Master Tomlinson

16-Perserverance

LOUIS
I always knew that I would eventually find the one that I would love endlessly to the ends of the earth; but never had I ever thought that God would test me as much as he has already. Some were cheaters, liars—both. Some for money; one girl when I was a teenager. It was beginning to be an endless cycle of trial and error. I'm starting to believe that he's waiting to see which one I will go further for than the other until I persevere.

Now just might have to be that time.

My descent from the staircase made the gentleman from the foyer peer over towards me, now aware of my presence. The familiar man; sleek, skinny, smelling of cigarettes and looking like he smoked too many to begin with; was known to me as a fly on the wall. He introduced himself as Vince, but hardly answered to it. I didn't think it was his real name.
"Louis," Vince greeted in his deep, groggy tone, "pleasure to see you again." He extended his hand for mine, to which I accepted and shook it firmly. His hands felt rough and some of his fingertips had been stained yellow from the cigarettes, but he still earned the decency of a hand shake.

"You as well, Vince. Shall we?" I motioned for the two blue sofas in a more private location, where I knew none of the boys would be cleaning today. "Would you like some tea?"
Vince accepted my offer with a nod, before he took his seat and patted down his black trench coat. His yellow fingers scratched at his neck, before he let out a wet cough into his hand. I once ate a meal next to this man and almost threw up.
I called for tea and soon came Charlie with some orange pekoe, setting a tray down before disappearing back into the kitchen. Once settled and alone, I looked back at Vince who slumped back in his seat. "What have you got for me?" I questioned as I set my tea back down in the saucer, leaning back into the opposing chair and placing my arms on the arm rests. Vince cleared his throat and leaned forward a bit to retrieve something from his coat pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper, which looked like it had been caught in the rain previously, and leaned over to place it in my lap. "One of my mates saw this all the way in London. Thought you might wanna see it since word on the street is that he's e're." Vince whispered back, but his voice was so deep that the vibration could wake someone  upstairs.
I took the paper, his words not registering until I set my eyes on the runny ink. The paper read:

Wanted by an anonymous buyer
Harry E. Styles
862 Grove Road, London
$100,000

My brows furrowed at the paper and my hands instantly tensed up. After reading it more cautiously, I looked back up to meet Vince's gaze. "Find out who this is." But to my pleasure, he nodded and replied, "Already on it. They think he's outside of London but put it there to hide his identity. We've almost got a name." He reassured, before taking another swig of tea. I never asked how they retrieved their information, but as I observed his hands more closely as they clutched the tea cup, I could notice some healed scars. As long as the job was done it was none of my business to ask.

The sound of footsteps made us both look towards the stairs, only to find the boy himself descending the stairs. He looked overtired and uneasy, but nonetheless still adorable. Curls were swept over another carelessly as he shooed them away from his forehead. Once our eyes met, I smiled instinctively. Harry returned the favour but sheepishly, as though he was embarrassed by his entrance.
"Something tells me he's e're." Vince whispered with a smug grin, his yellowish teeth showing towards my behaviour. Vince turned his gaze at Harry, and watched him disappear into the kitchen. I felt slightly uneasy with him almost-knowing this for a fact, but didn't give him a real answer. We sat and chatted for a few more minutes until he was finished his tea, and I escorted him to the car out front I had called for. We exchanged farewells as he ducked his tall, slim body into the back seat, shutting the door behind him. My blues burned holes into the back window as I watched the car drive off with a roar, until it disappeared into the dark English fog. It always seemed overcast, but as I looked higher up towards the sky I could see the sun peeking through.
"Fuck sakes." I swore to myself, before rubbing my eyes in panic. I looked around the front of my estate before turning and going back inside of the house.

As I sat in my office, I retraced all of the information in my head. I didn't want to fail this time, this was much more serious than someone trying to kill me for money. Harry's life was in danger. There was someone out there who wanted him, and I can only imagine for what. They must've knew him because they initialed his middle name, and I didn't even know his middle name. An hour had passed of me sitting there, obsessively thinking about this predicament. A knock on the door broke me free from my thoughts.

At the door I greeted my dimply, green eyed love, planting a kiss to his forehead before greeting him. He returned the greeting quietly, seeming like his mind was occupied and began to speak again. " I came to give you this, I found it in your trousers." Harry confessed, before he tore his gaze from mine.  He reached in his pocket and grabbed a crumpled paper, before handing it to me. "Not that it's my business, but who is it?" Harry asked hesitantly, biting his lip. Once opened, my eyes scanned the name. A thought popped into my head as I read over the name, number and address:
Roy Hutchins , 855 324, 505 Hammonds Rue, London
Although the telephone was now available, it could only be purchased by the rich. There were limited people who owned one, others had to rent or send letters.
I realized I was taking too long and it probably started to look suspicious. "It was from the guy who we kicked out. He gave the security a spiel about something and forced him to give this to me. They gave it to me when you were gone." I explained as I cleared my throat and peered over at him briefly. He looked slightly confused as to why he was giving me his information, and I was asking the same.
"You don't know who he is?" He asked me, his eyebrow raising. I shook my head slightly, even though I might have made my first connection to the paper that Vince brought me. I was a bad liar, and I didn't want to worry Harry. I knew if I looked at him that his eyes would hypnotize me and I would have to tell. So I avoided his eyes.
After a few seconds, I managed to change the subject. With a smile, I peered down at the still confused, cute expression on his face. "Enough business talk, I want to see you."
I did want to see him, because as hard as it was to admit, I didn't know what would happen next. Every poor man desperate for money, every sadistic man, every rich man who might want the "prize"- as in Harry-  for himself could be on the hunt for him. Some maybe my own friends as they now knew that he was mine. Well, not mine... but still mine in a way. I grew uneasy at the thought but had it under control so he wouldn't suspect anything. He had been through enough, and I would protect him with whatever I had on my side. I am going to win this fight.