Something New [n.h.]

chapter four

Daniel slammed down a tabloid on Rachael's desk, startling her. She jumped at the sudden paper that was thrown at her and then quickly looked up at Daniel. He didn't look very pleased to say the least.

She then turned her focus down to the magazine that read Niall Horan out and about with new mystery girl. She looked down and saw the picture of her and Niall sat together at a bar.

Rachael cringed internally before she gave her boss a shy smile.

"This," he said gesturing down at the article with his finger, "Cannot happen."

"We were just hanging out." Rachael tried to explain.

"Well just 'hanging out' means dating to paparazzi. They'll eat this crap up." Daniel explained, "And you can't be seen as anything more than Niall's publicist. Anything else would be inappropriate. We need to keep it professional, Ms. Lynn. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Rachael nodded in understanding and sighed, "It won't happen again, Mr. Bowman."

Daniel gave her a stern nod and walked away.

Once he was out of sight, Rachael let out a heavy breath before slumping into her chair. Her work phone buzzing on her desk caught her attention and she sat up quickly before answering it.

"Hello, Rachael Lynn speaking," she spoke into the telephone.

"Oh my god, they had to transfer me probably four times before I got to you," Emmie exclaimed from the other end of the phone. "I didn't realize my best friend was such a big hot shot now."

Rachael chuckled, "Emmie, what are you doing?"

"Well since you never called me last night to tell me about your first day," Emmie trailed off condescendingly.

Rachael pinched the bridge of her nose. She had completely forgot. "Em, I'm so sorry. Niall and I got drinks last night and it just completely slipped my mind. I totally-"

"Wait what?" Emmie practically shouted into the phone.

"Oh right, I'm Niall Horan's new publicist." Rachael explained casually.

"And you're just telling me this now?"

"Well in my defense, I found out yesterday as well." Rachael defended.

"But you and him got drinks last night? What was that about?" Emmie quickly changed the subject, growing excited.

"We just wanted to get together after work. It was nothing big."

"My ship is sailing." Emmie said, mainly to herself.

"Em, we're just friends." Rachael reminded her, trying to mask the sadness in her voice.

"That's not what this tabloid says," Harry spoke up.

Rachael's eyes widened and then asked, "Am I on speaker?"

"Maybe..." Harry answered slowly.

"Emily!"

"Looks like you're the new mystery girl, Rachael," Emmie said while reading the article, completely disregarding the fact that Rachael was on speaker. "I guess my role was passed down to you. Congrats."

"Yeah well we're never allowed to be seen in public together like that again. We have to be professional."

"Does he seem interested in you yet?" Harry asked and Emmie hit his chest lightly, scolding him.

"Nope. I even tried setting him up with another girl and that didn't work. He's still hung up on someone else."

"Who is it Rach?" Harry asked, "Do I need to knock some sense into Niall for ya?"

"Do I need to cut a bitch?" Emmie exclaimed, taking both Rachael and Harry by surprise.

"Em!" Rach and Harry both scolded her.

"What?" Emmie asked innocently.

Rachael then let out a light laugh to herself before she saw Niall walking toward her desk.

"Gotta go bye," she said quickly before slamming the phone back on her desk.

"Hello mystery girl," Niall cooed jokingly.

Rachael rolled her eyes and told him, "If we pull a stunt like that again it could cost me my job."

"Damn you've barely been here a week, and you're already close to losing your job?"

"Yeah, and it's your fault." Rachael argued, though she wasn't serious. Well maybe a little bit.

"I think we're both to blame here." Niall countered leaning against her desk.

"Hm, maybe you are an asshole." Rachael said quietly and sarcastically, and then grabbed her planner to tell him his schedule for today. "So at ten-thirty you have a meeting with your manager, followed by a shoot downtown for Cosmo magazine."

Niall's face scrunched up, "Cosmo? Isn't that a girl's magazine?"

"Yes, girls will see you on the cover, girls will buy it. It's capitalism."

Niall chuckled at the girls bluntness and how she was able to keep such a stone cold expression. But Rachael couldn't help it, once Niall started laughing she cracked a smile herself.

Rachael rolled her eyes and then shooed him away jokingly, "Now go on you international superstar, you have a meeting in two minutes."