RIDE ✧ {H.S.}

6.

✧

Prestige from every corner of the Earth sat among this slender glass table, anxiously awaiting for my father to take his rightful place at the head. He loved the power move of deliberately pouring a drink while everyone waits, or delaying meetings to strike nerves. Publicists, assistants, executives and managers all tapped their feet, clicked pens, and kept eyes drawn on Niccolo.

My usual spot in business meetings was on a seat off to the side of the main table, but given my involvement I was finally granted a seat to be present for the event. Large glass windows became crystal with thick beams of sunlight reflecting into the board room. Light shined through the glass table everyone's nervous ticks were poorly concealed below the surface. People continued to filter in and out of the room while my father sat at the head, closest to the window and farthest from the door. On the other end sat Harry.

They were eye to eye, rivaling dominance over who held more value within the room. I had a hard time seeing Harry in a profession setting, given everything. Across this beautiful glass table was him. His rings softly clinked against the surface when he placed down his flimsy white coffee cup. He'd anxiously fidget with the silver cross necklace around his neck, adjusting where it sat and running the chain through the pads of his thumb. Tendrils of his soft hair sat next to his cheeks. My brain rushed back to the memory of feeling the texture of his strands between my fingers, yanking him away from my core.

He sat so unbothered. He was in a place he'd never been, surrounded by people that demanded so much. Silh stood by the corner, hovering over every paper he'd been given, double checking with his manager that everything was up to par. I still had little idea why we were all in this room, but given the sheer amount of people lining the walls and filling the seats, I could guess what was about to go down.

Harry's cardigan sleeve brushed down to his elbow, showcasing his tattooed biceps. I could help but imagining them hover above my head with the cool rush of champagne pricking my skin. God, why can't I just get over it?

He sat at the head of the table, staring at his phone and brushing past stacks of paper as they were placed in his view. He was too preoccupied, graciously moving his thumbs against the phones keyboard to pump out a text. He'd chew on his nails, occasionally waiting for a response, then quickly replied. Silh seemed to be monitoring over him, as she stood while the rest of us sat. She'd tap his shoulder, and his finger would go over the backspace button.

My father's voice broke through the routine murmurs and small talk that filled the glass incapsulated room. He was ready for business. Silence grew beyond whatever sound was left. We all awaited his next words, but Harry's mind stayed on his phone, fidgeting just enough before each new text arrived.

I really wanted to know what went on in a mind like that. Being a part of a band gave you a blanket of security that brought up his ego too high, now he's busy texting in one of the biggest meetings he may ever attend.

"We're here to draw up the final contract between Accardi, Inc and A.C. Record's talent here, Harry Styles," My father lamented in his typical voice, no inflections indicated any excitement.

Slight jostling of movement and congratulations took place, before the thud of papers shook the table among us all. Niccolo had thrown down the thick stack of revised contract papers, bigger than the ones Silh dropped off before.

Silh tried to draw Harry's attention to the meeting, with the eyes of several people landing directly at him. I kept him in my peripherals, careful not to linger enough for him to notice my stare. He had an usual glow that radiated against the stale environment, he wasn't the center of attention of purpose, he just was.