Sage

54

Harry.

Today was Ellie's birthday, and it also happened to be what felt like one of the busiest days of my fucking life.

I'd been running around like a chicken with its head cut off- managing meetings, going over tracks, and making sure everything for tonight was set up. While I was handling the work side of things, Gale was running around town trying to find a restaurant we could buy out for the duration of her birthday dinner. The one Id initially chosen, Beau's, had given me a call at eight this morning, informing me that the tool of a worker who allowed me to reserve the place had misread the conditions and buying out the establishment wasn't actually allowed.

Sensing how I annoyed I began to come with the unapologetic man on the phone, Gale offered to find another place- which he hasn't done yet. And her dinner is in less than four hours.

I could have managed the frustration with a simple count to ten, maybe. But as soon as I began to calm myself, the dull hum of the building abruptly came to a halt, meaning the fucking AC had shut off. It was then that I realized I scheduled a maintenance appointment to clean the vents and the entire building would be rippling in the devils heat for the next two hours until they were finished. And if that wasn't enough to stress me the fuck out, I don't know what was.

The basketball shorts I wear irritate my inner thighs as I speedwalk down the narrow hallway for what seems like the hundredth time today. The dress shirt and tie are thrown over my arm, and in my other arm, a report that needs to be faxed within the next ten minutes. I'm not sure where Hayden is, but he picked the wrong fucking day to be a no-call no-show. Managing his workload on top of mine was the last thing I needed.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, making me groan as I toss my clothes to the other side and fish the device out while moving my shoulder to avoid bumping into an employee.

"Jenny," I breathe into the phone, lifting my shirt to wipe sweat from my forehead. "What's up?"

"We just left the sushi place, we're at the spa now. Did you put the reservation under-"

"I put it under your name," I say, pushing open a door with my back before making my way into the office room. "Has Niall gotten in touch with the photographer yet? And why haven't you sent me any pictures?" I can't help but snap.

"Calm your tits. We were busy trying to having fun. You know, like you told us to? You never told me how hard it'd be, though. She is not a happy camper today," She says, adding, "And what's got in your tea?"

"Nothing," I huff, rolling my eyes, flicking a stubborn strand of hair that fell in front of my eye, being reminded of yet another thing I had to do today- get a fucking haircut. "Where is she, let me talk to her,"

"Um, no. She still thinks you forgot her birthday, remember? Plus, she's kind of in a bitchy mood. I just needed to know what the reservation was under."

I knew what the answer would be, but I couldn't help but ask anyway. Today was the longest I'd gone without talking to her in a while and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't one of the causes of my irritability. I was so used to her text messages and random pictures of weird snacks she'd conjured throughout the day that without them, I didn't know how to act. Especially with hearing that she wasn't in a good mood. I hated that her friend referred to her as bitchy when I knew she was probably just needing to elevate her feet or eat some fruit.

"Fine. Fine," I mumble, mostly to myself as I hurriedly begin to place the documents onto the machine. I check the smartwatch on my wrist to see that it was nearing noon, "does she have any idea for tonight?"

"No, did you get the reservations?"

"Still working on it. I gotta go, though. Let me know if anything comes up,"