Modest Secrets - Larry Stylinson AU {Editing}

Chapter 1 - Management

Management 

The room was awash with light as the boys entered, Valerie said nothing else as she ushered them into the room, Harry heard the ominous click of the door behind them as she locked it. Louis walked in first standing tall and swinging his arms as if nothing was wrong. He was, after all the defensive and agressive one of the two. To the public Louis was the heartbreaker, the blue eyed comedian. Behind closed doors he was rebellious and very protective of his relationship with Harry (whether modest would acknowledge their relationship or not). Louis had a short temper when it came to people telling him what to do. In comparison to Harry who was placid, emotional and sensitive Louis was the strength he knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, no matter the consequences. On this early morning, however Harry thought of Niall’s warning to keep Louis in line and again felt his nerves begin to shake, his hands sweat and his stomach pitch within his body. Louis greeted Raymond Fields, their public relations leader who nodded sullenly and gestured for the boys to sit. 

Louis shot Harry a wary glance and took the ornate wooden chair, Harry nodded quickly at Louis and sat down next to him. Reaching out to take his hand, Raymond cleared his throat and Harry instantly retracted his hand, feeling the emptiness between his fingers he looked down at his feet. 

“Boys, this is Jennifer Barron and she is our new Social Media director,” he paused as the boys greeted the slender woman. She reached for their hands and Harry shook it sitting back down quietly, he watched as Louis apprehensively reached out his hand and shook it. 

“Pleasure,” she said, her voice like velvet and her dark eyes warily watching them behind her thick brown lashes. Her blonde hair was wound in a tight bun that sat on the top of her head, even at four in the morning she was dressed in a fitted navy blazer, white lacy shirt and pencil skirt. Harry watched her cautiously as she continued, “I am here to meet with you two privately and conduct a briefing of some new steps that will be implemented for the brand that is One Direction.”

“Why aren’t the other boys here?” Louis asked, he was leaning back in his chair and his body language clearly indicated his disinterest. 

She cleared her throat and glanced at Raymond who nodded for her to continue, “Well, this concerns you two first and foremost and then the boys will be briefed in the morning.”

“Us two?” Harry blurted out.

“Yes,” she gestured to the thin, curious man sitting next to her. He was wearing jeans and a yellow shirt, with a grey beanie slouched on his messy brown hair. Harry thought he looked like complete wanker, instead of someone in management; but perhaps sharing that thought with Louis in this instant wasn’t appropriate. Jennifer continued, “Lionel Warrick is the brains behind the brand, he helps keep One Direction in the limelight and keep,” she cleared her throat and shifted awkwardly in her chair, not looking at either of the boys she gazed awkwardly at the wall behind them. “Well, you see, Lionel works with me to keep unwanted attention off the band as a whole and each of you individually.”

“I also work on the publicity stunts,” Lionel winked but it was to blank faces and he shuffled in his chair looking down at his jeans, his facial hair several days old dishevelled and he looked tired, much like Harry felt. 

“So, what do you want at four o'clock in the morning?” Louis spat glaring at Lionel. 

“We need to discuss your behaviour,” Raymond interjected. 

Harry looked at Louis who was breathing heavily, evidently furious so Harry leant over and stroked his arm not caring what these managers and publicists saw or thought. Louis relaxed but glared at Raymond. “Our behaviour?”