The Malik Triplets

Chapter 17: Pre-Management Nerves

Perrie's P.O.V

The same feeling as every other time I've been seated in the lobby of our managements team's office flows through me, but this time the emotions intensified. After all, it's not just another meeting with the girls, but it's a meeting that involves both Zayn and mine band and our three new daughters.

This meeting is a huge amount of pressure on our girls. They are gonna be bombarded with a load of information and rules that I'm sure will arise many questions, and not only that, but they have to make a positive impression on management. It's not like we've talked about them making an impression, but at the back of their minds, I can tell they know that they should, otherwise who knows what could happen next.

Sitting in the waiting area is nearly as uncomfortable and nerve-racking as actually being in the office. I need to distract myself from my thoughts about this meeting, so I begin to observe the others around the room.

Zayn looks really nervous, though he would never dare to admit it. His eyes trained on our interlocked fingers, gentle rubbing against each other in a comforting way. My eyes leave his figure and search our daughters. As I do so, I notice Zayn begin to scan for the girls too.

Letty is in a deep conversation with Louis, Leigh-Anne and Jesy. I can't quite hear the conversation, due to the movement around the lobby and the telephones ringing, but I can tell they are all trying to easy the nerves of what's about to happen.

I look over to Vexi, sitting directly across from me. She's engrossed in something that Niall, Jade and Harry seem to be looking at on a phone. I can see the reflected light on their faces change rapidly as they intensely study the screen. They all begin to laugh hysterically to the point they have to wipe their eyes. Others heads turn to the noise but look away seconds later. I watch as Vexi laughs harder and Harry begins to joke, causing Niall to hold onto her incase she slips off the couch.

Finally, I look towards the direction of Liam and Kyra. Located on the comfortable couch on the left of Zayn, I watch Liam hold Ky's hip as she sits on his lap. He holds her in a protective manner, making me wish I was doing it now. My eyes linger on them as they seem to be in an intense conversations. Liam's hand that isn't holding Ky's hip carefully raises to her chest, where a necklace sits. I've noticed that she always wears it, even to bed. Never once have I seen it removed in the last almost two weeks.

I watch closely as Liam studies the pendant with his eyes and fingers. Liam's sad gaze returns to her eyes as he almost looks like he pities her. They begin to talk to each other again, only in a volume just above a whisper, so no one can hear. I strain to hear their conversation, but fail miserably.

Zayn's squeezes my hand, averting my attention to him, instead of the others.

"What do you think?" He asks quietly.

I crook my eyebrow at him.

"The necklace" he states. "I mean she never takes it off" he further explains.

"Maybe it has sentimental value to it. Or maybe, it's from or reminds her of Logan" I thought out loud.

"Maybe" he mumbles, kissing the back of my hand that's entwined with his.

We both look back towards Kyra and Liam, only to catch a tear slip down Ky's cheek, Liam wiping it away and then kissing her cheek. They both embraced each other in a hug and Liam's eyes found the staring eyes of mine and Zayn's. We both seemed to have questionable looks but Liam just mouthed 'later' to us.

Seconds after that, we were called to make our way to Simon Cowell's office with the rest of management.

Zayn's P.O.V

I know the girls are nervous, but they are great at hiding it. They put on smiling faces, and seemed to laugh with the boys as we walked towards Managements office. The only thing that gave away their act of not being nervous, was the fact that they seemed to hang onto each other's hands tightly, like if they were to let go the would vanish forever.

Nearing the office, I watched the girls hands. Letty on the far left, holding tightly to Kyra in the middle and Vexi on the right. I decided my nerves and thoughts seemed to be clouding the fatherly instincts that I have gained over the past week and a half, and I now realises I should try and easy their nerves.

I jogged a few paces to catch up to the girls and wrapped my arm around Vexi's shoulders. She seemed to tense at this action but I'm sure it was from surprise.

"You know you don't have to be nervous girls. I mean Uncle Simon is gonna love you and management think they may act tough or intimidating but they're just doing their job" I tried to reassure them, not really thinking before talking.

"Some how that is both reassuring and not at the same time" Letty stated.

I laugh cause it's true.

"Well, all I'm saying is, is that at the end of the day Perrie and I adopted you and we get the pleasure of raising you. No matter what management try to tell us to do, if it in any way regards raising you, Perrie and I have the final say in what happens to you and no one else" I explain.

"Although their opinions will be considered" Perrie comments as her hand settles on my shoulder, squeezing it in appreciation of my statement.

Liam leaned over towards Letty's far shoulder, whispering in a not so hushed volume, "Watch that confidence disappear as soon as we step into the office".

The others laughter echoed into down the hall and the girls giggled among themselves, watching Perrie's and my reaction.

"No I'm serious" I stop in my tracks, making everyone stop with me. "I'm their father now and Perrie's their mother. We have the final say in what happens with our girls and no ones gonna tell us different" I say a little annoyed.

"Good for you" Niall's thick accent speaks out amount the hushed groups.

I turned my attention to the girls, studying their reactions. Everyone else must be watching them to, cause Jade leaned forward and asked them a question with evidence of sympathy.

"What's wrong babes" pronouncing the 's' as a 'z'.

They looked between each other. Curiosity took over me as I watched their secret language being performed in front of us. Their body movements and facial expression speaking to each other in a way only siblings could understand. Vexi was the one to speak up for the three of them.

"It's just that it's weird to hear the use of the words mother and father when regarding us" she gushed. "It's-" she paused for a few seconds, searching for the right word, "comforting".

Smiles broke out among the room. I was quick to pull the three into my arms. They complied with almost longing attitudes. Perrie quickly joined the group hug and soon the others followed. All wrapped with arms around each other, we stay for a minute, in our extended family moment. We are drawn from our group embrace with a loud cough, seeking attention.