The Takeover {Larry Stylinson}

Chapter 15

Louis' POV

After we had been kissing for a while, I pulled back, realising where we were, and it wasn't really professional to be making out with your boss in his office while you are supposed to be working.

Both of us had giddy smiles on our faces, and the same flush graced both of our cheeks. I could see the genuine happiness and content in Harry's eyes, and found the same emotions echoed in my own heart.

He extended his arm, and grabbed a hold of my hand, raising it to his lips and kissing my knuckles. A giggle escaped my lips at his cheesiness, as he winked at me. Before I could open my mouth to say something, Harry leaned forward and gave a quick peck to my lips, effectively stopping my train of thought.

I didn't need to say anything, anyway, because Harry decided to speak.

"I can't explain in words how much you mean to me, Louis, and there is nothing I regret more than what happened that night." I opened my mouth to interrupt him, but he raised a hand, wanting to continue. I gestured for him to carry on. "In all my life, I never thought I would turn into one of those monsters who force themselves on others, but I did Lou. It wasn't just the fact that I did that to you, which was eating me alive. There was this part of my brain, the bigger part, that told me that I am dangerous, not just for you, but for anyone around me. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror. And I couldn't begin to think of forgiving myself. But then, you did this, told me you love me, and I can't thank you enough, because I have hope, however little it maybe, that I may have a chance of forgiving myself, and that maybe I am not a monster and that what happened that day was actually a mistake. I just want to say thank you, and that I love you."

I couldn't help but look at this man, with curly hair and very sincere eyes, and feel his pain because what he said made so much sense, that I wanted to cry for him. Maybe try to take his pain away. After that night, I focused on how I was hurting, but never once did I think how Harry must be feeling. The same Harry whom I got to know in the past few months after he took over Riveria. The same Harry who became one of my best friends and my confidant. The same Harry whom I slowly fell in love with.

And now that I got an insight on how he felt, I couldn't help but pull him into a tight hug, holding him close to me, so that he knew that I was there for him, by his side.

He pulled away after a few minutes and took my face in his hands. He leaned down to kiss my forehead and then smiled his very infectious smile at me, leaving me with no choice but to smile back.

"Harry, all through this weekend, I only focused on how I was feeling after going through that, and I never once stopped to realise how you must have felt. And I feel so selfish."

"No. You have been anything but selfish, Louis. I regret what happened, yes, and I wish I could take it back. I really don't know what happened to me that day. But I do not want you to think that you were selfish, because you did nothing wrong. You have a right to focus on yourself after what happened. I do not deserve any sympathy for that, because I deserve to feel the way I am feeling. My feelings are of guilt and regret, which I have to face due to my own actions. I am my own victim. I was in the wrong. You on the other hand, Louis, did nothing wrong. You were a victim of what I did. You didn't deserve the pain that came with it. What I did was exactly what Presco did. So you were not at all selfish, Lou. I do not deserve your sympathy."

"I - I don't know what to say to that Harry."

"I don't want you to say anything. I just want you to understand that just because I have feelings for you, and just because you reciprocate them, doesn't make what happened, alright. Please tell me you understand, and that you will never feel selfish for the way you reacted?" He looked at me with so much pain and sincerity in his eyes. He really wanted me to understand what he was saying, and I was understanding, to a great extent.