Scheduling a flight for Mr. Hood and his team to visit next month, I kept absentmindedly glancing at the screen of my phone, disappointed that I still hadn't received anything from Harry all day and it was almost three o'clock. I shouldn't think anything of it but I had grown use to receiving sweet and suggestive messages from him throughout the days we spend apart. He could just be busy and I'm just being THAT girl that I hate. Scolding myself for being the obsessive person I promised myself I would never be, I dropped my phone down into my purse and returned to the task at hand.
"Willow?" A voice from the doorway, jerked me back to reality and I glanced up from the computer screen. The receptionist (Kaylin I think) was standing in the doorway. "Yes?" I asked, smiling. Returning the smile, "I was just checking in...you do know what time it is...right?" She asked, sounding semi worried. Confused, I checked the clocked and realized that it was ten minutes to Six o'clock. "What? No! I didn't even realize." I said, grabbing my belongings hurriedly and following her out the door. How had I not realized I was suppose to be off an hour ago? Shaking my head, to clear my thought, I fished for my phone. Harry is going to be worried! I thought to myself. The most punctual man on the planet doesn't deal well with people being more than a few minutes late. but...there was nothing...no texts...no calls...no emails... what the hell?
Debating whether or not I should even bother going to his apartment tonight, I climbed into my car and cranked the engine.
I shouldn't ...
He's obviously just busy...
Or pissed about something I did...what did I do?
My mind drew a blank as I pulled out of the parking lot, deciding to take the turn toward his building. If he's busy, no harm done I'll just kiss him goodnight and go home. Assuring myself that this is the best plan, I saw the tall building come into view and felt strange arriving here alone.
The doorman recognized me and opened the door with a smile, as did the lady at the front desk as I stepped into the elevator and punched the penthouse button.
The front room was dark and I wondered if Harry was even home. but the thin glimmer of light that stretched from his office door told he was and I navigated the living room in the dark, knocking lightly before I opened the door and stepped inside. "Harry? I just came to say goodnight, If you're busy I can just come back- Baby, is everything alright?" My stomach dropped when Harry's eyes met mine and they were gleaming with tears, that streamed down his chest.
His hair was a tangle of unkept curls, his t shirt had several dark spots (possibly tear stains), and his had tissues clenched in his fist. Rushing forward, I wrapped him in my arms, "Are you alright?" I could count on one hand, the number of times I have seen Harry cry and it broke my heart.
Shaking his head, Harry pulled me back and stood up. "I'm so sorry." He croaked, his voice shaking and hoarse.
Sorry?
"For what, Harry?" I asked, terrified at this point. "What's going on?"
Harry just intertwined our fingers and brought our hands to his lips, kissing along my palm and down my wrist. "You are extraordinary...You are perfect..." A stray tear traveled down his face and dripped onto my hand, "I forget what I have, even when it's staring me right in the face."
Him? Not deserve...me?
At this point, I'm just waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and inform me that I'm being punk'd. In the years that I've been with Harry, I have never for a second thought that I was 'settling' for Harry...I mean, He's Harry Styles! "Harry! no! don't ever think you have-" Pressing one finger to my lips to silence me, Harry shook his head, his gaze on the carpet. "I don't appreciate you the way that you deserve...I don't encourage you to be the strongest that you can be...I don't let you spread your wings... Damn it! I don't even make certain that you know how I feel! I allow the love of my life to live under the impression that she's disposable...some object to be controlled and used!...That's not you." Harry's body shook as he wiped falling tears from his cheeks.
It physically hurt me to see him like this, What in the hell happened to make him feel this way? "Harry...My love, I never thought-" Harry interrupted again, my words only seeming to cause more self hatred to rake over his body. "What is going on?" I asked again, pleading in my voice. I needed to know, because I cant stand to see him this way.
Releasing my hands, Harry turned away. Ignoring my protests, he walked to his desk and left me miserably confused. Pulling a drawer open, he retrieved a stack of papers and it looked like it almost hurt him to touch them. "I need you to know...I need you to understand that you are not under any requirement to ever put up with any of my bullshit again...Any time you want to walk away, you are more than free to do so...I won't hold any power over your head ever again...I love you...I love you and I never want anything to be required or mandatory between us ever ..." He gripped the papers and looked back at me, "this is no longer a part of our relationship...what we have will evolve or dissolve based on our love for one another and nothing else..."
Almost in tears, I glanced down at the object in his grip and watched him glare venomously at it. Before I could question anything, Harry pulled at each side of the papers and the entire stacked into pieces. The paper fluttered to the ground and that was when I saw what it was that he had destroyed. I recognized my own signature...above the submissive line.
The very first day of our relationship, I signed that very piece of paper...promising to be faithful and obedient to my dominant.
"Harry...you never forced anything on me...I signed that of my own freewill and participated in every act-" Before I could say another word, Harry pulled me against his chest and met my eyes, intently.
"I understand that...I've always had the deep need to control you...but I need you to understand that you control me in return, My angel...that I have to respect your wishes and suffer the consequences of losing you if I don't ...your feelings matter...your thoughts matter...you were never just a sub and I will never put the person that I love more than anything, in the emotional restraints of that title again..."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing...
"You don't want anymore contracts?" I asked, my voice no higher than a whisper.
Harry shook his head, "I would like to offer another lawful agreement-..."
What the fuck?
"What the hell, Harry?...this big ordeal just to renew the contract?" My fluttering heart, halted in confusion and irritation.
Chuckling, Harry kissed my forehead lightly. "Not quite, My love." He whispered, "this one doesn't require you to sacrifice anything except your last name."
