Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 29: "I Wouldn’t Be So Immoral as to Force Others.
"Huh?!"
Rory Linden froze for a second before hurrying after the man in front of her. "Does what I just said count?" she asked earnestly.
"It does. Same rule. And you’ll have to stay for at least five more weeks after this is all settled."
Sean Harrison didn’t break his stride, walking straight into the study.
Rory Linden had been about to say something else, but the sight of his study drove every thought from her mind.
The room before her could hardly be called a study. Calling it a small library wouldn’t be an exaggeration!
Three walls of the enormous room were covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
There was even a small, rolling ladder for reaching the highest shelves.
"Oh my god."
Rory Linden couldn’t hide the delight in her eyes.
Even though she was only staying temporarily, the thought of having such an amazing study in the apartment made a wave of happiness wash over her.
She had always loved to read and had wanted to buy a small bookshelf for her room.
Back when she lived at the Harrington Family’s estate, she never truly felt like it was her home.
So, regarding her plan to buy a bookshelf, she had gone to discuss it with Miles Harrison, even though she had enough of her own money.
Miles Harrison never liked studying or reading.
When he found out she wanted to buy a bookshelf, he just said, "You can’t. Reading too much will turn you into a bookworm."
A younger Miles Harrison might have just been joking casually.
But to Rory, it felt as though the master of the house had rejected her request.
Rory then noticed that of the three walls of bookshelves, one was almost completely empty, with only a few books on the very top shelf.
Sean Harrison walked to the bookshelf, carrying the box, and began placing her books one by one, arranging them neatly on the top shelf of the empty section.
Rory hurried over to help.
Her medical books took up almost an entire row of the shelf.
Sean Harrison pointed to the other empty spaces and said, "All these empty spots are yours. You can put any books you buy here. If it’s not enough space, I can clear out some of that other bookshelf."
"No, no, that’s not necessary," Rory refused hastily. "These few medical books have been enough of a hassle to move around lately. If I buy more, they’ll just be a burden the next time I have to move."
"It’s fine. You can just leave them here for me to read," Sean said. "And if you want to read them, you can come over anytime. Consider this our shared bookshelf."
Sean Harrison’s tone was placid, revealing no emotion.
But Rory couldn’t quite hide the surprise on her face.
’Isn’t Sean Harrison being a little...’
’...overly approachable?’
He seemed like a completely different person from the man at their second meeting—the one with the aloof expression, surrounded by a crowd of deferential executives.
Even though they had only met once over a decade ago, Sean Harrison was being incredibly good to her.
Sean Harrison kept his hands raised, carefully tidying her books one last time before saying, "It’s late. Go get some sleep."
"Okay..."
GROWL.
Just as Rory agreed, her stomach let out an inopportune noise.
Rory’s cheeks flushed involuntarily. "I’m sorry. I haven’t eaten anything all evening, so I’m a little hungry."
"Let’s order delivery,"
Sean Harrison suggested.
"But delivery has an extra fee. I just saw there’s a 24-hour convenience store downstairs. I can just go down and buy something, and then..."
Rory’s voice trailed off as she realized the problem with her plan.
She was living in Sean Harrison’s apartment now. She didn’t have the door code or the key card for the building’s elevator.
If she went downstairs to buy something, Sean wouldn’t be able to rest; he’d have to wait for her to get back.
"Never mind. I can just skip it. I’m on a diet anyway,"
Rory Linden tried another tack.
"Perfect timing. I haven’t eaten either," Sean Harrison said. "Let’s go downstairs together."
It was only then that Rory remembered she had spent the whole evening on the bus, and Sean had been following her the entire time.
’He must not have eaten either.’
The two of them walked to the front door together.
Sean Harrison stopped Rory Linden as she was heading for the elevator. "Come here."
Rory turned back to see him standing by the door, bent over and fiddling with the large electronic lock on it.
When she walked over, he said to her, "Let’s register your finger vein scan. It’ll be more convenient for you to get in and out."
"Actually... you can just set a temporary passcode for me."
Rory tried to refuse.
’I won’t be living here for long,’ she thought. ’There’s no need to go through the trouble of registering my vein pattern.’
The man didn’t respond to her, instead demonstrating directly. "Put your finger in here. It scans the veins in your first two knuckles. You can move it around a little. Give it a try."
"Okay, thank you." As soon as the words left her mouth, Rory realized what she’d done and quickly added, "I’m already out of the room!"
Sean Harrison sighed under his breath and said nothing more.
Rory followed his instructions and tried to register her finger vein.
But when she tried to open the door, it wouldn’t unlock.
She tried again.
Still no luck.
Just as Rory was getting frustrated, the man took hold of her right hand. "Here, let me show you."
His palm rested against the back of her hand, his warmth, greater than her own, seeping through her skin.
It traveled up her veins straight to her heart.
Making it beat just a little bit faster.
Sean Harrison didn’t stop. His index finger deftly hooked around hers.
Once both of their hands were in the scanning area, he lifted his finger and told her, "Press down gently. Don’t use too much force."
The registration process required three separate scans.
Sean slightly repositioned her hand, scanned it once, and then again.
After the third scan was complete, Rory tried one more time.
Success.
Sean Harrison withdrew his hand. Seeing the deep blush on her cheeks, he explained, "I was just helping you register the vein lock. No need to be nervous. I’m not so unethical as to force myself on someone."
Rory nodded quickly. "I know, you..."
"Add another rule. Using that formal ’you’ with me, no matter where we are, adds another day to your stay."
Sean Harrison stated his terms.
He didn’t like her being so deferential toward him.
Even though, not long ago, he had been prepared to watch her marry Miles Harrison and remain by her side simply as family.
Rory Linden bit her lip. "But you’re Miles Harrison’s uncle..."
"What, you want to call me ’Uncle,’ too? Are you that eager to be a part of my family?"
Sean Harrison closed the door and turned to press the elevator button.
Rory couldn’t see his expression. She could only hurry after him and explain to his back, "No, that’s not it. I’m already over Miles Harrison. I have no intention of that."
She thought he was implying she still wasn’t over Miles.
The elevator arrived at their floor just then.
Rory followed him into the elevator.
The 24-hour convenience store was right at the entrance of the apartment complex.
The store wasn’t large. It only had some ready-to-heat meals.
Aside from that, there were eggs in a refrigerated case and bread on the shelves.
Thinking of the empty refrigerator in the man’s apartment...
Rory Linden hugged a carton of eggs to her chest and turned to ask Sean Harrison, "Um... do you eat breakfast at home?"
"Not usually. I haven’t really used the stove here yet," Sean Harrison said, his eyes on the eggs in her arms. "But if you want to eat, I can cook."
"Huh?!"
Rory Linden was sure she must have misheard him.
