PARKER | Dark H.S. AU

lxvi. new year

There's a hint of freshly brewed coffee that wafts into the lemon zest air-freshener. The sound of chatters, busy steps and fingers tapping on computer keyboards. The automatic pause that follows as soon as Harry steps out of the metal lift. And just like a music that you gradually turn up with the volume, the people pipe up with careful greetings, their eyes down. They resume on their tracks and job quietly. Though some linger a little longer enough to eye their boss' hand interlocked with a certain mystery blonde.

Most of them share a look of disbelief with one another over the partition of their cubicles. They never think they'd see the day their cutthroat boss would fold in the mere presence of a woman, let alone fall in love and settle with one.

It was just so out of his character. But that was then.

"Good morning, sir." Betty welcomes them as the pair beeline for Harry's office. "Hello, Charlie. I love your hair today."

The blonde instantly pulls at the tip of her hair to examine it. She must have accidentally used the wrong shampoo.

"Sir, I already started packing some of your stuff." Harry and Charlie spot the numerous storage boxes that are laid on the floor and the two that are perched on top of Harry's former office table. "I just got a call so I went out for a while. But I'll take care of them now." She says in a rush, sounding out of breath and hurrying to the empty boxes that are still to be filled to the brim.

"Betty, stop. You're not working for me anymore. I'll take care of them." The grip on his hand makes him correct himself. "We'll take care of them."

"But, sir --" His assistant's voice trembles, sounding like she's about to tear up. Charlie quickly pushes herself to the small woman, rubbing Betty's shoulder to console her.

"Are you okay, Betty?" Charlie peers down to study the woman's face.

Harry stands at the centre of the room, his hands placed by his hips as he watches Betty reaching for a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and wipes the moist below her nose. His face soft, smiling affectionately at the woman who stood by his side 24/7 all those tough years ago.

Betty has been so patient and understanding with him, enduring his mood swings every day. She put up with all the crappy way he treated his employees. She's been technically his slave, nurse, human diary -- he always ran to Betty to confide things regarding Charlie -- and his sponge when things got worse before between the couple. She witnessed Harry's stone-heart crumble into small million pieces; how he coiled like a fetus as he slept over at his office couch and how he redeemed his self days after that. She's been a part of Harry's life since forever and he has no plan to remove her from that space -- though not as his secretary any longer...but his trusted and loyal friend.

"One more thing," He sticks an index finger out and Charlie looks up. Betty sniffles against the handkerchief, clearing her throat as she pays attention to her boss (ex-boss). "It's just Harry now. Not 'sir'. Not 'boss'. Harry."

A wailing sound escapes the woman's throat and Charlie immediately encase her in a hug while rubbing the small of her back.

"Harry, stop making her cry." The blonde scolds and Harry chuckles endearingly. He advances towards the two woman just as Betty pulls away to calm herself.

"Betty..." Harry breathes and places both hands on the small woman's shoulders, eying her carefully. Beside them, Charlie couldn't hold the smile that break through her face, seeing how fond the two are of each other. "I don't even know where to start so I could tell you how much I am thankful to have you as my assistant. You have been incredible, do you know that?" Betty nods, sniffling. "Good. Then I guess it's safe to say that I always wondered how a woman your size was always able to keep up with me and every man in this building." The three laugh altogether. When Harry is sure that he has all of Betty's attention, he drops his hands back to his side. "I am so thankful for your service. You were not only an assistant to me but a good friend as well."

"I am sorry I took him away from you." Charlie interjects, the humor clear in her voice.

"No. Don't say sorry. There's no need for apology. I'm actually happy for your decision." Betty addresses the last sentence to Harry.

"Then why are you crying? You're finally getting rid of me." Harry says in a matter-of-fact way, chuckling.

"Because that means I'm going back to square one with your brother, Sir Terrence. I just hope he'd find someone like Charlie ASAP to change him like she did to you." Charlie gulps awkwardly at the irony, reminded by Terrence's persistence to sway her to be his girlfriend. Betty continues to speak. "God knows he's even more unpredictable than you are."

Harry throws his head back, laughing because she couldn't even be farther from the truth. Terrence is careless. Lacks serious motivation. Always up and about. He'd be a huge trouble if Betty isn't successful to manage him.

"Look where I am now, Miss Frensley." Harry takes a step back and gestures toward the other girl standing in the room with them, looking much more in love with each other. "Look how happy I am. You're going to do great and I won't be surprised when Terrence comes home one day a better businessman and a person."

They talk more and as they do so, they resume on loading Harry's office belongings -- books, pens, pictures, files and whatnot -- into the hard boxes.

-----

Christmas passed and it's now New Year's Eve. Charlie spends it with Harry's beautiful family at Anne's house and though some of them, including his father and half-siblings, aren't present, she doesn't feel empty for Harry has already filled up the void that was there before she met him. Anne, Liam, Mr. Styles and the rest in Harry's life are just a bonus.

They enjoyed the haggis, ham, cranberry sauce, pudding and cassava cake that Anne prepared for dinner. The television is turned up at the living room, a news program that features all the cheery activities people enjoy to welcome the coming year. Below the images, a tiny square is plastered on the screen showing the minutes and seconds left before the year ends.

Two minutes on the countdown, the family of four -- Charlie, Harry, Liam and Anne -- huddle outside the house, sparklers ready in their hands.

Sixty seconds on the clock.

Ten, nine...

Five, four...

Two, One.

"Happy New Year!!!"

Charlie pulls Harry close to him, lights from fireworks above them reflect on their faces as they dance in the sky. It's been a glorious and amazing year for the both of them.

For 2015 was the year they bumped into each other. The same year a strange, yet special friendship sprang between them. 2015 was the year they started to fall in love with each other and got engaged.

And now...now they hope as both of them share a passionate and lasting kiss, that the next new year and the next and the several new years after that, they'd get to spend them together forever as well.

-----

There's a knock on the door. The three girls sitting so close to each other by the bed that formed one giant hug start at the sound. The nightmare that unfold the night before not completely washed from their memory. How could it when every part of the room reminds them, especially Nina, the danger that was at the tips of the poor girl's toes?

"It's Elizabeth." The voice on the other side of the door yells so that the three inside could hear. Elizabeth is Alejandra's cousin who also happens to be Nina's only friend in her class. Brown hair, sharp nose, long eyelashes and long slender legs that could already pass her as Victoria's secret model if not only she's a conservative catholic. "I missed you at school. I heard what happened last night." She says dejectedly as soon as Haya opens the door for her. "I'm sorry, Nina. I came as fast as I could." She comes to sit next to the blonde and wraps her in a tight reassuring embrace.

Quickly and quietly, Nina closes his last night's tormentor's journal that's on her lap and hides it behind her before hugging Elizabeth back.

*****

Back to present, aren't we? What do you think will happen? Hmm.

-- Glyz xx