Zayn

I pulled up to the building and and switched the engine off. I grabbed my handbag and phone and made my way to the entrance. Walking inside, relieve I had no trouble in getting in as most of the time there would be paparazzi waiting to get a photo.

It really annoys me sometime. I mean 24/7, they just wait and wait outside just to get one good picture of me leaving or going somewhere, what's so good about that?

I smiled as I saw receptionist. "Good morning, Leah," I greeted. She looked up from the computer and smiled. "Good morning, Mrs Bieber!" She smiled. "How was your holidays?" I asked stopping at the desk for a small chat.

"Oh my holidays were great! Thank you, Brennan proposed!" She said grinning brightly, showing me her diamond ring. I gasped. "Oh congratulations!" I said walking around to give her a hug. "Thank you," She smiled. "Your welcome!" I smiled going back to the front of the desk.

"I better get a start on working but tell me later the details, yeah? I expect an invite!" I winked, collecting my bag and made my way to the elevator. "For sure!" I heard her reply. I smiled as I got in the elevator and pressed the designated floor.

From there I was met with my CO-CEO and best friend. "Ryan!" I smiled walking out and gave him a tight hug. "Hey lovely," He smiled. We pulled away. "Looking sexy today," He winked. "Gotta look great on the first, I'm a fashion designer," I said flicking my hair and walking to my office.

"Yeah of course! But not sexy though," He said walking in behind me. "This is not sexy," I said sitting down in my seat. "Yes, it is," He said sitting on the seat in front of the desk. "No, it's not," I said looking down at the first assigned work of the year. "Yes, it is," He said once again, persistently getting on my nerves.

"Do you want me to hit you?" I asked, staring him in the eye, making sure he got the memo that I was dead serious and wasn't lying. "You wouldn't," He said smirking. "You're right, only cause you're my best friend and I love you." I said. "But I really should," I added. He laughed.

"How'd it go with Mason?" He asked looking out at the window behind me. "Oh god, all I'll say is paps were there and you know how he is with them," I sighed. "Aww poor Mase, is he good now?" He asked pouting. "Yeah! Cheered up soon after thanks to Bray and Andrew," I said smiling. "That's good," He nodded. "It's sad that they won't even give you some privacy to even drop your kids at school, especially on their first day," He said, shaking his head.

I nodded. "I mean, they were there on Brayden's and Teegan's first day aswell," He said, looking down and fixing his button up. "Yeah, I know," I sighed and grabbed a pencil and started to randomly draw

"Hey, what's the new assistants name?" I asked as I looked up from my doodling. "Um, her name's Ellie, why?" He asked. "I need a coffee, can you call her in?" I asked.

Ryan got up to press a number on the phone. "Hi Mrs Bieber, what do you need?" A small girl voice asked politely through the speaker. "Hi Ellie, it's Ryan. Can you come into Mrs Bieber's office," Ryan asked. I heard something drop. "S-sure, I'll be there in a second," She said. Her voice etched with nervousness. "Aww she sounds cute," I said, looking at Ryan.

After a few seconds, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I said. The door opened reveal a small girl just older then Brayden with long brown hair. She looked familiar. "Good morning," was the first thing she said.

"Ah, Ellie, this is CO-CEO -also my best friend- Mrs Bieber," Ryan introduced. "Ellie, nice to meet you," I said smiling, extending my hand out to her. She shakily shook my hand. "Mrs Bieber, nice to meet you," She smiled.

"Uh, was there anything you needed?" She asked looking up. "Yes, uh would you mind going down to Gloria Jeans and get me a latte, please?" I asked. "Yes, of course," She said. "Okay, I'll get a Tall Vanilla Latte," I said as she nodded writing it down. "Anything else?" She asked. "Uh, Ry, want anything from Gloria Jeans?" I asked as he was on his phone. Probably texting his husband. "Oh, um, could you get me a Tall White Iced Chocolate and a banana bread, toasted, please?" He asked, looking over at young girl. She nodded writing it down. "Is that all?" She asked. We both nodded. She was was about to walk out before I called her again.

"Where are you going? I need to give you the money," I said. "Oh um yeah," She said. "I was gonna pay for it," She continued. "Oh no need, keep your money, this is our order, here," I said, getting my wallet out and pulled out a $50 note. "Get yourself something too," I said, smiling at her as she nodded and took the money. She walked out and close the door.

"Ryan! Where did you find her?" I asked. Ryan looked at me confused. "Why?" He asked. "She's a perfect assistant, though we just met. She was even gonna pay for our order," I said sitting back down. "I know right, she's cute," He said, putting his phone down.

"Anyways why are you on your phone so much? Is there anything wrong?" I asked as he was still in my office and was alway looking down at his phone with a small worried expression painting on his face. "Uh it's just Xavier has been sick lately and I'm really worried, he's by himself, I was gonna call in sick but he told me to go and that he could cope and was fine but he's not fine," He said, still taking glances at his phone. I frowned.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked concerned. "I don't know, he hasn't messaged yet, he woke up so early this morning and vomitted, his head hurting so much and everything and just I don't know if he's okay," He sighed, looking down. "Hey! It's okay, go home and make sure he's okay," I said standing up and walking around to him. "I can't, I've gotta finish this design," He said.

"No, go home and take of him," I said sternly. "Okay but what about here?" He asked, hesitating. "It's okay, I'm here, I've got everything handled," I said now standing up. "You sure?" He asked. I nodded. "Yep, now go, message me alright?" I said walking him out of my office door. "Okay, I will," He said before walking into his own office and collecting his belongings, while I stood at the door.

"Okay got everything?" I asked. He nodded. Now that I get a good look at him, his face was tired. Purely just worn out. I gave him a hug. "It will be okay babe," I said looking up at his tall frame. "Hope so," He whispered. I frowned.

"Justin and I will come check on you and Xav soon," I said patting his back. He nodded walking into the elevator. "Bye Ry," I said. "Bye Zaynie, oh and thank you," He said sending me a small smile. I just nodded as the doors closed. I hope he's okay.

About 15 minutes later, there was a knock on my door. "Come in," I said. The door opened revealing Ellie. "Oh thank you, darling," I said, grateful. She handed me my latte. "Oh um is Mr Dean in his office?" She asked. "Oh no, he had to go home," I said. She nodded. She stood there awkwardly. "Uhm," She said. I noticed she was still holding Ryan's order. "Sit down love, you can have his order," I said motioning to the seat. "Oh no, I'm fine thanks," She said.

"Don't be silly, come on, sit and eat, I'll like to get to know you," I smiled. She hesitated but eventually sat down in front of me.

"So Ellie," I said, looking up. Her eyes met mine. "Yes?" She asked. "Tell me about yourself?" I said, taking a sip of my latte.

"Well my full name is Ellie Sanders, I just finished uni last year, um I'm 20 years, I live with my roommate Emily and um yeah," She said. "That's nice," I smiled, still thinking of the last name Sanders. "Hmm, you look very familiar, what is your parents names?" I asked. "Uh Jennifer and Michael Sanders," She answered. Jennifer Sanders, Jennifer Sanders, Jennifer Sanders. I tapped my finger. Oh! My eyes widened.

"Really?! Your mother and I used to be best friends," I said smiling. She smiled. "Oh, my mother was telling the truth," She said chuckling nervously. "Why wouldn't she?" I frowned.

"Well, you know, uh, my mum used to tell me she was a little nerd in school, always studying and what not. I just find it hard to believe she was your best friend. I mean you were popular and yeah you know where I'm going," She explained. I nodded. Wow.

"Oh no, we were best of friends, she was always the brains out of us. I actually don't know how we grew apart," I frowned at the end. "Yeah, she would always need to study or do something smart, I let her be as I knew what she was doing, would be useful and make her successful when we were older," I said, smiling softly.

"Seems like you were a supportive best friend," Ellie said. "Yeah," I smiled at the memories. "She was the only best friend that was truly there for me," I said. "How is she?" I asked. "She's great," She answered.

"Oh well enough of that, I need to get some work done, could you sort out my clients files?" I asked. She nodded. "Of course, I'll let you to it," She said standing up with Ryan's food in her hands realising she hasn't eaten it yet.

"Hey, before you go, sometime bring your mother here, yeah? I'll love to see her again," I said. "I will," She smiled.

I sighed, now task on hand.

It's been a few hours and I've had one of my main clients come in, wishing me a happy new year. We talked for abit before she told me what she was here for. She needed a dress design. Which I happily said I'd create.

It was now 12:45pm, I was halfway finished the design idea. There was a knock on the door. "C'mon," I said, not looking up from my piece of paper.

"Ohh, someone's gonna look fancy," The person said. Immediately recognising the voice I looked up with a smile. "Hey beautiful," He said. "Hi Justin," I greeted, placing my pencil down.

He looked like he just came out of the shower. "How was your meeting?" I asked. "It was good, we had to rehearse after," He said, leaning down to hug me. "That's good," I said. "How did Mason go?" He asked. "There was paparazzi," That's all I had to say before he was ranting.

"Are you serious? Why are they always there? Why can't they leave us alone? No privacy," He finished, shaking his head. "How was Mason? I know he hates them," He said frowning, looking out the large window behind me. "They tried grabbing him and scared him," I started.

"Are they for real? He's a little kid, leave him alone," Justin interrupted, his hazel eyes showing a glint of anger. I grabbed his arm, rubbing his arm with my thumb to calm him. "Hey, it's okay. He was fine after, Brayden and Andrew cheered him up," I said, looking up at him.

"Well they're lucky, he forgets about it quickly," He said as I nodded. "How's Andrew?" He asked. "He's good," I said. "I worry about him sometimes," He said. "So do I," I said.

"Alright, let's go eat," I said, standing up and grabbing my handbag. I walked out with Justin following behind. I knocked on Ellie's door. "Hey Ellie, I'm going to. Did you want anything?" I asked when I opened the door. She nodded and was about to give me money. "No it's okay, I'll buy it," I said dismissing her hand with the money.

"New assistant?" Justin asked as we walked out. I nodded. "Yep and guess what?" I said. He looked at me. "What?" "Her mother and I used to be best friends!" I smiled.

"Wait? Jennifer Sanders?" He asked jogging his memory. "That's the one," I said.

He opened the car door and I slid inside. "Small world," He chuckled.

☕️🍪☕️🍪☕️🍪☕️🍪☕️🍪☕️🍪☕️

an: Here's chapter 2!

You're gonna love Ryan😻

Justin being a protective father. Lol goals.

Question Of The Chapter: What's your favourite song from Under the Mistletoe?

I'm on school holidays now. 6 weeks to do nothing🙄

Stay you, stay gold, love ya💞

- S

~not edited~ word count: 2154