Dressed in Bruises -H.S.

Five

"So what do you say?" he asked with a smile.

"I feel like I can't say no to my boss, but I also don't want to seem unprofessional by accepting the offer."

"I'm not your boss, love. I was just pulling your leg." he chuckled. "Even though I'm the most intimidating, I just need to like the clothes you're putting me in and half the time I don't even have a say so in that either." he admitted.

"You scammed me!" I joked. "So what are we to each other then?"

"Just co-workers." his accent made the word sound so cute, there's no way I wasn't blushing especially after all the smiles we've been exchanging.

"I'm ready, you can pull the car around... I also have a guest... Mhmm, Thank you. " he spoke into his phone and sent me a smile when referring to me, butterflies taking over my insides.

"The party is waiting." The smile didn't leave his face as he held his arm out towards the large, black SUV that just parked in front of us on the street.

He opened the door for me and gestured me inside.

"Where are we headed, sir?" the driver asked him.

"To my place, please." he answered him.

"Would you like some?" he asked me as he grabbed a bottle of wine from the fancy bucket of ice in front of us.

"No thank you, I'm okay." I turned down the offer, unsure if he was trying to be flirty or just friendly.

"Remember, you don't have to drive home tonight." he looked up at me. "I always have wine on my way home from outings, I was just offering." he assured me.

"Hmm, you got me there, I forgot I didn't need to drive anymore. Fill her up." I laughed, referring to the glass.

After what seemed like about a 45 minute drive, we finished the bottle of wine and the driver pulled into a gated driveway.

I checked my phone and it was now very late, but I didn't mind, I truly forgot about Greyson and his uncontrollable antics for the night. I was around so many amazing people that I forgot about all the bad.

It all came flooding back when I noticed three unread texts from him;

"Baby I'm so sorry. I know u probably went out for that job offer. I hope u get it I love you"

"it is late come home don't ignore me"

"I said I was sorry where are u??? Don't be a bitch come home or I'm locking the door"

"Are you alright?" Harry's low, soft voice spoke while placing his hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah sorry, all the alcohol is catching up to me now." I added a small chuckle, leaving the texts on read.

"Let's go inside." he spoke while opening the car door.

I was amazed at his house, from things as simple as the doorknobs, all the way to the extravagant art pieces throughout.

"This is amazing." I spoke while studying one of the canvases on the living room wall.

"Thank you." he smiled while making his way back from the kitchen and handing me a new glass filled with a different type of wine.

"I love this artist, probably over half of the paintings in this home were done by him actually." he informed me.

"I'm very into art myself, I would love to see the rest of your collection." I said.

"Why don't you make yourself more comfortable? Take off your shoes and jacket, and make yourself at home. We can relax for a bit and then I'll give you a whole tour. The team spends a lot of time here so it would be beneficial to help you not getting lost in this place." he said with a light laugh.

"I am very much one to get lost, I definitely need that!" I joked about my uncoordinated self before taking another sip of my wine, already finishing the glass.

"Damn!" he acted shocked when he noticed.

"Sorry I really needed this today." I said with a small chuckle.

"Am I really that bad, Sheryl?" he jokingly placed his hand on his chest, acting offended.

"Yes," I started. "No, I'm kidding. Actually my short time with you has made my entire day, the whole month even. Things just haven't been great recently, and tonight I've met so many people that actually treat me like they enjoy my company. Then for you of all people to invite me over to get to know each other better really made an impact on me, even though we are just co-workers, I can see us possibly being good friends... well at least I hope." I didn't mean to fully vent out to him but I was drunk and I get a little too comfortable when I'm drunk.

"No need to hope, the second you began working with me we became friends, that's how it works with us, we are all a team and not just through work." he reassuringly placed his hand on my shoulder before continuing the conversation.

"I'm sorry things haven't been great with you recently but I'm beyond glad that I had the honor to make someone as awesome as you feel better. Also no offense but whoever doesn't enjoy time with you must be a total killjoy, I've only spent a few hours with you and I'm completely captivated." he gently lifted my face with his finger, a heart-melting smile plastered on his sweet face.

"That's my boyfriend for ya." I said along with an eye roll before even noticing what I've done, it became obvious that I ruined the mood when he quickly removed his warm touch from my skin.

"I'm sorry, I-" he started, he looked truly guilty.

"Harry, honestly don't worry, it's really complicated." I sighed.

"I shouldn't have overstepped without asking first, I'm not like that. The vibe tonight just felt right, but I'm drunk and probably read everything wrong." he was honestly extremely attractive right now as he tried to defend himself. His hair softly dangling in his face, 3 of the top buttons on his light blue shirt undone, and his nervous grin.

"Please stop apologizing, I truly don't mind, you've done nothing wrong. Sadly I just recently came to terms that he's an asshole." I laughed.

"You don't deserve someone like that. You're too good of a person, I can already tell." he slurred. "And God, you're so beautiful I was watching you in the bar before I even knew you were, Sheryl." he said but quickly covered his mouth while starting to laugh.

"I didn't mean to say that last part out loud." his eyes grew jokingly wide.

"I won't torture you anymore," I laughed. "How about that house tour?" I asked.

"Ah yes! Shall we?" he said while holding out his hand for me to join him as if all of the current awkwardness just completely vanished.