six
Harry and I are walking back towards his car when he reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone.
"What....now? Okay I'm on my way" He curtly speaks over the phone before sliding it back into his pocket.
"Somethings come up and I need to get back to the hotel, I'm really sorry" he stops walking and starts to apologise. I'm a little disappointed, I thought we were maybe going to spend a little bit more time together.
I smile softly and shake my head. "That's totally okay. Go, I'll be fine"
"You sure?" He raises an eyebrow and I nod my head.
"Of course, it's important you should go. I've just come into a bit of money, I might have a little spend while I'm out" I grin up at him in order to alleviate the frown on his face. It appears to work.
"Right...oh I almost forgot" He unlocks his car and reaches into the backseat and slides his hand into a briefcase and hands me a card.
"This is your new credit card; it's for all your clothes and stuff. The pin is 1308" I smile and place the card into my bag as he shuts the door of his car. He shoves his hands into his pockets as he walks back up to the sidewalk where I stand.
"I'll see you soon" he says quickly and leans down to kiss me on the cheek, giving my hip a gentle squeeze as he does. I hold onto his arm gently as he does so, wanting to pull him back and ask if he really has to go. It was a little bit of a bumpy afternoon, but I really enjoyed spending time with him. I suppose it's something I will need to get used to; he's a very busy man and so we won't be able to spend a whole lot of time together anyway. Maybe that's a good thing, but if all the afternoons are like this one then maybe they aren't.
"I mean you could come with me? I'd have to go into a few meetings but it's a hotel, you might be able to find something fun to do?" He's normally so confident and in control, but I can sense a slight hint of insecurity slipping into his statement. I don't really want to be a lapdog, obediently following him around wherever he wants me to go, but it doesn't seem right to just flat out reject him.
I try and give him a convincing smile. "Yeah, I would like that" The grin he gives me in return is kind of priceless. He hurried me gently back over to the car and opens my door before shutting it after I climb in. I can tell he's in a bit of a rush as I have barely had enough time to put my seatbelt on as he tears out of the parking lot, pulling into the main traffic.
"What sort of problem is it?" I ask him curiously, I doubt he wants to involve me in his business but I thought I would fill the silence.
"We are hosting a private event at the hotel tonight and a whole bunch of things are going wrong. Now I've got to come in and sort things out" His earlier playful happy mood has fallen away as we approach the hotel. Instead it's replaced with a tense and stern tone, one that I would certainly not like to be on the receiving end of.
I don't give him any comforting advice; I have no prior knowledge about throwing an important event and whatever advice I give him would probably be thought of as juvenile. We pull into the hotel valet area and I can already see John waiting to receive us. Harry quickly stops the car and climbs out as John opens my door for me and extends his hand, helping me out before we both follow Harry inside.
I'm not sure where I should be or where I need to go, so I just stick by John and Harry. We walk quickly through the reception area, down a long hallway and through a large set of double doors leading into a large ballroom. I'm in awe for a moment, the room itself is beautiful. A large chandelier hangs above an expansive dance floor, the walls surrounding have gorgeous gold detailing decorated on them. The staircase leading down to the dance floor in front of us looks as though it's been lifted from a palace, the steps lavishly decorated in marble. The entire room just screams elegance and decadence, yet Harry stands beside John and I with a look of complete fury on his face.
If there is an event happening tonight, it doesn't look like it's going to come together. There are a series of tables and chairs all piled up in the corner of the room with people pouring over a diagram beside them. A handful of men are at the front of the room on a large black stage, using drills and various wires to try and make something work but appear to be failing.
I look over at Harry; who now stands at the top of the staircase with his hands on his hips, staring at the chaos unfolding in front of him. His shoulders are rising and falling at a somewhat rapid pace.
"What the fuck is going on!" His loud booming voice catches almost everyone off guard, including myself, John seems to be unaffected.
"Why has nothing been organised?! Where the fuck is Theresa?!" He yells out to the terrified people below as he quickly jogs down the staircase. John follows down a few steps behind him so I join them, unable to enjoy descending down the palace-like steps as Harry continues yelling.
"Theresa was meant to stay on top of all of this while I've been away, someone better tell me where she is" he storms his way over to the group of people who appear to be trying to pull things together.
"H-her daughter is sick, she left a couple of hours ago" One of the men stutters out, Harry shakes his head.
"All of this should have been done before that, give me those" he doesn't wait to be handed the plans, he yanks them out and pours over them. I watch as the workers all eye me curiously in between exchanging terrified glances with one another.
"Well this arrangement doesn't make any sense. I can guarantee she hasn't even looked at the seating chart. Every single one of you go and help the delivery people organise the flowers while I deal with this" He's no longer yelling, but he is still absolutely fuming. The workers do not need to be told twice as they scurry off towards the fire exit to the right as two men start to carry in an array of floral arrangements.
"John get Amanda, she's organised some of our events before. Tell her she has five minutes to get to the ballroom and help me sort this or else she's fired. Then when you're done with that, get together the paperwork to fire Theresa" Harry continues to scribble notes down on the plans in front of him as John takes his phone out of his pocket and climbs back up the stairs. What the hell do I do now?
I look like an idiot just standing beside Harry, unsure of what to do or if I should even say anything. I don't want to distract him and risk being on the receiving end of a verbal lashing. It takes him a couple of minutes before he looks up and realises I'm still standing there.
"Right um, things are a little hectic around here. Once John gets back I'll get him to help you out" I shake my head as he runs his hand through his hair.
"Let me help; clearly you need John and you probably will need an extra set of hands" I don't want to be a burden, I also just don't want John to have to babysit me when his skills could clearly be used elsewhere. He pauses to think for a moment before shaking his head.
"This is all a fucking disaster" he tilts his head backwards for a moment with his hands on his hips. A few seconds later I can hear two sets of footsteps trailing down the staircase. John and a young woman are hurrying over to where Harry and I stand.
"What's going on here" the young woman hurriedly says with a thick American accent as she approaches us.
"Theresa has completely dropped the ball on this event for the Loweman's, I need you to take over and have it ready in six hours" Harry puts his hands down on the table in front of him as he speaks. She nods her head and collects the papers in front of her.
"I'll need all the hands I can get, but I'll get it done. Don't worry about a thing Mr Styles" She sashays over to the workers who have since finished helping bring in the flowers and begins to order them around, indicating places where tables need to be set down. Harry walks over to me and takes my hand, leading me up the stairs and out of the way of the workers to watch from the floor above the madness.
"How did this all get so messed up John?" Harry asks once we ascend the stairs. It's still obvious that despite the woman downstairs taking over, he's still very stressed about this event.
"She told everyone that everything was handled sir, I'm sorry. We were all in the dark" John clasps his hands together in front of him as he responds.
"Well at least the kitchen is organised, and the bars well stocked. Amanda is handling the tables and the entertainment. Make sure that you get Tom and Damon to work the party tonight; they'll get everybody drunk so maybe they won't realise how much of a disaster it's been. And ensure that everyone who's working has their fresh uniforms to wear" John wanders off once more and Harry and I are left alone watching the room below slowly come together.
"It sounds like it's all going to come together" I suggest in a light tone, but he doesn't seem to be in the mood for it. He leans his forearms on the bannister and keeps watch, completely ignoring me as I stand beside him. I sigh softly and reach my hand out, giving his shoulder a gentle rub in an attempt to release some of the tension he's carrying.
"Some of them are completely incompetent" he growls gesturing to the hardworking people below, who are frantically trying to order what look like name cards before placing them down at the tables. I nod my head and move my body slightly closer to his, continuing to rub his shoulder. I don't hear him complaining and he isn't shrugging me off so I'm assuming that is a green light to keep going.
"Considering how many people you employ yeah you probably have a couple of duds. But it looks like you also have a lot of people who will work hard for you. Especially after a good yelling from Mr Styles himself" I grin to myself as he lets out a small chuckle and stands upright, holding onto the bannister with one hand and raking a hand through his hair with the other.
"Yeah everyone listens when I yell at them, it's one of my many skills" He says softly before he wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me gently into his side. I go willingly, I quite like it in there, and it seems like he needs me there. I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest as we watch the chaos underneath us. He initiated the hug and I followed through just like we agreed to in the contract, and it's really nice. In this moment I don't feel like an employee of his, despite being on the payroll. I'm here because we both want me to be here, not for any kind of ulterior motive.
"Thank you, for calming me down" Harry says after a moment of just being silent with one another. I nod my head and tighten my arms around his waist gently.
"Of course, I know you have a very high pressure job, so whatever I can do to help alleviate your stress I will" Harry coughs slightly and looks like he's about to say something when John is back by our side. If he has any thoughts about our embrace; he chooses not to say them.
"Taken care of?" Harry asks, he doesn't break our embrace, just turns his head to talk to John who nods his head.
"Yes sir, I also booked a massage treatment for Miss Graham, if she isn't needed here" a massage? I've never had a professional massage before, this might be a very nice thing for me. But if Harry needs me here...
"Good thinking John" Harry places a gentle kiss on my forehead and removes his arm from around my shoulder, effectively dismissing me.
"A-are you sure? I can still help out if you need it?" I ask him, I would like to be useful and help him pull this whole party together but he shakes his head.
"Go have a massage, I'll catch up with you later" he replies before he walks past us, down the staircase and over to where Amanda is critiquing the work the men have done setting the place settings.
This Amanda woman is giving me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. She appears to be very comfortable with Harry but also very eager to please him. It also doesn't help that she's very attractive; in a smart blue dress that accentuates her figure with long blonde hair flowing down her back. I don't know her very well; but as she leans a little too close to Harry and touches him on his arm, I get the impression that she isn't above sleeping her way to the top. It's gives me a bad feeling deep in the pit of my stomach. All of a sudden I have the desperate urge to run down the stairs and be by Harry's side, possibly even introduce myself as his girlfriend.
"Miss Graham" John breaks me from my thoughts of possible jealous and leads me out of the double doors and back down the hallway. We stand at the bank of elevators until one arrives and we step inside. John steps forward to the panel and punches a series of numbers into a coded keyboard.
"Your massage has been arranged at Mr Styles' residence" John tells me as the doors close and the elevator begins to smoothly rise up the floors. I am suddenly hit with a wave of nerves at being in Harry's apartment, I hope he knows that this is where John has organised it for me. I don't have long to think about it before the elevator doors open up into an expansive room.
"Mr Styles' apartment occupies the entire top floors of the hotel, if you'll follow me I'll show you where Marla is set up" I half listen to John as he talks, unable to remove my gaze from the view set out in front of me. The front room is incredibly grand; sleek marble floors, and incredibly modern kitchen to my left with at least a ten foot long island bench top. But what really takes my breath away is the floor to ceiling windows that cover the entire back wall of the apartment, revealing a stunning view of London below us.
I quickly realise I've been standing in the same position for far too long and eager to not keep John away from his real job for much longer; I follow him down a long hallway to the right. We pass multiple closed doors until we reach the end of the hallway and entire a room that appears to be a gym, with a large table set up in the middle of the room.
A young woman with long black hair is walking around the room lighting various candles she has placed around. The mood is an instantly calm one, the lights have been turned off so the only way you can see is through the various flickering of candles.
"Miss Graham this is Marla. I will leave you two to if then, if there isn't anything else you need Miss Graham?" John asks me as he stands by the door. It's an odd feeling, having someone try to go out of their way to make you feel comfortable, especially when they don't really know you. I smile and shake my head.
"No thank you John, I'm fine. You go help Harry" he gives me a small smile and leaves the room presumably to run back to Harry's side.
One hour later I am oiled up and dressed in a bathrobe; wandering through Harry's apartment to find my way back to the windows I saw when I first entered. It's the first time I have ever had a professional massage and I honestly feel like I'm floating away. It's the most relaxed my body has felt in probably my whole entire life. Marla has just left the apartment, but not without getting an earful of me telling her how incredible she is at her job. I make a mental note to tell Harry how wonderful she was; maybe it will yield something like a raise or even just a bit of leniency if she ever fucks something up.
I don't have to remember for long as I start to make my way over to the windows to look at the view, I hear footsteps from behind me. Harry walks out of the elevator and places his briefcase down on a side table next to him, grinning at me.
"You look relaxed" He comments as he walks over to join me. I hum softly and nod my head.
"Incredibly so, that Marla deserves a raise" I smile up at him and flutter my eyes somewhat, he nods his head and he takes a hold of my hips and gives my forehead a gentle kiss.
"Noted, I'll get to that later" he smirks softly as he rubs my hips softly.
"How is it all going down there?" I ask him as I place my hands on his shoulder, I'm quite a bit shorter than him so it's a slight reach. I'd have to stand on my tiptoes if I wanted to slide my hands into his hair, something I have thought about doing on more than one occasion.
"Yeah it looks like it will all come together, Amanda is a god send, I should have had her organising this whole thing in the first place" There's that girl again, it's like she walks on water or something.
"Do you work with her a lot?" I ask, attempting to keep my tone as relaxed and neutral as I can. I'm not being jealous, I'm simply taking an interest in his work and the people that he works with.
"Yes sometimes, she does a lot of co-ordinating and organising, that's her specialty really. She really saved the day today" he tucks a strand of my loose hair behind my ear as he talks and it's a momentary distraction from my investigation. Every time he touches my bare skin I feel as though I'm on fire, as though I can't think about anything else other than the fact that his skin is touching mine and that I won't more of it.
His hand falls away from my face gently and I'm able to focus again, reminding myself of my questioning. "She seems like a hardworking woman" I try to keep the comment light and breezy, but it immediately comes off as jealous and a little spiteful.
"Darling don't tell me you're jealous of Amanda" he lowly chuckles and pulls my hips so I'm closely pressed against his body. I immediately feel my cheeks redden and flush with heat as I look up at him, a look of gentle amusement in his eyes.
"No no, of course not. I'm just-she seemed very comfortable around you and. I don't know, it was stupid" I shake my head and force out a nervous giggle that appears to be trapped in my throat. He tightens his grip on my hips and leans his head down until his lips are close to my ear.
"Well, I'm not interested in Amanda, not in the slightest. I am however very interested in the woman naked and oily in a bathroom in my apartment" He hotly whispers into my ear before he drops his lips down ever so slightly to tug on my earlobe with his cheap. An audible moan falls out of me before I even know it's there. He starts at first by the earlobe, and then trails his way down my neck leaving various bites in between gentle kisses that intoxicate me.
When his teeth graze a spot at the base of my neck, a let out a soft moan and tangle my hands in his hair tugging it gently until I bring his head back up. His lips are finally pressed against mine in a feverish kiss. He releases a soft moan against my mouth as I feel his tongue slip into my mouth. I'm completely drunk on the way he tastes, like minty toothpaste. My body shivers under his touch as I feel him slide one of his hands around the back of my neck in an effort to decrease the distance between us, of which there isn't much. I suddenly realise that it's our first kiss, and boy is it a good one.
I want more, I don't want him to stop, so much so as I let out a gentle whimper at the loss of contact when he breaks our kiss. He presses his forehead against mine and breathes heavily for a moment or two, I close my eyes and brush my nose against his. He opens his mouth as though he's about to say something when his phone begins to buzz from inside his pocket. This time he's the one who's groaning, as he fishes it out of the pocket and checks the caller ID.
"Gotta take this love" He says softly before pressing a soft kiss to my lips and walking down the hallway, leaving me alone, staring at the London skyline.
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