Chapter 22: Chapter 22

I spent the whole weekend at Harry's place. Again. Honestly, at the rate that I slept over at his place, we should just move in together.

I wasn't ever going to tell him that though. I didn't want to seem like that clingy type even though technically, I was the clingy type. I loved being around him sue me.

I looked over at him and sighed at how adorable he looked when he was asleep. Honestly, it was so fucking unfair that one human being was this perfect.

I sighed and tried to get out of bed stealthily enough. But what was I thinking? This dude was literally part of the mafia and I was a clumsy potato.

I tripped on his leg and he held me.

"Do you want me dead?" he asked in a deadpan voice. I looked down at him to see that his eyes were open and he had an amused smile on his face.

"Good morning," I said sheepishly.

"Good morning," was Harry's reply. Then he held my head and dragged it down to his gently.

"Nope," I said, turning my head away. "Not gonna happen. We're both going to brush our teeth then you can kiss me until we die of lack of oxygen."

Harry laughed. "Is that a promise?"

"Do you want to pinky swear on it?" I asked, sticking my tongue out cheekily. I stood up and I was heading to the bathroom, I felt a swat on my backside. I shook my head at Harry.

By the time I was done, it was 6:30. Neither of us needed to be at work until 8 am so I decided to make breakfast.

Harry had other plans though. It seemed like this man was always horny oh my God.

"Harry we're gonna be late," I said, trying to remove his strong arms from around my waist.

"I'm the boss," the idiot said.

"Well I'm not," I retorted, hitting his arm lightly with the wooden spoon I was holding.

"Fine," he said, then let go of me. I shook my head. Harry was amazing. And I was already well on my way to falling heads over the hills for him.

***

Unsurprisingly, we had reached work late. I had tried to convince Harry that people would start talking if they saw us come in together. And what did this man say? Isn't that a good thing?

I honestly felt like I could slap him. It was like he wasn't realizing that unlike him I was affected by these people's words. Like it warmed my heart (and truly it. And other places as well oops) that he wanted everyone to know. But it was very unethical and my co-workers were bound to say shit about it.

I shook my head as I sat at my cubicle. It was hard to ignore the stares. Like these people weren't even trying to pretend. They were being blatant about watching me and talking about me. No whispers at all nope.

I looked up and I saw them. Melanie and Josh. After the first day they had approached me, we hadn't had any other confrontation. But it seemed the time had come.

"Hi," Melanie said. I nodded, after all I wasn't obliged to say hi back. I didn't know how to pretend to like someone. And after what had happened the last time, there was no way I was going to smile at them.

"We were wondering if you were busy for lunch?" Josh asked.

As I opened my mouth to reply, I heard someone say, "Yeah she will"

Guess who? Fucking Harry. This demon had been sent to make my life horrible. Why did he have to say that? I made a mental note to give him the silent treatment throughout the day.

"Oh. Then we can join you?" Melanie asked, as she was the first to get over her shock and get her voice back.

I rolled my eyes mentally and waited for Harry to dig an even bigger hole for me. It wasn't going to be hard anyways.

"No," was all he said. Then he left. I stared at his back with undisguised hatred. I would kill that man and that was a promise.

"So after all your talk about not knowing Harry that way, you're fucking him," Josh deadpanned.

I widened my eyes. I hadn't expected either of them to be so crass. "What?"

"You heard us b," Melanie said, like they weren't two separate entities and like just Josh hadn't spoken.

"Y'all should leave," I said quietly. I was tired and I really didn't need this right now.

"We hope the money is worth it," Josh jabbed one last time then they moved away.

I stared at their retreating backs. Honestly, I was at a loss. I didn't understand why they would be so crass. It wasn't like I had set it my life mission to seduce Harry or anything. The fact that we were together was a mere coincidence.

I hated myself in that moment. I wish I could stand up to them. It was always like this with me. I hated being that "quiet girl". The one everyone could walk on without expecting retaliation.

I wanted to be confident and strong. Fight my own battles and win them. Being in the background was no fun. Honestly.

It was even a wonder that Harry, of all people was with me. Like why? I was just this awkwardly tall black girl who didn't know when to keep her mouth shut and when to talk back.

I sighed and looked up when I heard a voice. "Hey, don't mind those two. They are incurable gossips."

It was Pearl. I smiled weakly at her. It wasn't the gossip part that was getting to me. I was used to that.

"Want to go for lunch with me?" She proposed and I shook my head regretfully.

"Harry's taking me out for lunch," I explained and she nodded with a sly smile.

"Tomorrow, you're going to tell me everything. And I won't accept a he's my boss this time around," Pearl said and i blushed.

I peeped Harry walking towards me with a determined look on his face. "I thought we were going for lunch?" I asked with a confused look on my face.

"Change of plans," he said, then without even saying another word, held my hand and made me stand. Then he saved what I was working on, turned off my computer and picked up my bag. "Let's go."

I stared at him incredulously and sighed. Once Harry had put something in his head, there was no dissuading him.

"Bye Pearl," I said

"Bye. Have fun!"

I smiled. I hoped I would.