Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Eleven

"You're officially banned from ever coming into the diner again." I moaned as Harry climbed the ladder, placing the new labelled books with the dewy system, onto the shelf. Harry grinned down at me and extended a long arm for me to pass the next pile of books. We were now back at Styles Enterprises, in his magnificent library, slaving away.
"Why? I thought Donna liked me."  He was smug, he had been the moment we left the diner, and I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment. It had seemed Donna was torn between setting me up with Harry, or stealing him for herself. So she had settled for testing both. A casual remark about me here, and a sly wink there, and both Harry and myself had been keen to make a break for it.
"That was the problem." I rolled my eyes. "The last thing I need is both of my bosses conspiring against me."
"That was what I needed to talk to you about actually." I furrowed my brow and stared up at him on the ladder. His tone was light, making it hard to decipher if I was in trouble or not.
"It wasn't my fault." I gushed. Harry crinkled his nose as he laughed, descending from the ladder. He now stood before me, a wry smile on his face.
"I say I need to talk to you, and you automatically assume you're in trouble?" Harry asked lightly.
"Following tradition," I shrugged, "yes." Harry threw his head back as he chuckled, dark curls flopping over his eyes.
"Well," Harry composed himself, "it's nothing like that." I flicked my wrist to show I was listening and he complied. "You can't work both here, and the diner, Devonne." I frowned, crossing my arms across my chest in indifference.
"Why not?"
"Because," Harry mimicked my actions, his proving much more intimidating as his biceps were straining against his shirt. "there are only so many hours in a week." He stated. "You should at least be resting on  the weekends."
"Harry." I sighed, shaking my head. I knew this conversation would be coming. From the moment Donna mentioned the roster, Harry had looked stunned, like he was shocked I still worked there. It was something I didn't want to talk to him about. I always got defensive when my financial situation was brought up, but with Harry it was even more problematic. Two  months ago I couldn't have cared less what Harry or his family thought of me, or my lifestyle, but now that I was spending so much time with him, it was hard maintaining that standard. Harry was so different from not only my assumptions but any other man I had ever met, and it was impossible for me to remain hostile towards him. More troubling, I wanted to gain his approval. Something I would never admit to his face, but quietly, I wanted Harry to approve of me. The thought of him looking down on me with pity or even disagreement did something to me that was indescribable. All I knew is I would do whatever I could to keep his charming smile and melody like laughter present.
"I need both these jobs." Harry's eyes softened with understanding, but I knew he was still far from surrendering. "This  job will help me a lot, and I'm thankful for it. Soon enough I'll be able to pay back the rent Mr Howick is due, and then with both jobs I will save up enough to buy a small flat uptown to stay with Geordie."
"I get that you're doing all this to look after Geordie," Harry spoke earnestly, "but when do you get time to look after yourself?" My breathing hitched in my throat at his comment. It was a simple enough question, yet the thought of Harry caring about me had my insides twisting.
"I...am fine." I eventually spat out. "I don't need to be looked after."
"Devonne." Harry spoke lowly, his deep voice capturing my full attention. "You've never had a stable parent or role model in your life. You were forced to be that person for your brother. And why?" Harry stalked closer, closing the distance between us, leaving us directly before one another, his gaze un--relenting.
"Why what? Why did I look after Geordie?" I asked in bewilderment. How could he ask such a silly question? Geordie was my family, of course I would look after him.
"Yes."
"Because," I scoffed at his ridiculous question, "it's my job, to look after him. That's what family does, because that's what every family needs."
"Precisely." Harry smiled, "and you never had that. You never had what everybody in this world deserves." I blinked in awe and surprise at his words. How he had the ability to render me speechless, and steal the  breath from me was beyond me. It was something no man had ever done to me before, and it annoyed me and intrigued me at the same time. Harry's hand raised to the back of my neck, and I froze as his thumb moved to my chin and tilted it up to meet the pools of green that had me drowning in the beautiful depths. His large hand had full control of my head, his fingers not squeezing but remaining firm when I tried to pull back, just to catch a breath. I tried tugging my face away again, but his hold remained strong, not in a vicious way, but a determined one.
"No." Harry shook his head as I tried to pull back. Something inside me told me he knew I usually ran from relationships, and he wasn't going to allow that to happen this time.  "Look at me." He ordered softly, refusing to let me win. A shaky breath fell from my parted lips. His forehead pressed to mine and a sound that was either a whimper or a sigh filled the sliver of space between our bodies. His body heat and cologne wrapped around my body, the sensations acting like bonds to keep me still, just like he wanted.
"I'll take care of you, Devonne." Harry promised.
"No." A pathetic and whispered denial.
"Why not?" Harry urged, our noses brushing. A storm of emotions were raging about inside me. My will telling me not to fall for the enemy, my body screaming for me to melt into his arms and crush my lips to his. Half my mind thinking of how if Geordie knew how I was feeling for the man we were supposed to hate and yelling to get out, and the other half screaming that for once, once in my painful life, I should give in, and take what I desired.
"You know why." I whispered, biting my lip. I saw Harry's eyes dilate, and my heart hammered even harder in my chest. I knew I shouldn't want him, but I felt like I needed him. I craved him.  Harry opened his mouth to speak, but a knock at the door sounded before Monica walked in. She paused as she took in our stances, a smile spreading to her red lips. I blushed and tried to pull away again, but Harry remained unfazed at his mothers presence.
"Sorry, but your dad needs to speak with you. Urgently." Monica explained, gesturing behind her. "I'll give you a moment though." She grinned, before exiting out the room again. The tension in the room wasn't as thick now, but the tension in my stomach was. Harry let out the softest of sighs, a wry smile containing his irritation marginally.
"Make your choice, Dev." Harry whispered, his other hand resting on my hip. "You know how I feel about you, but I can't do anything until you admit it too. Contraire to what you may believe about me and my family, I don't take what doesn't belong to me." His words had me weak, and I couldn't move.
"Make your decision, baby." Harry repeated, his nickname stealing the trembling breath I had gathered. His wonderful touch then left my body, and disappointed swarmed inside me, as he waltzed across the room, and then he was gone.