HARRY STYLES
I can't remember the last time I wore a suit. It might have been the dreaded Christmas party that Allison invited me to at her office last year, but even then, I'm almost positive I showed up in the clothes I wore underneath my chef's jacket that night. I think she said I needed to wear a suit and I didn't. I vaguely remember arguing about that when we got home, though she didn't feel like talking about Brad when I mentioned him. Now, I'm straightening my tie in the bathroom mirror before turning to head out of my flat and meet my Uber outside.
I'm not necessarily all that concerned about this first court date, but that's only because Mr. Wang assured me that no final decisions will be made today. Instead, the judge will assign a social worker to spend time with me and Jane separately from Allison and Jane to see if whatever dirt she's going to dig up on me has anything to do with my relationship with my daughter. I know for a fact that it doesn't and that Jane loves spending time with me. I'm only worried because Allison is a woman and the mother, therefore it seems as though it would make more sense for her to have sole custody of her daughter. It seems that way, but the evidence of how Jane feels in the SoHo flat with said mother might prove otherwise.
In the backseat of the Uber, I text Hayden to remind him that I won't be in until a bit later this afternoon, but that I should absolutely be there by dinner service. He wishes me good luck and says that the whole team is rooting for me, to which I don't respond and tuck my phone back into my pocket. I'd like to hear that from Lana, but we haven't spoken since she left.
The frustrating thing is that I know she knows what's going on. There's no way Maya isn't keeping her updated when Lana is the one who suggested I use her dad as my lawyer in the first place. Besides, Maya loves to gossip and I'm fairly certain she wouldn't be able to keep it all to herself even if Lana didn't ask her for any details.
So why hasn't she reached out to me? Why is she so set on acting as if our relationship never even happened? I swear to God, I'm beginning to feel as though I imagined the entire thing and it was just some insane hallucination because I don't sleep enough. If her things weren't still in the second bedroom, and if I wasn't going to court right now because we were seeing each other on the down low, I might truly believe the whole thing was made up.
"Right here's fine," I mutter to the man as the courthouse comes up on the right hand side, and then I notice the photographers.
I detest the word famous. In no way would I ever consciously classify myself as famous, but I also can't ignore the fact that I'm the head chef of arguably the most famous and highly-rated restaurant in the country. As much as I despise it, the job comes with the territory of people wanting to know everything about you and what led to your success. Now, I'm not saying that I can't leave my flat without getting attacked by the paparazzi, but Allison must have told someone who told someone who told someone in the press about what we're going through. God only knows I have enough critics who want nothing more in this entire universe than to watch me and L'Éclatant fail, and this is bad press. I wish Jeff or Glenne might have been able to foresee this because I sure as hell didn't.
"Chef, is it true that you cheated on your wife and now she's getting full custody of your daughter?" One woman asks and I can't control my facial expression from portraying as wildly confused. There are so many incorrect assumptions in that sentence, but it's not my job to correct her. It's not her business.
I ignore any other questions regarding false information and button my suit jacket as I head inside the courthouse, free from any paparazzi or journalists. Mr. Wang and Jeff are waiting for me in the grand lobby, looking sharp in their respective navy blue suits. While Mr. Wang shakes my hand and places the other on my upper back to guide me to the proper courtroom, praising me for my punctuality, Jeff follows behind as my character witness.
