The Stunt [h.s]

Chapter Six

Harry POV

January 19th, 2021

Waking up to the sound of banging on my door is not how I wanted this morning to start. As I sit up off my pillow my head already begins to pound as I can already tell I'm incredibly hungover. The banging continues and I'm already pissed at whoever is causing the noise this early in the morning. "I'm coming! Give me a minute," I call out from where I sit on the bed giving myself time to adjust to being awake but it doesn't work. The banging continues and I get myself up and walk to the door opening it to find Elsie. I almost scream at her for causing so much noise but it looks like she is just as mad as me right now.

"What the actual fuck, Harry." I'm so confused. My mind does not seem to catch up with me when I need it.

"I don't know what your issue is but please, share with the class." My voice is laced with just as much hate as hers but it doesn't seem to make anything better as she takes her phone out looking for something.

"Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that there are at least two hundred articles on how you're "cheating" on me." She flips her phone around to show one of the apparently many articles about my activities last night. Taking the phone out of her hand, I scroll the page and read the description that is really accurate to what happened, the only part they missed out on was the blowjob, and thank the lord for that. Do they somehow have an insider in all these clubs? What also didn't help my case is the pictures of me leaving the club with several hickeys I didn't go there with. "Harry, you can't be this careless. As it is, the producers are thinking about pulling it. Do you ever think?"

"I went out with a friend, Niall, and had a little fun. I'm sorry if that messes with your image but I've been doing this for years and people go crazy for it."

"Not the hopeless romantics who love our relationship because of the so-called story behind it dumbass. Plus, don't bring my image into it. You're the first person I've been seen publicly out with in years but even then, I wouldn't go fuck around with whoever knowing that my every move would be watched. You're not messing with my image, you're messing with my life and my career. You told me yesterday that you were only thinking about me for the money. Well, consider me doing the same for you. Get your head out of your ass." She pulls her phone out of my hand and goes to walk back into her hotel room leaving me in a state of shock. I didn't even think of it that way. Instead of going all the way through she grabs her bag from inside the door and begins to walk down the hallway to the elevator.

"Where are you going?" I call out to her knowing that we're supposed to basically go everywhere together on this trip.

"I'm going to work, Harry. Where do you think I'm going?"

"We are supposed to be going together." She can't just leave. Can she?

"Well personally, it looks bad when the two main actors are late. I'll leave that job to you." I watch as the elevator door opens and she steps in, pressing the button down without looking up to make eye contact.

As the door closes I quickly head into the bathroom knowing it's going to be another forty-five minutes until I get out of my hotel room, let alone to work. Looking at my reflection in the mirror I sit for a second and take in how I look. The hickeys on my neck are as prominent as ever and I don't have any recollection of when she even left them there. Last night was a major blur but my only focus is getting ready. Getting into the shower, I try to wipe off the night before but I know damn well that getting a lecture from Elsie was the least of my worries. I'm going to deal with Elliot and Samantha's lectures and producers who are spending lots of money for this PR stunt to turn out as we want it to. I just can't believe I fucked up this early on. I try to move as fast as I can in the shower just so I can try and soften the blow about being late. Probably not but it's worth a try.