How It's Going To Be [h.s.]

Chapter 39

The fifteenth of March felt momentous. It was the day I returned to work after my break to recuperate. It was the day Harry returned to tour. We were both making steps toward our futures and though we weren't together, I felt his energy encouraging me to be brave.

The morning went by smoothly. I woke up and ate breakfast in the kitchen. I skipped over making tea because I knew it wouldn't compare to Harry's and I was in no mood for disappointment. I dressed for work and gathered my laptop in my bag. Just before I left, I checked my phone. There was a single new message.

Harry: Big day for the pair of us. Have a great day back at work. I'll call you tonight. I'm thinking of you .xx

I stood by the door giddily. I read the words again and again until I could hear the sweet, slow drawl of Harry's voice in my head saying them. The spell he had on me was intensifying with each day.

Me: Good luck tonight at the show. Tell the other boys I say hi. Can't wait to talk to you x

I tucked my phone away and willed Harry out of the forefront of my mind. I had to focus on work and immersing myself in that part of my life for now. I couldn't have Harry for a few more weeks so I had to distract myself somehow.

Nerves coursed through my body that paralleled those from my very first day of work. I had been new to London without a friend in the city to help me along. At that time, I was unaware of the impact taking the job would have on my life. I would meet some of my best friends. I would travel the world. I would have a job that I loved. I would meet celebrities and fashion designers and socialites. I would meet my boyfriend.

I didn't even have to call Eli to take me to work. Alessandra was waiting in the lobby of my building. She told me she found out I was coming back to work and didn't want to break our routine of her taking me to work each morning. The car ride was spent catching up on the latest office gossip and Alessandra asking if I was feeling okay every few minutes about Harry's departure.

The office looked just how I remembered it. People greeted me with swift kisses on my cheek and supportive pats on my shoulder. They would ask if I was doing well after my leave of absence. I brushed it off lightly, never going into detail as to why I left and people were polite enough not to ask.

Everything on my desk was neat and orderly. The only thing out of place was the calendar above my computer that was still flipped to January. I ran my fingers over the keyboard to my computer as it turned on. When the screen illuminated before me, a tidal wave of emails flooded my inbox. Welcome back to work, I thought.

"Could the digital team please meet in the South Conference Room in fifteen minutes, please?" The voice was sweet, but firm. I would know the voice anywhere. I turned in my seat and caught the eye of Ruby.

"Hi, Ruby," I smiled.

"Oh my!" Ruby stormed over to me and caught me in her arms just as I stood up. "You are back! I've missed you like mad!"

She was known as Ruby T. No one was really sure what her last name was, but some of the best guesses were Tucker or Thompson. She was expressive and classic. She wore her heart on her sleeve to the point where it was practically visible, but she had a cold streak reserved for people just like Laura. Her style was something out of a 1987 New York City nightclub with loud prints and exotic textures. When we had to dress professionally, her outfit wasn't complete without a bold colored pair of tights or a flashy novelty bracelet or headband. She was inclusive, memorable, and sweet. Intellectually, she was the type of girl quirky boys were drawn to. Personality wise, she was the type of good girl that bad boys fantasized about. She was hopelessly amazing and hardly aware of it.