[ASTRID REESE]
London, England

★ ★ ★

Red instead of lilac flowers were delivered. Astrid had no idea how because she triple-checked the order before she put it through on the day, then checked it twice more on the morning of the delivery date.

"Please, stop," she sighed as she approached one of the staff. The lady turned back with a shocked expression; her mouth slightly open as she prepared to protest. "I told everyone two minutes ago not to unpack those flowers so please, can you take all of them back to the loading bay? Thank you."

Astrid didn't wait to hear any apologies or confirmation of the woman getting on with what was asked of her. Woman on a mission this morning, Reese flew across the site for the tenth time this morning and it was only twenty to eleven. Those goddamned rings on her watch were going to close thirty times before her day came to an end, only to repeat the process again this weekend.

Certainly an exciting but extremely exhausting weekend was ahead of her and all these people preparing for Jennifer and David's wedding. It felt like a century had passed since she began working with the couple, throwing her entire soul into the project.

All of it was worth it. No matter how much Astrid wanted to complain—and did complain—in the process. This wedding was her dream project, and she enjoyed every single second it. Granted, it was nowhere near over yet, nor was it ready to begin, but just knowing the stress she went through trying to sort out everything, with all the last-minute changes on the couple's part, and the challenges that externals threw in her way, she was incredibly proud of everything she'd accomplished.

With that being said, she needed to get out of her head. Reality slammed into her from the back with such force that she could barely keep herself together.

"I'm so sorry, Astrid," the voice exhaled on the other side of the line, and Astrid ground her molars in frustration. "One passed it onto everyone else, and now the whole band is down."

She pulled the phone away from her ear, turned the other way to blow out her anger, then put the device back to her face. "Of course," she smiled, even though no one could see. "I understand. I mean, it's not ideal but I understand. Thanks for calling right away."

"It is certainly not ideal. The band was looking forward to performing at the wedding," the man said with regret. Bet, Astrid thought. The band was supposed to be paid excessively for their talents. "I have, however, called with a solution."

On and on and on. Up and on. That's how things went in this industry. Solutions to problems that were an absolute ball ache.

Astrid booked in the new band provisionally and got on the phone to Jennifer and David immediately. The couple were set on the band that could no longer make it, so throwing this fuck up on them so last minute was either going to lead to Astrid being murdered later tonight, or—hopefully—unharmed to live out the rest of her days.

Throughout the time she spent working with Jennifer and David, she forgot how much they have grown to respect and, almost, love her. Care for her might perhaps be a better way to phrase it. And so when she presented the issue with the solution a heartbeat later, Astrid heard how the couple sighed of relief. They reassured her of their continued support and encouragement to 'do whatever feels right' as she has been 'so wonderful and perfect from the start'.

Confidence shot through her after the conversation she had with her clients. Sometimes, she needed that reassurance from them, and Astrid was glad for it. Jennifer and David certainly felt more than inclined to provide her with it.

Not much else had gone wrong on Friday.

Except maybe Sofia's mood when she got home from work. Slammed the front door shut. Pulled a bottle of red wine from the fridge. Grabbed the opener, then sent the drawer flying back into place with a quick shove. Threw herself into the armchair and took the biggest gulp of wine possible.

"Y'alright there, mate?" Astrid wondered. Humour laced her eyes until Sofia set her gaze directly onto hers. Every joke froze on Astrid's tongue. "What." Her voice dropped. Her heart stopped.

"Cameron's been fucking some other woman."

"And you know this how?"

Sofia scoffed. "He told me."

Surprised not even the word for it, Astrid sat up higher as her mouth dropped open, a silent 'wow' formed on her lips.

"I'm assuming he's stopped, though, right?"

Sofia shrugged. Tilted the bottle again as she held it by the neck.

"You don't know?"

"I didn't ask."

"So you just left after he told you?"

Sofia sighed as she sat the bottom of the bottle on the arm of the chair. Lifted her gaze and said, "Said he needed to be honest before we took any next steps. Blurted out the name and that he called it quits the night after we fucked. I asked if he'd seen her the day before that, and he said yes."

"He had sex with her, and then you the next day?" she gasped. "Fuck off. That makes me feel so dirty for no reason."

Jameson grunted.

"Hasn't he been sweet-talking you before that, though? That's so vile of him—I can't believe it."

Silence continued to stretch on as Sofia drank her fill. Thankfully, Ayla was on grandparent duty tonight—and for the weekend. Astrid wouldn't be present to look after her, and Sofia was swamped with her own work so she needed the two days to catch up. But also, to relax some because she'd been full-on lately.

"I forgot that I met him because he was looking for sex, and I happened to catch his eye. I forgot that while he is an amazing father, he never actually offered to live together because he is just not that type of guy. Cameron doesn't do commitment, he is not a relationship guy," Sofia seemed deep in thought as she spoke, drumming her fingers around the glass bottle. "He will be fifty and still hooking up like he is twenty-something."

"Well, you never kno—"

"I do know, though," Sofia laughed as she sat up and leaned forward. "I do know. He admitted to it being that way. He literally proved to be that way."

"People can change," Astrid responded, and even though Sofia shook her head and leaned back in the chair, she continued to say, "He took you on a date. He spends way more time with you than he probably should, given that you are not dating."

"Cameron and change?" she laughed, face to the ceiling. The cackle lasted a couple of seconds longer like Sofia genuinely needed to laugh it out. Then, as she lowered her head and gave it a shake, she sighed. "No, babe," her voice dimmed and relaxed into calmness. "He will never change. He will never be what I wish he was."

And there was only Cameron for Sofia. No one else would ever make as much sense to Astrid's best friend as that man did. Sofia would certainly never settle, that wasn't in her cards.

It dawned on Astrid as she sat there that Sofia and Cameron were soulmates. Not that Reese knew the meaning of it, only that she chased it all her life. Never voiced it. Never worked towards it. All she knew was that she wanted it, and that at some point in her life, she would have it.

When she thought of Harry, he automatically fit the meaning of it.

Harry Styles equalled to soulmate.

Done.

Nothing more to it.

Astrid thought of it like naming a baby. When it is born, and its parents look at it, they know what to call it. When Astrid looked at Harry, she knew he was her soulmate.

Did that make her insane? Perhaps. But to deny herself of that truth would've meant she didn't trust her gut—and she always trusted her gut.

It was the sound of Sofia's sniffles that caught Astrid's attention.

"Hey," she said right away, soft, and half out of her seat already. "Sof, come here," she sighed and pulled the glass from her best friend's grasp, then sat on the edge of the chair to allow Sofia enough room to lean her head on Astrid's thighs. With her fingers in Sofia's hair, Jameson cried and clutched Astrid's legs.

Funny, Astrid thought, how men could cause such pain. Such heart wrenching and soul shattering and tearful pain. Also funny, she concluded, how women—her and Sofia, let's be honest here—were affected. The emotional trauma it caused because for whatever it is worth, women feel more and women feel stronger.

Sofia cried until her eyes became red and sore, and her cheeks were flushed and soaked with tears. Wine chased away her thirst and bounded her bleeding heart as Astrid watched her best friend leave the living room and head upstairs. A bath, Sofia had claimed, would ease the pain in her feet from wearing high heels for hours, and if by some reason she ends up drowning in the meantime, then good riddance.

"That's not a funny joke," Astrid sounded as she traced Sofia's path and took the bottle from her best friend's fingers. "Shower and get in bed. You are coming to work with me tomorrow."

And that was that.

It scared Astrid because Sofia liked to put a fight. Stubborn had become her middle name yet showed no sign of presence then.

Not even the next morning, when Astrid kept to her word and dragged Sofia to the wedding. It seemed crazy to believe the big day had finally arrived, and Astrid's preparations have paid off well.

Sofia held herself together well, considering Astrid found her drinking wine for breakfast in the kitchen, and busied herself with the task that Reese had given her. It gave Astrid a slight peace of mind and found her steps much easier to take across the green field to meet up with Jennifer. The bride had arrived not too long ago, taken directly to her bride suite.

Guests were advised to gather in the car park, prepared with their invitations to show. Jennifer and David had approximately three hundred and twelve guests coming to the wedding, including the plus ones who confirmed attendance. No one without an invitation, and their names—plus ones not included after Astrid found that many guests began to change their partners for the evening around—on the list would be allowed in. Astrid had a lanyard around her neck to prove her role during the big day, and so she slipped past the security with ease when she reached Jennifer's bridal suite.

"Knock-knock," she smiled as her hand pushed in the large, white door. Inside, she found a few ladies with wine glasses and champagne glasses in their hands.

"Oh, Astrid, dear!" Jennifer exclaimed as she pushed herself out of the armchair, wrapped in a silk dressing gown. Face bare yet prepared for makeup, hair in rolls to perfect the curls for the big moment. "Ladies, this is the wonderful Astrid Reese I've been telling you about," Astrid watched as Jennifer's grin widened, and felt as one hand on her arm, the other around her back, tightened. A loving squeeze, if Astrid ever felt one. "Astrid, dear, these are Marie," she pointed to a blonde lady. "Claire," she waved at a brunette. "Rosalynd," another blonde. Another brunette. Two redheads. And one last blonde.

"Hey, everyone," Astrid gave an incredibly awkward wave and a tight grin. She did not need to know their names. She already forgot.

"Here—you look like you could use this glass more than me," Rosalynd—go Astrid for getting it right—extended her champagne.

"I couldn't possibly accept it," she rejected with a sweet smile. "I am here to welcome you all, and see if you needed anything?" even though it is not technically in my job description but I will work my ass off for the thousands, if not a million, I will be making here.

Thankfully for Astrid's ever growing to-do list, the ladies were settled, and excited to start getting ready for the big day.

★ ★ ★

One would assume the wedding party wouldn't need so much assistance but that would be completely wrong. For Astrid felt like her feet were going to fall off by the time she found herself a moment of peace and quiet. Dryness caused her throat to hurt until she snatched up one of the glasses and filled it to the brim with lemon infused water. Two glasses down, she felt like her thirst may be under control.

Think of pay day. Think of pay day. Think of—

"Astrid, dear, would you join us?"

Left. Right. Front. Of course. The bride. Changed from the wedding dress to a lovely alternative that made Jennifer cry when she came across it at the shop.

Beside her stood a gorgeous woman, in a flowing salmon shaded dress. Brown hair pinned. Sharp features accentuated with makeup. Something about the shape of her eyes, and nose, struck Astrid immediately.

Sure, she resembled Jennifer to a certain extent, but more than that... has she seen this woman before?

As Jennifer said, "Astrid, meet my lovely daughter, Kaitlin," Astrid had come to a realisation with a slight tilt of her head.

The name opened the gates to a flood that washed over her, taking all the obstacles out of the way.

Kaitlin. The woman who Derek cheated with for the better part of his relationship with Astrid.

Kaitlin. The replica of Harry in a woman's form.

And if Kaitlin was Jennifer's daughter, then Harry was Jennifer's son.

The world seemed to crumble around Astrid second by second. Every thought that crossed her mind in a split of a second sent her knees to wobble and beg to give in. To crash to the ground would've been a great relief in that moment of shock.

Where is Sof when I need her?

Jennifer had never shown any photographs of her children. Their names certainly weren't mentioned. Those times she brought them up, she kept it short and sweet, spoke more of how the past affected her than what happened to her children. Suspicious but Astrid never questioned it.

"...and everything looks really great here, too," the faint response from Kaitlin brought Astrid's mind to a standstill.

Looks really great... "Ah," Astrid smiled and waved a hand in the air. Nervousness filled her bones as she said, "All thanks to Jennifer and David, and their spectacular taste."

Liar, she thought of herself. The couple offered nothing but the budget. Everything that guests saw was Astrid's hard work. So, why on earth did she brush off the compliment like it didn't matter?

Perhaps because she stood face to face with the woman who wrecked her relationship of three years.

Jennifer's grip on her daughter seemed to tighten for a moment as she drew Kaitlin's attention. The bride asked, "And, where is your boyfriend, love? Is he around here somewhere?" while she glanced around the venue, live music filling the open air, the sky painted a soft pink as the sun began its descent.

Astrid's breath stilled in the back of her throat, her heart started to beat louder and faster in her chest.

Could she face Derek?

Fuck.

Derek was likely amongst the guests.

But how could Astrid have missed it—unless he was a plus one. Plus ones weren't required to be named. It was a stupid idea now that she thought of it, definitely a risk factor for health and safety, but the numbers seemed to matter more.

It came as a surprise when she noticed her own erratic breathing. The cold sweat on the palms of her hands. Tied into a knot, her stomach hurt, and her knees felt numb.

Almost five months since she saw Derek Molyneux.

Almost four months since she came up with the plan to show up as Derek's new woman's brother's date to a family gathering.

How unfortunate that she didn't have said brother by her side because her heart couldn't handle the inevitable pain she would've caused him with the truth.

"I think I see him—let me grab him," Kaitlin smiled as Astrid eyes washed over her for a moment. The thought of the man managed to make this woman brighten like a star. "I'll be right back."

"Alright, love," Jennifer smoothed a hand down Kaitlin's exposed arm. "Be careful. Don't want you to trip in those heels."

"Of course, mum," she chuckled, and left to grab her boyfriend. Astrid's ex. Derek. He would come here—probably to meet Jennifer.

Astrid needed to get the hell out of here.

"Gosh, my little girl is having her own little one," Jennifer sighed into the distance, her body half-turned from Astrid. Pause. Her own little one? "I didn't know until today."

"Really?" Astrid smiled to force her voice from breaking. Tricked her brain to think this was happy news. "How far along is she, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Four months," Jennifer responded, her head confirming as she nodded and faced Astrid. "It's incredible—I am so excited to have reconciled with her, and to be a part of her journey."

Four months pregnant.

Well, if Astrid didn't feel like throwing up so far, then the urge to empty the contents of her stomach most definitely made an appearance now.

Laughter drew Astrid's attention from her calculations until her eyes settled on the couple before her. If Derek Molyneux was one thing, he was handsome. No doubt about it. None of Astrid's hurt feelings could take away that fact.

He hadn't spared a look at Astrid. Could've been because she stood back and kept her eyes off of him. Nausea rolled her stomach in waves when it loosened for a moment, then tightened into a knot soon enough.

"Mum, this is Derek," Kaitlin said with her ever growing grin, star-freckled eyes, and radiating happiness. That was impossible to miss. The unbreakable happiness—well, for now, anyway. "Derek, this is my mum, Jennifer."

When he spoke, Astrid nearly fainted. It felt like she got punched in the stomach. Something about the deep roll of his words, the breathiness of his chuckle when he found himself between Jennifer's arms, unlocked a part of Astrid's brain that she repressed.

Whilst Jennifer welcomed Derek, the only thought on Astrid's mind was to escape. Disappear. Cease to exist. The question of how kept her rooted to the grass, for she couldn't possibly leave without saying anything, and therefore attracting attention.

With her eyes everywhere but the people right opposite to her, she managed to catch a glance of Sofia. Although she stood with someone in a suit, their back to Astrid, she hoped Sofia would leave the person and come save her.

So, Reese waved as discreetly yet alarmingly to catch Sofia's attention as she could.

Except that what she wanted, didn't happen.

"Astrid?"

Time froze the moment her head snapped from the side to the front. Awaiting bright eyes that once would've turned the butterflies nesting in Astrid's stomach burst with life. A low rumble of her name that used to melt the heart in her chest instantly, curl the line of her lips upwards 'til it hurt.

"Hey," she said awkwardly. Even threw a hand wave in there.

Eyes wide. Mouth agape. Brows furrowed. Kaitlin's face dropped as she looked between her boyfriend and Astrid, the question of, "You know each other?" now a wide-open door to any possibility.

"Astrid?"

This time, the sound of her name called out made her heart want to soar so high and wide it might burst. It was Harry, in all his beautiful glory, with his sandpaper-like voice that caressed an unknown part of Astrid. No word in the English vocabulary could've explained the feeling that encompassed her in that moment—the pain, the relief, the worry.

A week had gone by, and where Reese thought her feelings finally dispersed, they were only pushed away. At the sight of Harry in his tailor-fitted Tom Ford suit, her heart began to sing a melody that only ever came to life when he was around.

"Hold on—Astrid as in Astrid Reese, H?" this was Kaitlin again, confusion embedded in her every word. How the hell did she know Astrid's full name? The accusation—it had to be Harry. He... goddamn it, he spoke to his sister about her?

"Harry, my sweetness," Jennifer sighed, moving her hands to capture Harry's cheeks. The surgeon flinched and moved back like fire encrusted him and he needed to get out of harm's way. Everything about his reaction sent red flags up in Astrid's mind. A sense of overprotectiveness fired up in her veins. "I have missed you dearly."

"Good to hear," Harry responded sharply, his eyes empty and refusing to land on his mother. "Now, let me speak to my girlfriend."

To add to the piles of surprise already in place, Derek's shocked voice sounded very much like what a thorn of a rose prickled in soft skin feels like. "Your girlfriend?" When Kaitlin gave him an unsure glance, he cleared his throat, and said, "I just didn't know Harry had a girlfriend."

"I told you about her, baby," Kaitlin said to Derek. Baby. How many times did Derek call Astrid by that petname while he was busy fucking his current girlfriend? In truth, Reese couldn't have figured out. "H even mentioned her the last time we spoke on FaceTime."

"Astrid, dear—you said your ex-boyfriend was called Derek, did you not?" Jennifer turned to look at the wedding planner, whose legs almost gave out. Astrid tripped over her own feet and she didn't even move. "Carefu—" Jennifer started when someone gripped Astrid's arm and held her back from falling.

The smell of the familiar perfume gave away Harry's close presence. Warmth radiated from him like it wasn't already boiling outside.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked just above a whisper, his eyes in search for her own. He continued to hold onto her, and shield her from his family, with Astrid's grip on one of his forearms deadly.

Relief lived for a second as his back blocked them all out.

Astrid nodded as she looked at him. "Yeah."

Slowly, Harry stepped back from her, his arm lingered behind her back with his hand on her waist. The height difference between them felt enormous. Harry appeared almost two heads taller than Astrid remembered, and it felt incredible to be in his arms again. Safe and as though she had come home.

"How do you know that, mum?" Kaitlin's question popped the bubble of familiarity around Astrid, and her heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach. "And why is everyone acting as though I am the only one unaware of whatever is going on?"

"Astrid and I have had a few chats, love," Jennifer addressed her daughter with a smile Astrid would've described as cunning. Something was entirely wrong with this conversation. "She happened to mention something terrible about her previous relationship, and there being a sister, and a brother—some sort of plan?" she played the confused pawn perfectly. Jennifer knew too much to act clueless.

Panic absorbed into Astrid's bloodstream, into her bones, and sent her body shaking. The numbing feeling in her knees came back around as her worst nightmare began to unfold.

And it started—because Harry went rigid behind her.

"You'll have to excuse me, I am not too certain on the details but the name Derek rings a rather loud bell," she continued on, looking at Astrid like she was dumb.

Oh, good god. What the fuck did she do?

What the fuck did she do?

What the fuck did she do?

"I'm sure that's just a coincidence," Kaitlin chuckled to play it off, but the tone of her voice as she replied told Astrid all she needed to know. Kaitlin knew what was going on—or if she wasn't completely aware, she began to put the pieces together.

The way in which Derek reacted when he saw Astrid, the way he played Kaitlin's question off about knowing her. All of it was suspicious. No person with common sense would be able to look past it, and consider it a coincidence.

As for the realisation that Jennifer cannot be trusted... Jesus Christ. What was Astrid thinking? There was an obvious reason why she never crossed professional boundaries—this precise moment being it.

To hear this woman, blabber on about the things Astrid confided her in felt like a slap. With a cactus. Over and over again. Until blood was drawn. Stars faded before her eyes. 

"Like I said, I need to speak to my girlfriend—if you'll excuse us, we'll—"

Jennifer gasped for a breath. "Ah, my sweetness—I didn't realise Astrid was your girlfriend! You must be the lucky guy she's told me about."

If everything up to this point didn't want to make Astrid bury herself alive, this topic did.

"I just can't believe it's you who she chose to use for her own benefit. My first-born son."

Fuck me.

Harry laughed dryly. His hand held onto Astrid's side tighter. "I beg your pardon?"

"Yes-yes," she nodded, and sighed like she didn't want to be the one to reveal this. When, very clearly, she took great pride in ruining Astrid's life. What Astrid didn't understand was the motivation. "She's expressed she had no joy in this, did you not, dear?" she looked at Astrid with something like understanding as she tilted her head.

"Alright, that's enough," Harry announced. "I don't know what sort of bullshit grudge you have against my girlfriend but it's time to let it go. I don't want to hear any more of what you have to say. Please go, and enjoy your wedding reception while it lasts. Afterall, Astrid didn't work herself into the ground for it all to be wasted away."

"Oh, but my sweetness, you haven't heard it all," Jennifer looked hurried as she stepped forward as if to close in on Harry. Kaitlin and Derek were both forgotten. Astrid didn't pay them any attention, anyway. Her focus remained on Jennifer. The blood that boiled in her veins. The urge that took over to cry while knowing that was the one thing she couldn't do. "Your sister broke up the relationship, and so Astrid had to get back at her by singling you out, and—well, here you are now."

Was it possible for the human throat to dry out completely and shrivel up like a raisin? If so, that happened to Astrid.

Words refused to come to her as the situation evolved. Exploded. Landed at her feet like a used piece of rag.

"Jenny, dear, I want you to meet some of my childhood friends—come," David stepped in out of nowhere. His voice deep, and—Astrid couldn't explain it. Did he hear everything that went down in the past five minutes?

Possibly. Astrid couldn't have known. She zoned out completely.

The silence didn't last long, for Kaitlin excused herself with the mention of the toilets. Stones weighed down on Astrid's chest as she remained in the company of her ex, and soon-to-be ex.

"Derek, great seeing you," Harry said. His voice sharp, resembling an arrow pulled tight. "Excuse us for a moment, will you?"

The man's mouth opened and closed. Opened and—"Of course," he said as he cleared his throat. "Nice seeing you, Astrid."

Silence spoke louder than anything she could've said, so she watched the man who broke her heart walk away. She watched as he disappeared into the crowd. She watched as shame began to seep into her skin, thick and vile.

"Are you needed here until the end of the reception?" Harry asked her, his voice colder than before.

"I can get the assistant to—"

"Great," he cut her off, and turned to walk away. "You do that, and meet me in the car park."

★ ★ ★

[A.N.]

[I forgot to update. The most important update of all, too. APOLOGIES. Been a long ass week.]

[I have nothing to say so I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The big talk is to be had next weekend. Please don't let me forget to update LMAO.]

[Kisses, B.]