LOVE AT THE FORUM

Chapter 12: Trouble

We got home from the concert about an hour ago and my sister was knocked out on my couch. I smile covering her with a blanket before heading back to my room.

I lay on my bed and take a deep breath staring at my ceiling. Tonight was tiring, to say the least, but I was happy I had fun. Even with being in the same area as Olivia my sister and I weren't even bothered. We danced and sang, and at one point, moved out of the friends and family area into the pit. When we left, we didn't go backstage again, we exited with the rest of the fans, and screamed Harry's songs the whole way home.

Now laying here in the silence, everything hits me like a ton of bricks. I regretted walking away from Harry, but I couldn't process everything with him in front of me.

Harry's girlfriend, Olivia.

Charles' words ran through my ears and I couldn't help but shake my head. I closed my eyes, hearing my phone go off again. Since we had been home, Harry had called me three times, and texted me twice. I rolled over to my nightstand, and another missed call from him popped up on my screen. I bit my lip, and picked up the phone, unsure of what exactly I would even say to him, as I called him back.

"Maggie?" He answered, his voice sounded different, worried even.

"Yeah." Was all I could get out.

"Maggie, I'm really sorry about today. About everything. I told you it was complicated."

I stayed quiet, chewing on my lower lip.

"Please say something Mags."

"It's fine Harry. We....we're just friends anyways. I overreacted for no reason."

"Oh," he said, silence coming from both ends now.

Maggie, why are you self-sabotaging?!

Because you don't trust men after your father left your mother while she had cancer and besides Charles, every other man eventually leaves. Or lies. Or hides things.

"Harry, it's late. We both have work tomorrow. Get some rest."

"Bye." Is all he says, and it echoes in my mind, even while I'm asleep.

—

The next morning I'm woken up at 8am by my phone ringing. When I reach up to ignore the call, it instantly rings again.

"Ugh!" I yell out answering it, my eyes still closed. "Yes", I answer, my voice sharp.

"Sorry Maggie, did I wake you?" It's Charles and I sit up quickly, looking at the time on my phone again.

"Yeah, a little. Is everything okay?" I rub my eyes, and prop my pillows up, sitting against them.

"Well, I'm not sure actually. Jeff and I had a conversation last night, and you and I need to talk, but I wanted to talk to you now before I do in the office, where I have to document everything."

"What? What are you talking about?" I can feel my heart in my throat, it's beating so fast it might explode.

"Maggie, did you go on a date with Harry?"

"No, I mean, we, Charlie, it wasn't like that. We just had dinner." I feel my breathing get heavier and I'm fighting back my tears as he's silent.

"Jeff said Olivia was upset....that there was something inappropriate she caught yesterday in Harry's dressing room. That you were being forward with Harry."

"What? No, Charlie, you know me better than that, I would never do that."

"You also would never date the talent Maggie."

"It was dinner, just dinner among friends, you had dinner with him."

"And Jeff, Maggie. It was a business meeting."

I swallow at the irony, and I feel like I'm going to be sick, "Charlie, you know me."

"Why would Olivia make this up? What did she see when she walked in that dressing room?" His voice Is wrapped in something different. A tone I have never heard him use with me before.

"Charles. Please."

"What did she see?"

I swallow as the tears fall down my cheeks, "He had his hands on my waist bu—I need you in my office at 10am."

He hung up before I could say another word. I hug my knees to my chest and cry quietly into my hands.

—

Charles' office feels so dark and cold today. I tug at my sweater sleeves, hiding the bottoms of my hands in them. I feel a mess, and I know I look a mess. My eyes are puffy and red. I didn't bother with makeup, nor my hair. Why would I dress up on the day I knew I was getting fired.

Charles finally walks in, his face is serious, and he avoids looking at me. He pulls out a small packet of papers, and his favorite gold pen. He clears his throat and speaks to me while looking at his packet, "Miss Santiago, this is a formal written warning meeting. The meeting begins effectively right now, at 10:05am."

"Excuse, Mr. Icker, but a written warning cannot be issued without a verbal warning. And I have not, to this date, ever received one."

I watch as he stops writing his notes, "The verbal warning was given when you accepted your current position."

"That's bullshit and you know it Charlie." The words slip my mouth before I can stop them, and for the first time he looks up at me. I turn my face away from him, tears have started again, and I refuse to let him see me cry right now.

He takes a deep breath, "Miss Santiago, I am giving you a warning now, to refrain from using that language towards me. You have broken the rules you accepted upon accepting this position, which will now result in a month long probation period. You will be removed from the floor, from today until a month out. You will perform administrative work only from today until a month out. You are officially removed from main act assistance and your job will be given to your assistant from today until a month out. Is that understood?"

"Jealousy really sucks, huh Mr. Icker?" I swallow what feels like bile in my throat, "I can't believe that you're jealousy doesn't even allow room to let me explain myself to you." I stand up from my chair and wipe my eyes, "Everything is understood, loud and clear. I'll be in my office."

Before he can say anything else, I walk out of his office, slamming the door behind me. I make my way to my office and struggle to find my keys past the fog my tears are causing. Once I finally unlock it, walk in, closing it and locking it behind me.

AN: it's a short filler chapter, but I just can't let the Harry/Maggie relationship blossom that easily 😂😉