Start Again (C.T.H.)

Part 15

Walking through the streets of London with Calum Hood is truly a fantasy. It's unreal looking next to me and seeing him smiling brightly and pointing at classic tourist destinations while clutching my hand tightly in his. We had woken up early in the morning to get some sightseeing done before Calum had to attend to his "business" and so far the day had been nothing short of eventful.

Nothing in this city could compare to his beauty though. Big Ben was only a speck compared to the high I felt in his arms. The Eye only fell short to the eyes that sparkled in the sunlight and read me like their favorite book. The speeding, red tour busses on the Tower Bridge couldn't compare to the adrenaline rush I felt when his eyes crinkled up as he laughed. The warmth of the sun in Hyde Park couldn't compare to his smile. Nothing compared to him.

We were walking around Camden when Calum got a call telling him to come into "work". As he hung up and turned to me I started to speak, "I'll just head back to the hotel and see you later?" but Calum had other plans as he furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side. "Why would you do that? Just come with me, I've got some people I want you to meet anyway. Plus I brought you out here and you're not about to spend all day inside a hotel room." I hesitantly nodded my head at his offer. Calum ran a crime syndicate and as much as I didn't want to get involved with that part of his life, I couldn't help but agree with him.

On the car ride there, wherever we were going, I was quickly growing more and more anxious. The car stopped outside a nice, glass building and I was led inside. I felt surprised at how unlike a crime syndicate workplace this felt like. I didn't know what I was expecting but a posh business office with fancy computers and cubicles and the business casual dress was not it.

I was unashamed to be following Calum around like a lost puppy because I truly was one at that moment. Everyone smiled at Calum and seemed to respect him. He made light conversation to everyone he passed on the way to the elevator and as we stepped inside, Calum introduced me to some people. The one that stuck out to me the most was the tall dirty blonde headed man with piercing hazel eyes. He raised his eyebrows at Calum as he shook my hand and I learned his name was Ashton. I only noticed the other two in the elevator because bright baby blue eyes were practically popping out of one of their heads and the other was wearing a smug smirk.

"So, Cal, this is certainly a surprise. We've heard this idiot talk about you so much we started to think he made you up." The blonde one with the smirk spoke suddenly, earning a nudge on the shoulder from Calum. "Ignore Michael," Baby blue interrupted, "He's one to talk seeing as he never shuts up about his fiance." That statement earned an eye roll from all the boys except for Michael who smiled with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"I'm Luke by the way." Baby blue held out his hand to shake mine and I smiled at him. "I'm Y/N, but apparently you guys already knew that," I said with a small laugh. "Okay, serious question," Ashton spoke suddenly, "Did you seriously let Calum beat you in monopoly?" I groaned and threw my head back. "He cheated!" I defended myself quickly and the conversation flowed from there. Calum hadn't spoken for a while and I turned to him only to see him smiling fondly at me. "What's got you smiling, Cal?" I asked teasingly. He chuckled and shook his head before replying honestly, "I'm just glad you guys are meeting. You'll learn to love and hate them as I do." He slung his arm around my shoulders as the elevator dinged.

We had just stepped out of the elevator before a woman in a fitted pencil skirt and glasses rushed up to the boys. "Finally! We need you to head to the conference room and get debriefed asap. Our deal fell through and we might have a situation on our hands if we don't handle this soon." The three boys looked at each other before heading down the hallway quickly. Calum looked focused and his jaw was clenched as he turned to me. "Stay here. I'll be back soon but I have to take care of this." He turned to leave but stopped suddenly and turned back to grab my face and kiss me passionately before he ran off.