Empire of Deception (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter 47

 Victoria is standing by the door by the time I run into Swann.

"What took you so long?" she asks.

"There is never any fucking parking here!" I exclaim, flustered.

To my surprise Victoria smiles, clearly humored by my misfortune. "Come on, you just missed them. They are probably on my floor by now."

The lift ride seems brutally long but the door finally opens onto the floor of the Jarwin Firm. It's always busy and manic in here and today is no exception. I don't know if I could work efficiently under such high stress. "Put your head down and walk in front of me and walk to my cubicle," Victoria instructs and I do exactly as she is, hoping this is all I need to blend in. Alexander cannot know that I am here, especially since the drama with Victoria's resignation is still fresh. I wonder if she is ever going to mention it to me.

We reach her desk quickly and she tells me to just stay in there while she takes a look around. Again, I do as I am told and I sit quietly on the floor and anxiously waiting for her return. Looking up from my spot on the ground, I see something on her desk. Out of slight boredom and curiosity I grab it. After a few sentences I realize that it is a new and modified contract that describes the changes in her job description, privileges, company funding, and other things. Looking at the words used and the way the sentences are structured I know that this contract is a lot more gnarly than her last one and is designed for no mercy should Victoria step out of line again or try to wriggle her way out of the Project or her employment with the Jarwin Firm and her father. I flip to the last page of the massive contract and see that throughout the pages, parts are highlighted or underlined. Victoria is definitely taking her time with reading every single word despite her knowing that she probably does not have a choice. Her neat signature lies at the bottom of the last page.

She comes back after about 15 minutes and she stares down at me. "Harry, why the fuck are you on the ground?"

"I wasn't sure if I was allowed in your chair," I respond, honestly. Looking like a dumbass on the floor is a lot better than getting my ass kicked for sitting at her desk.

Victoria rolls her eyes but I see another little smile. Two in less than an hour. Clearly a miracle. "Get up. Collings and his intern are in my father's office and they are getting ready to leave.

They are still in there when we get there and Victoria pushes me behind a wall so any of the desk workers or people walking past can see me. I hear murmurs but the walls are too thick to hear what anyone is saying so after a while I give up. I can't help but smile at the ridiculousness of Victoria and I literally hiding behind walls like government spies or something and Ri gives me a hard shove, obviously finding my good mood irritating.

"Why are you so bloody mean?" I whisper.

"I'm not mean," she says defensively, "You are just annoying me."

This only makes me smile more and I get a jab in the stomach. "Ow!"

"Stop smiling and I wouldn't have to hurt you," she whispers angrily.

"We aren't cut out for all this sneaking around."

"Speak for yourself," she says but her smirk tells me that she realizes exactly why I find this situation humorous. It is ridiculous.

Our smiles melt away as soon as the front door opens and Collings and Alexander walk out of the office.

"I'll look over the information and add to our list, make sure to get the invitations ready to be sent out. The broad doesn't like to wait." says Alexander, arms crossed against his freshly pressed suit.