Adversity ~ H.S.

Prologue

2020:

Beauty. It's not just found on the outside, but the inside. Most people are one or the other, it's rare to be both. I never thought I would meet somebody who's both, but he is.

His eyes are green like emeralds, they shine like emeralds, too. He has a soft pile of chocolate brown curls on top of his head, and no matter how hard he tries there's always one strand that just won't sit right. His lips are pink, a soft pink that makes you think you could just kiss him for hours. His jaw, his cheekbones his nose; all of his features look as if they've been carved by a Greek God themself. He probably is a Greek God.

He's absolutely drop dead gorgeous. From his face, to his tattoos that litter his perfectly smooth skin, to the slow, silky British accent he hones. Looking at him, makes my inside feel like they're melting, it's an out of this world experience.

And just when you think he can't be any more perfect, he speaks. He's kind and respectful to every person in the room, it's refreshing to find someone like that in our society. He's terribly awkward, even though there's confidence exuding from his pores. His own personality juxtaposes itself. It certainly juxtaposes mine.

I don't think there's a single person in this room that doesn't want him in one way or another. We're all down for the count, and we don't even know him. He's the kind of person you don't need to know to figure out if they're good or not, he has an aura and you can feel it from miles and miles away. Just when you think you can't fall any further into his trap, he breaks out a devastatingly charming smile.

Not just any smile, a smile containing his pearly white teeth and a dimple on each side of his mouth and delicate crinkles by the sides of his eyes. The sight alone could send me into cardiac arrest. He fills everyone in the room with so much joy, it's beautiful.

And oh his laugh. When he does that, you know there's no going back. You'll never be the same person you were before you saw him, before you saw how pure a human could be. His laugh is loud and carefree, it's raspy and masculine. It instills you with great happiness and attracts you to him. Anybody that hears it has to look to see who it came from and when they do, like I said there's no going back.

And I must admit, although it's rare, I have found someone who is equally beautiful on the inside and the outside. I want to spend every hour of the day watching him, looking at him, examining his every move, but I also want to spend every hour exploring how his brain works, how his heart works and trying to understand how somebody in this world could be so... perfect.

I feel unworthy of his presence, like I could ruin him just by looking at him. How on earth did a monster like me end up in the same room as such an angel?

His eyes met mine across the room, and I looked away; I didn't want to, but I knew I should. I came here for a drink and to get some work done, that was all, but I'll leave a changed woman.

He's surrounded by women, but not a single one of them look even the slightest bit uncomfortable. He doesn't touch them, he doesn't submit them to a predatory gaze, he doesn't utter a single word out of line. I didn't think men like this existed.

I urged myself to forget about him, to carry on with the job I'm here to carry out. I don't lack self-control, I'm disciplined but my brain and my body were working against each other. As I moved around the bar, drinking, dancing and talking, my eyes always found themselves back on him.

It was as if he was a drug, and I desperately craved a hit. Maybe if I go over there and I talk to him, I could get it out of my system, then I could move on with my night, finish my business and leave?

I already know the answer to that question, he's addictive one hit will just leave me wanting more, wanting him with more desperation. I know this and yet when I see him walking towards me, I don't turn away. I watch him which only spurs him on.

His smile turned to a devilish smirk, giving me a glance of what I could be in for, if I just let myself indulge. I'm not inexperienced with meeting men in bars or one night stands but he makes me question everything I know.

He leans against the wall next to me, looking down at me and his eyes turn a darker green, almost like a forest. He wets his lips with his tongue and I watch, hanging onto every slight movement he makes. Then he speaks, "What's a sweet woman like you doing here all by herself?" His voice is low and raspy, it's hot.
He reaches down and tucks a strand of my hair behind my left ear, waiting for my reply.

"I'm not sweet. Go back to your table." I tell him firmly. A glimmer of shock passes over his eyes, it's probably the first time he's been rejected.

"Playing hard to get, I like it. I don't follow instructions though." he tilts his head as he speaks. "You're a tough shell to crack, I don't know how to read you."

"Maybe that's because I don't want you to read me, maybe my pages are better off hidden." I respond, keeping him on his toes while being completely honest.

"I hope I'll see you around more, you're interesting." His voice is laced with curiosity but unfortunately curiosity always kills the cat. I take a second before starting to reply, but I'm swiftly interrupted as his friends walk over.

"Come on mate, Lou's, got the car outside." a tall man with a heavy accent that I don't recognise says as he smacks his friend on the shoulder. He's covered in tattoos, a couple of piercings as well but he looks sophisticated with them.

The man across from me sighs heavily before replying, "Alright just give me a minute, I'm still finishing my drink."

Another one of his friends with dyed blonde hair and untouched skin, speaks up with a strong Irish accent. "Bullshit. You haven't had a drink in your hands in hours Harry."

I look up at his -Harry's- face, his eyebrows are pinched in aggravation. I say quietly to him, "Looks like you gotta go."

He groans and nods, "It's a shame. I hoped to spend more time with you."

I shake my head and try hold back the smile that threatens to appear, "Goodbye Harry."

He winks gently at me before turning on his heel and following his friends outside the bar. He throws an arm around his blonde friend's shoulders and laughs at something that's said. I can't help the little smile that spreads across my face. He's so perfect.

I catch someone looking at me across the bar and I'm quickly reminded of the real reason I'm here. Work.

I make my way outside, grabbing the black duffel bag that sits on the bar on my way. It's gonna be a long night. I have money to collect and luckily for me it's from one of our most unreliable clients. I'll most likely end the night with bruised bloody knuckles, but at least I'll have some fun.