Empire of Deception (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter 13

It's been about two days since our little sit in session at The Underground, and Victoria has taken the liberty of relaying the data we gathered to Alexander—without my attendance. I'm rather relieved because I honestly hate sitting in front of that man. Plus, I am able to actually get some work done. Project 28 has practically been taking up all of my time and just because I am head supervisor for the Bolton Building Team doesn't mean I'm relieved of my duties as Director of Finance for Bolton Inc.

My office is cleaner than usual and I am pretty sure April had a go at it. Unlike other people in this business, I'm not paranoid about people finding out my secrets because I don't really have any inside of here, minus the guns I keep hidden around. April is harmless so I don't stop her when she mentions that my office is looking a little rough. She promises not to do too much, just sort out some loose paper on my desk into their appropriately labeled bins, and wipe down my counters. She has never touched my drawers or my computer and I for once I actually realize about how much I don't mind her. She's sincere and loyal, and someone I can trust. It's a nice change from the other characters that prance around here.

I'm about a week behind in my paperwork, and although I'm stressed out... I don't mind it. It's a good kind of stressed out. I'm stressed out for an actual, simple job. I'm simply doing paperwork. I'm not trying to think of schemes to screw over other humans, I'm literally just doing accounting work for our monthly costs such as electricity and water.

I go at it for about an hour before finally completing that task and moving onto the desk. My mind is oddly clear today, and I find myself working swiftly with exact precision with my calculations and such.

For the first time in a really long while, I feel genuinely content and at ease with myself. No dark thoughts are poisoning me today, and I don't feel the urge to drink the entire bottle of gin April just dropped off for me sometime yesterday. I'm relaxed and maybe even borderline enjoying myself. It is a great feeling.

2:00 eventually comes and my short lived enjoyment fades as soon as I hear a knock on the door and lock eyes with Theodore Collings. He holds up an envelope and I know it's the weekly report for his division. "I apologize for turning it late... I've been a bit behind in things," he says and I gesture for him to place the readings on my desk.

He walks up to the desk slowly, his hazel eyes studying every single part of the office around him. I see disappointment behind the blonde lashes, followed by a small exhale as the envelope hits the tabletop. I know exactly what is running through his head right now; this space could have been his. I feel a flash of guilt as I watch his hand linger over the smooth glass of of my desk.

I'd like to say that I earned this position. That I worked my fucking arse off to get this promotion, but I didn't. It was given to me, simply because my father saw it as an opportunity to not get caught just in case he spent money on some less than legal items or causes. It pains me to say it but although I do get a salary, my money is his money and I can't rat out my father... Not when it affects me, too.

"Mr. Styles, Miss Soderstrom is here to see you," I hear April announce from the doorway, making both Collings and I turn.

Mia gaze darts between Collings and myself before asking if she was interrupting something. "I can wait outside if you want, I'm in no hurry," she insists.

"I should really get going, but thank you for the offer," he replies. I find his interaction with Mia really intriguing, and I stop my work to observe him with her. "I don't think we have ever met before, Miss Soderstrom. You are Zayn Malik's assistant, correct?"

"Yes, I am," Mia responds with a warm smile.

"Mia, this is Theodore Collings. He's a close associate of my father," I introduce subtly.