maid in the am

35.

Rose's POV

We have all boarded Harry's private jet with no issues at all, but I can tell that Niall is upset for some reason. I don't know if he remembers telling anyone about us last night, or if anyone else remembers finding out. The good thing is Mel and Harry have sort of caused a distraction for me by playing with their new kitten and I am able to scoot closer to Niall. I whisper in his ear causing him to jump slightly and grab my thigh. This sends a jolt of electricity through me, but I manage to squeak out, "You look upset, what's wrong?" He glances over to me, and a look of relief washes over him. "I'm sorry, I just got a call from Halle and she was being so rude. Apparently someone that was at my party hired photographers without anyone knowing and they have pictures of us kissing up on that loft. I am not sure if she going to be able to buy the pictures before they're sold to the tabloids and I just don't want to subject you to fame yet. I feel so bad Rosie" he says in a small voice. His eyes are full of regret now, and I can tell he is letting guilt consume him. I grab his hand and give him a small squeeze for reassurance and say, "I will be ok, I am a strong person, and I have been torn down my whole life. I am used to criticism and it is not your fault at all. This will blow over, and the person responsible for the photos will not get what they want." He grabs my hand a little harder and pulls me in for a hug. This swift action catches the attention of the others in the cabin, and we get a few hoots and hollers from Louis and Mel. "I forgot that you guys are together now too, Mel and Harry kind of stole the show with their marriage" Louis states while both Harry and Mel blush and giggle. "It really makes sense though, you two seem great for each other" Liam adds with one of his trademark smiles. Niall just smiles back and I thank them all for being supportive. Luckily the flight is only an hour, and Opulent keeps everyone occupied. We land and all get a car back to the warehouse because all of our cars are there. Niall and I get into "my car" and he drives us home. Home...I realize that this is the first time I have called Niall's house home, but I cannot deny that it is. The house isn't what makes my home though; he is. He grabs my hand and we sit in a comfortable silence as I watch this beautiful man. I have been fighting my feelings so long that I didn't realize how much I truly like him. He really is perfect in every single way, and as I gawk at him he looks over and catches me. He teases me in a joking tone, "You like what you see?" to which I just blush and giggle. Now that I know how he feels, and I have admitted how I feel, I honestly think it has gotten a little awkward between the two of us. Although, its still so fresh and we haven't really talked about it much, I just don't want it to be over before it really starts. I decide that all I can do about it is just hope he continues to feel the same, and we are able to get out of our little awkward stage. I have only ever had one boyfriend before, and he broke my heart. Well, he wasn't even really my boyfriend, my horrible step siblings paid him to pretend to like me until I told him that I loved him and then he laughed in my face and destroyed the only bright spot in my life at that point. He made it hard for me to trust anyone, let alone men. I can't believe that I have opened up to Niall as much as I have because I truly despise being vulnerable. We finally pull back up at the house, and the stop of the car jolts me out of my own head. Niall pops out of the car, and comes to open my door for me. He is such a gentleman, but I still can't help but wonder if he really likes me or if he just is saying that to get what he wants. I know he gave me a whole long confession, but I still find it hard to believe that someone so perfect could like someone so flawed. Well, he's not perfect, no one is, but he's the closest person that I have seen. I just don't know how to conduct myself. It was fine before because I was purposefully trying to stay friends with him and be professional and distant. Unfortunately, now I do not have that luxury and I realize this as he pulls me inside and says, "Rosie, whats up? You have been so quiet." He looks me dead in the eye and my heart races. He makes my brain not work right I swear to God. I manage to stammer, "I'm sorry, I am just overthinking everything and you just are so perfect I can't believe you actually like me" telling him the truth. He just laughs, and laughs more. I knew it, this is a joke, he was just trying to get my hopes up to crush them. He finally finishes mocking me and says, "Rosie, you can't be serious? You are drop dead gorgeous and interesting to boot. I get on with you like I have known you my whole damn life, how could I not like you? You're driving yourself mad." He will not break eye contact with me while he says these words, these words that send my stomach into somersaults. He thinks I am gorgeous, and I can tell by the unfeigned nature of his eyes. Before I can stop myself I am blurting out, "I just thought...I don't know...You're Niall Horan, you could have any girl in the world..." I trail off, knowing that I am acting stupid. He rolls his eyes, and interrupts, "You're right, I could have any girl in the world, but thats beside the point. I don't want just any girl, I want an extraordinary one, and thats why I choose you." There he goes again, making my heart race, it feels like my blood is boiling, and his words sound so perfect. He grabs my waist and pulls me in for a sweet kiss. This one is different from the other ones we've shared, this has meaning behind it, not just want. Its like he's trying to tell me with his mouth what his words cannot express. I can't help but feel weak in the knees as fireworks shoot through my brain. I move myself closer to him, and gently place my hands behind his neck. This is such a foreign feeling to me, but it feels right. I could stay like this forever, until I realize that I haven't breathed at all since he started kissing me. We break away from each other, and I can't help but giggle. I have never been kissed like that before, no one has ever meant it. He smiles at me and says, "Do you believe me now?" and all I can do is nod. It takes me a second to regain my thoughts, but I finally do. "Wait! I still haven't given you your gift, its not much, but I hope that you'll like it" I say as I run to get the wrapped bundle from my room. I join him back in the living room where he has taken to the couch. I deliver my gift to him, hoping that he likes the small gesture. "Rosie, you really didn't have to spend your money on me" he says as he smiles bashfully. I respond, "Niall, no matter how famous and rich you are, you deserve to open at least one gift" I smile and kiss him on the cheek as I plop down next to him. I don't know why I just did that, but it felt right so I am not going to worry. He bats his eyelashes at me, and starts to tear the decorative paper off of the small box I assembled everything in. He breaks the box open and pulls out each piece. He starts to giggle, and then realizes whats at the bottom. "This is so thoughtful, I don't even know what to say" he blurts, and I respond, "I know you said you missed your dads oatmeal, so I got his recipe and all the brands he uses for everything. He has sent a handwritten copy of the recipe in the mail too, but it didn't get here in time" I blabber while he rolls the tin back in forth in his hand. His eyes have glossed a little, and he looks like he may cry. He set the box down on the table then turns to me and tackles me into the couch in a bear hug. He whispers in my ear while he hugs me, "Thank you, you have no idea how much I miss him, how much I miss my home." I just hold him, and try to calm down as his whisper has quickened my heartbeat. He pushes himself up above me, because his bear hug tackle has pinned me between the couch and his solid body. He then ducks his head down and kisses me again, this time more aggressively. I instinctively move up to meet his body, and we mold together into one mass. He rolls me over so were both on our sides, as he slips his tongue into to the kiss. Just as he does this, the front door slams, and we hear a shriek come from a woman. We both immediately know who she is, and bolt up to face her anger. She roughly stomps towards us, and screams at Niall, "How could you? You have ruined everything that I have been working for! And for what? This plain MAID?!" I feel like I have been slapped in the face, and Niall looks so angry. He has only ever been mildly upset, but he is belligerent at the moment. He hops off of the couch and stands to face Halle. I am still stunned from her insult, and I am frozen in place watching them argue. Niall is red in the face, and looks like his head could fly off as he yells, "Halle I could not give one single fuck about 'what you worked for' because you work for me! I do not know how many times we have to go over this before I just fucking fire you, I make my own decisions and you promote me, there shouldn't be lies and stories and fake relationships! It is about my MUSIC for fucks sake, and I am sick of you. How dare you come here and insult the woman I would like to make my girlfriend! I don't care if you hired her as a maid, she is ten times the woman any one in the world ever could be. The only thing I need you to do right now is find out which asshole hired the photographers at my birthday party. Now get the fuck out of my house before I have my security escort you." I have never seen this side of him, but honestly it's kind of hot? I know it's fucked up but watching him defend me is something that just makes my heart sing. I watch her gasp and stomp her way out, but before she leaves she turns back. "I have always had a bad feeling about you Rose, and trust me your five minutes of fame will be over soon" she says before slamming the door.