Isn't She Lovely (h.s)

Chapter 23

Harry

ONE WEEK LATER

It had been seven days since I left Sam and Catherine back in London and went to Glasgow, and it was killing me. I hadn't slept alone a single night in the last month back in London, so to have to do so after being so spoiled by Sam's comforting presence for so long was simply torture. I knew this time apart was necessary for both of us since I had interviews to do and Sam needed to get her flat in order for subleasing and tie up some loose ends at work before we officially moved them to London next month.

Since we knew it would be a media storm at the airport, Sam opted for us to say our goodbyes at home so that the paps didn't catch sight of Catherine. And of course as I was saying goodbye, Catherine cried. And screamed. And then cried some more. It was heart wrenching; my little girl begging me to stay home with her and mummy. She thought I was leaving her again. That alone was enough to make me want to call the band quits and stay behind in London with them. How could she think I was going to leave them permanently? It broke my heart to hear her say that. And of course as soon as she cried, I cried. When I started crying, Sam started crying and by the end of our goodbyes we were in a big puddle of tears.

The last week apart had been torture, and as our next album release loomed closer, and the plans for the next tour were being made, I became more and more anxious about what would happen when I had to leave them for months at a time. I knew that wouldn't be for at least another nine months, but I could feel my anxiety growing with each passing day. I desperately wanted to be back in London right now, lying in bed snuggling with my two favorite girls, but Sam had made me promise that I would tell my management the truth about Catherine before they moved in. So, instead of getting to spend my one day off relaxing before another strenuous week of interviews and radio performances, I was sat in the headquarters of Syco Records, tapping my foot anxiously as I waited for my name to be called by the flirty woman behind the desk that always hits on me when I would come here for meetings. 'Thank god I'm not here much' I thought to myself desperately as I caught her eyes raking my body over the top of her computer. As I watched the time on the clock near closer and closer to ten thirty, I started to shake. I had made this meeting so irrationally in order to appease Sam that I never even thought out what it was I was planning to say. How the hell was I going to tell them? God, they are going to be so mad. Lord knows what they're going to do to me when they find out. I decided to play it straight, I'm just going to come right out and tell them, after all, that's the easiest... right?

"Mr. Styles?" The receptionist called, throwing me a toothy smile. I stood from my leather seat and sat down the Rolling Stones magazine I'd been pretending to read as I worried.

"Mr. Cowell is ready to see you now; first door on your left, Sweetie." She threw me a wink and I smiled back politely and thanked her as I backed out of the room, down the hall to the first door on my left; the big conference hall.

When I reached my hand out to grasp the door handle, I noticed that my hands had begun to shake uncontrollably. I quickly opened the door and stepped it, not even bothering to look to see who was all in there.

"Good morning Harry." I heard Simon himself say as I shuffled in, head low. I took an empty seat at the end of the table.

"Hullo, Si."

"So why did we call this meeting this morning Harry?" He stopped shuffling the papers in his hand and sat them down on the table in front of him as he gave me his full attention. I cleared my throat, looking around the room at the numerous board directors and media handlers that lined the long rectangular table.

"Um, well you see...It turns out... IGotMyBestFriendPregnantWhenWeWere PissedBeforeMyXFactorAuditionAndNowItTurnsOutIHaveAThreeYearOldDaughter." I took in a deep breath as I finished my long slurred together sentence. I was really hoping no one understood me, but it was clear by the surprise written on their faces that they understood perfectly fine. Silence washed over the crowd of people as they shifted gazes back and forth between me and Simon.