Change My Mind (Liam Payne Fiction)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Aria gave herself a mental pep talk.  I can do this.

It was late Friday evening and she sat in her car, a yellow Jeep Wrangler that she asked for her 16th birthday, outside some Irish restaurant called Vaughan’s Public House.  She racked her brains trying to see if there was any way she could get herself out of the situation.  But remembering the stern look on her grandparents’ face, she didn’t think there was. 

When she walked into the house after school earlier that day, she could tell her grandparents weren’t sitting in the formal living room to talk about her excellent grades. 

“We received a call today,” her grandfather began.  His Irish accent was more pronounced which meant he was angrier than he looked.  “Could you please tell us what the problem is with the Liam Payne Training?”

Oh my gosh, Aria wanted to scream.  He is just a boy band member who happened to act decently. 

But the look on her grandmother’s face stopped her from saying that.  “Grams, I just don’t feel that I’m suited for that kind of work.   We have other ranch hands perfectly capable to train him.  I’m positive Bruce –”

Patrick interrupted her.  “Liam Payne’s people informed us that he doesn’t want to work with anyone else.  He specifically asked for you.” 

Aria’s annoyance was reaching a whole new level.  His “people”?  His people?  He couldn’t even pick up the phone himself?  Lazy.  She said to herself.  Conceited.  Egotisitical, pompous, condescending –

She noticed her grandparents giving her a funny look, and she suddenly wondered if she’d spoken aloud. 

Aria reorganized her thoughts.  Certainly she could change her grandparents’ minds.  “Look, I believe that it’s just some stupid pride thing with Mr. Payne, and that he’ll get over it. He’s –”

Her grandfather interrupted again.  “Aria, dear, don’t think we’re not taking your opinions seriously.  But whatever your personal issue is with the young man, please set it aside for at least 2 more weekends.” 

When he saw Aria opening her mouth, he held up his hand – a signal that Aria knew meant stop.  “Liam Payne is a business opportunity that is extremely important to us.  I don’t think we need to go over our finances in great detail for you to realize that.” 

Aria looked down at her yellow Toms, trying so hard to keep quiet.  She didn’t want to work with the guy, but she also didn’t want to disappoint her family.

Her grandmother handed her a piece of paper.  “Go meet Liam and try to fix this.” 

AND SO HERE SHE WAS 4 hours later, sitting in her car parked in some street in West Hartford, half hour away from home.  She tried to see the inside of the restaurant through her windshield, and wondered why the heck Liam chose this place.  Was it a place where celebrities hang out?  She looked at her grandma’s writing again to make sure she was at the right place. 

Drumming her fingers on her thigh, she thought about how extremely embarrassing it was to go after Liam Payne.  It annoyed her that just because he was this celebrity of the moment, people automatically submitted to him.  She didn’t like that he thought with one snap of his fingers, she was supposed to give him a polite smile with an apology on the side. 

Well, I can’t sit here forever, she mumbled to herself.  She got out of the car and walked quickly to the front door.  When she peeked in the window, she realized this was by no means any kind of celebrity place.