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1d1195 · 11 months

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Traditional IV

Nothing like being quarantined in June of 2023 to get a little timely writing done. I hope you enjoy this part, I feel like it's moving a little too slowly but I promise I have some pretty good plans and I hope you'll find it's worth the wait.

Accidentally a little close to 6K words, whoops. Read the rest here: Traditional

She simply didn’t believe that Harry liked her like that. There was no way. He simply paid her to be around, and he worried about her the way someone worries about their car...or their expensive electronics. “No way.”

She took a deep breath as the driver stopped in front of Harry’s home. It was her first time here and while she thought Harry had been nothing but a gentleman over the last month, she also knew this was his home and that meant it was his rules. Added to the fact that Niall touched her (albeit in a friendly way), she thought she might not make it out of here.

She opened the car door and started up the pathway to the front door. The only time Harry ever let her open her own door was when he wasn’t around. For the evening she decided on her favorite pair of black jeans. They were stretchy and comfy despite being jeans. They went with everything too. And instead of a zipper there were just three buttons. Per her personality, she didn’t think she looked good in much, but these were all but magic jeans that (objectively) made her butt look good. She paired the good jeans with a plain bright blue T-shirt. Nothing special. Harry said dress comfortably.

She knocked twice on the door swallowing a lump in her throat.

It was as if Harry was waiting by the door because her hand hadn’t even made its way back to her side. She released a breath she was holding as Harry smirked at her. “Hey beautiful,” he hummed sweetly. The idea that a man as gorgeous as Harry Styles looked at her jeans and t-shirt ensemble and still called her beautiful was enough to make her pass out. He didn’t seem the same bit as irritated as he was earlier. Maybe she wouldn’t get an earful after all.

“Hi.”

“Y’nervous?” He asked.

She nodded. “Very.”

“Y’know you’re supposed t’be nervous because m’your boss’s boss not because of this. This was my choice.”

“Both were your choice.”

“I already told you, love, Niall picked you,” she twitched very slightly at Niall’s name. Harry of course noticed. His smirk deepened. “C’mon,” he tilted his head toward the inside. Sliding past him, she heard the door click shut behind him.

Harry’s house was pretty big for one person. She liked how open it was: the staircase was right in front of the door. It led to a little area that overlooked the main room. Almost like a loft. The main room flowed into a dining room and the kitchen, side by side. All rooms were still very open. She of course didn’t know which rooms were down the hall, but it was honestly the home she dreamed of. She could see through the slider he had a big back yard and a porch swing looking over the yard.

Whenever this thing with her and Harry ended, she would have to kindly ask for the floorplans. This place was perfect. She was in awe he was willing to slum it in her small (but no less beautiful—he did pick it out after all) apartment for the last month.

“Y’okay, love?” He asked, leaning against the kitchen island while she looked around the rooms. It was sparsely decorated. Anne and Gemma were always on him about that. But he was waiting for someone to decorate it for him...someone like her.

“This house is beautiful.”

He chuckled. “Thank you, kitten.”

“I want the floor plans,” no time like the present to ask.

He wanted to say there was no need for her to have them. He wanted to say the house was all hers. It didn’t even feel like home until she stepped inside. She hadn’t even sat down yet, and Harry could hardly breathe, feeling how whole he felt with just her presence gazing out the window. Harry nearly proposed because the idea of her living in a house without him seemed ridiculous. He grinned. “Will do, love...can I get you something t’drink?”

They ended up on the porch swing after dinner. She kicked her shoes and held the glass of wine in her hands. Tomorrow was Saturday so she didn’t seem to mind drinking today. Harry made her Ramen, and they ate it at the table before moving outside. “You’re a very good cook,” she told him to which he smiled so brightly at the compliment she thought she might go blind.

With one foot tucked under her and the other one dangled over the edge, her toe was barely touching the ground. Harry, with the longest legs in the world was flat footed on the ground, gently rocking the pair of them. Harry was so close to her she could feel the warmth radiating off of him. “Are y’warm enough, kitten?” He asked. Every time they were together, he worried she would be freezing all so she wouldn’t inconvenience him.

She nodded. “Wine makes me warm,” she smirked.

He chuckled. “Good.” They sat silently for a bit. Listening to the sounds of the outdoors. Harry scrolled on his phone for a moment, something he hated to do while he was with her, but he couldn’t help it much when he was constantly getting notifications about his business. “Sorry, love,” he said softly as he checked on one important notification.

“It’s really okay,” she promised sipping her wine. “I feel bad I’m here interrupting your evening to begin with.”

He frowned and put his phone back in his pocket. “Kitten, you’re so confident at work...and y’should be of course...how come you’re so hard on yourself outside of work?”

She shrugged. “I know I’m good at working, I’m not very good at the whole relationship thing...obviously. Even more so the whole companionship thing either.”

His frown deepened and he watched as she sipped from her glass. She cradled it in both hands nervously rubbing her thumbs along the sides. “I don’t know what y’mean by ‘obviously.’”

“Well, I was previously in a relationship for three years but the reason it ended is because I caught him fucking another woman in our bed,” she said bluntly. Harry’s eyebrows perked up. He hadn’t heard her swear once since he’d known her. “I would assume that was because I wasn’t good enough...so now I’m not sure I know how to be a girlfriend...I feel like I certainly don’t know how to be a companion.”

Harry put his hand to his mouth, trying to think of all the words he wanted to say next. “Love, your ex is a proper idiot,” he said. “His...unfaithfulness has nothing t’do with you. He is so wrong for losing you,” Harry let the words sit between them for a few moments. She was quiet. Harry waited for her to say something or to let the emotions filter through her brain. In a matter of a month, she had a boyfriend, didn’t have a boyfriend, started an internship, a companionship, and moved into a new apartment. There couldn’t have been much time for her to process everything.

Harry didn’t care if they sat there the rest of the night. She needed to know that, and she needed to know she was perfect. Her ex was a complete moron for losing her. Harry wasn’t even dating her, and he was ready to kiss the ground she walked on just to exist. Eventually, she bit her lip and quietly whispered to him. “Thank you.”

He didn’t need a thank you. So he continued his assurance that she was all but angelic. “As for this,” he gestured between the two of them. “I know ’ve only known you a month...and I know you’re new at this, but you’re lovely. I really believe that. There aren’t really rights or wrongs when it comes t’this,” he promised.

“I haven’t even slept with you yet...let alone kiss you,” she muttered. “I’m the worst at this.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Have you done this before?”

There was a beat of silence. Harry didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable but he would rather die than lie to her. “A couple times,” he admitted. “Not in a few years.”

She nodded. “How come...you don’t make me sleep with you?”

He snorted at the implication. “Kitten.”

“Well,” she rolled her eyes. “I mean...you could...not pay me. This could be over.”

He could just tell her right now that he was in love with her. More than the first day he met her. Harry didn’t believe in love at first sight. He had dated a good amount before her. No one ever took his breath away like she did, so he was certain it had to be love. Harry never got jealous before today...especially because of his best friend. “Do y’want it t’be over?” He decided to ask instead.

She shook her head. “I don’t know how to say this without putting my foot in my mouth so I’m just going to say it and know I’m not trying to offend you,” she paused and looked at him for a moment. He nodded his head. “Despite our arrangement, I’m really glad I met you. I like hanging out with you. And I think you’re right...I wouldn’t have found someone as nice as you if you didn’t come along.”

He smirked. “And outbid them?” He winked.

“That’s not why I picked you,” she rolled her eyes. “I told you what I wanted.” They sat quietly side by side, rocking gently for another moment. In all her efforts to avoid the topic of Niall, she felt she had no choice but to ask herself. “Did you tell Niall about us?” She asked.

He shook his head. “I want to, though.”

She frowned. “Any way I could convince you otherwise?” She asked tentatively. She tapped out a rhythm on her glass with her fingertips.

He chuckled and shook his head. “He’s very discreet. And he already knows you,” Harry reminded her. “Wouldn’t it be nice not t’hide it with someone at work?”

“Isn’t he going to look at me like I’m...”

“He’s not going t’look at y’like anything but you, love.”

She sighed. “It’s your show,” she shrugged.

“I won’t tell him if y’don’t want me to,” he answered with a shrug of his own.

She turned to him, her foot that was previously tucked under her, fell back toward the ground. “You won’t?”

He sipped his own glass of wine. “If s’gonna make you uncomfortable, of course not.”

She sucked her lip into her mouth. “I’ve never met any guy like you before, Harry.”

He smiled. “Is that a good thing?”

“I think it might be my favorite thing.”

The idea that any part of Harry’s personality was her favorite anything had him nearly bubbling with excitement. He wanted to kiss her for the rest of the night and maybe all day tomorrow too. “You can tell Niall...he is your best friend.”

He could feel his face smiling so much he looked at the glass in his hands. He would tell Niall tomorrow when they golfed bright and early. “Do y’like Niall?” He asked quietly.

“I do,” she said and Harry thought he might die. His heart seemed to stop beating all together. “He’s my boss. He’s a great teacher and—”

Harry shook his head and swallowed a bit nervously. He didn’t want her to like him. “No...love...I mean...” he trailed off.

She tilted her head at him in confusion and then at once her eyebrows shifted up in surprise. “Harry,” she said softly.

“Look,” he started. “I...I don’t think you’re like this, but ’ve had girlfriends and companions only like me for m’money and they don’t...” he shook his head. “If y’like Niall I just want t’know.”

She frowned, thought for a moment and then leaned toward Harry and quickly pecked him on the cheek. Like an absolute child he thought about never washing his cheek again. She rested her head against his arm and Harry tried to stay perfectly still so as not to move out of this perfect position. Eventually, she shook her head. “If...if you stopped paying me, I’d still want t’be friends. I don’t like Niall like that, I promise.”

His heart soared. “You would?” He asked.

“Do you have any friends besides Niall? Or are all your friends paid for?” She giggled cutely.

He chuckled at her joke. “I have other friends.”

“I’d...like to meet them sometime, if that’s possible.”

Harry didn’t know how to tell her she would meet them at their wedding, so he just said, “sure thing, kitten.”

Harry didn’t really know how to broach the topic to Niall, so he just went for it. Right as he took one of his first swings. “Are you kidding me, Harry!?” He shouted. “You messed up my shot!” Smirking, Harry leaned a bit on his club waiting for Niall to process the words he said. “How much do you pay her?”

“None of your business.”

“I would have been your companion if I knew you’d pay me more.”

“You’re not my type,” he said unaffected by Niall’s quip. “You still make more than her,” he shrugged. Harry knew it wasn’t about that though. “She didn’t even want that much. She just wanted enough t’pay for her apartment.”

“This is proof you don’t pay attention to me when I send the intern information to you,” Niall noted.

“I trust you,” he rolled his eyes lining up his tee to take his shot. “You had no idea?”

Niall shook his head. He waited quietly and patiently for Harry to swing. “I thought you just liked her.”

“Well, I do,” he admitted. “A lot.”

Niall rolled his eyes. “You sure know how to make everything the most complicated thing in the world.”

“We all have our talents, Niall,” he deadpanned. Snorting Niall shook his head putting his club back into the bag and getting into the golf cart. “She’s nervous you’ll treat her different.”

“If I didn’t know for the last month, I would say it doesn’t affect her work ethic or anything. I wouldn’t treat her differently if you told me before.”

Harry nodded. “Good.” They were quiet as they got to their next shots and finished the hole. Gathering their belongings, Harry drove them to the next one. “I really like her,” he told him.

Niall could tell that Harry really liked her. He never got too attached to girls or wispy about them. He certainly didn’t concoct a day of golf for Niall to talk about them. As Harry’s best friend he was very grateful he had found someone he liked so much. Even if it was naturally complicated. Niall smirked. “Good for you,” he said almost if he was congratulating Harry. “You deserve a nice, sweet, girl,” he told him. “I will take full credit at the wedding that you wouldn’t have met her if I didn’t pick her to be my intern.”

Harry rolled his eyes and chuckled at his friend as they got ready for the next hole.

But there was no way Harry could deny how dreamy it felt to think about marrying the pretty girl.

During her Starbucks runs she always forwarded the office phone to her cellphone. Carrying the tray containing Niall and Harry’s drinks, she had her shoulder pressed to hold the phone in place next to her ear. Additionally, she picked up a bunch of documents for Niall at the print shop and since then it had been nonstop phone calls. So, her hands were full. She thanked the man on the elevator for pressing the button for her and hurried off to settle the items down.

She turned the corner to her office, and it took her several moments after the fact to realize what happened. She heard someone screaming and it was a full minute before she noticed it was herself that screamed. “Holy shit,” she didn’t know the guy that bumped into her. In a daze she thought that maybe she had never seen him before this very moment. But her skin was burning, the empty coffee cups were on the floor and the documents were everywhere.

All she could manage to think about was how glad she was she wore pants and a chunky sweater today.

She was gasping like the air wasn’t coming fast enough and was still unsure why. “Darling?” Niall was suddenly there shoving him out of the way, he put his hands on her shoulders and tried to gather the attention of her eyes. She had to be in shock. All she knew was that she was in so much pain. “Hey, you’re okay. It’s okay,” he promised calmly. He was assessing the situation, looking her up and down seeing if he could figure out how to help so she didn’t get sent into a full-blown panic. It seemed she already was and of course Niall didn’t blame her. Her skin was probably burning. She was covered in hot liquid. Her clothes soaked and probably burning her skin. It didn’t get her face, just her shirt seemed to take the brunt of it and she was so glad she opted for a thicker sweater this chilly fall morning. It very well could have been the difference between a first and second degree burn that was still stinging her skin. Niall gently tugged her through the puddle of liquid at their feet ruining her cute shoes. Niall didn’t even pay any mind to his polished dress shoes getting splashed with coffee. His only concern seemed to be her. “Come on, let’s get you—”

“What happened?”

She had never heard Harry sound like that before in the two and a half months she was interning. The din of background noise stopped at the sound of his voice. Everyone was silent. Obviously, he never sounded like that outside of work either. She was certain it reset her shocked brain. Inhaling deeply, she ignored the sting of her shirt sticking to her burned skin. Definitely first or second degree. “M’okay,” she managed but she was trying so hard not to cry in pain in front of literally everyone that came out of their offices to hear her scream and then Harry’s angry tone. He shoved Niall roughly out of the way and she swore she saw Niall smirk at his friend. It almost made her smile, but she was in too much pain to focus on it now. She knew that Niall knew, but true to Harry’s words, Niall made no implication that it changed her relationship with him. Niall pretended like he didn’t know. Or if he wanted to mention it, he didn’t seem to care. Harry grabbed her by the wrist after ensuring it was okay to touch her by a quick scan of noting it was probably the only part of her that wasn’t in pain.

Harry wanted to kill himself for ordering a hot beverage.

“I’m so sorry,” the man that bumped into her whispered.

“You can shut up,” Harry snapped. She couldn’t say anything because she was still in pain and still trying to process anything that happened. “You, pack your stuff,” he snarled directly to the man that she still didn’t even know his name. He blanched at the notion. She gaped.

“That’s not—”

“Let’s go,” he snapped not letting her finish. He marched her away from the puddle of hot liquid and down to his office.

Niall followed behind, grabbing her phone off the floor before it was submerged in tea and coffee. “Don’t pack yet,” she heard him mutter to the poor guy.

“Mr. Styles,” she whispered just in case anyone was listening. She didn’t like to call him Harry in front of anyone except Niall. She knew others weren’t given the privilege and she didn’t want to be treated differently. “Please slow down,” she begged. While her upper body definitely was in worse shape than her legs that were mostly protected by her pants, the stinging pain of her burns amplified as her clothing brushed painfully against her skin. “It hurts,” she croaked. Harry’s hand loosened his grip on her wrist and he slowed his pace breathing out in nearly heavy pants. “M’okay,” she promised.

Harry wanted to scoop her in his arms and carry her the rest of the way. The last ten meters seemed endless as he watched her walk carefully to his office. She was trying not to cry, and it made Harry want to set himself on fire just to see her in pain.

Niall followed behind a few moments later just as she got to the door and Harry slammed the door shut to his office. “You can’t fire him, Harry,” Niall rolled his eyes.

“Look at her,” he snapped. “What do y’need, angel?” He cooed, he cupped her face and she felt so embarrassed that Niall was right there to see it all. This would surely make him treat her differently. Somehow, despite all the burns, Harry calling her angel and touching her face was enough to turn her cheeks warm against Harry’s cool hands. She wanted him to touch all over her aching skin. The duality of his tone between Niall and her was so shocking she forgot how to speak. “Should I take her to the hospital?” He asked Niall.

She shook her head quickly. “M’fine,” she promised bravely the tears still stinging the back of her eyes as much as her skin.

Niall was looking at his phone. “You’re supposed to rinse in barely warm water, darling. Should be cold, really.”

Harry turned away from her for the first time and hurried to the closet of his office that she never really paid any mind to. But as she watched Harry the closet was actually a bathroom and if she wasn’t in so much pain, she probably would have made a joke about it. He started grabbing a towel and all kinds of spa things. “I don’t have any clothes,” she said softly to Niall. Her cheeks felt like they were reddening by the second. This was so embarrassing. “Can I have my phone?” She sniffled. He held it out to her tentatively, having wiped it off on his leg of any last coffee. She would have to get his clothes dry cleaned. She tapped on Eleanor’s number.

“Hey love, how’s your day?” Louis answered the phone. It wasn’t uncommon. They often had their lunch breaks together since they worked a mere block away from one another.

“Louis, I need Eleanor to bring me some clothes,” she mumbled looking at Harry making sure everything was in place from the open door.

“Ooh, finally let Harry fuck your brains out. How naughty you did it at work.”

She sniffled. “No...” she shook her head hating that she couldn’t laugh at his joke.

“Oh, hey, babe. What happened? Are you alright?” He asked.

Eleanor must have taken the phone from him. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

“S’nothing. I just need you to bring me clothes,” she sniffled, and the tears finally escaped. “Please.”

“Yeah, of course. Of course, love. What do you want?”

She didn’t want to wear anything, but she had to be professional. She wished she was by herself, and Niall and Harry weren’t in earshot. “I...I think I burned my whole body,” she whimpered. “El, it hurts,” she sniffled. “I...loose pants, a loose blouse,” she told her.

“Darling, you can wear something comfortable,” Niall said. “Don’t worry about the outfit,” he promised.

“Oh, love,” she cooed. “I got it, I got it. I’ll be right there, fifteen minutes. Just have someone send me the information I need,” she said.

“We’re on our way, love,” Louis promised taking the phone back for a moment before they hung up. She opened her phone to her message thread with Louis and Eleanor and handed it to Niall. “Can you just tell them how to get up here?” She asked.

“Yeah, of course,” he nodded. She told him what her passcode was in case the screen locked on him. Niall took a seat on the couch on the opposite side of Harry’s office.

“C’mere,” Harry said and gestured to the bathroom.

This had to be the most embarrassing day of her life. She slowly made her way toward the bathroom feeling like the stinging was now a permanent fixture on her body and after all the shock was officially out of her body it hurt more than it did five minutes ago. She was dreading the look at her skin. “Harry, you can’t fire him,” she said.

“It’s my company,” she could tell it was taking a lot of restraint from snapping at her.

“Please,” she begged. He didn’t respond but he saw the way his shoulders deflated just a hair.

“Louis and Eleanor are bringing you clothes?” He asked.

She nodded. “They’ll be here in ten minutes.” Harry closed the bathroom door. “Harry...” she said softly, nervously. He turned the water on in the shower and let it run.

“That should run for at least five minutes,” he told her.

Which just meant there would just be five minutes until Eleanor was here to help her. She leaned back against the counter, eyes closed, trying not to think about how much pain she was in. She supposed it was better than when it initially happened, but she kind of wished the shock was still there to keep her from noticing.

“Y’can probably get in now,” he told her.

Her face burned in embarrassment. “Harry,” she tried again.

“I won’t look. M’not leaving this room if you’re by yourself. If y’pass out, m’not letting you lay in the shower. Just until Eleanor gets here,” he promised. He turned around and faced the door. He stood there silently. Her chest ached almost as much as her skin. It drove her nuts that everyone on the entire floor knew she was in here with Harry and Niall. She was sure the rumors would be awful in a matter of moments. Harry still hadn’t seen her naked and she didn’t want at work to be the first place for it to happen.

“Kitten, please try,” he whispered quietly. “M’really upset you’re hurt,” he told her. He tilted his head back to look at the ceiling and she could hear how upset he sounded. It was like he was in pain from the burn almost as much as she was.

Assuming Harry wasn’t backing down she decided it was now or never. She sniffled and tried to reach for her shoes but immediately regretted it. She inhaled sharply and stood straight up. “Can you help me with my shoes? I can’t bend,” she whispered. He turned around immediately and knelt to the floor. He carefully picked her foot up, almost cradling her ankle. His fingers skimmed along her ankle strap and unbuckled it. She couldn’t believe how intimate it felt just for Harry to be holding her foot. Carefully he pulled her shoe off and then started on the other. Almost losing her balance she grabbed the counter.

Harry was wildly aware of what this looked like.

Which is why when Eleanor pushed the door open, gasped, then pulled it shut almost as quickly, Harry froze with his hand grasping her ankle. “Whoops, sorry,” she muttered outside the door. “Good for him,” she heard Louis say almost proudly.

She put a hand over her face to hide her embarrassment. She honestly thought Niall was probably thinking of ways to fire her solely for her friends being idiots. Harry smirked despite everything, and she was actually grateful for Louis’ joke at her expense because she hated the idea that Harry was upset because of her. “Suppose that’s m’cue,” he murmured.

“Great,” she sighed.

He stood up and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “M’glad you’re okay, kitten,” he whispered in her ear. “And I’d be so lucky,” he said causing her skin to warm more than the burn.

Eleanor chatted with her throughout the shower and was there to help her with her clothes. She was glad she didn’t have to say it in front of Niall and Harry, but Eleanor knew to bring one of her looser bralettes without an offensive band that could hide under her shirt. She was also grateful that she clearly heard Niall about the comfortable clothing because she wouldn’t be caught dead in this office with a pair of leggings for fear of unprofessionalism. “Sorry to interrupt,” she winked at her.

She glanced at the doors hoping no one out there heard Eleanor. She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t do that at work.”

“I wouldn’t blame you,” El shrugged. “He’s really cute.”

“He can hear you,” she shook her head whispering nervously.

“No, Louis texted they both left to give you privacy. It’s just Louis out there.”

“Who are we to judge what kind of physical medicine you need in a time of crisis?” He asked through the closed door.

“Are you alright?” Eleanor asked. She nodded. The shower helped significantly even if it was freezing cold. “I brought some petroleum jelly,” she said. “Do you want help, or do you want me to do it?” She asked.

“I can do it,” she said and glanced in the mirror at her body for the first time.

“I think your sweater saved you,” Eleanor said.

She nodded. “That and my iced coffee,” she remarked. Her skin was red, one or two spots where the initial impact must have hit would blister, right below her bra-line but she was extremely lucky. The burns did extend to her thighs but other than that she was okay. The stinging was now just a dull ache. She slathered the ointment all over her skin. Everywhere it hurt. She nearly sighed with relief.

It took another five minutes for Eleanor to help her with her clothing and make sure she looked okay. She put on more makeup so she could feel whole again. She was already dreading leaving this office with wet hair. Eleanor opened the door to see Louis sitting on the ground with his back against the wall beside the door to the bathroom.

“You alright, babe?” He asked, standing to join the little party. Louis sat on the closed toilet lid.

She nodded. “Much better. Thank you.”

“Harry left this,” he said holding out a first aid kit. Eleanor placed it on the counter to deal with after the makeup.

“You should ask to go home,” Eleanor said as she reapplied her mascara. “We’ll drive you home before we go back to work.”

She shook her head. “I have to do a few more things...I have to replace those files....and I never got my coffee,” she opened the first aid kit to pull out gauze and she slathered it with more petroleum jelly.

Louis chuckled. “You’re definitely okay.”

“Harry was going to fire the guy that bumped into me,” she said. “Can you cover this?” She asked, passing her bandage to Eleanor and lifting her shirt to her chest. Louis looked at his phone while the girls did their thing.

“Well, he is quite taken with you. I’m surprised he didn’t strangle him on the spot,” Eleanor smirked as she bandaged the most sensitive burns carefully. It was cold in the office, and she was irritated because she couldn’t cover her arms or body with any extra layers. “You’re lucky it missed your hands,” Eleanor said.

She nodded as Eleanor soothingly wiped more jelly along the inside of her forearms where the hot liquid did get her. “What do you mean quite taken?” She asked.

“Oh, shut up,” Louis rolled his eyes. “Even I noticed.”

“He’s smitten, love,” Eleanor giggled. “He can’t take his eyes off you, ever. The whole time we built the furniture when I came in the bathroom to help.”

“He was practically staring at the door like a puppy while you were in here,” Louis explained.

She felt the ever-present warmth in her cheeks whenever Harry’s affection toward her came up. She simply didn’t believe that Harry liked her like that. There was no way. He simply paid her to be around, and he worried about her the way someone worries about their car...or their expensive electronics. “No way.”

There was a knock on his office door, and she felt awkward that someone was probably coming in looking for Harry and they were about to find a circus in the bathroom.

“Come in!” Louis shouted.

“Jesus Christ,” she grumbled. Eleanor laughed as she finished the final coat of jelly and rinsed her hands off in the sink.

Fortunately, it was just Harry. Harry, knocking on his own office door. She was going to lose her mind from how ridiculous this all was. “Er...hi,” he said awkwardly.

“Hi.”

“You feel a little better?”

“I think so,” she nodded.

Niall came in behind holding an iced coffee in his hands. “Louis said y’might still want one,” he smirked.

She turned to glare at Louis who smiled excitedly. Like this was the most exciting game he had ever played. “Thank you,” she said gratefully.

“Niall, Harry,” Eleanor began. Oh no. “Would you mind if we drove her home? She wants to stay to replace the files or something, but I think—”

“Absolutely not, please take her,” Niall said quickly shaking his head. He didn’t even need to hear the end of it.

Harry frowned. “Y’didn’t seriously think we were going t’make y’stay love, did you?” He wondered.

“Well, it’s not that bad now...I could—”

“Oh my God,” Louis rolled his eyes. “You’ll see them both Monday and your work will still be here. You can spare the ninety quid you’d make.”

“You’re only paying her eighteen an hour?” Harry asked, looking at Niall suddenly very aware of how little he was paying her.

“You’re the one that sets the pay, Harold,” Niall shook his head.

“I changed my mind,” she said to Eleanor. “Get me out of here,” she begged.

“Er...” Harry started appearing a bit flustered. She doesn’t know why. Everyone in this room knew he was paying her outside these walls to be in his life. “Do y’think you can drop her off at m’place? I want t’make sure she’s okay...and...I don’t want her t’cook dinner herself or anything.”

If Eleanor and Louis hadn’t said Harry was so taken with her just a few moments ago, she wouldn’t have thought anything of his question. She wouldn’t have looked at him when he asked. Again, it was merely the idea of someone taking care of a house pet. Or a boat. He wanted to look after what he paid for.

If they hadn't said anything, she wouldn’t have seen the way his cheeks turned the slightest bit pink when he asked if they could drive her to his place.

“Harry, we’d love to,” Louis responded with a full-blown, impish smile.

taglist: @tpwkstiles @matildasatellite @jessitpwk @jerseygirlinca @stylesfever @soachibstel1 @tiredinwinter

sorry if I missed anyone that wanted to be tagged. Just lmk!

#harry #harry styles writing #harry styles fluff #harry styles blurb #harry styles blurbs #harry styles smut #harry styles angst #harry styles imagine #harry styles imagines #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfiction #ceo!harry #sugardaddy!harry #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x reader #one direction #one direction writing #tradtional

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1d1195 · 11 months

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Traditional V

It's literally 8.2K words. I'm so sorry. I hope you like it anyway even if it's long.

Read the rest here: Traditional

“How do these things usually end?”

Forget dislike, he hated this. “I usually end it,” he told her. He liked being honest with her, but honesty about this might ruin him. He was glad she wasn’t looking at him. Just pressed to his side, he thought he might have exploded while answering that question if she wasn’t so closely snuggled up to him.

Harry practically begged his driver to teleport him with how fast he wanted him to drive. The thought of her alone in his home in pain made him almost delusional with anger. The car had hardly stopped when Harry threw the door open and punched in the code for his lock before entering.

We left her on the couch with her favorite show – E & L was the message he got from her phone. He really should have just gotten their numbers. It seemed like a safer idea. He appreciated them taking care of her. She didn’t seem like one that wanted or needed someone to take care of her all that much. This was proof as such. She was going to stay at work if it wasn’t for Eleanor asking. He was grateful Niall had the same idea as him to send her home.

He was more grateful to Louis and Eleanor for taking her here.

Harry had a large, comfy sectional in the main room. Again, the storm door hadn’t even shut yet and he was across the room knelt by her side on the chaise part of the sectional. There she was sleeping so peacefully, her show long forgotten, he didn’t even want to wake her up. But after extensive research on burn care once she left the office, he was worried she was getting dehydrated--so much so he thought he'd have to take her to the hospital. Especially after she drank her coffee and not water. He did note there was a glass of water on the end table beside her and once more he was grateful for her best friends.

Harry continued marveling at how pretty she was and, for another moment, forgot about how upset he was that she was injured. Her lips parted just slightly, cheeks a cute rosy pink, her hair a bit smushed against the pillow behind her. Her friends must have propped her up just a little so she could rest and watch the TV. He wondered how long she lasted because the TV was still playing, and he did manage to take note that The Good Place was her favorite show. The remote was just by her fingertips and he paused the show before turning back to her.

She had two blankets on her and looked a bit lumpy. He thought it was weird that with a burn she wanted more heat. Which of course led him to worry her body temperature was dropping rapidly like he had read on the multiple websites he studied from before arriving home. Carefully reaching out, he rested a hand on her abdomen noting it was cool and squishy to the touch.

Too squishy.

Peeling the top blanket back he found her covered in a second blanket and sandwiched in between were all the ice packs and his frozen vegetables from the freezer. He smirked and covered her back up. He really liked Louis and Eleanor.

Her face was so peaceful, not a wrinkle of distress from pain or her dream. He really didn’t want to wake her up, but he would go mad if he didn’t hear from her directly that she was still okay. Gently, he pressed a hand to her face and rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone. “Hey, kitten,” he murmured so softly. “Can y’wake up for a minute?” He didn’t want to touch anywhere really in worry he would hurt her aching skin. He slid his hand down to her neck and rested it on her shoulder and before he gave a tiny little shake. Mostly just pressure on her arm than a shake, really. At least that’s how he was justifying it to himself. She shifted ever so slightly, and her eyes fluttered open. She frowned so cutely Harry wanted nothing more than to kiss her so badly. “Hey love, do y’feel okay?” He asked shifting his hand back to her sweet face. Her eyebrows were pinched together as her eyes adjusted to the setting sunlight coming through the window.

“Harry?” She murmured.

“Yes, love, what d’you need?” He asked.

“M’sleepy,” she told him closing her eyes again quickly. Harry thought his heart was going to burst out of his chest, she sounded so cute.

He chuckled. “I know, love. M’sorry. Jus’ want t’make sure you’re okay.”

Her eyes opened again, it seemed like a better adjustment than the first time. “M’okay. Louis went through your cabinets looking for medicine,” she told him. “M’sorry. He doesn’t have any boundaries.”

“No, kitten, s’alright. I should ‘ve told him where it was.”

“Eleanor went through your kitchen and linen closet for veggie soup she turned me into,” she said sleepily.

He was so glad she could make jokes because he was still so upset but it was easier to talk to her with no one around. “S’okay, too, love,” he promised chuckling. “Can I take ‘em off now? They’re not too cold anymore.”

She nodded. “I’ll buy you new ones,” she closed her eyes again.

He rolled his eyes as he collected all the packs and bags of vegetables off her body. The short walk to his fridge and leaving her on the couch literally had his heart aching to be away from her. He was so far gone for the poor girl laying on his couch he doesn’t know how he got so lucky to happen across her profile. “When did y’take medicine last?” He asked looking at the bottle of pain killers that was left on the counter. She reached for her phone on the end table inhaling sharply at the movement.

“Right when I got here...probably five hours ago.”

“Okay,” he said. He still had an hour. He didn’t want to chase her pain. The thought of her being in pain made him sick. “Y’okay?”

“I want to sit up more...but...I need help,” she admitted.

“Sure, sure,” he hurried back to her side. “What d’you need?”

She threw the blankets off to the side and Harry gathered them up and tossed them onto the other end of the sectional. Reaching her hands out, Harry eagerly took one in each hand. Her hands were so warm. He waited for her next direction. “Harry,” she said gently.

“Yes, love?”

“There’s nothing you can do about it, it’s going to hurt a little bit no matter what. It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

He frowned. “I don’t like that you’re trying t’comfort me when you’re injured.”

She giggled. “M’okay,” she promised. “Just pull me to standing and then I’ll readjust.”

“Okay,” he nodded. As he pulled her upright, she closed her eyes and inhaled sharply as her clothes and skin surely rubbed together. He pouted more at her pain and waited until the pain subsided a bit while she stood. “Y’alright, kitten?” He hummed.

She nodded. “Yeah,” but she didn’t really sound like she believed she was fine. Opening her eyes she glanced back at the corner of the couch calling her name. “Okay, um... I should... probably use the bathroom before I leave.”

Harry was full blown pouting. “Leave?” He asked.

“Well...yeah...I was going to call Louis and Eleanor.”

“I was going t’make y’dinner, kitten,” he said.

Again, she wasn’t one to believe in herself much when it came to relationships. Especially after her last one abruptly ended. Even more so with the somewhat interesting relationship she had with Harry. But she swore she could hear the tone of disappointment in Harry’s voice. “Er...I don’t want to overstay or put you out...I just thought—”

“Love, I want y’here so I can take care of you.”

Harry was a several inches taller than her, so she had to tilt her head up just a bit to make eye contact with the prettiest green eyes—that, without any exaggeration—in existence. Even pouting, he was still the most handsome person she had ever laid eyes on. He looked worried and she wanted to smooth out the wrinkle he had made between his eyebrows. How on earth could a man’s eyebrows be cute? How could Harry be this attractive? It did not seem fair to the rest of the male species. It was hardly fair to her being in the same room as him with so much effortless beauty. “Well...what about work tomorrow? I have to go home so I can shower and put on real clothes.”

“Tomorrow’s Saturday, love,” he reminded her.

She completely forgot. Sighing, she bit the inside of her lip. Truth be told, the idea of having to maneuver without anyone around when every movement felt like literal fire seemed stupid on her part. But she wasn’t sure she wanted Harry to see her naked and burned—especially when he hadn’t seen her naked when she wasn't injured. “Yeah, but I have to replace those files and I want to get Niall’s shoes replaced and his pants dry cleaned from all the coffee—”

He shook his head as she spoke. “Kitten, you’re not going t’work on a Saturday. I don’t even think I’ll let y’go in on Monday,” he said definitively. She was speechless.

“Harry,” she started.

“S’fine kitten. It’ll be like a little weekend getaway. I could use a day off,” he smirked wryly.

“You can’t take Monday off, it’ll be too suspicious. You’ve never taken a day off while I’ve been there.”

“Y’sound like Mum,” he rolled his eyes.

“Well it’s true.”

They were both quiet for a moment and Harry glanced at the hallway before turning back to her. They could quibble over Monday later. “The bathroom is down there,” he said. “Do y’need me t’help you at all?”

She snorted. “No thank you, I’d rather die.”

He chuckled. “Kitten, s’okay...I...I won’t say anything.”

She shook her head. “No,” she started to slowly move down to the hall. She just had to get her leggings off her thighs, and she could pee in peace.

“Jus’ shout if y’need me,” he said sitting on the couch and scrolling through his phone.

She was extremely unhappy that Harry was right. She probably couldn’t be alone. It took her nearly fifteen minutes just to pee. When she left the bathroom, Harry was in the kitchen, prepping some vegetables for dinner. He had a cookbook open on the counter. He also had enough time to change because he was now adorned in a black band t-shirt and a pair of shorts. It felt so domestic and homey she almost forgot she was in pain. Harry gave her a tentative smile. “At least stay for dinner, yeah?” He asked.

She nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

“Course, love.”

She went over to find her phone where she last left it and texted her message thread with Louis and Eleanor.

El, are you around this weekend?

Sorry, love. We’re heading to my mum’s this weekend. If it wasn’t for a birthday party, I would be right over to help you! Why don’t you stay with Harry...? :)

No worries, it’s no big deal!

I’ll ask him.

Ask him to fuck you too.

Thank you, Louis.

She groaned audibly.

“Y’okay, kitten? Are you in pain? Y’should take some more medicine,” Harry was too nice.

“M’fine,” she said. “Umm...I need to go home to get some clothes...if it’s okay, I think I will stay the weekend...if you don’t mind.”

Harry continued chopping the variety of veggies he had on the cutting board, and he didn’t want to overwhelm her, but he thought he might be smiling like a crazy person thinking about how he was going to spend the whole weekend with the pretty girl he liked so much. “Sure, kitten. Whatever y’need.”

She blew out a breath and she tossed her phone on the couch. “I know you’re busy with the food, could you help me sit again?” She asked rubbing a hand over her face in embarrassment.

Harry frowned more and wiped his hands on a kitchen towel before coming back to her. “How can I help, love?”

“I think we just reverse what we did for me to stand. Except I need to be sitting up more,” she said and held her hands out for Harry to take. Harry took them and she couldn’t help but notice that despite having literal second degree burns on her body, she thought the fire Harry started by holding her hands was hotter than the coffee that was spilled on her. Slowly, he lowered her to the soft cushions, and he apologized every time she winced in pain.

She sighed as she settled into place comfortably. Harry fluffed the pillows around her and lightly laid the blanket across her lap. He put the phone and remote in her hands and took her glass to refill. “M’sorry,” she muttered. She hadn’t really fully processed her injury. She was too shocked when it first happened, then embarrassed, and sleepy when she felt the comfort of his couch. Now that she was alone with Harry for the weekend, she was nervous. Harry brought her water glass back along with two pills for the pain. He didn’t want to hover, so he returned to the veggies.

“What are y’sorry for, beautiful?” He asked over his shoulder.

“For bothering you,” she mumbled quietly.

Harry frowned. “You’re no bother, love,” he promised. She didn’t say anything for a minute and Harry just went back to the veggies and then turned to the pantry to get the pasta he had for the dish. At that moment he heard her sniffle. He spun on his heel dropping the box of pasta on the floor. The box broke open and scattered all over the hardwood. He didn’t care. “Kitten?” He asked nervously and rushed to her side. He sat next to her and was heartbroken by the tears in her eyes. “Does it hurt too much? Do y’want t’go to the hospital t’get checked out?”

“No,” she sniffled. He reached out carefully and cupped her face.

“Angel, what’s wrong?” He was practically begging for the answer. Frowning, he took a deep breath. “I don’t want t’force you t’stay, love. If y’really don’t want to, I could take you t’your parents or another friend or something,” he suggested. “I jus’ wanna help you,” he promised.

The tears left her faster and she shook her head. The notion was worse. She didn’t want to think about how kind it was of Harry to have her stay. It wasn’t Louis and Eleanor’s fault or problem to take care of her and it wasn't their fault they couldn't take care of her. But she should have had more than two people who could help her.

But no one else but Harry could take care of her. “No, it’s...I’m fine,” she promised. “I...” she swallowed back the tears and Harry was so grateful he felt the smallest pressure of her leaning toward his hand.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he promised.

She hiccupped on a broken cry and turned from him. “I’m sorry. You’re so nice and helpful and this is...above and beyond what’s expected of you,” she didn’t look at him, but the only thing Harry could do was look at her.

“Love, I want t’take care of you,” he said quietly. “Please jus’—”

“When my brother died, my mom and dad started...” she shook her head and winced like it was fresh. Harry stopped speaking not fully understanding where this was headed, but here he was, holding his breath waiting for the rest of her speech. “They stopped taking care of me and... themselves. I left as soon as humanly possible. That’s why Louis is always around for me...he was so mad when he found out how they...” she trailed off unfortunately, so Harry had to use his imagination to imagine what happened. But he didn’t spend long on it because she was still sad, and still speaking. “I stopped having friends and that never really bothered me. No one really ever understood me like Louis and Eleanor anyway...but now...now I’m stuck bothering you and,” she let out shaky, gut-wrenching sob that felt like a literal tear in Harry’s heart. “I don’t even have parents that care about me,” she cried and covered her face.

Harry wanted to pull her into his lap and wrap her in a bubble and then a blanket and then himself. But he couldn’t because she was hurt and that hurt him. “Angel, m’sorry,” he hummed. He didn’t speak for a few more moments and just let her cry as she let out all her emotions. “I want t’take care of you. S’all I want,” he promised. He carefully turned her head toward him and he brushed the sad tears off her beautiful, perfect cheeks. “M’sorry, kitten,” he said and leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead. She sniffled against him and then sighed softly stifling all the cries she had with just a kiss to her forehead by quite possibly the sweetest man she had ever met.

Harry video chatted with her while he went to her apartment to get her belongings. “In hindsight, we should ‘ve brought y’here,” he smirked.

She smiled at him as he entered the darkened place. “Had enough of me now that I cried all that much?”

“You must be the most tragically funny girl I know,” he rolled his eyes ignoring her commentary. He didn’t know how someone so beautiful and lovely could have such low self-esteem. She giggled cutely as she directed Harry to her belongings and tried to find him a suitcase.

“You were the one that wanted me here,” she reminded him.

He paused his search for clothing for her and gazed directly into the camera. “Yes, kitten. I love being around you,” he promised. “Didn’t think you would want me t’invite myself over...or rather thought you would think you’re a bother if y’did. Inviting y’over ensures you’re not bothering me,” he had a goofy grin on his face that made her frustrated because he was entirely right. It almost seemed like a trick for him to be so cute and make such a comment that was so accurate. She was quiet for a second. Harry mistook her silence for pain or being upset. And he hated that. “Y’okay, love?”

She nodded silently. “Um...I didn’t really think this through, but m’gonna need some underwear so just open the top drawer, grab a handful and don’t look. And then T-shirts are in the third drawer. I have leggings and sweatpants in the fourth drawer.”

He chuckled as he followed her directions, even not looking in the drawer as he pulled out way more underwear than she needed for her few days stay. He threw them in her suitcase and then grabbed the other things she asked him to grab. “Do y’need anything else, kitten?” He asked.

“Can y’grab a couple books for me?”

“Course, anything else?”

Her makeup was still with her because of Eleanor along with most of her other toiletries. “No that will do it.”

“Alright, then m’on m’way back after I get the books,” she heard the zipper of her suitcase close and she realized that in the span of three years of dating and living with someone that she loved, he never would be doing what Harry was doing for her. In fact, she couldn’t imagine any guy blindly reaching into her underwear drawer if she wasn’t sleeping with them. There was no way she could have someone rifle through her apartment looking for things to make her feel better. “D’you want your laptop, too?” He asked. It made her heart flutter, and she cleared her throat awkwardly overcome by the realization and emotion.

“Uh, yeah. Yes, please.”

She could not fall in love with Harry.

At some point between dinner and watching The Good Place from the beginning so Harry could experience the chaos and drama, she fell asleep on the couch. Harry wasn’t one to read books or watch TV the way she asked when they put her bookshelves together. For a while, he was engrossed in the sitcom that had clearly stolen her heart.

But a slight little snore pulled him from his TV stupor. Once more Harry watched how beautiful she looked just sleeping. This time her neck was bent forward at an awkward angle since she was sitting up facing the TV. He admired her for a moment (only a short moment because he really was worried about her neck) and how much he liked having her there on the couch.

He just wished with everything in him that her body wasn’t burned.

He pressed the pause button on her show. “Hey, love?” He said shaking her very slightly. Just like this evening. “Let’s get you t’bed.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she rubbed the back of her hand sleepily against her eye. Harry thought she was deliriously cute. But her frown deepened. “It hurts,” she mumbled.

Harry frowned. “Oh, kitten. M’sorry. I’ll get y’some more medicine,” he said getting up from the couch. She shifted uncomfortably.

She forgot he was her boss. She forgot he was paying her to just be there and that she was supposed to be sleeping with him or at least kissing him. Right now, all she could think about was how uncomfortable her skin was. “Harry,” she whined.

“I know, baby, I know,” he cooed. “I’m so sorry,” he hurried back to her side and put the medicine in her hand and waited for her to place the pills between her lips so he could give the glass of water to her. She was still in pain.

“Can’t I just stay here?” She asked practically whimpering.

“We have t’change the bandage, love. And at that point y’may as well be in a bed. I’m sorry.”

She sighed heavily. “Okay,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, beautiful,” he said grabbing hold of her hands waiting to pull her to a standing position. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she waited for Harry to pull her up. With a good tug, Harry had her standing. Before she lost her balance though, he wrapped his arm around her back careful not to touch any part of her facing him.

“Ow, ow, ow,” she cried.

This was a terrible idea. He should have just let her sleep on the couch. But by morning it would be even worse. “I’m sorry, love,” he repeated. He felt so horrible she was in pain. In the light of the TV and the dimmed kitchen light over the island, he saw the sparkle of tears forming in the corners of her eyes. It broke his heart. They slowly walked down the hall, her sniffles the only sound.

“Harry,” she whispered when they made it to the bedroom. She didn’t know if it was Harry’s. It was beautifully furnished, but it hardly looked like someone lived in there. Her suitcase was laid flat on the floor under the window.

“Yes, love?”

She sighed. “I’m so embarrassed but you’re going to have to help me,” she mumbled.

“’Course, love.”

“You’re so going to regret picking me once you see how gross it is.”

He chuckled dryly. “I don’t think you’re gross at all, love. Please stop making fun of yourself. You’re breaking my heart.” She kept quiet until she was seated toward the middle of the bed, a little more awake and in less pain now that the medicine was working through her system. Harry turned on the lamp on the nightstand. The room glowed in a warm yellow-orange light. She liked this house so much she hoped Harry would let her come back again after seeing her gross body.

“Yeah, but the first time you’re going to see me mostly naked is when I have these burns all over me.”

He shrugged. “Then we’ll pretend s’the first time when you’re better and I can see y’naked for the right reasons,” he said simply. If her skin wasn’t already burning and aching with coffee scalds, she would have probably lit on fire right there at the words he spoke. She realized it was her own doing that she said the first time he sees her naked. Indicating there would be multiple times that he would see her naked. “This is purely medical,” he told her crouching in front of her legs ready to take her leggings off.

She was a bit shocked Harry was willing to compartmentalize like that. It made her a bit woozy. She was lucky she had the burns to blame. Harry was slow and careful getting her pants over her thighs. Once past them, it was easy to pull them off. She tried not to think about how Harry was her boss. But she was really grateful she shaved her legs this morning. Even if she had no intention of Harry seeing her naked when the day started.

“M'gonna do your shirt now, love, okay?” He asked. “S’all business.”

“That can mean a lot of things with you,” she muttered as she put her arms over her head as he tugged the shirt off. He chuckled at her. Harry didn’t seem to pay any mind to her body. It made her nervous that he hated it. He was probably too kind to say anything now. Especially since he already volunteered to take care of her for the weekend. She envisioned a text on Monday evening saying that he would no longer be paying her and needed to find a new place to stay.

“Lay down,” he nudged gently grabbing the petroleum jelly and coming over to kneel beside her on the bed. “Y’okay, in there, love?” He asked gently tapping on her temple with a smirk. He started with her thighs—they would heal fastest, she was sure. The jelly was so cool compared to her hot skin and Harry was so gentle it felt nearly sinful. She sighed with relief before she tried to answer him. He moved along to her hips and she would have to remember to thank Eleanor for grabbing a basic pair of bikini underwear that covered everything.

“Uh...yeah.”

“Convincing.”

She sighed. “I...I’m assuming you hate my body,” she said glancing at him nervously. He snorted at her remark.

“I liked y’first answer more,” he rolled his eyes. “Why would y’think that?”

“Well,” she shrugged. “M’not really a huge fan,” she explained looking back up and avoiding his eyes. “I really don’t know why you picked me in the first place,” it was easy to talk to his ceiling fan. “I think I’m quite ordinary looking,” Harry carefully removed the bandage that Eleanor put in place and the air touching the most sensitive part of her injury stung. She saw Harry frown as he looked at it. It must have been worse looking than she thought. “And I know it’s confusing because I just said I was nervous and asked you to pretend, but—

“I don’t really know what scenario I would be taking y’clothes off that wasn’t for sex or a medical purpose, but I think your body is beautiful and if I didn’t have a purpose t’take care of y’right now, I would strongly consider not sleeping tonight jus’ t’ook at y’for eight hours while y’sleep. There’s nothing ordinary about you. You’re extremely sexy.” She was stunned and silent. She didn’t expect him to say that. Certainly, didn’t expect him to carry on as if he didn’t. But she hadn’t a clue what to say after his confession. “Burns and all,” he finished. Harry continued taking care of her quietly, while she couldn’t do anything but look at the ceiling fan. Now it really felt medical. She winced audibly when his fingers brushed over the blistering burns. “Sorry, love,” he murmured. “Alright, all done. I’ll be right back.”

She watched him leave and she laid there letting the ointment dry a bit. She heard the water in the kitchen turn on and he seemed to grab a few other things. He returned to put a water bottle and book on the side table. He had gauze and bandages as well.

“Thank you,” she whispered. She wiggled awkwardly toward the pillows trying not to get the oil of the jelly all over the sheets. Harry helped by pulling the bed spread and sheet under her butt as she slid toward the top of the bed.

“I still want t’fire him,” he said knowingly, fluffing the pillows around her as if this was a completely normal moment for the two of them.

She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t his fault.”

He shrugged. “He hurt you,” he reminded her.

“It was an accident. I’m as much to blame.”

He shook his head. “M’not arguing with you.”

“Harry?” She asked quietly. Harry found the remote for the TV in the little drawer and sat it next to her book. He grabbed the gauze and bandage and got to work on the sensitive injuries. It felt so intimate. So personal. It was wildly awkward. She wished he would get in the bed on the other side. She bet if she asked, he would.

“Yes, kitten? Can I get y’something?” He murmured, focused on making sure he didn’t bandage too tight or snag any part of the burn with tape so that it would be a nightmare to get off in the morning. His concentration was adorable. She was definitely not falling in love with him.

“Thank you.”

Harry’s smile was so lovely she could have cried. It was so gentle. So beautiful. She wished she wasn’t so hurt right now because all she wanted to do was snuggle with him and maybe actually let him see her naked. Definitely not in love. He leaned over the bed and slid one hand along her cheek and tangled his fingers in her hair beside her ear. “Of course, love,” he said and pressed one of those perfect kisses he had been giving her to her forehead.

Well, he would have.

But she bravely tilted her head up at the last second so their lips touched. It was the briefest of seconds but enough to cause a tingle in her lips. It barely lingered long enough for her to even feel it before Harry yanked back nervously, almost losing his footing as he knocked the water bottle off the nightstand.

She pouted feeling like an idiot. “Oh,” she said looking away. “Sorry,” she muttered embarrassedly. Of course, he didn’t want to kiss her after caring for her gross body. It was a dumb idea, and she was hoping she could blame her actions on her injury and the need for sleep to recover.

He couldn’t believe how upset she sounded or how dejected she looked. As if Harry hadn’t spent hours awake at night imagining what it would be like to kiss her from the moment he met her.

Carefully aware of where she was situated, he sat beside her, careful not to touch or shift her aching body parts. “Kitten, y’surprised me,” he chuckled and placed both hands on either side of her neck and his thumbs gently brushed over her cheeks. He was so gentle with her it made her so weak. Swallowing the embarrassment of being rejected momentarily as it dissipated from the air, she glanced nervously into his eyes. He chuckled again. “If I knew y’were gonna kiss me, I wouldn’t have pulled away,” he promised seeing the worry in her eyes. His perfect face was so close she swore even though it was dimly lit, he never looked more handsome than he did at midnight, an inch from her face, ready to kiss her. “M’gonna try that again, yeah?”

She nodded eagerly, cheeks warming beneath his thumbs stroking her face. Harry leaned forward brushing his lips against hers so perfectly she thought that if she died because of his kiss, it would be the best and only way to go. His lips were so soft, it felt like kissing two little pillows. She felt woozy from how fast her heart was beating and all he did was apply the slightest pressure to her mouth. She moaned softly against him, and he smirked pressing another perfect kiss against her lips. He pecked at them a few more times, almost like he didn’t want to move to far from her mouth (he didn’t). Eventually, he pulled back just a bit so he could kiss the tip of her nose and then the one kiss he meant to place on her forehead.

She smiled slightly and thought about where she was just a mere three months ago. Her ex would never take care of her like this. Lord knew her parents wouldn’t either. But this man that happened to like her profile was perhaps the only person outside her family (Louis and El included in her familial statement) that had ever cared for her in this capacity.

“I’ll let y’sleep now, kitten,” he whispered. “Sleep well,” he pressed one more gentle, sweet kiss on her lips, picked up the water bottle he knocked over, and turned the light off before he left the room.

Saturday passed in a lazy blur. Harry was very mindful of her movements and despite his insistence, she didn’t let him stay in the bathroom while she showered. The blistered burns seemed to take well to the jelly and the more minor burns were red in color but the initial sting was gone, indicating they were well on their way to healing. “I can probably get out of your hair tonight. That way you can have your home back when you go to work tomorrow,” she said eating the omelet and home fries Harry made her. “Do you like cooking?” She asked casually. “You’re very good at it.”

He frowned. He really enjoyed having her around. Especially now that they had moved onto the kissing phase of their relationship. He really enjoyed that. “What makes y’think I want y’out of my hair.”

She sipped her chocolate milk that she insisted on making. Chocolate milk is a breakfast staple. She had insisted when she stirred a glass for him as well. “Well...I took up all your free time this weekend,” she shrugged. “On top of that you waited on me hand and foot and I was really needy.”

Other than the first night when she was in so much pain, she had hardly been needy. Harry loved having her around. It was like playing house with her. The need to have her there all the time was so strong. He woke up to her in his dining area looking at her laptop playing music from her phone. He thought he might pass out from how perfect it felt to see her there, so at ease.

“Y’weren’t needy,” he mumbled biting into his own omelet. “I like having y’here.”

She smiled sweetly. After kissing it seemed she was little more at ease with his compliments. “Harry,” she said gently. It almost sounded like the way someone says we need to talk. But it was just his name. It pulled bitterly at his heartstrings.

“Yeah, love?”

“I know I’m new at this...but you’re not. Do you usually have...companions here for extended stays without...” she trailed off looking down at her plate. “Without having sex?” She asked quietly before she looked back at Harry with blushed cheeks.

For the last forty-eight hours, Harry nearly forgot he was paying her money to spoil her and have her in his life. He forgot the arrangement they financially agreed to. And he forgot that it was quite different than all the other ones. Part of him was grateful he forgot because that meant she was asking as his companion. He was misinterpreting her reasoning, it wasn’t because she wanted to leave as just a girl. In all the picture-perfect weekend moments (injury aside) she was just a girl in his house, and he wanted her to stay, and she wasn’t getting on his nerves for that. “Oh,” he shook his head clearing all his thoughts trying to remember where he wanted this conversation to go. “Uh...no,” he shook his head in response to her. “No I didn’t,” he admitted.

She smirked wryly. “I don’t want to overstep,” she said softly. “I appreciate you taking care of me, but...it’s not fair for me to...take your money when all we’ve done is kissed a few times and you’ve done all this caretaking.”

He felt like his heart might break. He seriously considered just...not paying her anymore and asking her to move in like some sort of love-sap psychopath. “I don’t mind, love...you’re...different.”

“All the more reason I shouldn’t stay,” she said softly. “I...can’t be caught sleeping at my boss’s boss’s house,” she wrinkled her nose cutely. It was hard to be sad or mad when she looked so goddamn adorable. He hated that the reason she thought she was different was simply because he worked at his company.

He wanted her to know it was because she was the most beautiful person he had met.

“M’not even gonna be home tomorrow...y’would have the whole place t’yourself,” he bargained.

She bit the inside of her lip and tilted her head at him. He sat across from her, and it was so domestic. Like they were playing house. It broke her heart a bit that she had to leave. She kind of wanted to stay. Especially after all the kindness Harry showed her. Other than Louis, she was rarely treated so perfectly by a guy...and even with Louis it was all brotherly. She wished she just met him at work and not online. It put a whole damper on the whole...situation. “I just don’t want to overwhelm you.”

Harry was not against begging. He was about to start when he thought of a different angle. “Y’said you’d be friends with me if I wasn’t paying you, yeah?” He asked.

“Yes,” she said tentatively. It was literally like a business deal. Like the one they had when he first messaged her nearly two and a half months ago. She was hedging her bets and Harry was prepared to make any deal he had to, just to get what he wanted. All for her to stay one more measly day with him—especially when he wasn’t going to be home and he just wanted to come home and make dinner for her.

“Can’t y’stay as my friend?”

She smirked. “Do you have Niall stay for days at a time and make him breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”

Harry thought there was something in her perfume or pheromones that made him an idiot. That, or she was much smarter than he gave her credit for—and he knew she was brilliant. But that was an easy deflection, a simple counter to his request and he didn’t see it coming at all so he assumed it was the former and her pheromones were like some kind of drug that turned his brain into mush. “No,” he sighed.

“I don’t want to leave, Harry,” she told him. “I like kissing you and I’ve actually rather enjoyed the waiting on me part. I just feel bad because I can’t reciprocate anything with all these disgusting burns,” she was finished with her omelet, and she popped a fried potato into her mouth so casually. It really was a business deal.

Harry knew that. At the heart of all of this, it was a business deal. He was paying her to be in his life.

He regretted it. No if ands or buts about it. He was quiet for a while as he pondered her argument. He wasn’t sure he could continue bargaining with her. “Well...I want y’here. Can y’at least stay so I can make y’dinner one more time?” He asked. There was no use in arguing. She made more sense than he did and he would remember that when it came to hiring at the end of her internship.

But he was really looking forward to waking up to her still in his house when he left tomorrow and returning home to her in the evening.

“What kind of multi-millionaire doesn’t have a chef?” She asked, again, so casually. As if she hadn’t just severed Harry’s heart in two.

“Uh...love...do y’mind if I spend an hour or two in m’office tending to a few things?” He asked. “They’re pressing, apparently,” he said looking at his phone. They were back on the couch. She could get up and move now on her own and she was watching Harry’s reactions for all the funny parts in the show. It was a lot easier to talk to him now that they had kissed. Maybe it was because she felt like it was something in part to the relationship they had. She got a little too involved in watching her own favorite show because she hadn’t realized Harry wasn’t watching. She paused the show.

“You’re not seriously asking me if you can work in your own house, are you?”

He chuckled at her reaction. “I don’t want t’be rude, kitten.”

She shook her head. “I’ll be fine. Go ahead...let me know if you need help,” she smirked.

Harry had a hard time getting off the couch and leaving her. Especially when he knew he only had hours left with her now that she would be leaving tonight. She pulled the book she was reading off the side table and settled it into her lap. Again, he was overcome with how goddamn cute and perfect she looked in his home, reading in the main room while he was about to work.

He walked behind the couch and sneakily tilted her head back and kissed her in one motion before she had time to notice what was happening. When he pulled away, he smirked and gave her another gentle kiss before tilting her head back up. “Enjoy your book,” he said climbing the stairs to his office.

It was approaching three hours that he was still working on calls and other work when he was getting antsy that he hadn’t heard a peep from the pretty girl waiting for him downstairs. The idea that she left without saying goodbye was making him cranky.

God, she was going to take down his company if she got a new job at the end of this internship and left him for any extensive amount of time.

“Okay, I’ll deal with it tomorrow morning. First thing. Have a good night,” he said and hung up. He barely closed his laptop and rushed downstairs to find her gone. He hurried to her room (and the idea that it was her room was not lost on him), thinking she had gone to nap.

But the bed was made perfectly. He could have bounced a coin off it. Even her suitcase was missing. He frowned and felt like he might melt into a puddle of heartbreaking sadness. He wasn’t even angry at her; he was just annoyed that she didn’t say goodbye. Not even a text. Maybe some emergency came up and she just left, that would be understandable.

He made his way back to the main room not seeing any evidence of her. How someone who could hardly walk thirty-six hours ago left without a trace or a sound in a matter of three hours was nearly impressive. If he wasn’t so sad, he would have called her immediately and told her such.

Just as he was about to call her to ask why she left without saying goodbye, he saw the movement on the porch outside—she was waving to someone. Must have been one of his neighbors. As low and sad as his heart was seconds ago, it was just as equally happy. He left his phone on the table and headed to the door. He slid it out of the way and moved around to the front of the swing where she was reading cutely. Her finger paused her spot on the page and she looked up at Harry. “Hi, Harry,” she smiled.

Harry would never be mad at her for as long as he lived. He was certain.

“Hey love, aren’t y’chilly?” He asked.

She shook her head. “No, just a blanket and a book, I’m all good,” she grinned. “I wanted some fresh air."

"I thought you left."

She frowned. "Without saying goodbye?"

Harry was in love with her. So deeply. "I didn't see your suitcase."

"I put it in the bathroom for an easier time showering," she said simply.

"Oh."

"Do you want to sit? Or do you want to watch more TV?”

He wanted to sit and stare at her for the rest of the day. Maybe well into the week, too. “I don’t want t’interrupt..."

She shook her head, folding the corner of the page before closing her book. “Of course not,” she said softly and then she patted the seat beside her. Harry wasted no time sitting beside her. She lifted his arm around her shoulders and pressed herself firmly into his side. “I love it out here,” she smiled. “I’ve always wanted a porch swing,” she giggled. “I love your house,” she said again.

Harry thought it might be a bit ridiculous if he bought her a bunch of porch swings. The sentiment was there, though. He would have. “Thank you, kitten.”

“So...I know we don’t have the most...traditional of relationships as it were,” she started. Harry was really starting to dislike talking about their circumstances. He just wanted to hang out with her all the time and probably marry her and kiss her until he died. Was that too much to ask? “How...how do these usually end?”

“Oh good,” she said simply.

He snorted. Her responses were almost never what he thought they were going to be. “Why is that good?”

“Oh, I’ll never end this,” she smirked. “I’m all yours until you don’t want me. I don’t want to date another guy as long as I live.”

He loved the first part of her statement. The idea that she was all his was more exciting than he could describe—especially given that he was merely going to propose by the end of her internship which he assumed would likely mean the end of this companionship too. Probably by Christmas at this rate. He frowned at the latter part, however, because it may pose a problem for him later. “Kitten, y’can’t let some idiot ruin love for y’like that.”

She sighed. “I know...Eleanor said the same thing...I guess she has a friend that has a friend that would be perfect for me, so she says,” she rolled her eyes. “I told her to tell them I’m in a relationship.” The roller coaster of emotions this girl spoke into existence for Harry was going to give him a heart attack at the ripe old age of 29. “So, I was just wondering,” she said. “Sorry for saying it’s a relationship. I promise I know it’s not.”

She was apologizing for all the wrong reasons. “S’okay. Happy t’cover for you,” he murmured hoping he didn’t sound as disappointed as he felt.

“I know I don’t have a lot of power given you’re the one with all the money—but if...if you start sleeping with someone else, can you just let me know? I’m not sure I’m all that comfortable with it just because of...ya know...diseases and stuff. Not that I think you’d knowingly give me something! I don’t think you’re...oh Jesus,” she said putting a hand over her face. He chuckled. Listening to her talk and trying to piece together where she was headed with her reasoning and line of questioning was easily becoming one of his favorite things about her even if the questions weren’t always what he wanted to hear.

He was never right when he tried to guess, though. “Kitten, I am very cautious ‘bout that sort of thing. I wouldn’t do that t’anyone. Especially not you,” he promised.

“Okay,” she said and then tilted her head up to look at him. “Thank you for being so honest with me, you don’t have to be...so it means a lot,” she reached up and brushed her thumb over his cheek. Harry still thought he was going to have a heart attack because of her. But it might be for simply being the sweetest being he had ever met and nothing more.

He hated that she was going to leave after dinner. “Are y’sure you don’t want t’stay the night?”

“No...I figure if we’re going to have dinner tomorrow I should let you have some time to yourself before—”

“Dinner tomorrow?” He interrupted, feeling the somersault of his heart once more.

“Oh, sorry, do you have plans? I just assumed we always get dinner on Monday. I figured—”

“No, no,” he smiled knowing that even if she left tonight and he wouldn’t see her at work, he would still see her tomorrow. He had no idea that she had thought their...dates...were regular. He loved that. Hopefully he was hiding the fact that he faltered, overwhelmed with relief that she really wasn’t leaving because she was sick of Harry. “You’re right. I have t’make a reservation for somewhere...anything you’re in the mood for?”

She shook her head. “Now that I’ve had your cooking, I don’t know how I’ll be able to eat anything. You’ve effectively ruined breakfast outings for me. I think if this whole Styles Incorporated thing doesn’t work out, you should open a restaurant--maybe you can keep the same name. No one will know.”

He chuckled, rubbed his hand up and down her arm that was wrapped around her and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “I’ll keep that in mind, love.”

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