HS
My heart races in a panic as I run around my house, trying to get all my shit together.
Of all days that I have a meeting at 9 in the morning, I have to be late. It's already 8.30 and it takes me exactly half an hour to get there, depending on traffic. I just had to oversleep today.
I quickly gather the last of my things, grabbing my white blazer, and shrugging it over my light blue button up.
I quickly head down towards my garage, climbing into my car, and starting it up. Wait, I take that back, trying to start it up.
And of fucking course, my car refuses to start. I twist my keys repeatedly, only to hear the engine riving up just for it to shut down right after. Can this entire week get any worse seriously? First the Louis problem and now I have to deal with this shit.
I groan in annoyance, running my fingers through my hair frustratedly. Of all fucking days. I didn't spend a million on this car just for it to freaking break down on me when I need it to be working the most.
I quickly pick up my phone, dialling for Anna, at the same time, constantly trying to bring my car back to life.
"Hello. Good morning Mr Styles." She answers.
"Hi Anna. Is it possible to push back my meeting today? I'm having some car troubles." I say
"Sure. I'll let the others know." She says and I sigh in relief. On the bright side, at least I'm just meeting with the head of teams and not some important client. But still, it's precious time wasted and I hate being late.
"Thanks Anna. I should be down in the office by 9.30, 10 latest. Have the meeting at 10.15?" I tell her.
"Okay. I'll inform the rest."
"Thanks, see you soon, Anna." I greet, before hanging up, and immediately dialling for Zayn.
"Hello, Zayn?" I immediately answer the second the phone picks up.
"Mr Styles? Is something wrong?" He asks.
"Yeah. My car's not fucking starting." I exasperate.
"Oh," he breathes a small sigh of relief. "Have you tried restarting it?" He asks.
"Uhmm.. I'm twisting the key, it starts up but the engine shuts right back down." I tell him, rather frustratedly.
"Sounds like an engine or battery problem. Do you need to be in the studio early today?" He asks.
"I'm supposed to have a meeting at 9." I tell him.
"Oh shucks. Erm.. I can't exactly help you now, mate, sorry. I have another car trouble here with another customer, but I'll ask Niall to go down to help you." He tells me and a small gasp involuntarily leaves my lips at the mention of his name.
"Niall?" I ask, slightly confused.
"Yeah. He works with me down at the shop. You met him briefly on Friday night." He tells me. My brows raise slightly in surprise. I honestly didn't make him out to be a car mechanic. I suppose that's how he knows Zayn.
"Oh right. Okay thanks."
"No worries. Just send me your address through text and he'll be on his way." He says and I nod, breathing in a sigh of relief.
"Alright. Thanks Zayn." I breathe out.
"No worries." And with that, we hang up the phone.
I huff out a breath of air, sending Zayn my address before climbing out of my car and back up to my main house.
It's funny how many times Niall and I have bumped into each other despite us just being a one-time fling. I'm not complaining though, I wouldn't mind seeing his face around more often.
I plop down on my sofa, before opening up my laptop to get started on some work. Might as well seeing as it would most likely take him about twenty minutes to get here since my house is so out of the way from the main town area or the outskirts depending on where their shop is situated.
I was just finishing up my work, starting to feel a little impatient when a loud honk literally scared the crap out of me. I take a look out of my window, to see a red tow truck waiting outside my gate.
I quickly jog over to my controls system, opening up the main gate for him, watching as he drives up my porch soon after.
I swing my main door open, standing on my porch, watching as he climbs out of the tow truck.
"You know," he starts, unconsciously putting a small smile on my face. "I'm starting to think that you're purposely putting yourself in situations for us to meet." He grins. "It's very rare that I bump into guys I had fun with this often." He adds with a small smirk as he gestures me to come out.
I release a breathy chuckle, closing my door behind me as I walk down my porch to where he is.
"You wish." I scoff playfully. "It must just be fate doing its job." I sing song and he chuckles softly.
"So, what's wrong with your car?" He asks, changing the topic as I lead him towards my garage.
"It's not starting."
I raise the automatic shutters to the garage, letting him in. He releases a low whistle as he eyes my silver car.
"Jaguar XE. What a beauty." He says more to himself as he pops open the hood of the car, leaning his palms above head on the hood as he leans down slightly to peer into the insides of my car.
That's when I notice how fit his back actually is. His torso is only clad in a white singlet with the American flag design on, his lower half covered with a pair of light blue Bermudas.
I couldn't help but let my eyes trail over every inch of his upper half, taking in every single dip and contour of his defined back. I notice red scratch marks along his pale skin. Someone's been active.
The black tshirt he was wearing the other night really wasn't doing his body any justice.
(A/N: sorry, Niall's back muscles just gets me.)
"Looks like a dead battery." He says, snapping me out of my daze of obliviously checking him out.
"When's the last time you've got it checked?" I shrug at his enquiry.
"About three years ago?" I admit and he rolls his eyes.
"No wonder." He mumbles to himself, before fiddling even more with the car parts.
"Do you think it could be replaced now?" I ask, stepping up next to him looking over his shoulder and at the battery inside my car.
He turns his head slightly to look at me, barely feeling his warm breath fanning against my lips. He shakes his head.
"You need a replacement one back at the shop. Plus, this beauty is in a dire need of a service." He tells me lowly and I nod, my eyes involuntarily dropping down to his lips. I gulp slightly at our sudden closeness, before moving back slightly. I glance over to his back once more, my eyes trailing over the red scratch marks.
"I wasn't the one who gave you those, was I?" I couldn't help but ask, my fingers unconsciously grazing over one of the long scratches.
He chuckles softly, shaking his head.
"Nope." He smirks. "I got scratched by the tool shed in the shop. I don't make you out to be those scratchers anyway." He says and I snort out a laugh.
"Then what do you make me out to be?" I raise an eyebrow.
"I don't know," he hums. "We haven't even done it." His smirk widens and my bottom lip gets pulled between my teeth unconsciously. The mere thought of it exhilarates me.
"Wasn't Friday night enough for you to know?" I smirk and he pulls a cute thinking face, shaking his head.
"Nope. But you do seem to be a biter." He says glancing down at my lips and back up to my eyes. I chuckle, shaking my head in amusement.
"I think I'm more of a sucker, babe." I speak lowly, giving him a small smirk and he rolls his eyes playfully, before slamming my hood back down.
"Anyway, lover boy, I'll need to take your car back with me now." He tells me and I nod.
"When can I get it back by?" I ask.
"Come by this evening." He says, before sticking his hand out and I look at it in confusion.
"Your phone. I'll type in the address." He tells me and I smirk playfully.
"If you wanted my number you could have just asked, love." I tease, but handing over my phone to him after I've unlocked it and opened up the notes application.
"Aren't you an imaginative one, Mr Styles." Not gonna lie, that really got me. It sounded hot coming out from his lips. "I simply said I'll put in our address." He says, rolling his eyes, and types something in my phone. I chuckle softly at his defence.
"Maybe you're the one who wants me to put in my number." He says, before handing my phone back to me.
I glance down at my phone, to see that he indeed has put in his number together with the address of the car shop. I smile lightly.
"Well, since we're bumping into each other so often, it's not that bad to have each other's numbers isn't it?" I smile cheekily. He chuckles softly before beginning to walk back out of my garage.
"Maybe." He sing-songs while I give his number a call so he can save mine too. "Wait here." He tells me and I nod. I watch as he climbs back into the tow truck, before driving over and reversing to park right in front of my garage.
He climbs back out, dropping the back end of a metal piece, which I think is called a flat bed, to the ground, and uses it as a ramp to pull my car from it's parking spot onto its flat bed.
"Right. That's all done. I suppose you need to head down to work? Big boss and all?" He asks with a playful smile and I roll my eyes.
"Yes." I groan. "I'm supposed to have a meeting in half an hour." I tell him and he nods.
"I'll give you a lift." He says, swinging the door open to the tow truck open and I raise my brows slightly in surprise.
"What?" He asks and I shake my head.
"You don't have to." I say and he rolls my eyes.
"What, you were just openly flirting and now you don't even dare to climb into the truck with me? Is it because it's too low class for you?" He raises his eyebrows and I scoff softly, shaking my head.
"I'm not some snobbish rich kid." I roll my eyes. "I just don't wish to trouble you." I say sincerely and he rolls his eyes.
"Stop being such a sap. Just let me give you a lift." He says and I crack a small smile, nodding.
"Just let me go grab my things." I say, before I'm quickly jogging back into my house, grabbing my laptop that I left on the table earlier, before going right back out.
He smiles lightly, before nodding his head towards the truck. gesturing for me to get in. I climb in, immediately getting a whiff of a fresh, musky scent.
"What were you doing here the other day?" I speak up, breaking the silence between us and he glances at me questionably.
"Which other day?"
"I saw you here once, at my neighbour's house." I tell him. He scrunches his brows in confusion slightly before realisation crosses his features.
"Oh right. I was just returning a car that they sent for servicing. They weren't able to collect it from the shop so I had to drop it off for them. No wonder your address looked familiar." He tells me with a small smile and I nod in understanding. That explains it.
"I see. I didn't know you were working in the same car shop as Zayn."
"Well, you didn't ask." He counters and I hum in agreement.
"Are you two together? You and Zayn?" The question gets blurted out of my mouth. He glances over at me before he turns back to the road, releasing a low chuckle.
"What makes you think that?" He asks.
"Turn here." I say, pointing down the street and he nods.
"You two acted like you were a couple on friday." I point out and he chuckles loudly.
"God, no. He's just a really good friend of mine." He tells me. "Why, were you jealous?" He asks teasingly with a short wiggle of his eyebrows. I scoff out a laugh, rolling my eyes.
"Why would I be?" I retort and he shrugs lightly, humming an 'I don't know', a small smirk on his lips.
"I just didn't want you to cheat on someone with me." I mumble and he gazes over at me as we pull up to a stop light.
"I don't do relationships. Too much hard work." He simply says and I scoff softly.
"Tell me about it." I groan, rolling my eyes and running my fingers through my hair, feeling annoyed just at the thought of Louis.
"Does your boyfriend know? What we did?" He asks and I shake my head.
"One, he isn't my boyfriend anymore," he raises his brows slightly in surprise. "And two, he doesn't need to know. If he's out there cheating on me, I don't see why I have to tell him anything." I huff out and he nods slightly in understanding, before starting to drive again.
"What even happened to you guys? If you don't mind me asking." He asks lowly. I shrug slightly.
"Was complaining that I was spending too much time in the studio." I simply say, and he nods.
"So.. What do you do? Studio as in music studio or..?" He asks, changing the topic of Louis, which I'm glad he did. He glances over at me and I shake my head.
"Design." I tell him and he nods in understanding.
"A designer. Nice. Interior? Fashion?"
"Yeah, fashion and branding." I tell him with a small smile.
"Wow, you must be crazy busy." He mutters and I chuckle softly.
"Yeah, pretty much." I breathe out.
"Zayn never told me what he was doing at his new job." He tells me, rolling his eyes. "What a friend." I chuckle softly.
"Probably didn't want you thinking it was a 'girly' job to be a designer." I say, trying to lighten the mood a little. He scoffs.
"Why would I? I can only imagine how hard it is to be a designer. It's simple jobs like these that are the hardest." I was surprised by his words, honestly. To normal layman, it may seem like such a trivial job, just putting texts together in magazines, photoshopping cover images, creating advertisements, thinking of new fashion trends, sketching ideas of outfits, but it's so much deeper than that, and I'm surprised that Niall actually understands.
"I'm glad someone appreciates it." I hum out, with a small smile.
"You must be doing very well then, seeing as designers don't get paid very well, do they?" He asks and I shrug lightly.
"It took a lot to get me to where I am." I say and he nods in understanding.
"Just up this street, second traffic light, turn left." I tell him and he nods.
"Do you do anything else besides working at the shop?" I ask this time and he simply shakes his head.
"The shop was owned by my grandfather so I just.. Yeah." He trails off, his eyes a little distant.
"So you're the owner of the shop?" I ask and shakes his head.
"My Uncle is." He says and I nod in understanding. I was about to ask more about him, but he pulls up right in front of my studio.
I puff out a breath of air, before turning to him.
"Thanks for the lift." I say, my eyes glancing over his face once more.
"Don't worry about it." He says. "We close the shop at 8, by the way. Think you can drop by by then?" He asks and I nod.
"I'll be there." I say with a small smile. My eyes unknowingly glance down to his lips, suddenly missing how his lips felt on mine just two nights ago. I had to bite back the sudden urge to make out with him, and instead, I climb out of the truck.
"Bye Niall. Thanks, again." I say, looking at him through the opened window.
"Bye Mr Styles." He replies with a small smirk, before he's driving off again, leaving me standing, practically eating the trail of dust left behind.
•••
"I'm sorry, Mr Styles, but we're not changing what we want just because you say so."
I groan in annoyance under my breath, running my hands over my face as I lean on my elbows on my marble desk, tugging on my hair in vexation.
"I understand, Mr Hudson. But with all due respect, I think this advertisement will cause unnecessary controversy. Firstly, it objectifies women, and it looks like it's trying to sell rape rather than clothes. Yes, you may think of it as just being creative, but the public won't think that. There are definitely other ways that me and my team can help advertise your shoes and clothes in one advertisement alone in a creative way." I tell him, as calmly as I can.
(a/n: censoring the brand just because I don't wish to sabotage them, but I just wanted to show you what kind of advertisement it looks like)
"I expect ten new ideas by tomorrow then. Come down my office tomorrow at 10. " Was all he said before he slams the phone down.
I groan, hanging up as well and tossing my phone back onto the table. What a dick.
"Mr Styles?" I hear Mitch's voice call followed by a knock on my door.
"Yeah, come in." I call, before leaning back into my chair as lethargy completely takes over my being.
"How did the call with Mr Hudson go?" He asks as he takes a seat opposite me.
"Like absolute shit. Think he was pretty offended that I said the ad was advertising rape rather than clothes. Which I think, it really was." I groan and he nods.
"He's probably a 50 year old man who's a pedophile. So, what did he want?" He asks.
"Ten more ideas by tomorrow morning." I roll my eyes.
"Wow, what a dick." Mitch mutters and I scoff. Tell me about it.
"Go take a breather. Want me to call a meeting with the Creative team?" He offers and I shake my head.
"No, don't. I was the one who pissed the pervert off. I'll think of the ideas myself." I tell him and he looks at me, unconvinced.
"Harry-"
"Mitch, really. All of you just get going, yeah? It's getting late." I tell him and he nods slightly.
"Give me or Chris a ring if you need any help." He says, while standing and I nod, throwing in a weak smile.
I watch as he closes the door behind him and huff out a breath of air in annoyance before pulling out my sketch pad, ready to scribble down some ideas when it comes to mind.
I was half way through wrecking my brain when my phone suddenly rings. I pick it up, not really paying attention to the caller ID.
"Hello? This is Harry Styles." I answer, as if on auto pilot.
"Harry." I immediately perk up at the familiar Irish accent.
"Niall, hi. Is something the matter?" I ask.
"Erm.. Yeah, it's 9." He says and I immediately shoot up from my seat, glancing down at my watch on my wrist, seeing that it is indeed already 9.
"Oh fuck, I'm so sorry. I lost track of time." I say, clamping my phone between my ear and should while I hurriedly pack up my stuff.
"Don't worry about it. Want me to drive the car down to your studio instead?" He offers.
"No no, please don't do that. I've already caused enough trouble. Just, give me like.. Fifteen minutes? I'll be there as soon as possible." I say.
"Alright. Take your time." He says. I definitely won't be taking my time.
"See you soon." I say, before I'm quickly hanging up my phone and literally dashing out of my office once I've gotten everything and have closed up the studio.
I make my way out to the main street, thankfully, able to get a cab pretty quickly. I tell the driver the address of the shop, before he's quickly driving down the road.
I tap my fingers impatiently as he breezes through traffic before finally turning into a gate that's slightly off town. He pulls up outside a red and blue container that's connected to another small building. Metal shutters are down, street lights barely lighting up the area, old, dusty and badly crushed cars are lined up along the path to the container. The only thing that's giving light to the area is the bright white and red neon light that hangs above head which reads HP Car Motors.
I'm quick to pay the driver before climbing out, walking to the small building with the sign, hoping to spot Niall somewhere. This place honestly gives me pretty bad vibes. Or maybe it's just because I'm a scaredy cat.
"Niall?" I call out tentatively, before giving the shutters a knock, the loud clanging of metal ringing in the silent night.
No answer.
I walk around the side of the container and towards the building next to it, seeing a wooden door. I give it a couple of firm knocks. Still nothing.
By now, I'm starting to get a little worried. Not for myself, but for Niall. Where did he go? He can't possibly have just left right? Could he? Did something happen?
At that thought, I'm quick to pull out my phone, scrolling through my contacts, before finding his name. Even with the emojis of the purple eggplant, tongue and the three water droplets next to his name, it still doesn't exactly settle the unsettling feeling I feel in my gut about this place.
The phone rings on the other end, and I'm silently praying he would pick up soon. As I wait for him to answer, I start to hear some muffled, hushed shouting.
I pull the phone away from my ear to hear better. There is someone shouting. About what, and who it is, I can't exactly tell. But it's coming from behind the building.
I hang up the phone, before debating whether I should make my way over. I sigh, deciding to just suck it up and head towards the back. I just want my car back. Plus, I hope Niall's okay.
The shoutings start to get a little louder. I still can't exactly hear what the fight's about, but I did hear some profanities firing back and forth.
Just as I was about to turn the corner, that's when I notice his voice. Niall's. I stop in my tracks.
"Fuck off, you mean no shit to me!" He shouts angrily and I get slightly taken aback by his tone.
"You son of a bitch-" someone else's voice rings fiercely through the air before there's a loud thud.
I quickly make my way over to the back, to see two figures that's barely hidden in the shadows. One of them Niall, (I can tell by his slightly messy quiff and physique, plus the dim lighting helped) and the other, someone with a slightly taller and bigger built, towering over Niall's body, with his fists raised.
"Hey!" I call out and they snap their attention to me before the the bigger built guy says something to Niall which I can't make out before he takes off running.
I quickly make my way to Niall, and the closer I get to him, that's when I see that his lip is badly busted.
"Niall," I breathe out, reaching out to gently cup his face.
"I'm fine." He mumbles, stepping back and away from my hold, wiping the side of his lip with the back of his wrist, his piercing blue eyes are blazing with anger. It actually scares me.
I bite back all the questions that are buzzing around in my head about what I just witnessed, because I know he obviously won't tell me about it.
"You need to get that cleaned up." I tell him but he shakes his head stubbornly.
"Don't worry about it. Just follow me." He speaks lowly, his voice a little raspy. He starts to walk towards where I came from, and I follow behind like a lost puppy.
He brings me to the metal shutters, pulling out a key before unlocking it and pushing the shutters up, with it clanking loudly as it reaches the top. I'm immediately met with the strong smell of musk and wood, plus a hint of gasoline.
He switches on some lights, and I take the chance to take in the rather run down place. Spare tyres and car parts were all over the place. Tow trucks, motorcycles and cars of all sorts are littered throughout this giant shed. Some being lifted by those vehicle lifting equipment, some crushed badly to the point where it doesn't even look like a car anymore, some old and dusty, some shiny and new. Machines and parts I never even knew existed were all around.
He goes behind a counter, reaches above head and opens a small cabinet, to reveal rows and columns of car keys hanging on hooks. His fingers graze over the small numbers above each hook before stopping at 27, and taking the keys off. Obviously mine.
He turns back towards me, handing it to me.
"Your car's out here." He mumbles, before walking out of the little counter he was behind, and towards the side of this giant shed.
I follow him, and soon spot my silver car parked in front.
"Battery is changed, and everything is fully serviced." He tells me and I nod gratefully.
"Thanks. How much in total?" I ask and he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, as if in contemplation.
"Niall? How much do I owe you?" I ask again and he clears his throat.
"Servicing is $3.5K, replacement of battery is $200. So, $3700." He tells me, and I nod.
"Alright. I'll pay by card." I tell him and he nods, before walking back towards the counter, ushering for me to follow.
He pulls out the credit card terminal while I take out my credit card, handing it to him. He slots my card at the bottom of the terminal, before keying in some things, stopping his movements, and looking a little hesitant.
"Niall, you alright?" I call and he snaps his gaze towards me. His eyes glance over my entire face, his stare lingering on me for a little while longer before he gives me a firm nod, and gets back to typing something on the keypad.
What's gotten into him?
He passes me the credit card terminal while I key in my PIN number.
The receipt prints before he tears it off, and hands me back my card together with the receipt.
"Let me give you a lift back home." I offer as he walks me back to my car.
He stops in his tracks slightly, before shaking his head.
"It's alright. I've got somewhere to be." He tells me and I raise an eyebrow.
"Do you need a lift there then?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"No thanks." He answers.
"It's the least I could do to-"
"Harry. It's okay." He cuts me off. "I don't mean to be rude, but it's getting late and I really need to get going." He says and all I can do is nod slowly, my mouth just itching for me to ask what's up with him. But I don't, obviously.
"I'll see you around then, Niall." I speak lowly and he simply nods, his eyes shifting from my gaze.
Without another word, he turns around and walks off. I climb back into my car, watching as his body retreats back towards the counter. I release a soft sigh, before starting up my car and slowly driving towards the shutters, and out of the giant shed.
I take a last glance through the rear view mirror, to see that Niall's already no where in sight.
What the hell just happened?
---