Illusion

Chapter 9

Harry's POV

I slam the door to the bookstore and hear it rebound off the wooden trim, angrily storming out of the shop.

Why was I so furious? I'm supposed to be watching this girl for some unknown reason, presumably because she knows something. I have to babysit her because she saw something she shouldn't have. And now I'm getting involved in her personal drama. Can't I cut a break from this shit? I have a mission to focus on. A critical task that must be handled efficiently and unproblematically. Two things this girl is not.

I breathe heavily in frustration, hailing a taxi to quickly get home.

My foot kicks my apartment door shut and I quickly lock it behind me. I stomp heavily into my kitchen, opening the sleek black cupboard and pull out a half empty bottle of whisky. I untwist and flick the bottletop away, hearing it clink somewhere in my living room. Swigging deeply, I make my way around the kitchen island to my living room, beginning to pace.

Her blue eyes swim through my mind. I hate her, I think aggressively to myself. She's done nothing but cause trouble and I still don't know why she's a part of this. Her inquisitive tendencies are going to land me with a dead body on my hands. My only hope being that it's hers and not my boss'.

This stupid girl doesn't know what she's gotten herself into. What the hell was she thinking going out so early anyway? She doesn't even realise how much danger she's in. Now I'm going to have to have someone watching her around the clock, and my best bet is that it'll end up being me. Not to mention a man to find and torture thanks to his little stunt this morning.

I groan out loud, hating the situation I'm in.

I take another deep drink, feeling my legs sway ever so slightly. My fingers dig into my tight pocket as I fish out my phone and call Louis. The ringing vibrates through my ear as I impatiently wait for him to pick up.

'Harry?' I hear Louis' questioning voice echo through the phone, knowing that he wasn't expecting to hear from me until tomorrow night.

'This girl. I need you to watch her tomorrow.' I spit into the phone. 'I know I said I could keep an eye on her while she works, but not anymore.' I say the last few words harshly, speaking through my teeth. There's no way I can keep watching her, especially after what just happened at the bookstore. Right as I was about to threaten her again, maybe even warn her about the extreme danger she's in, her fucking boyfriend has to interrupt. She probably thinks I was hitting on her, her boyfriend probably thinks that too. As if I'd ever want that annoying bitch.

'I'm sorry mate, but I can't. You know what's happening tomorrow...' I go to cut in, 'and before you say anything,' Louis continues knowingly, 'you know you can't be there. You have your own task to focus on. And after that's handled, you'll be needed at your apartment, we've been through this. Actually, you've been through this. These are your commands if I'm not mistaken.' Louis' voice spoke calmly, but truthfully.

I look down at the whiskey bottle in my hand, now only less than a quarter remaining.

'Yeah. I know.' I say lowly, walking over to my black leather couch and sitting down. 'She's just messing with my head, that's all.'

'Harry Styles, do you have a crush?' I hear Louis' smirking tone through my phone and instantly seize up, my muscles tensing.

'Why the fuck would you say that?' I bark through the phone. 'Don't say stupid shit to me when I've got enough to deal with as it is.'

'Hey, hey, calm down mate, I was obviously joking.' Louis eases up on me, laughing lightly.

I exhale heavily. 'Just do your job and I'll do mine. And then maybe this will all be over.' I say the last part to myself, only just loud enough that Louis could hear.