Dance Without Me | n.h

Chapter 22: A Bump in the Road

Chapter 22:

The woman meets my gaze and for a split second, the room is silent.

Her perfectly outlined lips form the fakest smile I have ever seen. Her teeth are overly white from being bleached one too many times and her face is a shade darker than the rest of her skin.

She smooths out the length of her gray knee-length pencil skirt and stands up while adjusting her gray blazer over a white buttoned shirt.

She clears her throat and then speaks.

"Sit please." She says and gestures to the couch opposite her. I now notice it is empty meaning they were saving it for me and Niall. That scares me because it leads me to believe that the topic of this conversation will be the people sitting in that couch. Aka us.

We walk over to the couch and sit down. Niall takes ahold of my right hand and places it in his lap, surrounded by both of his hands.

"I'm Kendra from Modest! management." She flashes another fake smile with her colored lips and walks over to me. She gives me a firm and professional handshake. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to speak, but I don't want to leave a bad first impression.

"Lovely to meet you Miss, erm, my name is-" I begin but she looks aggravated by my talking and begins to speak.

"Rosaline, yes I'm aware. Now, we haven't got much time so let's get down to business. Adam, the laptop please." She says while sticking her hand towards the balding man on the couch and tapping her heel impatiently. She reminds me of my mother except a little bit...worse I guess.

The man fumbles for the device and hands it to her. She sits back down and opens the computer on the coffee table in front of her.

Looking back up she says, "We came regarding your 'relationship'," she begins using air quotes with her fingers around the word 'relationship'.

"The fans have gotten word of this development and are absolutely outraged. This is completely inappropriate at the current time with so much going on publicity wise. Not to mention it was downright irresponsible to announce it without permission. However, the damage is not irreversible. We would like you both to end the so-called romance so we can finish the whole silly ordeal." Kendra says with no hint of remorse.

I literally almost throw up on the spot. It's like she tossed a dagger into my heart. Not because she said it was irresponsible or inappropriate because honestly I don't care about this one woman's opinion.

But the fact that I am the reason that the fans are upset kills me. How could I go on with this knowing I'm causing pain and trouble for Niall. He would never want to see his fans upset, but I know he wouldn't want to leave me either. I'm the reason he's being torn in two. And I just won't have that.

Unless there's a solution to the problem that I can't see, I don't see any other way out than to make the decision for him.

I sit there with a deflated heart and my head hung low as I feel Niall stand up. Oh no, not now Niall.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Niall shouts at the woman with her hands up.

She looks taken aback by this and blinks repeatedly.

"This isn't a fucking make believe relationship! She my girlfriend and you cannot fucking tell me who I can and can't be with!" He yells, the veins popping out of his neck.

I sink lower into the couch with my head facing my lap.

"Niall, we are looking for the best interest of the band and the fans are upset. Under your contract it says we are here to guide you in the right direction and help you make career moves. We believe that this-" She retorts keeping her calm and professional composure.