The Help- Niall Horan Story

Chapter 11

The next morning Maddie went to work as usual and let Niall sleep in while she did the daily duties.  Half way through the unfamiliar voice of her boss Mr Horan came through the glass double doors, brief case in one hand and mobile phone in the other.

“I’ve told you enough times it was tonight…no you can’t…but where else...” were the few words Maddie overheard now and then before the call went completely blank. Soon after he stormed into the living room where she was dusting at the ornaments.

“Maddie, I need you to work tonight” He began “I’m opening my art gallery down town and need you to serve champagne. My original waitress just backed out” He said with a sigh “Anyway I need you to be there at 6 sharp in all black. And don’t be late!” Before she could protest he’d gone.  He must have woke Niall up when he slammed the door shut as he walked lazily down the wooden stair case, his boxers hanging low on his hips and his hair all rugged and scruffy.

“There’s my beautiful girl” He smiled at her before embracing her into a warm hug. With a long sigh she wrapped her arms around him too. “What’s wrong?” He asked, pulling away and looking at her fake smile “And don’t say ‘nothing’ I see right through that”

“I didn’t really want to work tonight…” She mumbled.

“Yeah I know, we could have had the whole house to ourselves” He smirked and winked earning a push on the arm from Maddie.

“I have Poppy and Lewis. Isabel hates me for leaving the; the least I could do is spend evening with them”

“Don’t worry Mads, I’ll help sneak you out half way through” He smiled, kissed her and whisked off to get breakfast.

Dressed in a black skirt, white blouse and black heels, Maddie arrived at the opening at 6pm sharp like orders. The walls were painted white with coloured canvases filling the empty spaces. The light came from the huge glass panels from the outside of the gallery and white lights hanging low from the ceiling. You’d surely hit your head on them if you were 6ft8. In the middle of the floor stood a few white stands holding statues of valuable art. There were also black leather benches for you to admire it all the art.

Maddison never saw the point in art or buying it. Why would someone pay thousands of pounds on one doodle or sketch that may not have any sentimental value just to put above the fireplace? She thought of the other ways of spending cash like that; helping the homeless, the hungry, the sick. Helping people like her who have to provide for their families at 18 because their mother is a mean drunk. Yet none of the people here seemed to care about that stuff. Maybe they didn’t realise how serious it was. Or maybe they chose to ignore it. Expensive art was a way of showing how much money you have to throw away. Who would know if you helped the sick if you had nothing to prove for it? You certainly wouldn’t have a painting of a sick person.

Maddie got to work as soon as people arrived, handing them tall, thin glasses of bubbly champagne and topping them up whenever the liquids decreased. She took their coats to the little storage cupboard at the back and wasn’t given the time of day by any of them. They were all high class people who Maddie assumed had names like Philip, Charles and William. Every now and then she would exchange glances with Niall who stayed by his father’s side to play the proud son act even if he didn’t care too much for art. He’d never mentioned it before besides tattoos which were a different kind of art all together. He was dressed in fitting black tux and his hair was quiffed to the tee.

When looking back over at Niall he was talking to a slim tall girl with shiny hair and pale skin. They were chatting and laugh and her hand moved up and down his arm. He didn’t protest or move it and continued to flirt with the girl in front of Maddie’s eyes. Maddie just made her way over to the black and white photography section, the other side of the gallery away from Niall and the only part of the building that interested her in the slightest way. The photos were of people portraying different emotions and feelings in different backdrops however it all came together to make quite a masterpiece.

“What do you think?” A man with a turtle neck tight top and slicked back brown hair asked standing tall besides her also looking at the work.

“It’s most beautiful” She admitted.

“Why thank you” He smiled.

“You did these?” He simply nodded.

“So tell me why a beautiful girl like you is working her and not at a modelling agency” He took a sip of his beverage.

“I’m not beautiful” She shook her head “And I need the cash”

“Well if you wouldn’t mind I’d love to put you in my next work” He offered “Think of yourself as my muse” She’d never been somebodies ‘muse’ before and wasn’t even quite sure what he exactly meant by it but liked the sound of it. Just before she could answer, Niall walked over and stood beside her.

“Would you like a drink Mr Horan?” Maddison said pretending not to know him in the slightest way “Or maybe your date over there?” She nodded in the direction of the girl.

“What are you doing?” He looked at her then at the artist.

“I asked her to be my new model. Beautiful isn’t she?” The artist beamed causing Maddie to blush.

“Yes very but she won’t agree to it”

“And why do you say that?” He questioned Niall’s quick judgement.

“She isn’t model material” Maddie’s eyebrows turned to a frown as she turned to face him. Sensing the tense atmosphere the artist soon left not before handing her his business card. She put the empty tray that was once carrying the glasses and headed for the door before Niall pulled her back. “Where are you going? I haven’t spoken to you all night”

“Maybe that’s because you were too busy flirting, or being too ashamed of me to tell these people we’re dating and I’m not ‘just the help’ or saying I wasn’t pretty enough to be a model” Her face dropped into hurt and disappointed expression especially towards the end.

“Mads that’s not what I meant, I just..”

“Save it Niall!” Before he could protest, she’d gone.

IM BACK! I missed you all so so much omg its been awful not writing! Im so sorry again and i know oyu probably hate me for leaving it so long:( I can update so much more often now so please dont hate me! I hope you did enjoy this chapter though and leave your lovely comments below and like it please if you want more :D Love you xxx