Smoke and Mirrors

Chapter twenty three

Louis POV

We had great fun on stage last night, Harry was very brave, he raised a pride flag with one of my tweets that said "Always in my heart Harry Styles, your sincerely Louis"

When I wrote that I meant it and to this day I still mean it, he is the love of my life forever.

Our love for each other grows stronger every day. I was so proud of him to take that risk in front of everyone to do it, to show our love to the world. I had to try hide my smile on stage but on the inside I was screaming in happiness.

Today I have another meeting with Tom and Cora which I'm fucking dreading, I always do, I know it's about the contract with Brianna. They're going over the final plan of what's going to happen, the story and pap pics will be out in the press very soon.

I'm feeling so sad, anxious and angry because it's actually horrible. I have to keep up with this pretense that I'm going to be a father.

I will never confirm it on tv or in interviews unless they make me! This will be my reality, Harry is trying to calm me down by running his fingers through my hair. I know he's feeling the same as me but he's trying to be strong as best he can.

I appreciate and love him so much for being here with me every step of the way in anyway he can. Without him I don't think I could do this alone. He's my rock.

Tom and Cora will be here, in our room any minute now with the paperwork for me to read over.

I'm pacing this carpet so much I think I'll burn a hole in it at this stage. My hearts pounding and my head is a spinning mess. How am I going to get through this? Listening to every little detail of this horrific plan they have come up with. It's going to be difficult.

A bang on the door breaks my spiralling thoughts knowing it's them the 'handlers' as we have nicknamed them. Harry lets out a stressful sigh as I walk slowly to the door to let them in.

My hand is so sweaty it slips on the cold silver handle when I first try to open the door. I rub my hands on my jeans to dry them and open the door.

I see Tom's stupid smiling face with his clipboard under his arm, it winds me up so much, I would love to punch him, but obviously I can't.

Tom and Cora walk in greeting me with chirpy hello's, they think it's a game, playing with my life like this.

I just nod slightly to acknowledge their presence, I don't really want to say anything to them unless I have to.

Harry is sitting on the edge of our bed with his arms crossed, foot tapping and an annoyed expression on his face.

They sit down at the black square table at the furthest corner of the room, they place folders with papers in front of three chairs.

This is it, I just stand and watch, I can't help but grind my teeth in anger.

I look over at Harry, he gives me a sad look, then frowns in anger at them. They open up Cora's laptop too. Tom then says "take a seat Louis, we have a lot to get through, now let's begin."

My eyes are flicking between the seat and Harry's face, I know once I sit that's it, this is the final step.

Harry gives me a little nod trying to reassure me. I nod back to him, we know what we're both thinking without saying anything to each other. Our minds are connected like one. This is us!

Cora calls to me after she sits down, I didn't acknowledge Tom's words, but I need to do as I'm told, contract obligations.

Cora starts to flick the papers in her hand. I nervously walk over to join them, my stomach has a knot in it as I take my seat facing them.

Tom asks me to read over the papers but to be honest I can't focus on any of the words, they're all just a blur to me on the page.

Tom clears his throat just before he begins explaining what is going to happen. He then starts to list off the major points in the contract.

• Simone will do the announcement as you refuse to do it yourself as we discussed previously.

• The Sun newspaper will be the newspaper that will break the story.

• You will be interviewed on your happy news and you will be positive about it.

These were the main three points that stood out for me as they listed off all the bullet points in the contract.

Hearing them telling me everything in fine details has made me feel sick to my stomach. Harry has been huffing and puffing throughout the whole rundown. I know he's upset and angry with them.

Tom and Cora also confirmed the date that it's going to be announced, which will be the 14th July. This is only a few days away, Fuck I feel my stomach flip, I feel the rush of hot water come up to my throat, I'm going to actually be sick.

I excuse myself quickly and run to the toilet. Harry jumps up from the bed shouting and follows me into the toilet. I couldn't hear exactly what he was saying before he rushed in to check I was ok. He just fell down onto the floor behind me and held me tight.

Once I felt better we walked out together to face them again. Harry started shouting, "Do you see how this is affecting Louis, he can't sleep or eat, he's anxious and now you're making him physically sick, you have to give us more time to get our heads around it."

Tom stands up and scoffs in Harry's face which makes my blood boil, he really thinks this is funny when it's far from it. He has ruined our lives forever. My hands ball into a fist in rage, I bang my fist down on the table from his disgusting actions towards Harry.

He can do anything he likes to me but not Harry, I won't let him. Tom flicks his head over to me when he hears the loud bang "Sit down Louis" he tells me, he's such a fucking prick and he knows he can get away with talking to us like this.

Harry goes to swing a punch but I put my arm up to stop him and ask him, "for me, babe, please go sit on the bed" I then whisper "we will get him one day," Harry groans "too right" in return.

Our master plan is in place for when the time is right. We won't forget this or anything these fuckers have done to us, we will make them pay at some point, time will tell.

Our master plan is the only thing keeping us going, knowing one day this will all come out. We have added and changed these plans over the years preparing for everything that could and will come out about our abuse in this industry.  

It's just a matter of playing our cards right when we need to. We came up with this plan a few years ago now, we have it secured away from prying eyes, only a very small amount of people know about it.

Tom and Cora are finished, they get up from their seats gathering up all the paperwork. Cora closes her laptop, she used it for taking notes.

I thought they were going to link in with Simone, thankfully not. I couldn't face that vile human being.

They both start to walk towards the door "Bye for now guys, see you later in the venue" Tom says in his chirpy voice. Harry and I both let out a grunt in acknowledgment.

The door slams shut, I place my head down on the table. I let out a loud sigh, I'm still trying to digest everything they said again.

Harry squats down beside me rubbing my back in circles, his head resting on my shoulder to get as close to me as possible. He's trying to comfort me.

"Babe we got this, I know they're horrible people and we will make them pay one day" Harry encourages, but his voice cracks at the end of the sentence.

I lift my head up and turn to face Harry, pressing my forehead to his.

I kiss him softly while my eyes are filling with tears, I don't need to hold them back anymore.

I wouldn't give Tom the satisfaction of him seeing me crying. Harry caresses my cheeks in his large hands, he then moves one of his hands and lifts my chin. He's looking at me right in the eyes, he leans in to kiss me back, his eyes filled with his own tears.

"I love you darling" I softly say to him between kisses. "I love you to the moon and back" Harry says so sincerely.