Boss Bitch || Mafia!Larry || 1 ||

|| 26 ||

Harry followed him, noticed how his nervousness rose again. How could he act in a way that would dispel their doubts? Besides, he didn't want Louis to look stupid, it was no secret that Louis thought he was qualified enough. Oh, God. Shit. They were heading for the group that Louis had previously been in. It was a man and two women.

"I'm allowed to interrupt", Louis said, and Harry would have laughed at the nice way he interrupted their conversation, if he wasn't so nervous to look good. He felt like he was about to meet his partner's parents. The group interrupted their conversation, first looked at Louis, then at Harry.

"I thought you might be interested in meeting Mr. Styles himself. Especially you, Mr. Dubois". he finally turned to a man with black hair and slightly darker skin, who was already looking at the new personal assistant dismissively. One of the two women took the first step, thank God, stretching out her hand.

"Gabrielle Johnson"

Harry shook her hand, introduced himself again before shaking hands with everyone. And, yes, he felt his hand squeeze the hardest by Mr. Dubois. The two of them were unlikely to become friends.

"How old are you again, Mr. Styles?", asked Ms. Connor, a woman with reddish hair tied in a loose braid.

"25", he said at the same time as Mr. Dubois. Surprised, Harry looked at the man, Louis laughed.

"Mr. Dubois knows about almost everybody. Especially the people he doesn't trust"

"Pleasure to meet you", Harry said, gulped at the look from the man.

"So you really are that young", nodded Ms. Johnson thoughtfully.

"I hadn't exactly remembered your age, but I knew that you were very young. Rumour has it that you are only 23"

"Yes, I am aware that there are many rumours about me. But I would be happy if people asked me instead of listening to the rumours. Just like not believing the doubts of others directly, but seeing how I work first"

Harry dared to look at Mr. Dubois in the end. Ms. Conor nodded impressed.

"Brave to say that, considering that you have almost no experience"

"How can I gain experience if I don't dare? I was offered it, so I took it"

"So, you took the job to gain experience, not because you think you're qualified enough?"

Harry cursed inside about the man who apparently liked to twist people's words around. The women fell silent on it, looked eagerly at his response. They didn't help, of course. Louis was silent as well. But why should he say anything? Harry had to handle this; he would only look stupider if he had to defend him. Besides, Harry thought he was capable of it himself. Actually, he was glad Louis let him do it. He'd have to talk to people like that more often without Louis.

"No, I wouldn't have accepted the job not just out of interest and desire to gain experience. I took the time to think about it, but I came to the conclusion and still am convinced that I'm up to the task. So far I have not received much negative feedback either"

"I've heard a lot of negative things"

"I don't see doubts and negative rumours as being more important than the feedback I get from L'eue Courante, the head of DEATH. And you?"

Louis pursed his lips impressed; the women looked at Mr. Dubois in awe. Ms. Johnson began to laugh at the look on his face.

"I must admit, you do impress me, Mr. Styles. But surely, you're criticized and underestimated a lot right now. It doesn't hurt to fight back"