Subterranean | H.S.

S19

Harry's pov

''I, personally think that we should keep it for a little longer. The price will grow and then after maybe half a year we can sell it with twice the income.'' One of my consultants speaks.

''I think that we should sell it now. The customer is very interested and we don't have any insurance, saying that he still will be interested in that long.'' Another person debates. 

''If he's so interested in buying it right now it's quite obvious that he would still be in a little longer. We could find more people that are interested and the price will be higher.'' The previous one adds another argument.

My gaze jumps between the two of them. My finger slides across my lips the whole time, trying to find the perfect solution, but I just can't seem to focus fully on the meeting. My narrowed eyebrows are the only thing that's showing that there's something in my head. My mind comes back to Friday evening. 

The events play rent-free in my head.

I think about that red lipstick smeared on her chin, her wet cheeks, her arms crossed over her chest in any form of feeling secure. I think about her sad, pouty facial expression. I think about the way she was shaking and begging for help with her eyes, but her mouth didn't tell the painful truth. 

Coming back to what happened I kind of feel like a dick for not asking her if she's fine, but again, it's none of my business. That'd be stupid, considering that she was crying her eyes out. We just agreed on one-time favor and that's it. I don't see any reason why I should care about her more than I did when I saw her for the first time. More confusing, I don't find an explanation for why I do, in fact, think about her and what happened that night.

No woman deserves to be treated that way and I wish that I knew before I started talking to her. 

Why the fuck am I even thinking about it?

I know I just feel sorry for her, and that's all. Almost every day I'm facing a situation where women are degraded by men, without their permission. That's the world that we live in and even if I'd try everything for it to stop, I simply cannot influence other males to respect someone they perceive as smaller, weaker, and worse than them. None of them knows that without that someone, they don't respect, they would never be here in the first place. Degrading women basically means that you hate half of who you are and those who brought you into this world. 

I really tried to be nice at first, but the moment I saw her eyes I knew that I wouldn't have to try. It just came naturally to me. What I don't get, is that it's everyday life that occurs in such cases and I don't give a fuck about most of them, that's why I don't understand why this time it's different. 

Maybe in the back of my head, I know that, that something she's going to ask me one day will be somehow connected to what happened. 

''Mr. Styles?'' A voice stops my thoughts and I look up at a woman that just spoke to me. 

I look around the table, noticing that everyone is staring at me. Fuck, I wasn't paying attention.

''Do you think we should keep it for a little longer or sell it right now?'' She says, knowing that I wasn't listening to the whole conversation. Thank God. 

I clear my throat, take my hand away from my lips and run my fingers through my hair. ''I have to consult with Mr. Horan and I'll let you all know when we're ready. For now, I think we're done here.'' I nod my head and everyone takes their papers and leave. 

I stay in my seat. Niall stands up from next to me and moves his chair to face me. 

''So?'' He asks, crossing his arms.

''I think- I- uh.'' I slide my hand over my face. ''I think that we should sell it now.'' I say, uncovering my face and looking at him. ''What?'' I ask when I see a grin on his face.

He takes a breath, laughs, and starts talking. ''I think that you weren't listening, Harry.''

''Yea, no shit Sherlock.'' I answer him, annoyed. ''The whole conversation was literally the two of them arguing over what I should do, trying to bring up a good argument to beat the other side.''

''And it did shit because at the end of the day you just want to let it go, get rid of it because it used to be your father's. Those people just lost an hour of their lives because they won't change your stupid fucking decision. They were probably writing those fucking arguments for the whole week, ever since they found out that there's going to be a meeting about it. They were shitting their pants, terrified of what you're going to say. And here you are, not giving a single fuck about it.'' He says, annoyed with me as well. ''So what was all that shit about?'' He asks and brings a mug with coffee to his mouth to drink it.

''I don't fucking know, Niall.'' I throw my head back.

''I'm not talking about the whole meeting, you dumbass. You're thinking about her, it's obvious.'' He stands the vessel on the table.

I furrow my brows, snort, and close my eyes. ''What? No.'' I say and turn my face away from his.

''Yea, thought so. I know you're lying to me. I heard what happened and you don't act as someone who doesn't care.'' I look at him, clenching my teeth. Niall raises his hands in the air. ''Okay, you don't have to accept the truth, but I'm just telling you. You'll realize it in your time.'' He waits for my response but I don't answer him. ''So, coming back to business.'' He moves his chair closer to mine and claps his hands. ''I know how bad you want to just get over with this shithole, but listen to me. Are you listening to me?''

I roll my eyes. ''Just fucking say what you want to say, Niall.''

''That dude was right. Think about it. You can make even more money on it, plus we haven't done the research on this guy. He's like a ghost, there's nothing about him. It's not safe and we should wait to make sure that it's good for everyone. Got it?'' I think about what he's saying and I hate that he's right, again. ''Even if you'd want to get over it right now, we can't because you know that we research everyone. We have to find something.''

I leave a breath out and I see Niall smiling.

''Fucking knew it. What would you do without me, huh?'' He hits my arm, playfully. ''You could even open a new car showroom in this, or another city. Doesn't that not sound nice, mate? Think about how much money that is going to bring you. That's going to be a completely new start for both of us.'' He gets excited.

''Yeah.'' I say, playing with my rings and looking at my fingernails.

''So, are you going to tell your best friend what's going on with this chick or not?'' He puts his elbows on the table, putting his hands under his chin, giving me the sign that he wants to know every single detail.

With my head still resting on the top of the chair, I look to the left, at Niall, with a fucking smirk on his face. 

''What the fuck, Niall?'' I laugh at him and he giggles. 

''Come on, I already know there's something going on.'' He tortures me.

''You couldn't be more wrong.'' I get up and take my stuff from the table. 

He gets up and follows me when I leave the room. ''Harry, come on. You never talk to me about girls. Maybe you're into guys more and you're scared to tell me? Come on, I'll love you either way. I couldn't stand a day at the office without your angry, stupid face.''

''And I won't start, especially not when there's nothing to talk about.'' I walk down the stairs, with Niall still behind me, ignoring half of what he said.

''Okay, then I'm just going to tell you, that you know where she lives, you know where she works, you have her phone number. You can go and see her. You don't have to tell me anything.'' We make it to my office and I open the door, turn around to face Niall's happy face, and close the door right in front of it. ''I'll be at my office if you'd want to share!'' He screams through the door.

I groan and when I reach my desk, I throw all the documents on it. 

He's not right this time, and I'm sure of it.

//

School is kicking me hard so chapters are going to be less often than they used to be.