Hoax

Chapter seventy-four

Harry Styles 

It's only my birthday for another hour and a half, but I wouldn't want to spend it anywhere else. I'm currently sitting in bed with my bare torso resting against the headboard, comfy and warm, with my phone pressed to my ear and Estelle chattering away to me.

I've sat and listened for the past ten minutes of her recalling of the conversation she had with Jessie Lowe earlier today.

She even stayed up until the early hours of the morning, over in Boston, to tell me all of this.

Just hearing her voice is a pleasure in itself and I love nothing more than hearing her talk to me, even if the topic of discussion is pretty heavy.

As she recalls the story with great animation, I share her investment in Jessie's tale.

The fact he believes that Bart pushed his superior, Ethan, is not something I find hard to believe.

Everybody knows what sort of a guy Bart is.

Blackmail? – Yes.

Deception? – Yes.

Hush money? – Yes.

Murder...? – Is that so hard to believe?

I wouldn't put anything past that tyrannical mogul.

"This is crazy, Stell..." I comment, as the story comes to a close.

"Crazy in a good way? Like a believable way, you mean...?" She asks.

"Well, yeah! I believe it – don't you?" I query.

"Abso-fucking-lutely!" She announces. "I mean, you should have seen his face when he was telling me all this – his skin got paler by the second, he was so terrified..."

"Poor guy." I state.

"Tell me about it..." Estelle sighs gently. "...I just hope we can bring him some justice-"

"Me too." I interject.

There's a small beat between us.

"But yeah," Estelle states. "I'll send the voice note link to you and the others, just so everyone has a copy..."

"Good plan, baby." I say, with a small smile against the receiver.

Once again, a small pause ensues over the phone, until Estelle decides to break it – "Anyway, how was your day...?" She asks.

Her question is tainted by apprehension.

Immediately, I know why she asks this with such resistance.

I allow a tiny smile to arise on my lips – "It was fine, baby...I did exactly what I was meant to..."

That's no word of a lie.

The plan went smoothly.

Now, I can only hope that everything works out how it's supposed to...

"And by 'did', you don't mean a person too, do you...?" She asks.

I don't know whether to laugh or be offended that she seemingly doesn't trust me. However, all I have to do is place myself in her shoes.

How would I feel if she'd spent a few unaccompanied hours alone with her ex? - Or worse, someone like Tom...

-The answer being, I'd probably overthink for the rest of my life.

Particularly with Estelle's history of being cheated on by her scum of an ex, James, I do not blame her for second guessing my day.