Pretend

CHAPTER 8

I chuckled, meeting his stare. "Wait hold up, may I ask why you are here? Is the Gigi Hadid stalking me?" Niall mocked with a teasing shock expression. "Don't flatter yourself Horan, just en route to my first day of work." I replied straightforwardly.

His jaw dropped, basically lingering at the floor. "You, you are our new road manager?" he stumbled on each word carelessly. His mouth was still open but no words were spilling out, "told you for a reason that it wasn't necessary to get my number."

He stood in silence, obviously attempting to take it all in.

I managed to hurry up the process by giving him the needful instructions required. I instantly repeated what I had been memorising back and forth in my head for the past couple of hours.

"Listen Niall, last night was fun and all, you are a great guy. Although for the sake of this job I think it's best for the both of us to forget anything happ-, he hastily interrupted me. "Gigi how many times did you rehearse that in your head?"

Wow I guess it sounded more sincere in my mind... Shit! Before I could simply mutter a couple of words he continued. "I could tell last night, you kissed me because you were simply drunk and not because you actually felt something towards me. With that being said I do agree that we should keep it to ourselves and forget about it as best we can. Possibly we could even try that friend thing?"

I beamed, feeling relieved. I sensed a weight being lifted off my shoulders, but somehow apart of me still felt unsatisfied. 1 down, 1 to go.

I couldn't help notice Niall's expression had stiffened. He didn't have the same spirit or vibe that I had secretly began to love. "Let's get going then," he chimed. I began to follow him towards the building, my stomach twisted in knots.

I pushed through the doors, stumbling over my own feet, Niall already very ahead. I was walking towards the reception area, slowly immersing myself into this uncomfortable atmosphere.

I heard Niall's voice echo through the next room, "H, your early! what a change." Foot steps were approaching. My breath hitches in my throat as my eyes refocus. Him. He was less then 5 metres away, his eyed locked on mine. I want to look away, but I can't. They are stuck.

"This is Gigi, Gigi this is Harry," Niall introduces us. Utter silence, just as I was about to speak, I got caught off guard. "Yeah, hi nice to see you again," Harry spoke nervously, his jaw clenched. "Oh... You two know eachother already?" Niall questioned curiously. I replied abruptly, "I got introduced to him last night briefly at the party." Harry grunted, obviously disapproving with my answer.

"Do one of you know where I'm meant to meet my boss Mark?" I questioned. "I'm just about to meet with Mark too discuss a few things, I'll let him know your here and ready to go." Niall sweetly offered. "Thanks a heap Niall!" I exclaimed. Harry seemed to find the whole situation amusing, rolling his eyes and chuckling bitterly.

As Niall hurriedly walked off, i was left alone with Harry. He shook his head... somehow seeming lost, his eyes distant.

"Listen Harry, this is now my job, whether you chose to accept it or not. This opportunity is something very significant to me and it is crucial that I maintain my position here. That being said, do not confuse us as anything more then work colleagues. In my eyes we have never met before. I am certainly not searching for your wavering approval but more a mutual agreement," I forcibly commanded.

He spent the whole time staring off... Staring at me. Still as strikingly handsome. He was slow to reply, licking his lips, nodding gradually. "Sure." Harry sighed, "I understand the circumstances."

He walked off, slowly and reserved. His hands placed in his pockets, back slouched, he had such a laid back aura about him.

Harry's shoulder somehow managed to make contact with mine as he scrabbled forward. I could feel his warmth, and detect his overwhelming scent of cologne. It wasn't an aggressive, harsh connection, but more a gentle and tame touch.

I pretended not to notice the fluttering in my stomach elicited from the effortless brush created by our bodies.

I was in a wide, modernised transparent room, where I was ordered to sit and wait. Each wall was made of glass, clearly designed to already enhance the contemporary, cold space. The door jolted open, with a middle aged man entering. "You must be Gigi, nice to finally meet you. I am Mark and will be your supervisor."

"I presume you may not fully be aware of what requires as a Road Manager.." I nodded, "so that is why I have made a list of duties you will regularly be attending too. Familiarise yourself with this list, it will make your time here easier." He handed over the sheet of paper and my eyes scanned it intensively.

-advance show dates
-make travel and hotel arrangements
-collect payments
-hire backline techs
-handle personal issues
-coordinate artist media obligations

These instructions and obligations were all foreign to me, something I would never have thought about before this very day. "Thanks so much Mark, this is very helpful," I announced. "Now, now, I want to introduce you to the boys. They are very exciting people to work with, however I expect professional behaviour and boundaries. "That will not be a problem," I replied frantically. "Just sign here and here," he gestured towards a thick like document.

My nerves began to reappear. We were fastly approaching the bands headquarters which were situated on the left, south wing of the infrastructure.

I knew these boys would be far from intimidating, but they had the power to judge me. That thought frightened me. The door opened, I stepped inside, the distant music then near. I allowed my feet to carry me through the room, even though my mind couldn't keep up. "Boys, this is Gigi, your new Road Manager, Gigi this is the boys." A moment of silence was shared. Both green and blue eyes piercing mine, each lip pursed. "Well welcome to the team," Louis blurted eagerly.