Calamity [Zarry Stylik AU]©️

Chapter 31: BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE YOU

H,

Niall and I have been friends for years. Years. And yet, I am still amazed at the sheer opulence of his house. Moving from the entrance, one would continue to walk in a straight line, to the main lobby.

Looking ahead, two flights of stairs, one left and the other on the right, would take us to the second floor. Still in the lobby, right above our heads, hung the most amazing chandelier with crystals, a clear sign of the level of abundance in the Horan family.

Standing in front of the stairs, looking left, one would find the pathway leading to the kitchen, pantry and a door that led to the garden and pool area.

Looking right, we would walk down another hallway leading to the living room, the dining room and the library.

Turning around, and looking at the main entrance ahead, we could see the large windows, with all this natural light coming in.

This house carried the entire story of the Horan family. On the walls hung exquisite art, the furniture was delicate and refined, and the decoration was classic but with a touch of a modern feel.

I have been coming here for years and, every single time, I was remembered for how rich my friend was. What did he do exactly? I have no idea. All I knew is that Niall came from old Irish money. That was about it.

I gave my jacket to Phillip, who had come to gather our belongings. Zayn walked away from me, and I found him in the lobby looking up at the amazing chandelier. It was truly mesmerizing.

I stood next to him looking up.

"I mean, I'm rich..." Zayn commented, in a whisper. "But I'm not this chandelier type of rich."

"It's quite something, innit?"

"It's ridiculous."

"How rich are you?" I asked, assessing the details of the pearls. "If you want to share, of course."

"I'm wonderfully comfortable. I hid in a five-star hotel for a month, baby. Trust me, I've got money." Zayn exhaled. "I probably don't have that much now, I haven't been working at all, but I am still okay."

"Look at you, full of money. I knew I liked you."

"Are you in need of a sugar daddy, is that it?'

I laughed.

"I never want to hear those words coming out of your mouth again."

"I mean, I can give you some change If you want to buy something nice," Zayn replied with a crooked smile. Suddenly, I saw his New York swagger. "I want you to look nice to me."

"Who are you?"

Zayn shrugged and made a frown with his lips that reminded me of The Godfather.

"Is it bad that I want to take care of you?" He replied with a ridículous rendition of a New York accent."

I scoffed. Jesus, even when goofing around he was handsome.

"Sure. But, be warned, I have expensive taste."

Zayn shrugged again, in his extremely New York self.

"Forget about it."

We shared a laugh.

I confess I was nervous. Zayn and I had kept our interactions mostly to ourselves: the kissing, the promises, the sex.

Our mothers had seen our interaction, but we kept it as "pure" as possible - If they did know, that was great, but we would not confirm it nor deny it because it belonged to us. Our mothers were in safe territory.