The days after our trip were uneventful. Perkins had given us the week between Christmas and New Years off, so we spent it mulling around London, shopping and trying restaurants. On New Years Eve, though, the London branch hosted a party and international members were welcome.
Harry had asked me the day we returned from Italy if I wanted to attend. At first I didn't, but when I began to think about all of the people in the company I hadn't yet met, I decided we should. I wanted to become acquainted.
When we were out shopping one day, I asked Harry what the attire of the party was.
"Should I wear a little black dress or go for a ball gown?" I had asked, peeking my head above a shopping rack.
"Are you asking me if it's black-tie or cocktail?" he said.
"Exactly."
"You're out of luck, Cinderella." he said. "It's cocktail."
"Oh, hush," I said. "I'll look hotter in a little black dress anyway."
I ended up going with a form-fitting black dress with gold embellishments along the front. I treated myself to a pair of black pointed-toe Louboutins, just because I felt like I had earned them. Harry scoffed when I told him this.
"Earned them how?" he said. "What have you done recently to earn this? We haven't worked in almost two weeks."
"I've had to deal with you." I said, lifting the bag off of the counter of the boutique. "That's work enough."
The night of the party, Harry got ready at his own flat to avoid fighting with me for the bathroom. I had a double vanity, but my makeup was sprawled across the entire counter. It was one of the few times he'd been to his flat since our trip; he'd practically moved into mine.
He burst into my bathroom around seven, just as I slipped an earring on. I looked at him in the mirror as he came behind me.
"I'm so fucking lucky." Harry whispered. His hands gripped my hips and he pulled me into him. I hummed a laugh and placed my hands atop his. I stared at our reflection and leaned into him.
"We look good." I whispered. "We make an attractive..." I hesitated.
"Couple?" he said.
I nodded. "Never quite know what to call us. After all, we are quite unique."
"What do you want to call us?" he said.
I shrugged. "I like being a couple. Am I your girlfriend, Harry?"
He laughed. "We're a bit past that, baby, don't you think?"
I smiled. "We never really said it outright though, except in front of my family."
He squeezed my hips and kissed the side of my head. "Then, as long as it's right with you, you're my girlfriend."
I scrunched my nose. "Feels like we're fucking teenagers."
"Does sound a bit immature, this conversation." he said, laughing. He squeezed my bum and stepped back. "You're my baby, then. And nobody fucks with my baby."
I laughed and turned around. He reached his out to me and I grabbed it. Then, together, we walked out of my bedroom.
We left my flat and got into his car downstairs. I played the music loud and he rolled his eyes at my singing, but he still smiled.
There was valet parking at the venue. The party was huge, I could tell from the outside. It was at a mansion just outside of London. It had taken us quite a while to arrive.
Harry and I walked into the house hand-in-hand. The music was loud and there were tons of people, very few that I recognized. A man in a suit walked up to us with champagne and offered us each a glass. We both took one and tapped our glasses together. The champagne had flakes of gold floating inside.
"This house is amazing." I whispered to Harry.
"Isn't it?" Harry replied. "One of Vinny's."
I scoffed. "Just one."
The house was old, but updated. Almost everything had a hint of gold, from the furniture to the wallpaper on the walls. The house and the party going on inside could hold its own against Gatsby's.
Various people came to greet us. Harry introduced me to them all, and almost everyone assured me they had heard much about me already. That was a little hard to get over, how everyone already knew my name.
Again, I felt like I was a teenager. We stepped inside the main room, where everyone was dancing, and almost everyone looked our way. People stared at me and whispered to the person beside them. It was like I was dating the most popular boy in school, and I didn't know how to feel about it.
Harry's hand fell on the small of my back as he led me through the crowd. I heard people around us talk.
"God, I thought he had no feelings." Someone said. When I looked their way, they turned their head down.
"Her name's Tilly, they say he met her on the street." One woman whispered.
Harry leaned down and placed his hand on my shoulder to whisper. "Don't listen to them, baby."
"I didn't realize how famous you were." I whispered. "How famous we were."
He laughed and kissed my cheek. He took my hand in his and tugged me forward.
"Might as well give them a show." He said.
"You know ballroom dancing?" I said as he took position.
"Of course, doesn't everyone?" he said, sarcastically. I lightly hit his chest, then took his hands. A new song started and we began to dance. Together we drifted across the marble floor, chest to chest, grinning.
After a few songs, we pushed our way through the crowds to get off of the dance floor. Harry told me he wanted us to see Vinny.
He dragged me to a staircase. Guards stood in front of it, but at the sight of Harry approaching, they moved to the side. He led me up the marble staircase, away from the crowd below. I peeked back to see curious eyes watching us. Shaking my head, I turned back around.
Harry and I arrived at a closed door at the top of the staircase. He knocked twice and, immediately it opened. Inside was a lavish study. A few people were inside, draped across the beautiful leather chairs, smoking cigars. In the seat behind the desk sat Vinny, swirling a glass of whiskey.
"Tilly! Harry!" Vinny's voice boomed the moment he saw us. "I'm glad to see you both, come here!"
We obliged. He stood to greet us each with a kiss on the cheek, then demanded to know how our holiday went.
"Meeting the family, Styles." Vinny said. "Very important step for you two."
I blushed and Harry laughed.
"It went well." Harry said. "It was good."
"Glad to hear. I'm sure there will be many more for you two." Vinny said. He turned to the small crowd of people in the office. "I mean, look at these two! They're in love. Haven't seen something so strong in a long time."
I smirked and looked up at Harry, who looked amused.
"We just stopped in to say hello, Vin, we'll let you get back to business." Harry said.
Vinny waved his hand. "No bother, son, anytime."
Harry and I waved to him one last time before he tossed his arm around my shoulders and we walked out.
I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw it was already nearly midnight. I stopped walking, and a moment later so did Harry. He looked back at me confused.
"Almost midnight." I said.
"Yeah?" he said.
"Let's stay up here. Just me and you."
"Me and you?" he said.
"You and I, technically."
He laughed and pulled me into his arms. He rested his head on top of mine.
"Vinny's proud of you." I mumbled.
Harry stepped back. "I know."
I shuffled forward, my heels scuffing along the floor, and sat on the top step. Sitting here, I could see the commotion of downstairs. It was loud. Music poured from the room where we had danced only minutes prior. People laughed and talked.
Harry sat next to me and watched the scene as well. After a few minutes, people rushed to the main room and began to shout the countdown for the New Year.
"TEN, NINE, EIGHT!"
"Here's to what's been the craziest year of my life." I whispered to Harry.
"SIX, FIVE!"
"To my happiest." Harry replied.
"THREE, TWO, ONE!"
Harry winked at me and leaned in to kiss. Just as our lips met, though, gunshots rang through the air.
--
been a while! sorry y'all, shit happens in the real world. i don't really wanna sit here and explain.
i do want to emphasize though that i really do not appreciate direct messages to my inbox spamming me to update. if anything, that makes me want to do the opposite. it's okay to leave comments on the story, but please do not send me direct messages.
sorry to end on a cliffhanger hahaha
also thank you all so much for all of the support on this story???? i have well over 200,000 reads which is insane to me. i love reading your comments and seeing what you all have to say about the story. it means a ton to me to see all you loving this story!
thanks for support and much love to you all
becca xx