Business & Pleasure [h.s] [ON HOLD]

six

"Is everything okay Lissette?" Phoebe only asked this question out of courtesy, she knew that something was gravely wrong.

Lissette turned towards her window, her back facing Phoebe. "Take a seat," she said sourly. With a deep sigh, Phoebe sat down.

"Listen, I know you're really upset but if you would just let me explain-"

"Phoebe, why does TMZ have pictures of my best writer out to dinner with a Harry Styles?"

"Well, I-"

"Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe... I expected so much more from you." Lissette finally turned to face her while shaking her head. Surprisingly, she didn't look mad at all- only disappointed. "Now, I think I know what's really going on here." Lissette slipped into her enormous leather chair.

"Y-you do?" Phoebe prepared herself for the "YOU'RE FIRED" speech. How could she have been so stupid? Allowing a boy to come in-between her work. She had done everything that she told herself she wouldn't do, and now she was about to pay for it.

"Phoebe, I know that becoming editor was very important to you. Trust me, I went over your name plenty of times before I handed over the job to Rebecca. Sometimes, I still wonder if I made the right decision... It only makes sense that you would try to redeem yourself to me."

Now Phoebe was completely perplexed. What was Lissette trying to get at?

"I asked you to interview One Direction, and you outdid yourself. But it wasn't enough, was it? You decided to dig deeper and expose one of their members. Am I right?"

"Uh..."

Lissette rose from her seat again, "I knew it! 'The Real Harry Styles: An Expose' . You're absolutely brilliant! Do you know what this would do for our company? We would knock out every news outlet there is! No one has ever gotten this close to those boys, but my  writer went on a date with one of them." Phoebe was absolutely dumbfounded. Lissette seemed to be speaking about 2,000 words a minute, and with every word Phoebe sank lower into her seat.

"Now, here's the new plan: you've got three months to get this story on my desk. For the time being, I want you to spend as much time as you can with Styles. Go to dinner, exclusives parties, concerts, I don't care what it is... Just get yourself on the front page of every magazine. I want the whole world to see -and believe- that you are the love of Harry's life. Find out what his bad habits are, his pet peeves, his darkest secrets... then, organize it and place it on my desk to be in our latest spread. Got it?"

Phoebe couldn't believe what was happening. How could Lissette expect her to do such a horrible thing? There was no way she would have any part of this.

"Lissette, I don't think-"

"Who knows..." Lissette leaned against her desk, "this editor position might become available again if everything goes well."

"E-editor?" Phoebe felt like a dog being taunted with a bone. Her ultimate dream was so close, yet so far away.

"It just might... but do me a favor, okay? Don't fall in love with him. That's just messy, Sweetheart." Was the last thing Lissette said before shooing Phoebe away.

Phoebe felt numb. She stood to her feet- losing balance at first- and headed back to her desk. She could hear murmurs as she passed by cubicles; many co-workers had the article pulled up on their phone. Bridget was waiting at Phoebe's desk when she arrived.

"Congratulations, Chica. You're famous." She stated sarcastically.

**

Phoebe was in the middle of a crossroad. Becoming editor had been the most important thing to her for so long, and she had promised herself that nothing would get in the way of that. Yet, becoming editor didn't seem as wonderful as it used to. For some odd reason, Harry was in the forefront of her mind. No matter what had happened between them, she never wanted to hurt him this way. At the same time, work had always been her number one priority.

After picking up a monstrous amount of Chinese food, Phoebe finally made it home. She threw on an oversized tee and  stuffed her face hoping to forget this day had ever happened, but the moment was short lived. Her phone vibrated a second later.

New Message:

Don't forget me tonight. I'll swing by around 8

Harry

Phoebe looked down at her watch- 7:00 PM. "No, no, no, no!" She gasped in horror. With everything that happened today, her date with Harry had completely surpassed her thoughts. Rushing to her closet, her mouth still full of fried rice, she frantically searched for something to wear.

After what felt like hours, she settled on a nude colored, form-fitting dress with white sneakers. Harry hadn't been specific on where exactly there were going, so she tried not to seem to eager. At exactly 8 o'clock, her doorbell rang.

"Ready or not, here I come." Phoebe murmured as she took one last look in the mirror before heading to the door. There stood Harry with another bouquet of roses - red in color.

"Two days in a row, you're on a roll, Styles." She grinned before taking the roses inside. This time Harry followed her. He was dressed in a loose white button down and black jeans that were ripped at the knees. His ensemble was topped with a pair of worn black boots.

"Your house looks exactly like I imagined it." His eyes scanned the room. Walking over to Phoebe's fire place, he picked up one of the pictures that sat on the mantle. "Your smile is always bigger when you're around your family." He was holding a picture the Cunningham's last trip to Montana. It was a trip they had taken every year since Phoebe was little. Since she had moved to New York City, the trips had been put on hold.

Phoebe made her way to the mantle, "that picture's ancient."

"How are you parents doing anyway?" He asked innocently.

Phoebe stepped back, almost as if she had been hit with excruciating pain. "My dad... he passed away two years go."

Harry face filled with astonishment, "what? How? He was so healthy the last time I saw him."

"A car accident... someone ran into him on his way home from work. The rest of my family was pretty broken for a really long time, we're just starting to get back on our feet. Stacy's still hurting quite a bit, though." Thoughts of her little sister began to replay in her mind. Stacy had changed so much since their father's passing; it was as if her happy, loving soul had died with him. The two hadn't been in much contact since the horrific event.

Suddenly, Phoebe felt Harry's arm tightly around her. Her arms reciprocated - wrapping around his neck. "I'm so sorry, Pheeb." He whispered in her ear. His touch seemed so natural. She burrowed her face into his neck taking in his scent. For some reason, Phoebe couldn't help but hear Lissette in her ear.

"You have three months to get this story on my desk..."

**

"So, what's on the agenda for tonight?" Phoebe asked as Harry helped her into his car.

"Do you remember the day we skipped school and spent the whole day at the beach?" He asked once as he drove.

"The day you were attacked by seagulls? How could I forget?." She snickered.

"Do you remember when you sat for almost a half an hour writing a bucket for us?"

Phoebe shifted in her seat as the  conversation turned uncomfortably sentimental, "...yes."

"Well, I know how much you like lists," Harry smiled before tugging something out of his jean pocket. He handed her a crumpled piece of folded paper, much to her amazement.

"You still have this?" She asked bewildered.

"Read number 8 aloud, please." Harry tried to conceal his grin.

"Get matching...tattoos." Phoebe could feel her stomach beginning to churn, "Harry Edward Styles, you wouldn't!"

"It's time for you to loosen up, my love."

**

Love you guys ❤