ever since new york || h.s.

seven

The party started at eight, according to a short but sweet phone call from Harry earlier on in the day, so I started getting ready around five. I decided on a black dress that went down just a little bit past my knees and hung every so slightly off my shoulders. It was elegant, the most expensive looking thing I had, and paired with my red heels it didn't look all that bad, almost good enough to fit in with how high end everything in Harry's building was.

I smeared some powder over my face along with some eyeshadow on top of my lids and mascara on my lashes. I wasn't that good at makeup yet. My mother never let me wear it so the girls at college had to teach me where to put it and how to use it, which was six years ago but still didn't seem like enough time to get used to the stuff. However, I was really good at applying lipstick. I always managed to stay within the lines of my mouth and had a skilled eye for which cosmetic color matched my outfit just right. Lipstick was my favorite part of getting ready, easily.

I finished up writing a letter to send back home when the familiar honking noise of Charles's car rang from downstairs. It was the first night that I would be going to see Harry without my briefcase, which had somehow unintentionally become my security blanket for him exclusively. Instead, I was dragging along my handbag that had a miniature version of my notepad shoved into it. Just in case.

Charles was dressed rather fancy as well, a new grey suit with a navy blue tie. I noticed it as soon I walked out the door of my building, making sure to wolf whistle as I approached him just to be a bit of a tease and poke some fun. He winked at me, opening the door and showing me in like usual.

There was a bottle of champagne waiting for me in the floor, a note with 'Pen' scribbled onto it tied with golden string.

Found this in my cupboard from ages ago. Thought you might enjoy some before you made it here.
- Harry
( Styles, in case you know more than one)

I giggled before popping the top and taking a long swig, not even noticing the glasses that rested in the passenger seat beside Charles. It tasted even better than the kind we had had at the 21 Club, more bubbly and more rich, definitely more expensive. I wanted to drink it all, but knew that it would be very tacky to show up to a party all ready drunk.

"Are you going to the event as well, Charles?" I asked to try and distract myself from the chilled bottle I had shoved back down to the floorboard. He chuckled before shaking his head.

"No, no. I just wore this suit since it was a gift from Mr. Styles. Don't want him to think I don't appreciate his kindness."

I hummed along, making a mental note to thank Mr. Styles for my gift as well, the burning question of where all this money was coming from still burning in my mind.

The building was lit up with twinkling lights and lanterns so that I could notice it while we were still a few blocks away. There were women with gold jewelry draping off of them hanging on the arms of men wearing silk suits, strutting up the steps and past the doorman with their noses turned up in the air. There were people on the top of the balconies, smoking using silver cigarette holders that looked more like rulers and holding their drinks off the side of the guard rail as if they were making a toast with the air. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, the most wealthy and picturesque thing that I had ever experienced.

"Meet Mr. Styles in his office first thing," Charles said as he let me out of the car, the bottle of champagne still envelopes in my hands. I nodded before making my way to the front door, waving to the commissionaire, and shuffling to the door with the same number '017' as before.

As soon as my knuckle hit the door, Harry was opening it, motioning me to come in with such an excited quickness that I almost wanted to laugh at him.