One for the Ages // Book One

Chapter 13

I'd been home from Ibiza for about two weeks. In that time a lot had changed. I had reconciled with my mother. We now spoke every day on the phone and went out for lunch twice a week. She apologized over and over for what happened after my father left. But miraculously it didn't matter to me anymore. I just wanted to be her daughter again.

Isaac and I spoke when work required it. He apologized for everything that had happened between us. I accepted his apology. It wasn't just his fault. I had culpability in it too.

My entire outlook on life, my job, my mother...everything...had changed. And I knew exactly why.

I walked into the office balancing a coffee cup from Starbucks in one hand and my lunch in the other. My mouth must have been curved into a smile because the receptionist, Laura, looked up from her desk,

"Well don't you look happy today. Good lunch I take it?"

I nodded, lunch wasn't the reason I was smiling but that's all she needed to know. I walked towards her,

"Yeah. Just got some to bring back and eat at my desk. I have a lot of briefs to get through this afternoon."

Laura raised her eyebrows,

"Well um...you have someone waiting for you in your office."

I pulled my eyebrows together in confusion,

"I do? I didn't think I had any appointments today."

"You didn't. But he insisted when he called to set one up. And to be honest, I didn't really argue with him about it."

My shoulders slumped. Laura could be such a pushover sometimes,

"Laura I-"

"Trust me Ms. Murphy, you're gonna wanna take this meeting."

I stared back at her. While Laura had a knack for pushing meetings on all of us, this seemed different. I rounded the receptionist desk and that's when I noticed the office was buzzing with activity. Nearly every woman was standing up and staring into my office. Some in groups while others just gawked on their own. They were all whispering, some were giggling. Even the males in the office seemed interested.

As I walked by a few of the younger interns giggled,

"Get it, Ms. Murphy."

As I got closer to my office I could see a figure sitting in one of the chairs waiting with his back turned. A few more steps and I could see the broad shoulders and long legs I knew well. My heart did a flip.

There was no way.

I walked into my office. Sure enough, Harry Styles was sitting in the chair looking cool as a cucumber despite the uproar he'd caused. My eyes widened in shock,

"What are you doing here?" I whispered.

Harry stood up, his hand lazily hanging in his pocket like he didn't look like the most amazing male human I'd ever seen. I looked him up and down. I'd never seen him in anything other than board shorts and a tank top. He looked magnificent. His eyes darted to the side as he held his hand out to me,

"Ms. Murphy, Harry Styles. I'm so sorry to barge in on you like this. But I'm in need of a new lawyer. You came highly recommended." He finished, a slight wink of his left eye.

I stared back at him. Was he being serious? He kept his eyes trained on me until I finally came back to life. I cleared my throat, grabbing his hand and shaking it,

"That's quite alright Mr. Styles. Please forgive my food, I was just getting back from lunch." I said as I set my food down on the edge of my desk. I walked towards the window and pulled the shades closed, "What can I do for you today?" I asked as I closed my door, leaving us completely hidden from prying eyes.