Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Three

"Hell.No." I snapped instantly, my mouth setting in a straight line and my arms folding across my chest. "In case you haven't noticed, I don't like your family, so why in the world would I work for your family?" I glared up at his devilly handsome face to see his eyes close as he tried, and failed to hide his smile. With his eyes shut it gave me a brief chance to truly study his features. Sun-kissed, glowing skin that was clear of any imperfection. Beautiful emerald, green eyes framed by dark lashes, adding to his sparkle when he smiled. Pink heart shaped lips, and dark curls that brushed just past his ears that he pulled off flawlessly. He had broad shoulders and a body that was hard to admit, but perfect. Not lanky at all, but not too bulky.
"Well," Harry snapped me out of my drooling state, and I hoped to God he hadn't noticed me oogling him, "You don't have to work for my family. Just me." Harry's smile widened whilst my frown deepened.
"Oh, well in that case let's hold hands and skip to your office together, Harry!" I sarcastically cheered and swung my arm. "Or should I say sir?" Harry's smile tilted on one side tuning into a smirk.
"You're quite refreshing, you know that? With you're obvious hatred towards me."
"Obvious?" I forced a gasp and brought my hand to my mouth. "I thought I'd done well at hiding it." Despite the remark Harry let out a light laugh, which confused me. It wasn't that felt bad for insulting









t him becoming annoyed would be justified. Instead Harry threw his head back and laughed. Like thunder brooding in a dark sky during a storm, the sound rumbled through his chest. I awkwardly looked away, not sure why he would find my hatred for him funny. Perhaps he was so arrogant he thought I was joking. Harry got out of the car and walked around to my side, opening it for me. Odd, he was almost seeming polite. An act I wasn't going to fall far. I glanced up at the building, and then up at Harry's face. I blinked in my silent protest and he let out a moan of playful annoyance. I crossed my arms across my chest, and saw his eyes drop to where my chest was now pushed up. "Perve." I muttered, earning a soft snicker.
"Devonne, would it be the end of the world to work for me?" He asked with a lazy smile. His smile really was beautiful, and I had no trouble believing the rumours about him being the charmer of the family. Talk of the town was he was always spotted with a new beautiful woman on his arm at every event seen at. She never appeared more than once of course. Harry clearly had the rich syndrome of growing sick of old things. Always needing newer and better, and woman were clearly no exception. Harry was handsome, yes, but his personality wasn't a match, and that was what mattered. Ugly personalities beat ugly faces, considering the personalities are the things that last.
"Yes." I blinked.
"Seriously, Dev." I narrowed my eyes at his nickname. No way were we on a nickname basis. Not only were we not friends, we weren't even on a friendly level. I had made it perfectly clear where my thoughts of him lay, and he had done nothing to convince me otherwise. He didn't have the right to call me Dev. He didn't have the right to be in my life. Period.
"I am. Let me stop by the Church because I need to confess my sins before the end comes." Harry's smile grew and so did my determination. No way was I going to work for him. Ever.
"You're killing me here." He groaned, his laughter growing despite his words.
"The end is nigh!" I cried out, gaining more than a few glares and cusses from rich looking strangers in suits. As Harry spun over to look over his shoulder as if embarrassed for his reputation at my behaviour, I fought a losing battle to hide my smirk. It wasn't that I was enjoying being around Harry, but more of enjoying winding him up. He blew out a sigh of relief when he saw nobody he knew had seen my public display and it made my smirk grow. My eyes wandered to the tall building looming above me from outside his car, where I still sat in with the door wide open, Harry anticipating me getting out.
"You don't even know what the job entitles." He reasoned.
"Yes I do. You. I'm not interested." I leaned back into my seat. As I sat in his beyond flash car, my eyes scanned my surroundings. The radio system  was more complex than my oven in my cramped apartment, and my loathing grew.
"Well I'm not driving you back then." Harry tried  gaining some control.
"Okay." I shrugged my shoulder. "You're trust-fund stink was getting on me anyway." I got out of the car and brushed past him, more than willing to make the walk back to my parts of town.
"Bloody hell, Devonne." Harry cursed, grabbing at my arm and yanking me back. "Listen, like it or not, the hospital is being moved from Wentworth to Adlington. You won't be able to afford the move let alone the constant bus fees with your current job." He spoke the truth, but it settled bitterly in my heart.
"You don't know what my job is." I snapped.
"Actually," he scratched at the back of his neck, "I do." Wait, what? He coughed awkwardly and when I quirked a brow asking for an explanation he kicked at the ground. Well, was this mister Styles looking uncomfortable? Well I never. "I told you I did research of Geordie's case. That included you." "You stalked me?" I accused.
"No!" He physically flinched. "Nothing like that. I just...I wanted to make sure he would be okay and see he was getting the best treatment and that entitled finding out about you supporting him."
"I hardly doubt it said my job in your smart assed files, Harry." I scoffed, attempting and failing to remove my arm from his grip.
"No. I...Oh screw it. I went to the hospital and asked the nurse, Wendy, about how you could afford to support your brother alone. She told me you worked all the time at Donna's Diner as a waitress."
"You freak." I blurted out, making Harry grimace.
"I know your brother means a lot to you. Are you really going to lose contact with him because you can't swallow your pride and work for me?" Harry hit my soft spot, and miraculously, rendered me speechless. My eyes diverted to the ground and I kicked at a stray pebble. I knew I couldn't leave Geordie. I was all he had, and vice versa. I had to do whatever it would take to stand by him, and it was looking like the way was Harry. Begrudgingly I looked up at him.
"What would my job be?" I groaned, earning a victorious grin from him.
"My PA." I laughed and shook my head, thinking my reaction ceased need of my response. Personal assistant? Hell no.
"Your personal slave? Yeah right." I rolled my eyes.
"You know I am a publisher right? My office is in Styles Enterprises, but my field is publishing. You being my PA doesn't mean you go and get my coffee and dry cleaning, Devonne. It would entitle you helping with filing, mailing response letters and reviewing manuscripts. It's a lot of paper work and an extra pair of eyes and hands would be a lot of help."  I paused. No I hadn't been aware of that. I was actually impressed. I loved writing and poetry, and the fact that he was into literature himself made him slightly more bearable.
"You like literature?" I asked. "Reading, writing, poetry?" Harry smiled and nodded his head.
"Peaked an interest have I?" Harry's eyes glistened. "Yes, I am. I saw the poems in Geordie's room too. The ones  you decorated his room with. You're talented. Talent that would prove more than helpful for me." I froze at his words.
"You read the poems I wrote?" I muttered, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.
"They were pinned to the wall." Harry reasoned. "Why, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Geordie," My voice shook. "He was my biggest fan of my writing. He had me recite them to him before bed. The ones about us sticking together. I put them up in his room in case I'm not there when he wakes up. He was always so afraid he'd wake up one day and I'd be gone, like mum and dad. So I thought if I put them up and he woke up when I was away-"
"He'd know you're still there." Harry spoke in understanding. I nodded, glad I didn't have to say anymore. Talking about Geordie always got me emotional, and that wasn't a state I wanted Harry to see me in. I had far too much pride for that.
"So," I blinked away my tears. "This job will give me enough to stay with Geordie?"
"Come inside to my office and we can discuss the details in full." Harry smiled. I took a deep breath, and dared another look up at the intimidating building. "It's not like the receptionist will kick you out because you have a stain on your shirt." He joked. My eyes darted to my plaid shirt where dark spot lay. I cussed and Harry laughed. "The PA job is a lot cleaner." He grinned, and I had to force my own smile away.
"Lord have mercy on my soul." I whined, making my way into the building with him. "Wait," I halted just as we reached the rotating door. Harry questioned my hesitance with a raised brow. I pressed a kiss to my fingers and made the cross sign, before smiling flakily at a chuckling Harry.
"Ready."