The Devil Wears GUCCI || Larry Stylinson

Chapter 10.

"I love my job," Liam murmured to himself, "I love my job. I love my job. I love my job."

Sitting at his own desk, Louis squints at him for the tenth time. The brunet hadn't stopped sneezing and mumbling all morning, but he had completely denied any question Louis had asked him.

"Alright, Liam. Are you going to admit now your horrible state or are you going to keep pretending you aren't dying?"

"I'm not..." a loud sneeze interrupts Liam. He takes a kleenex and sneezes a couple more times there. When he's done, his nose looks more red than it was before, "Dying." He comments with a scratchy and stuffy voice.

"We both know you are," Louis grimaces, "Why don't you call in sick?"

Not even his obvious cold stopped Liam from scoffing, "And leave you in charge?" He huffs, "Yeah, sure. As if you could do it alone."

"I could be in charge without you," Louis clicks a window in his computer repeatedly when it doesn't close. He grimaces when the screen bugs and stops functioning, "Everything's under control, Liam. You could even take a few days until you get better."

"Are you crazy? The Met Gala is in two days and there's still a bunch of stuff to do. I can't take days off and hope everything comes out okay.

Louis stops fighting the computer and looks at Liam horrified, "The Met Gala is this Monday?"

Liam gives him an unimpressed look. "See? That's what I mean."

"I'm joking," Louis says, giving up on the device. He writes on a post-it to remind himself to call the systems department later. "Of course I'm aware, it's been the only topic of the last three weeks. It's been making everyone nervous."

"Oh, God. I can't believe the year has flown by. I feel like I need more time."

Louis cradles his own face in his hands with his elbows resting on the desk, "I bet it was very exciting for everyone when they found out the news."

"It was, we threw a small party to celebrate. Which Harry didn't attend."

"He didn't?"

"No," Liam dismisses it, "He was the most excited one, obviously, but he didn't want us to know. I know that deep down he was a little nervous."

"I can imagine it," Louis smiles, "Even I feel nervous just thinking about being there in front of everyone."

Liam sneezes again, "Oh, don't worry about that. Your presence there won't be necessary."

"Really?" He asks with exaggerated enthusiasm. He already knew he didn't have to attend, but Liam confirming it was reassuring. "Thank heavens." Louis murmurs when the other nods.

(...)

"Louis, your presence there is going to be necessary."

"Wait, what?" Louis and Liam ask at the same.

"Your presence will be necessary at the Met Gala." Harry repeats, with absolute tranquillity.

"But..." Louis looks at him, trying to not look horrified, "I thought that only the first assistant went with you to the events."

"Just because the first assistant has decides to become the incubator to some virus...'' Harry moves his chair to the table next to him without paying attention to the shocked men in front of him, "You'll come to help Liam."

The two assistants looked at each other, not believing what they were hearing.

"Harry," Liam begins, "It isn't necessary for him to come. I'm perfectly–" a loud sneeze shakes his whole body. Louis takes a step to the left away from him, "...fine." He says, slurping his nose.