Empire of Deception (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter 18

The Malik mansion is warm and familiar. Worn jewel toned tapestries and thick oriental rugs clothe the floor. I am able to detect and isolate a few hints of cinnamon that linger in the air, and I wonder if Charles has recently been baking. Large cinnamon rolls pop into my head and suddenly I am determined to quickly make a run through the kitchen.

I grin eagerly as I see some on a rack above the oven and I locate the paper plates before plopping one glorious pastry on it. I decide that it is lonely by itself so I quickly pick up another one to add to my plate. I read the clock before stepping out into the room beyond the kitchen, taking note that is is 10:00.

"I see you've already helped yourself to the cinnamon buns," Zayn sighs before earning a scolding kick from Mia.

"Stop, we were going to offer him one anyway," she warns before giving me a smile. "Sit with us, my dear friend," she laughs before licking the last of the frosting off of her fork.

I am exhausted and mentally drained, the worn sofa taking a load of strain off my back as I sink into it.

The fire is crackling and as usual Zayn sits sprawled across the oriental rug. I always wonder why he prefers the floor over to the sofa or a plush armchair. Perhaps it's because he is simply sick of being confined to a seat all day, he finds a certain freedom in sitting on the ground.

"How is everything at the office?" Zayn asks as I take a bite.

"Fine," I answer, taking a moment to think about it. "Nothing interesting has happened so far but I can't help but feel it's too quiet. Something is stirring in that building and I don't know what it is."

"And what about the female Jarwin?"

"She doesn't speak to me anymore."

"Like... At all?"

"At all," I confirm. "The last time I saw her was with the episode at Melrose House of Design, but before that I barely saw her, let alone heard from her. She seems to be doing all of her business with me through April or through her brother which doesn't make sense to me because before she always made sure that I were to meet with her in person."

"That's definitely weird," Mia agrees, crossing her legs and grabbing a nearby cushion. "She is definitely working some sort of angle and it's somehow related to Project 28 between both the Jarwin Firm and Bolton... We need to look at the bigger picture. Little details that make sense when put together."

"Honestly it doesn't sound like that much of a mystery to me," Zayn admits as he leans back on the palms of his hand. Off in the kitchen I can hear the rushing sound of running water and the quiet clang of metal hitting the porcelain sink. Charles no doubt.

Both Mia and I exchange confused looks which Zayn sees and understands. "Well mate, it sounds like she is distancing herself from you."

"Obviously," Mia deadpans with a dramatic and sarcastic roll of her brown eyes.

"No," Zayn shakes his head, "I mean she is distancing herself," he repeats. His own eyes dart between the two of us but he quickly sees that we are completely lost. "Think about it," he explains, "She is a Jarwin. They always have something up their sleeve and some sort of hidden agenda—its just how they are biologically made or something." He sits up, "I practically grew up with Christopher—you too, Harry—he was in the Underground with us. If there is one thing that I can firmly state about the Jarwins, it's that they have a strong family bond that stresses loyalty, but somehow loyalty to themselves is more important than family. Christopher does anything Alexander says without questions, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't analyze it, but despite this... overwhelming sense of strong family value, he still is always looking out for himself. How many times has that boy caused problems for the Firm? The only person brave enough to stand up to a Jarwin has to have the same blood."