Adele Kelly

I've been coming to my father's office for three days now and it's much more convenient and faster than going back home by myself. Indeed, the business district is only a fifteen minutes ride away from school. I take advantage of the opportunity to do my homework at Styles Investment and then dad drives us home around 7pm.

The CEO of the company must be an old and filthy rich guy who doesn't even know what to do with all the money he makes. He must own ten designer cars, properties all around the world and above all, wives all around the world. It is said that, most of the time, businessmen lose all values of things due to the amount of money they have. They totally lose their mind. But dad knows his boss well, he's been working for him for almost five years now and, according to him, Mr. Styles is a good man. Well, apparently.

I walk in the hall of the building and... here he is again, leant against the counter of the reception. I don't know who that guy is but he is here each day, watching carefully who's coming in. He must be in his last twenties, wears a different suit each time and they all look good on him. He was at the same spot yesterday and the day after, and he will still be at the same spot tomorrow. Thus, he may work at the reception, or he may flirt with the lady who works here. Samantha told me that some young men would rather be with older women. Well, why not.

Yet, I feel like he just keeps staring at me from the moment I walk in the building to the very moment the lift doors close behind me. I feel his eyes on me during the fifteen seconds I need to cross the hall and that makes me uncomfortable. I try to focus on my feet, keeping my head down the whole time and trying to go unnoticed.

I reach the lifts and I am relieved only when the doors finally close behind me. Yesterday, dad gave me a little money so I can buy myself something at the vending machines in the lunch room. It is on the fifty-fifth floor, the last one. I try to be discreet as I venture into the last floor, until I reach the cafeteria.

The room is a vast hall with a huge window bay on the entire wall opposite the entrance door. There are many round tables all over the place and, on my right, stand two vending machines along with everything you need in a kitchen. I choose an IceTea can and M&M's. When I put the coins in the machine, I hear someone opening the glass door of the room. I turn my head to say hello but my mouth falls agape and I drop my coins.

Heart attack.

The guy of the reception has just came in. This is getting really uncomfortable. I watch him walking to the coffee machine and serve himself a cup of coffee. But for once, he doesn't even look at me. I pick up the coins I dropped and keep putting them in the machine, as if everything was absolutely fine. The man with long curly brown hair sits at a table as I type the code on the machine. I look at him out of the corner of my eyes, pretending to wait for my can to fall. He pulls out his phone from his dress pants pocket and pay no attention to me, which relieves me in a way.

I want to get out of here as soon as possible because, even if he doesn't watch every move I make as he uses to do in the hall, his simple presence makes me uncomfortable and doesn't go unnoticed. I feel myself blushing as I impatiently and nervously tap my thumbs on the back of my hand. This is getting really awkward for me. But guess what, tough luck, my can is stuck in the machine. I try twice to make it fall by pushing the machine with my hip very slightly, but it's no use. Shit.

Obviously, the man eventually notices it. He raises his head and looks at me with a frown, yet his face remains unreadable. Shit, shit, shit, I hope I didn't break it.

"It happens sometimes, it gets stuck. I think I should call someone to replace it," he simply says with a warm tone of voice. I can hear a hint of an English accent in his voice, now very subtle due to the fact that he might have lost it during years spent in America.

I watch him rummaging in his suit pocket and I frown.

"Here, five dollars. Take them and buy something else," he says, handing me the coins but I shake my head no.

"Thank you very much, I really appreciate it, but it's okay. I'll just go," I thank him as I already feel my cheeks turning red.

"Take them, it's nothing, really," he insists and his sweet yet firm tone makes me feel like I have to obey him.

"Th-thank you," I stammer. "It's very nice of you." He smiles at me and I put the money in the other machine.

"I've seen you several times around here. What's your name ?" he asks straight to the point. The can falls and I pick it up immediately, pressing it against my chest. Thankful for his generosity, I smile at him.

"Adele, my name's Adele," I murmur without breaking eye contact with him.

"It's a lovely name. How old are you, Adele ?" he asks again with a smile and I blush. His eyes are a bright shade of green and the way they are now sparkling as he stares at me is mesmerizing.

My mother's voice suddenly pops into my mind, reminding me that I should not talk to strangers or accepting anything from them. Well, I did both, not mentioning the fact that I told him my name. I widen my eyes when realization hits me. Is there any risk? I know absolutely nothing about that guy and he offers me an IceTea can, he's always there at the reception, watching my every move, and now it feels like he is trying to get to know. Should I panic now?

"I-I'm sorry, my father is waiting for me, I've got to go," I tell him in a hurry and rush to the door. I quickly get away from here and from that man who's been so nice with me.

*

Harry Styles

Today, I came down in the hall to see the little Adele girl for the fourth time. As she generally arrives around five, I always have to find an excuse for coming to the reception and talk to Mrs. Jones. Even if I have the whole day to think about it, it is no picnic. I already came out with the excuse of bringing Mrs. Jones a tea and of needing to make a photocopy because my printer is down - which isn't true. Today, I will have a terrible headache and I'll need to ask Mrs. Jones some pills that I hope she doesn't have.

In less than a week, Adele has begun my new motivation of getting up in the morning and my new entertainment in a way.

I saw her yesterday with that same bun on her head and that same pretty face of her. She was lovely. Unfortunately, it only lasted a few seconds before she disappeared behind the lift doors. Again. I came back to my office, keeping in mind that I will come back the day after.

Yet, I didn't except her to be at the fifty-fifth floor, my floor. Wasn't she supposed to go to her father's office? I silently followed her, curious, until I found out where she was going. That's when I gave in. I shouldn't have, I still had a lot of work to do, but I wanted to know more about this cheeky little chick who didn't even bother looking at me when she enters my building.

I found her there and I was delighted to see how surprised and unsettled she seemed to be when I walked in the room. I smiled inside and held back a laugh when she got scammed by the vending machine. So I immediately took the opportunity to strike up a conversation. Unfortunately, she ran away when it started to get interesting.

The bottom line is it's day four and this girl has been on my mind more and more often each day. I do not expect anything from her obviously, but I can't help but finding her fascinating and... entertaining. I now wonder how she will react today when she'll see me at the reception. Will she ignore me like she always did, or will she at least deign to say hello?

It's quarter past one and I'm sitting alone at a table in the cafeteria, finishing both my Candy Crush party and my cup of coffee. Once I'm done, I stand up from my chair, walk to the bin and throw out my cup in it. In the middle of the room, three persons are still sitting around a same table, finishing their lunch. One of them, John comes near me. He has been working for me for more than five years now and he may be one of the few employees I think I have a more convivial relationship with.

"Hello Harry, how are you today?" he asks me and order an expresso. John is also the only employee who can call me by my first name.

"Good. Quite tired, though," I say in all honesty.

"Lately, I was thinking that you never came home. Why don't you come by for diner tomorrow night?" he suddenly offers.

He's right. In five years, we have only seen each other at work, accepting his proposition is the least I can do. Besides, it could be nice for once to go out but not for a business dinner. I just need to check my datebook.

"It would be a real pleasure, John. Let me just check it out and I'll send you Elena in the afternoon to confirm to you," I reply and he smiles before taking his cup from the machine. He says goodbye, placing his hand on my shoulder before walking away.

As for me, I walk out of the room, down the corridor, back to my office. I already have a dinner tonight with Liam, but I don't think I have anything planned out for tomorrow. Josephine will be upset for sure because I won't be home for dinner two nights in a row but it's not as if she isn't coming with me tonight. Whatever.

*

Andrew, my driver, drops us off, Josephine and me, in front of the gate of the residence. We just come back from the dinner we had with Liam and Sophia and I can't wait to go to bed. We toasted Payne Design launch and my investment into his society. As for Josephine, she seems to get on well with Sophia. They had a few small talks and both seemed to spend a good time.

I help Josephine getting out of the car, walking back to the house and climbing up the front steps, my arm in her back for support. I wonder how she can even stands on her feet with that kind of shoes - a pair of Louis Vuitton I bought her last week. When we finally reach the door, she takes them off and let out a sigh of relief. Josephine climbs up the marble stairs that lead to our bedroom on the second floor as I lock the door behind us. I then follow her, starting removing my tie and unbuttoning my shirt as I get upstairs.

When I walk in the room, she is standing in her sexy black lacy panties and matching bra in front of the bed. Josephine is always a real turn-on, especially when she's in those underwear, but tonight I barely look at her. Instead, I take off my dress pants and slip into bed. Josephine climbs on it and crawl to me, leaving tenderly small and wet kisses over my chest.

"What are you doing, Jo'?" I ask with a tired voice, knitted my eyebrow together and straightening a bit on my elbows.

"I want to make love tonight. It's been six days, you know," she says in a sweet tone as she keeps kissing my chest. She then trails upwards to my neck and my jawline. I close my eyes and I almost give in but eventually get a grip on myself.

To be honest, I didn't even notice that it has been six days already. I don't have the time to think about sex right no with all the work I have to do.

"Babe, I have a meeting at seven tomorrow, and it's almost midnight. I need to sleep now," I tell her in a gentle tone. She pouts and folds her arms on the sheets over my chest, resting her chin on them. I place a strand of blond hair behind her ear and slightly lean forward to kiss her forehead.

"Tomorrow?" she asks with a toothy smile, her eyes sparkling with hope.

At this very moment, I know she's not going to be happy at all with my answer. I haven't told her yet for the dinner I planned tomorrow night. She's going to kill me. Or emasculate me.

"Well, erm... I have something else tomorrow night. A dinner. I'm sorry," I tell her with an apologetic smile.

The expression on her face changes suddenly. Her smiles drops and she glares at me angrily. She comes off me straightaway to crawl on her bedside and slip under the cover, refolding the sheets around her frail body in an exaggerating way. I can tell just by the way she is acting right now that she really is annoyed. She then turns over to turn her back at me.

"You're such a dick, I hope you know that!" she spits and turns off her bedside lamp.

I roll my eyes and do the same to plunge us into total darkness. Another night, another argument. I can't help but feeling guilty in a way. She didn't ask anything and I have to admit I am not helping a lot. She is only trying to spend more time with me and get everything back as it used to be. But we just can't, I no longer have the time I used to have. Or do I have it and try, unconsciously, to spend it differently than with her?

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Yay, new chapter already! Please tell me what you think about it, it means so much to me. Do you like Harry's character? And Adele's? You will get to know her better by the next chapter. I love you all. Ella. x