Dire {h.s.}

19

Harry Styles

"Mr. Salvatore!" he yells across his desk, "have you lost your fucking mind?"

I sit there silently, taking his screaming as punishment. Of course I knew exactly who I had been dragging out of the party by his hair last night, and I don't regret doing it at all. He tried to pull something on Ava, and by the scene I barged in on, it didn't look willingly.

"That was one of my biggest clients, you moron!"

I stare at him wide eyed.

"Say something!"

I straighten out my back and clear my throat, "I am sorry, I am. But––"

He cuts his hand through the air, interrupting me. "No! You fucked up, Madden!"

I've never seen him so mad.

He settles down into his chair, taking deep breaths to try and calm down. Breathing in through his nose and out slowly, shutting his eyes momentarily and folding his hands together on his desk.

"You lost him, you're going to get him back."

I tilt my head in confusion, "How?"

His eyes snap open, "That's for you to figure out, this is your problem now."

He waves his hand in the air to dismiss me, and I stand from the big chair in front of his desk and turn towards the door. He can't even look at me with how disappointed he is.

The anger radiates off of him.

I leave through the double doors and they slam shut behind me. I hear both of the security guards snicker next to me, being obvious that they eavesdropped on our conversation.

¨Fuck off."I mutter, annoyed, while walking past them towards the staircase. This entire situation won't leave my mind, and the idea of him leaving me with such a responsibility is beyond me. I've done so many jobs for him, but never one to actually get a client back after assaulting him. He deserved it after what he tried to do to Ava. I don't know what in that moment made me lash out like I did, but seeing her standing there with tears in her eyes and her dress pulled up with his intentions written all over her body language made my body react before I could even think.

I climb up the last step and walk down the long grand hall towards the second of two front doors. Stepping out into the cold air, I spot the line of black cars parked alongside the curb, reminding me of a job I was supposed to be going on but was kicked off from last nights' events.

I've ruined a big client for him, and I'm still surprised he hasn't killed me yet.

I pass by the cars and step up the staircase to the front door of the mansions' main part, the one where everyone sees. His part is almost hidden, it's for security issues.

Inside, the first thing I notice is how clean everything is. The floor is no longer covered in the trail of Mr. Salvatore's blood I left from dragging him. The decorations are gone, and everything shines to its pristine condition. Even the spiral staircase sparkles.

I walk up the stairs and to the hall of all of the bedrooms with the intention of seeing Liam and telling him what task I've been given. He'll disagree with it, and I need someone to be on my side right now.

Passing by Ava's door however, I stop in my tracks. I haven't seen her since last night. Liam told me that he tried to help her, but she just ran out of the bathroom and up to her room. I don't know how someone can move on from something like that happening to them.

Suddenly, the door opens, startling me a bit. Ava jumps back at the sight of me, startled as well. But I can't help but take in her new appearance. She wears a dark gray hoodie that's too big for her size where it meets past her thighs. The hood is up and over her head with her hair hidden underneath, a few stands stick out though. The collar of her hoodie is higher than usual, hiding her neck. But her face holds everything from last night. Tear stained cheeks, puffy red eyes, and a small bruise forming near her mouth.