Flawless // z.m

Sixteen.

"Arabelle, there is a call for you on line two." Catherine hollered from across the room. Multiple eyes turned to stare at me, and I quickly nodded before ducking to hide the slight flush of my cheeks. Just as I reached for the phone, Catherine appeared in front of my desk, biting her lip and urging me to take the call.

"Who is it?" No one called on my personal line, except for my parents but Catherine seemed too eager for it to be my mom or dad. Catherine just shook her head and once I put the phone to my ear, she jumped to my side and pressed her ear to the other end.

Catherine was the typical office gossiper. She knew everything about everyone, and the little wink she gave me every time I left work early told me I was no exception to that fact.

"Hello?" I said wearily, eyeing Catherine who was wearing a huge grin.

"Arabelle? This is Harry!"

"Oh," I relaxed and rolled my eyes at Catherine, "hey Harry. What can I do for you?"

"I'm in Chicago again and I was just thinking that I haven't seen the city properly. Mind showing me around a bit?" Catherine squealed into the receiver and I lightly smacked her arm when Harry chuckled at the other end.

"Sorry about that. And yeah, sure! I'd love to."

"Great!" I could picture the wide grin on Harry's face, his eyebrows shooting up and his eyes crinkling. "I'll text you details."

"You're the luckiest bitch alive," Catherine slumped against my desk the second I put the phone down. Turning around in my chair, I crossed my legs and raised an eyebrow at her. "You have the two hottest, richest men after you." She pushed her lips out into a pout and dropped her shoulders, slumping farther onto my desk.

"Two? I thought I was the only one." Wide eyed, I swiftly got to my feet and cleared my throat. Catherine straightened up beside me and nudged me with her elbow.

"You've got some competition, sir." Catherine stated proudly. I looked to see her blue eyes shining as she glanced between Zayn and I.

Zayn smiled, his eyes fleeting to me, and then back to Catherine. I nervously shook my head, trying to dismiss Catherine's words and stepped forward. I reached a shaky hand out and placed it on Zayn's bicep, "and who else is in the running?" He peered down at me, the lazy, amused smile never leaving his lips. His eyes danced across my features, stopping at my lips momentarily, and then resting on mine. His gaze was intense, but not frightening. It was filled with want, his hazel eyes glistening with adoration.

His fingers gently trailed down my arm and left an array of goose bumps in their wake. He stopped at my wrist, gently grabbing it between his fingers and sliding his palm against mine to intertwine our fingers.

I shook my head again, pushing away the thought of anyone else having me but Zayn. The thought of someone else's hands brushing against my skin, someone else's lips molding into my own, and someone else's body lying next to mine each night was so unwelcoming that I'd rather not have anyone at all if it wasn't going to be Zayn. I'd grown so accustomed to his touch, his lips, and the soft vibrations of the way he said my name that someone else doing those things would just feel wrong.

"Mr. Styles, of course!" Catherine chimed in behind us, pulling us from our own little bubble.

Zayn stiffened against me, the hold on my dainty hand tightening as the warmth left his eyes and was replaced by a new kind of intensity. He didn't acknowledge Catherine's words, but I knew he heard them because he searched my face for any inaccuracy behind her words.

When my eyes fell to the floor and my lip came between my teeth, Zayn dropped my hand and exhaled loudly. "Get back to work, Catherine." All playfulness left his body and the dark, brooding Zayn was back. A pair of feet shuffled behind me and I looked over my shoulder to see Catherine shoot me an apologetic smile before disappearing behind her desk.