Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Nineteen

"People know." I slammed the door shut to Harry's office at Styles Enterprises. Harry quirked a brow in questioning, and I sighed, putting down the two cups of coffee I had made in the staff room onto his desk, and I slunk into my swivel chair at the other side of the desk to where Harry sat. A slither of a smirk was shadowed on Harry's mouth as he glanced at the coffee, no doubt finding it ironic how I had willingly gone on a coffee run. The minute Harry and I had walked into work this morning peoples glances lingered and turned into stares as we had made our way to his office. It seemed last nights Ball was still fresh in everybody's minds, and the new gossip was Harry dancing and kissing the 'mud-rud kid.' I rolled my eyes at the high school behaviour and picked up one of the Styrofoam cups, taking a sip of coffee to wash down my anger.
"People know what?" Harry finally asked, leaning back on his leather chair, looking relieved to take a break from reading manuscripts.
"About us." I flicked my wrist between the two of us. "That snobby brunette in finances who walks like she had a stick up her derriere actually showed a hint of a smile to me in the staffroom. And you know that guy that is the only person in the building that doesn't wear a Rolex?"
"Andy?"
"Yeah, well Andy actually asked how my morning was going. And he even waited around for me to answer." I crossed one leg over the other, and Harry pinched his nose as he laughed.
"And people showing a little something called manners means everybody knows about us?" He asked me, like asking who drew on the wall to the kid with crayons in his hand.
"Laugh all you want, but we both know people are looking at me differently." I reasoned, picking up another manuscript and reading it over.
"You make it sound like you were invisible to everybody in this building until last night." Harry snorted, and I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh, I wasn't invisible. I was the coffee stain on their crisp, white, dry-cleaned shirts. Noticed, but frowned upon." Harry threw his head back with laughter at my remark, and shook his head.
"Baby, did it ever occur to you that woman glared because the number one suitor in Adlington had a pretty young thing on his arm?" My stomach fluttered at the term 'baby' but I kept my poker face.
"Modest." I sneered.
"Actually I'm just quoting the GQ magazine of last month." His smirk was playful, and I found myself smiling along with him, his smile always making me lose my edge. His smile was something beyond charming, and I was defenceless against it.
"What about the men who look at me like a killed a fly on their foreheads?" I challenged.
"The newest and hottest woman in the building is taken. Tends to put men in a bad mood having blue balls." I rolled my eyes, and Harry winked making me laugh.
"Seriously though, Dev. Who cares what they think? As long as I have you, I'm more than happy. Let them gossip and let us give them something to gossip about."
"Like what?" I asked with a sly smile.
"Like me walking around with my hair messed up from you running your fingers through it like you always do when we make-out. Or you skipping out of the office whistling to the tune 'let's get it on,' or perhaps loud shouting coming from the off-
"Okay, okay!" I burst out laughing, and Harry looked triumphant. "I could do that. If they need something to gossip about," I got up and walked around the desk, and Harry rolled his chair back from the desk. His hands patted his lap, and I teasingly walked straight to the window, pretending it was what I had gotten up for in the first place. "I mean, I'm good like that." Harry made a deep sound, and I shrieked in fright as his warm hands gripped my hips from behind and pulled down onto his lap. Harry swiftly pulled my back into his muscular chest, and his arm swiped under my legs, underneath my knees, and swung them around so I was lying sideways on his lap. He grinned down at me, and I giggled as he kissed just above the shell of my ear.
"You're cheeky, you know that?" He buried the words into my skin with kisses down my neck. My head tilted, allowing him more access, and I felt him smirk into the crook of my neck.
"Maybe a little." I admitted.
"Mhmm." Harry growled playfully, and I laughed, fisting the fabric of his black button up shirt. "We're going have to reign in that cheeky side, trouble."
"Me?" I fake gasped. "Trouble? I'm hurt." Harry let out a throaty chuckle. He clucked his tongue, continuing the charade.
"Big mouth for a little girl."
"I'm 5'9." I retaliated.
"And I'm 6'3. You're tiny to me."
"Now you're just bragging, old-fart." Harry boomed with laughter.
"Old-fart? I'm twenty-three. You're twenty. If I'm old, you're old."
"No, us Abels age well. I am forever youthful." Harry's eyes crinkled with amusement.
"Are you always going to give me the run around?" Harry inquired, and I casually shrugged.
"Probably. Perhaps not. Who knows?" Harry shook his head in false exhaustion, and leaned in, pressing his lips to mine. I kissed him back eagerly, when my phone started ringing, disturbing the heated moment.
"Leave it." Harry mumbled against my lips.
"Can't. What if it's the hospital?" Harry's eyes widened slightly, and I answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Devonne? Honey, you need to get down to the hospital. Right now." Nicki blurted out, sounding panicked.
"Nicki, what's happened? Is it Geordie?" I jumped off Harry's lap, and he too stood, looking at me with panic and confusion.
"He's fine, but Dev, you need to get down here." Nicki urged, my hand pushed my hair back in panic.
"Okay, I'm on my way right now."
"Hurry." Nicki said, and then the phone clicked. I turned to look at Harry, and he already had his keys and jacket in hand.
"I'll drive you." He said quickly, obviously hearing enough to understand what was happening. I forced a grateful smile, and we rushed out and down to the elevator. The wait seemed impossibly long, and I passed the weight of my body from foot to foot, shuffling in agitation. Harry noticed, and placed a consoling hand on my shoulder, but I ignored him. Wild thought swirled in my head, and tears were spilling from my eyes. The minute the door to the elevator slid open we dashed out, and pushed past the bodies in the lobby, and ran out the door.
"Devonne! What's wrong?" Bash called from his spot at the door, but I waved a hand in dismissal, and Harry clicked a button on the remote key to his Range Rover, and we climbed in.
"Everything's going to be okay." Harry assured me as he put the keys in the ignition and tore the car away from the curb. "Geordie is fine." I nodded, but I was a mess, tears falling rapidly down my eyes. I faintly registered Harry using a spare hand to grab mine, but I was practically numb, remaining silent and sobbing as Harry sped downtown to the hospital. To my dear brother.

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