I take one last deep breath as I reach my apartment building. I can feel the sheen of sweat all over my body. I never take a slow casual walk, it’s more like a power walk to burn up the heavy weight of the day on my shoulders. Most of my business associates wouldn’t recognize me in the black cotton gym shorts, a black t-shirt that hangs loose on my chest, not showing my physique anywhere except my biceps, where it hugs them tight. A plain black cap pulled down low so no one knows it’s me. I just want this time of day to be mine and not be caught up in trivial conversation, or even worse, being dragged into a business conversation when that’s the whole reason I’m out walking in the first place, trying to forget that world.

“Hey, Ferris.” I give my doorman a nod as he opens the heavy glass door for me. He is more than just a doorman, doubling as security for the residents, and nobody gets past him unless they have permission. We have four guys that rotate on shifts, but if there was one of them I would want to stand in front of me in a dangerous situation, it’s Ferris.

“Mr. Taylor, been out pounding the pavement again, shaking off the day?” He offers his half-smile which is all you ever get.

“I’m a creature of habit, Ferris. Have a good night,” I answer as I hit the call button for the elevator, and thankfully, it is down at the basement, so only a floor away. I just want to get upstairs and get into a hot shower.

“Nothing wrong with that,” he replies and then wishes me good night as well.

The chime sounds, and as the doors open in front of me, I feel my chest tighten.

“Harper,” I greet her as I step in, and she smiles at me but not with any real life behind it. Her black hair and dark brown eyes are such a contrast on her face tonight. She looks a little pale and not quite her normal self.

“Forrest. Guessing you haven’t come from a meeting,” she says, looking me up and down as the doors close behind us.

“Funny. No, just clearing the head,” I grumble back.

There is something about Harper that makes me wary.

She certainly has flirted with me enough times to let me know she is interested, and although I think she’s beautiful, she reminds me of my brother, just in a female body. Never going to settle down, full of confidence, and not afraid to be the joker in the room. Pushy, but I can tell she uses that to her full advantage in her job and is amazing at what she does.