Matrimony | H.S.

Chapter 2

☆☆☆

HARRY

After spending days trying to ignore what I had done, I was finally back in New York and still nowhere near ready to face the clusterfuck I had created.

Exiting the car the moment Raymond pulled up in front of my building, I walked past the doorman and stepped into the elevator. As I was checking my voicemails, I tried not to think about who and exactly what kind of situation would be waiting for me in my apartment.

Would I have to carry on a conversation with her? Answer more questions?

I certainly hoped not because talking to her was the last thing I wanted to do. Not if I was planning on sticking with my plan of keeping her at arm's length.

The moment I stepped through the threshold, I knew she wasn't there. Feeling both relieved and annoyed at the same time—relieved because I was alone just as I liked, annoyed because she wasn't where she was supposed to be—I dumped my luggage in my bedroom and slowly walked through the apartment, just to make sure. Turning lights on and off, I checked every room, inspecting everything, looking for anything that was out of place, looking to see if someone had even been there after I left.

When I reached the last room—the room she was supposed to be staying in—and found it just as it had been when I'd left for London, I rubbed my neck, hoping it would help with the headache I could feel coming on. Walking through the room, I stepped out onto the terrace to stare down at the busy city, wondering what I was supposed to do next.

What have I done?

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A Few Weeks Earlier

As soon as I got the call from the lobby, I walked out of my office to wait for her in front of the elevators. My main goal was to intercept her before she could get to the meeting room where her remaining family members would join her in another thirty minutes.

A few minutes later, the elevator doors slid open with a ping and Rose Coleson stepped out. Her brown hair was down in waves, her bangs long enough to almost cover her eyes. She had minimal makeup on, and she was wearing simple black jeans and an even a simpler white blouse. I waited as she walked over to the reception desk.

"Hello, how can I help you?" Deb, our receptionist, asked with a practiced smile on her face.

I heard Rose clear her throat and saw her fingers grip the edge of the front desk. "Hi. I'm here for the Coleson meet—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Deb noticed me waiting and, ignoring Rose completely, turned her gaze to me. "Mr. Styles? Is there anything I can do for you? Your two-thirty appoint—"

"No, there isn't." Ignoring Deb's surprised look, I focused on Rose Coleson. "Miss Coleson." When she heard her name, she glanced at me over her shoulder and let go of the desk to face me. "Your meeting is with me." I continued. "If you could follow me."

Deb cut in as Rose took a step to follow me. "Mr. Styles, I think you are mistaken. The Colesons' meet—"

"Thank you, Deb." I interjected, not caring whether she took offense at my tone or not. "Miss Coleson." I repeated, maybe a bit harsher than I'd intended. I needed to get this meeting done and move on with my day. "This way, please."

After a quick glance at Deb, Rose moved closer. "Mr. Styles? I think there might be a mistake here. I'm supposed to meet with Mr. Reeves—"

"I can assure you there are no mistakes. If you wouldn't mind stepping into my office for some privacy, there are some things I'd like to go over with you." I watched, impatiently, as she thought it over.