturbing you two cuties?” Jenna says.

If only she knew.

“Come on.” Harvey just says to me. Only me. As if he doesn’t even care for an association with them. I try not to let it show that he’s being a total broody grump, so I just give an awkward smile. He puts his hand firmly on my waist and nudges me toward the door.

“Are you guys going to the lake?” Jenna steps in front of me, blocking our path just slightly. “You guys definitely should! It’s your last day in Italy, and there are fireworks tonight, right Baxter?”

“Yeah,” Baxter confirms, his eyes on Harvey.

“Sure,” I say quickly, taking Harvey’s hand and pulling him toward the door before he can use the glare in his eyes to make one of them drop dead.

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