When we met

Chapter 1

Harry's P.O.V.

The sound of clinking wine glasses and posh chatter filled the air as I struggled to place the meals before me onto the large round trays. My boss was yelling at all his waiters and waitresses, telling us to hurry up with the food since the people we were serving were probably the richest amongst London. They were apart of the biggest law firm in the UK and came in once a week to rent out the restaurant I worked in. It was almost the worst day of the week because they were nothing short of needy and stuck up. At least they tipped really well. All of us working always got a hundred quid each which came in good use of paying my rent since I lived alone. The law firm, called Deakin Law Office, always came in on Fridays and they always requested the same five waiters and waitresses to serve them. I wasn't complaining though since the money was good. With a mental count of three I lifted the tray of food onto my shoulder and began making my way out of the kitchen.

"Niall, can you get me a tray stand?" I said to my co-worker, Niall who agreed before putting down the wine glass he was holding and getting me a tray stand to put the food on. He helped me lower it slowly since there were several dishes of food and the last thing we wanted was to drop everything. He went back to the wine glasses, snatching them up and making his way to the overweight customers. Liam, Perrie and leigh-Anne, my other co-workers, were following me closely with their trays but they managed to get the tray stands on their own. Once the food was safely settled, we began distributing the dishes, making sure to give the right ones to the right customers.

"Styles there you are!" Mr. Deakin, the owner of the law firm said to me as he waved his hand in the air, "Come over here will ya?" I agreed quickly, making my way in between the tables of the loud, rich lawyers. I held my hands behind my back once I reached Mr. Deakin and said: "Yes sir?" "My step-son has just graduated from university and will be joining the law firm next month. He'll be here shortly so would you be a good boy and fetch him a plate of food? The same as what I have here would be perfect." "Yes Mr. Deakin." I bowed my head slightly before walking away, trying not to roll my eyes. "Why does he always pick on you?" Liam whispered into my ear as we both made our way into the kitchen. I said a little louder since we were through the swinging doors, "Because somebody's boyfriend let it slip to him that I was gay and now he just likes to have fun with me." I raised my eyebrows at him as I said it. He sighed, "You know Niall didn't mean to." "I know. I'm not bad anymore." I shrugged since I really wasn't, "I just hate that I have to be Mr. Deakin's bitch now." I wrote down Mr. Deakin's order and gave it to the cooks for them to make the same thing for his step-son. "Thanks again for not telling them about Niall and I. I don't think I could handle the extra tasks Mr. Deakin gives you." I waved him off, "No problem. And at least he's not mean to me, just order me around like a dog." I stifled a laugh but it was noticeable I was only laughing to cover up the fact that I hated that Mr. Deakin was harder on me. Liam didn't seem to notice thankfully and we just made our way back to the dining room. Without anyone noticing he squeezed Niall's hand quickly before going in the opposite direction. I was the only one that that saw and I smiled fondly at how cute they were. Niall turned around with a small smile on his face but it quickly faded when he saw me. He ducked his head before hurrying away to pour more wine. I sighed at how nervous he was around me. A few weeks back Niall somehow let it slip to Mr. Deakin that I was gay and ever since then he's treated me like I was a personal assistant. He was never rude to me but he was definitely harder on me. I couldn't tell if it was because he hated gays, or because he approved of me and was just showing though love. I forgave Niall after a few days but he still feels terrible about it. He thinks I hate him so he avoids me. I don't think I could ever hate Niall though. He and Liam have been my best friends since we started working here two years ago and they even lived in the flat above me. After it happened Liam and Niall were terrified I was going to retaliate and tell Mr. Deakin about them but I would never do that. It was an accident, what Niall did, I couldn't do that on purpose.