Lessons Learned (Sequel to Love At War) Harry Styles

Chapter 3

"So Alicia, what do you think?" asked Alejandro as he waltzed into my office an hour later. "It's a very good opportunity no?"

"Brilliant," I muttered, deadpan.

"You don't seem happy," he pointed out, raising his eyebrows. "What's the matter?"

"I just...nothing."

"Look, I don't know what's wrong but this could be the making of you. Mr Tomlinson is incredibly famous and if he likes the pictures you take, he's going to recommend you to a lot of people...you're already my best photographer, let's allow people to know that."

"Al, it's not that simple," I breathed. "There's a lot you don't know about me and...things have happened that I'm trying to forget...I really don't think I'm the right person for this."

"Nonsense," he stated. "Mr Tomlinson wants you and it's you he shall get. Now get to work on some ideas for the shoot...and you might want to get someone to pick up the princesses from school...you'll be working late," he huffed, marching out of my office and slamming the door behind him.

The thing with Alejandro is that he was usual so calm and collected. However if someone questioned him, there's all hell to pay. He has quite a fiery temper and you don't want to get on the wrong side of him. I groaned and picked up my mobile, scrolled through the contacts and selected one.

"Hello?"

"Hey Han, it's me."

Hannah was my best friend. I met her through an ex boyfriend and we'd clicked straight away. She had an amazing sense of humour, her hair was dyed a light purple and she was just an incredibly sweet person. She was the only person who knew about my life, and she supported me fully. She'd told me that I was slightly crazy for leaving Harry but she understood my decision. And since the day I'd told her, she never mentioned it. She knew that I wanted to forget about it all.

"Are you okay? You sound stressed," she told me.

"I'm fine, I just...look, can you pick the girls up from school for me? And then take them back to mine so they can get changed? I shouldn't be really late, I just think I'll be working when school finishes."

"Yeah, that's no problem...bet you're glad you gave me a key," she laughed.

"Definitely," I replied. "I'm going to take the girls to Shorties for tea tonight and then to the pier...do you want to come?"

"You had me at Shorties," she giggled. "I'll be there."

"Thanks Han...I love you."

"Seriously, what's wrong?" she asked.

"I'll tell you later okay? Alejandro is sniffing around me a lot because he knows something's up too...and I don't want him knowing, if you know what I mean."

"Shit," she muttered. "Is it-?"

"No, it's not him," I sighed. "I'll just tell you later okay?"

"Yeah alright," she murmured. "We'll be waiting for you at home then."

"Thanks again," I smiled, before hanging up.

I dropped my phone into my bag and ran my hands over my face. I slouched down in my chair and picked at my cuticles. I knew that I looked different but I also knew that if I took the photos for Louis and Eleanor, one of them would recognise me. I reckon that's why Louis gave me strange look...he knew that he'd met me before, he just didn't know why. I groaned and walked out if my office, trying to find Alejandro...but I didn't bump into him...no, I bumped into Louis.

"I thought you left?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I left my wallet...I'm always doing that," he replied, with a light chuckle.