The Devil Wears GUCCI || Larry Stylinson

Chapter 6.

For the next few days, Louis is ready for Harry's arrival long before he enters the office.

Coffee cup at the ready and the day's papers neatly in place. He never gets a thank you, but at least he doesn't get the same disapproving look as before. Louis doesn't expect a gold star on his forehead for doing his job, he just expects Harry to realise the effort he's putting in to meeting the expectations he has of an assistant.

His relationship with Liam hasn't improved, but at least Niall seems to have gotten over the resentment caused by his comment at that disastrous meeting. Louis never imagined he could offend so many people by expressing his point of view. But then again, he's never been good at not speaking his mind.

On the other hand, he has already received his first payment. And to tell the truth, he's surprised.

It's not bad pay, on the contrary. It's three times more than he ever imagined he'd earn from the job. Brightness is the most popular magazine in the United States, so it has the best sales in the market. Louis is happy to realise that every member of this company is well paid for his or her contribution, however big or small.

The first thing he did with his first pay-check (after paying Mr. Tom's rent, of course) was to prepare Collin's favourite dish. Louis wanted to do something nice for him and a romantic dinner was the best idea he had had in his mind. He headed to the nearest supermarket as soon as he got off work.

So, after making sure he had all the ingredients, he excitedly arrived home, texted his boyfriend to let him know, played his favourite playlist and prepared dinner for more than three hours. He showered after making sure everything was perfect, tidied up a bit and sat waiting in the living room, a glass of cheap wine in his hand, until the food on the table went cold.

Collin didn't show up all evening.

"Can you explain why-" Liam pauses in front of him when the next morning comes. He cuts off his words and his brow furrows as he takes a closer look at him, "Oh dear, who ran you over?"

Louis rolls his eyes sulkily and walks past him. He walks straight to his workplace, inwardly begging Liam not to follow him.

"Louis, can you tell me why you're late and looking this awful?" Louis ignores him wondering why Liam cares, "Hey, I'm talking to you."

"I overslept, Liam. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

The brown-haired man looks at him carefully, not swallowing the curt reply. Louis is staring at the black screen of his computer, trying to avoid him. It doesn't work, Liam's gaze burning the side of his face, "Yeah, sure. That explains your tardiness, but it doesn't explain the huge dark circles under your eyes, and why are they so red?"

Then Louis' chest constricts at the memory.

Collin didn't arrive all night. In fact, he expected to wake up and already find him in the flat, but the place was just as empty as when he went to sleep. He knows Collin usually stays for the restaurant's closing time, but it was well past the acceptable hour.

Louis began to worry about the time his watch was showing and started to panic when his phone calls sent him straight to the mailbox. He was about to go to the police to file a missing person's report, but he knew he'd be told to go fuck himself. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours.

It wasn't until almost four in the morning that he got a voicemail from his very considerate boyfriend, explaining that after work he'd gone out with a couple of friends for drinks and that he'd forgotten to tell him. He told him not to wait up for him.

Yeah, well. The message would have been helpful if you'd sent it a little earlier, you big jerk.

Seriously, it would have been a great help. If he'd got it earlier, got a bit more sleep, his horrible state wouldn't be so noticeable and he'd be spared all this unnecessary interrogation.