F E I G N E D | elounor

~ t w e n t y t h r e e ~

E L E A N O R

"Thank you so much, have a good day." I smiled to the barista as I left with my drink in hand. I walked outside where Louis stood waiting for me on an important phone call.

I motioned for him I was ready and he opened the car door for me, yelling at someone as he did so. The whole car ride I sat happily in my seat drinking my coffee while Louis was clearly firing someone.

Today we were visiting Louis's family for a birthday. I didn't feel nervous when we left the house but as I looked out on the open fields, I began to get nervous the more I thought about it. I had only met them a few times at events and galas, and barely spoke with them at the wedding because it got cut short. But what if they didn't like me? Did I want them to like me?

"People are fucking idiots." Louis huffed when he finally got off the phone.

I chuckled. "Great way to start the morning isn't it."

We went quiet for a few minutes just listening to the music on the radio. I knew Louis absolutely adored his sisters, but I didn't know how his relationship with his parents were. I knew he had issues with his father but he didn't really speak much of his mother. Or his family at all for that matter.

"Are you excited to see your family?" I asked him.

"Excited as ever." He said sarcastically.

"Not even a little bit?" I asked shocked.

He shrugged. "I'm eager to see my sisters, I miss them terribly. Cant say the same for my parents."

"How come?" I asked truly curious and trying to get as much information as I could.

"It's complicated." Was all he said.

"I'm guessing your father because even though you're trying to run the company he's still controlling you? And he made you do the whole contract so now you're stuck with me for a while. Am I right?" I asked.

He smiled. "Close enough."

"I don't know much about your mum so I can't make a guess there."

Louis sighed. "I love my mum, she's just silent all the time to my fathers abuse."

"Abuse?" I responded quickly and wide eyed.

"No not like physically, just verbally and he's controlling and just plain rude but she adores him and worships the ground he walks on. I just wish she would stand up for herself. I can't get too mad at her though, since I haven't exactly stood up to him either. She's his equal though, I'm his son. It's different." Louis explained clearly bothered.

I nodded my head not wanting to push him anymore. But Louis added one last thing.

"I don't know why she's still with him." He said lowly and shook his head. I frowned.

We went silent again before he spoke up again.

"I'm headed out of town next week and will probably be gone for a week or two. Harry will—"

"Wait what? Where and why so long?" I asked very confused. And why wasn't I going with him?

"I'll be heading to Miami, New York, and possibly Los Angeles. I'm not sure yet but we have clubs and companies in all those locations and I have some business to attend to there. As I was saying, since you'll be here alone I'll make sure Harry goes everywhere with you and keeps you safe while I'm gone. I don't want anymore idiots trying to lay a hang on you or take advantage that I'm gone." He said making my heart flutter.

Then I realized something..

My heart fluttered because of the way he spoke and how protective and mad he sounded.

Not because Harry and I would be alone for so long..

"...and I can't go?" I asked somewhat sad.

He looked at me.

"I...well I didn't think you'd want to go. I know it sounds glamorous but I'm not going to party or sight see. It'll be airports, hotel, meetings, hotel, airport and onto the next place. I was certain if you came you would be bored." He said in a serious tone like he was dreading the upcoming trip.

"I thought you said it looks good or supportive when I go places with you."

He chuckled. "Well someone really wants to go with me."

I rolled my eyes smiling and he chuckled more.

"Oh shut up, I'm just bored." I whined and he scoffed.

"Oh I'm sorry, does being married to me bore you so much?" He asked comically, and continued. "You know I can think of a few things we can do to cure your boredom."

The look in his eyes and his grin implied he was up to no good..it made me blush. He only laughed some more as I playfully shoved his arm.

"Shut up."

"You're attracted to me." He said with a cocky grin.

"I am so not." I scoffed trying to avoid his blue eyes. My heart was racing.

"Don't deny it, Calder. Every ones attracted to me, it's okay." He continued making me laugh.

"Will you stop? I am NOT attracted to you!" I said with a laugh. He smiled.

"You're a horrible liar." He said with a sigh.

"Are we almost there?!" I asked, humor laced in my tone as I tried changing the subject. He chuckled before his face went back to a normal serious.

"Almost. On a serious note, my sisters don't know about the contract only my parents so for their sake we do have to pretend we're madly in love." He said and I nodded my head.

"Okay."

"Well, I do at least because clearly someone's in love with me already." He went back to his banters.

"Louis!!" I shouted his name with a laugh, and he joined me. I shook my head and looked out the window hoping he wouldn't see me blushing too much.

We went quiet again, but it was a comfortable silence with the radio playing music in the background. I sneaked a peek at Louis.

He looked incredibly attractive as he drove casually with one hand and the other on the gear shift. He looked forward onto the road but his face wasn't serious. It seemed like he had a small smile on his face and looked at peace as he just drove. I couldn't help but smile and look back out my window.

After some time, Louis took a few turns that led to a large white gate. My jaw slightly dropped as I sat straighter in my seat. Behind the white gates was a large, beautiful white mansion.

"Wow.." I said breathlessly.

Louis drove up to the gate, punched in a code, and after the gates opened right away.

"You grew up here?" I asked stunned.

"We have a bunch of homes. I spent some time here, some time at the other ones. It's not as glamorous as it looks and it's not that much larger than yours." He commented.

I scoffed. "Right. This place looks like a fancy hotel."

"I hate it here." He said and parked his car in the front on the pebbled ground.

I looked to Louis who looked like he was dreading going inside.

"Are you alright?" I asked him.

"I'm fine."

I looked to him not believing him but before I could question him more, we heard little screams of excitement from outside the car. We both looked to see two little girls, a set of twins, running down the marbled steps of the mansion waving their hands in the air and shouting Louis's name. I smiled.

"Let's do this." He said and got out of the car.