Privilege

Chapter 16

The lobby of the exclusive Gramercy Park Hotel is like something out of a modern Goth influenced Alice in Wonderland- with its checkerboard floors, abstract art, ornate chandeliers, and dark stone walls. Yet it is somehow cozy. Comfortable. Welcoming. As usual, Niall feels like the gawking idiot he is as he steps further inside with Louis, Harry, Perrie and Amanda close behind him.

There is a couple at the front desk surrounded by piles of dark leather luggage, and a tiny dog peeking out from the woman's handbag. A group of men in tailored suits stride by them in heated conversation, clearly on their way to some high powered brunch; surprisingly, the men stop talking to check out Amanda and Perrie as they walk by, and Niall can’t help but sneer as they quickly lose interest and continue onwards.

This is not the kind of clientele one might find at the grocery store in Crystalmont. This place oozes glamour and luxury; Niall can’t help but be curious as to what their suite will look like.

"Miss Simmons, Miss Edwards, good to see you again," the bellboy- who is way too cute to be a bellboy -greets them as he loads their bags onto a cart. "I'll take this up to your suite; is there anything else I can get for you?" he asks, a charming smile gracing his lips.

Amanda looks at them questioningly "Should we lunch out, or have something brought to our room?" she inquires, taking a moment to glance around their small group.

"Lunch? It's ten-thirty in the morning," Niall points out, "and we have appointments to keep," he reminds in a soft voice, trying not to come off as too bossy.

"So we'll do brunch," Perrie says with a shrug, sinking into a red velvet chaise; she leans back and kicks her heels off, "God, it's so good to be home,” she all but moans as she relaxes against the plush chair.

"Home? You live here?” Niall asks warily.

Perrie laughs prettily and shakes her head, the bellboy laughs as well and Niall stares at him a little too long; he notices and blushes, looking away.

“Eh… practically,” she states with a small sigh, and Niall still doesn’t understand as she throws her head back on the cushion, but he decides to just let it go.

"You can take our things up," Louis instructs the bellboy, handing him a few crisp bills from his wallet, "We'll let you know if we need anything else."

As the bellboy silently disappears with Niall’s gaze lingering after him, Louis sits down on the chaise near Perrie’s feet and slides his arms out of his coat, "I say we head up to Sara Beth’s for brunch, then hit Bloomingdale's and Dylan's. I'm definitely going to need chocolate later,” he states attempting to adjust his ruffled shirt before giving up and lounging in the chair.

"I’m definitely in," Harry agrees and sits down as well - as far away from Louis as possible - and Niall has noticed that the curly haired boy has been keeping his distance ever since they entered the city; Niall can’t help but wonder what that’s all about.

"You guys, we can't go out for brunch right now," Niall says, even though the idea is highly appealing; he is starving after all, "We have an appointment to see the Regent in half an hour, then another at the studio at eleven fifteen. I blocked out time for lunch at twelve-thirty," Niall insists, and ok, now he’s really starting to feel like a little Miss Bossy Britches.

"What are you, auditioning to be a cruise director?" Amanda jokes, checking out a couple clad in matching sunglasses as they walk by, “Just relax for a second,” she urges, bringing her attention back to Niall, and patting his shoulder lightly.

Niall huffs out an annoyed breath, “We don’t have time to relax,” he claims, as he begins pacing back and forth, “We have to go now.”

“So demanding,” Louis comments with a roll of his eyes but grabs his coat and climbs to his feet anyway, “I wonder if you’re like that in bed too,” he ponders, whispering much too loudly into Niall’s ear as he passes by and Niall blushes several impressing shades of red.