Playing With Fire || z.m

"It was a one night thing."

ELLIE

“Shit!” I swear as I jump out of bed. I’d somehow managed to sleep through my alarm, which is a rare occurrence in my life. I pull my hair back into a tight bun and chuck on a plain black skirt and a hot pink blouse before shoving my feet into black court shoes. Luckily it was a Friday so I only have to go to the main office in Central London. 

I run into the station, just managing to press my oyster card on the card reader before stumbling up the steps.

“Wait!” I yell at the conductor as he blows into his whistle. The doors begin to beep, signalling that they were closing and I jump onto the packed train just in the nick of time. “Sorry.” I apologise to the business man that I had just jumped straight into.

“Impressive.” He grunts. “I didn’t think you’d make it.”

“Oh. Thanks.” I giggle, surprised at a fellow commuter to be conversing at this time of the morning. I wriggle my way between all the people standing up on the busy train and stop in front of the man in the ‘priority seat’.

“Excuse me, do you mind if I have this seat?” He looks at me, a frown appearing on his young face. “I’m pregnant.” I lie. His frown became even more prominent as his eyes travel down my body to my stomach. “I’m just not showing yet.” I sigh. “So please, unless you want me to vomit on you or pass out, please could I have this seat?” He soon jumps out the way once the vomit word is said. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” I sit down in the chair, my feet thanking me immediately and lean my head back.

A sudden wave of guilt washes over me, although not to the man I just kicked out the seat but towards Perrie. Poor Perrie, whose boyfriend I slept with last night. I feel truly awful for being involved. I don’t even know Perrie yet here I was feeling sick with guilt. Sick. Yes I was actually feeling really sick. My head falls into my hands as I process exactly what happened between Zayn and me last night. It was amazing, Zayn was amazing. No man had ever made me feel as sexy as he did last night. Normally I was the controlling one in the bedroom but now, the tables had certainly turned and it was now me being ordered around. I loved it. I loved every single minute of it. Until now. I feel absolutely awful for what we have done to Perrie. And why me? Why did Zayn sleep with me? He has millions of fans all around the world yet he chooses me, his average looking, slightly podgy neighbour.

And then something else hits me.

I slept with Zayn Malik from One Direction.

Holy crap on a cracker.  

*

“Bollocks.” I swear under my breath as I finally reach the office building. Half an hour late. The boss is not going to be impressed. I run through reception calling out good morning to Sarah on the front desk and take the stairs two at a time.

“What time do you call this, Eleanor?” An all too familiar voice echoes down the hall way as I run along it.

“It’s half past 8, Max.” I call back to my manager, slowing to a walking pace.

“You were meant to be here at 8.”

“The train was delayed.” I fib.

“Why have you stopped running? You’re still late.” I walk past the short, obnoxious man who is standing in the doorway of the main office which is full of around 20 desks.

“What’s the point when you already know that I’m late this morning?” I don’t hang around to hear his answer.

“Morning!” Jasmine spins around in her chair to face me from her desk in front of mine. “Someone’s unusually late this morning. Was it a late night last night?” She gives me a wink.

“The train was delayed.” I fib yet again as I slide my large tan leather handbag under my desk and plonk my bum down in the chair.

“There’s no fooling me, especially when you obviously didn’t get a chance to put some slap on this morning.” The tall dark haired girl cackles. My hands automatically land on my bare cheeks.

“Bollocks.” I swear again. How did I forget make up? I never forget something like make up!

“Who is he?”

“No one.” I mutter, slamming my palms on the desk. “I mean, there isn’t anybody.”

“Eleanor Taylor!” She gasps, dramatically. “Tell me all about him now!”

I shake my head, guilt sweeping over me again.

“Eleanor Taylor, don’t tell Miss York about him now. If you know what’s good for you, you can wait for your lunch hour.” Max speeds past, his horrible old man aftershave lingering for way too long making Jasmine and I both scrunch up our noses. “And at least turn your computer on and pretend to do some work.” He calls as he carries on down the large office. Jasmine lets out a loud cackle, yet again and spins her chair round back to her desk.

*

“So tell me everything.” Fifteen minutes later and Jasmine is yet again spinning around on her chair to face me. This was how we spent most of our day when we were in the office.

“It’s complicated.” I sigh, saving my work on my computer.

“Complicated? How can it be complicated when you’ve only know him 5 minutes.” She snorts. Her eyes suddenly widen. “Oh, my God, he’s married isn’t he?” she exclaims. I look away. There s no way I can tell anybody about Zayn and me. “Holy craps, Ellie, are you serious? You are seeing a married man?”

I mentally argue with myself whether to tell her that he’s not married but decide to just go with it.

“I’m not seeing him; it was just a one night thing.” I feel my cheeks heating.

“You cannot be serious? You can’t get involved with a married man?” She lowers her voice and leans towards me over my desk.

“I can assure you I will not be getting involved.” I smile at her. “As I said, it was a one night thing, I won’t do it again.”

“Won’t you?” She quizzes. I stare at her. I’m not going to do it again, am I?

“Ok, well I can’t promise that I won’t do it again, but I won’t be getting involved.” I laugh nervously. “It’s just, it was amazing, Jaz, I’ve never been with a man like him!”

Jasmine shakes her head, “Get out while you can, Ellie, you do not want to get between a married couple. That’s playing with fire.” And leaving that last comment hanging in the air, she stands up and walks away.