Agent Kelly Tomlinson

Twenty Nine

My head snapped back to the bar area to my dad. He was looking between Lydia and I, his face stone cold, pretty much emotionless. He knew she was coming but didn't know I was. That's why he almost tripped when he saw me in the restaurant. I was going to find out one of his biggest secrets.

Lydia hadn't stopped staring at me since we locked eyes. Even when Harry embraced her in a hug and she kissed him on the cheek, she continued to stare at me. Her expression mirrored my father's. Emotionless.

"You okay?" Louis asked.

Simon walked to the center of the room and clapped his hands to gain everybody's attention. "Dinner's ready to be served. Can everyone please take their seat."

I ripped my gaze off of Lydia and walked back to the bar, rounding my finger for a second soda. Once again, the bartender smirked at me and handed me a clear bubbly glass. Louis stood in the doorway, frowning at my decision to get a second drink, but when I tell him why, he's going to piss his pants.

Everyone had taken a spot around the large rectangular table. Everyone sat around like it was Thanksgiving. Ironically for me, the only chair left was the one across from Lydia. Harry sat next to her. His Mom next to him and his sister next to her. Lydia watched me sit down. I challenged her staring and didn't let up either.

I felt so much distrust. When I first discussed the case with Lydia, she never mentioned her relationship to Harry. For all I knew, she barely knew his name since she wasn't into pop music and Hollywood gossip. But instead, she had been hiding this secret from me the entire time. I thought about how familiar Harry's picture was when I first opened the case file, and then his cat-like reflexes. Had it all been because of Lydia? Does Harry even know what Lydia does?

I took the seat next to Louis and Lottie. Without moving my eyes, I picked up the steak knife and twirled it in my hands menacingly. Lydia finally showed some emotion, nervousness. She pried her eyes off me and found the designs on her plate interesting enough to remain focused on them.

Waiters and Waitresses walked around the table serving everyone chicken parm and buttered noodles. Next came small plates of vegetables and bread.

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Simon tapped his water glass with a knife. "First off I would like to formally welcome everyone for coming here tonight to celebrate the boys' career. I have great beliefs that this album will do even better that the first and be a tremendous success. It couldn't have been done without the boys' hard work and focus. You all should be very proud."

"Cheers," Mr. Horan held up his wine glass and smiled widely at his son.

I cringed at the word 'proud' and felt myself gripping my vodka glass so hard that my knuckles were turning white.

Simon sat back down and everyone returned to their own conversations. My mom was cutting up the kids' chicken and Dad was clicking away on his iPhone, probably writing an email or secretly texting Lydia about how screwed they are now that I know they've been hiding shit from me. What else were they hiding?

"You must be Kelly," The woman diagonal from me smiled in my direction. It was Harry's mother. "I'm Anne. Harry's mum."

"Nice to meet you." I forced a smile. At first I thought that I would be nervous to meet her, but now my mind was way too distracted to even care about making a good first impression.

"And this is my Auntie Lydia." Harry smiled at our inside joke.

I didn't say anything at first. My eyes re found Lydia's and I was sent into a blank daze. When I looked at her, I saw red. Nothing but anger for her.