In the Open | Harry Styles | Sequel to Undercover

13.

Harry

"Haz!"

I stop in my tracks at the sound of her voice, just as I am reaching the exit, my hand already on the door handle. I inhale deeply and turn around to face her.

Her arms are crossed, her face is pale and her appear slightly sunken, like she hasn't been sleeping. She still appears angry at me but she came after me, she called me Haz, that has to mean something.

"Hi, El." I hear myself say not really sure how I'd managed to coax the words out of myself.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice catches and I look up, searching her eyes for a hint at what she may be thinking. She's so guarded, so unlike herself and how she normally is around me.

"I--I thought I could come and try to fix this. I thought maybe if I got out of the deal and gave you some space maybe you could adjust to the job and maybe you would come back to me."

She opens her mouth to say something but closes it again.

"I miss you, El." I rush out, turning fully towards her and trying not to let the sound of the silence that separates us drive me mad.

She bites her lip just nodding and I can feel my face fall, she didn't say it back.

"Um...just give me some time, Harry. You really hurt me, you know?" She questions, staring deeply into his eyes. The pain within hers enough to make his mouth dry.

"Elouise, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I'm trying to make it up to you. I promise I will. I'll find a way."

She nods and shifts her gaze to my arm.

"What happened to your hand?" She asks. Her face distorted by the confusion.

"Erm, I dropped a weight on it, in the gym." I say, the words tasting bad as fall from my mouth. I hate lying to her.

"Have you learned nothing from all of this?" She asks, her tone exasperated. "You're a terrible liar, Harry."

"I punched the shower wall." I say flatly. "Are you happy now?"

She narrows her eyes in disappointment.

"You should go, Haz. Everyone's already talking about you being here. I don't know if I can handle all their questions and looks. The longer you're here the worse it will be."

I shift my weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other, nodding curtly towards her before turning back to the exit I'm stood beside. I turn back to her for a moment.

"I love you, El."

She gives a soft smile in return before turning and heading back in the way she had come.

I turn and throw the door open, marching angrily to the car that is waiting for me at the curb, my heart smashed into a million pieces. For the first time in our relationship I'd confessed my love for her, and she hadn't said it back.

•

Ellie

I hear the door slam behind me and try to ignore the burn of stares I feel across my skin. I can sense their lingering eyes, their curiosity radiating from their bodies and making me hot from embarrassment. 

I hate that I've been put in this position. I hate that my excitement about this opportunity has been replaced with crippling feelings of anxiety as I simply walk down the hall. 

I think back to years ago, my childhood bedroom and the girl I was before I met Harry. That girl was quiet, timid even. She was so desperate to no longer feel invisible and now I would do anything to go back to that. I crave my anonymity. 

I keep my head down and slip into my office, shutting the door behind me and sinking into a heap on the floor, against it.

Deep breaths, El. 

I lean my head forward to fall against my knees. I hate this. Everything was so perfect, why did things have to change?

I take a few cleansing breaths,trying to regulate my breathing before standing and taking a seat at my desk. I shove the papers that clutter it aside and sign in my computer, maybe if I can distract myself with work I can forget about all this, at least for a little while.

Over the next few hours I manage to unclog my email inbox and complete the lengthy task list Patrick had given me for the week. I glance out the window and realize darkness has fallen and it's nearly time to head home, well, to Kambrie's. 

I sigh and gather up my things, the picture of Harry and I on the bookshelf behind me catching my eye. I grab it and bring it closer. It's one of my favorite pictures of us because it was our first taken as boyfriend and girlfriend from New Year's this year. My smile is wide and Harry's eyes sparkle from behind the thin glass of the frame.  We were so happy, how could he have done this to us?

I want to forgive him. I want to go running back home, to our home and throw myself into his arms but my pride is getting in the way. If he hadn't so vehemently gone against my one request maybe things could be different but he had made a choice. He had knowingly decided to break my trust, to do exactly as I'd asked him not to and then to lie to me and act unaware, to play me as a fool? I didn't know how to deal with that, nor did I know if I would ever be able to.

I place the picture face down on the bookcase, grabbing my bag and flipping off the lights as I leave my office behind me. 

"Ms. Mitchell?" The voice of Mr. Goldman calls from down the hall. A large lump collects in my throat as I ponder what he could possibly want with me. 

I turn and retrace my step in the direction I've just come, bypassing my office and heading to his. 

"Yes, Mr. Goldman?"

"Step in for a moment if you don't mind. Close the door behind you."

I do as he's asked and take a seat he gestures to that's located by the door.

"Ms. Mitchell, I want you to know that I was impressed by your interview. I had every intention on hiring you before Mr. Styles became involved. Now, for whatever reason he believed he needed to be involved and he offered me a deal I could not refuse, he offered to move his management affiliation here, a move that would make Goldman Entertainment a substantial amount of money. That call only further solidified your employment here."

So she had been right, she had aced her interview and he would have given her the job even before Harry's help. 

"However."

What?

"Today, Mr. Styles came in and recanted his desire to change his management."

"What?" She asked, this time audibly.

"Due to his change of heart I am afraid that I now find myself in an odd position with you, Ms. Mitchell. I think it would be best for the company to avoid a conflict of interest where Mr. Styles is concerned and for that reason Ms. Mitchell, despite your excellent work in your short time here, I am afraid we will have to suspend your employment. I am so sorry. You will of course be compensated for your time here and I will write a recommendation for you to help you in your future endeavors. I am very sorry that this did not work out."

El stared back at the man shell shocked at the way this day had gone. 

She didn't even know why she was surprised at this point. Harry meddled and she got hurt, that seemed to be the pattern she was consistently finding herself in. How many times would it take before she finally learned?

AN: Oh no! Were you expecting that?

What should Harry do?

What should El do?

Are they ever going to find their way back to each other?

Let me know what you think!

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ILY

Sav