Ellie's P.O.V

A new day, a fresh start. I wake up, use the [sadly] normal shower, and get ready for the day. 

Harry's manager sent me a company card. I'm allowed to use it for personal things, but its main use is for buying stuff that Harry would need. For example, his coffee. I even got his coffee order from his manager.

I place a mobile order and head downstairs. Today, we have a meeting with a photographer to discuss potential album themes. Although he won't be releasing an album for a long time, this stuff needs to be planned way in advance. 

Once I pick up his order, I wait in the hotel lobby, sipping on my own.

He walks out of the elevator with a serious strut. I get up and hand him his coffee as he passes. His face softens at the sight of me, but I ignore it. 

"Okay, your meeting is starting soon. The car's already ready for you." I state, leading him outside. A black car stalls in front of the door. We both get into the back and I review the details of the meeting.

He nods and listens intently. At least he's being professional right now. It's the least he can do for me. 

We arrive at a photography studio. The inside is stunning and I'm left in awe at the sight. This certain photographer likes to incorporate a green theme, using a variety of plants. His studio is covered in greenery, a huge range of flora. 

He meets us at the entrance. I let out a gasp when I see who it is.

It's the coffee shop/jogging guy. What are the odds! He told me he was a lawyer though...

His eyes light up when he sees me. "Ellie!" That confirms it's the same guy.

"Hey, Zach! I didn't know you were a photographer!" I exclaim. He moves to the side, allowing us to come in.

"Yeah... it's a side job. Believe it or not, a lot of people don't need pet custody lawyers." 

I nearly spit out my coffee. His smile leads me to believe he's joking and relief washes over me.

"I'm kidding. But it is a side job. I have a passion for photography."

Harry clears his throat and I'm snapped back into reality. I'm here for professional business, and I need to act like it.

"Hello Mr. Barrow," Harry reaches his hand out and Zach shakes it. 

"Please, call me Zach." He gives a charming smile.

They begin talking about themes, and I focus on the scenery. Different parts of the area have different decorations, assuming for variety. A bunch of light equipment is spread out.

The free walls are lined up with canvases of his work. It's beautiful. The models look stunning, and his unique vision adds to the pictures. 

I can't help but stare in awe at the photos.

"You know, I could definitely shoot you for free," Zach whispers in my ear from behind. I turn around to face him.

"Would you actually?" I ask, not being able to tell if he's serious.

He smirks, "only if you give me your number." He says that much louder, which catches Harry's attention from across the room.

I awkwardly laugh, wishing Harry hadn't heard that. "Maybe after a nice dinner," I joke, being much quieter. I can tell Harry is trying to listen in.

Zach groans at my stubbornness. I shrug and make my way back to my boss.

"What do you think Mr. Styles?" I ask innocently, playing off that incident. I don't know if he'd be jealous, but I rather not find out. The reality of it all would break me. 

He snaps out of his daze and makes a face. "I'd have to think about it. I don't know what vision I have for the album yet. Thank you and we'll keep in touch." They shake hands. 

I also shake Zach's hand, and I notice his hand lingers in mine for a longer time. Harry notices too. "Let's go, we'll be late for our next meeting."

We don't have anything else today. I know he's just saying that so we can hurry out. 

As we walk out, I turn and wave to Zach one last time. He smiles and waves back. I gesture for him to call me, teasing him for not having my number. He playfully glares at me before breaking into a huge smile. 

"Harry, we don't have any other meetings today," I remind him once we're situated in the car. 

He rubs the back of his head. "Oh, I thought we did. My bad."

I roll my eyes at his nonchalance, but don't push it. 

"How do you know him?" He asks out of the blue.

I don't want to tell him. He'll ruin that form of happiness for me. He's already taken so much from my life. 

"None of your business actually," slips out of my mouth before I can stop it.

He looks a little shocked at the change in tone. "Chill, I was just curious."

"Well, don't be." I snap. Where's this sudden irritation coming from? It's shocking the both of us. 

He turns his body towards me. For a second, I think about the poor driver that has to listen to this.

"What is your issue?" He yells.

"My issue? Maybe it's the fact that I'm forced to be working for my shitty ex-boyfriend. Oh, my bad. We were never fucking official anyway." And so the rant begins. 

"Because of you! You always want to cower in the shadows! You're the one who doesn't want to be exposed." 

"That doesn't excuse what you've done to me!" I cry. Tears form in my eyes and I look away. I've been trying so hard to keep my feelings at bay, but frustration's got the better of me.

Harry sighs. "I'm sorry. Baby, I'm so sorry." His voice cracks. I can see him wipe away tears in my peripheral vision. "Fuck, I don't know what came over me. I've never cheated in my life."

There's a first time for everything.

I keep facing forward. He grabs my hand and I don't pull away. Maybe because I want him. I hate being stubborn, I want to give up. 

But it'll hurt me in the long run. I don't know if my heart can handle another heartbreak.

When we arrive back at the hotel, I get out of the car as fast as possible. I can't handle the tension. I don't even wait for the driver to open the door. I hear my name being called out, but I ignore it.

Instead of going to my room, I go to the bar. Better to drink my sorrows.

Why am I the one feeling guilty when it's clearly not my fault? Maybe I'm too forgiving. 

Maybe I'm too easily replaceable. Maybe I am. Have you seen the girls Harry's been with? I can't compare to them. They're all tall, gorgeous, and are model status. I'm just an average girl who can't even handle a little bit of attention from the media. 

Shots after shots, I chug them all down. 

I know what I have to do. I need to become so irresistible that Harry genuinely realizes his mistake.

The alcohol is clearly clouding my judgment. 

I don't know how long I've been at the bar, but it's dark outside now. 

I look through my purse and find the keycard to Harry's room. His manager gave it to me, for professional reasons. Mainly to wake Harry up if he's late for a meeting or make sure he's okay. 

Before I go, I order a vodka bottle. The bartender is reluctant to sell it, but changes his mind when I wave the company card around. 

I take a big swig and make a face at the strong taste. I stumble into the elevator and swipe the keycard. Then, I push the button for his floor. 

Harry's P.O.V

I'm laying in bed, thinking about Ellie. I fucked her up so badly. She's become a completely different person. 

Seeing her cry in the car hurt like shit. At first, I was relieved because she was finally showing some emotion, but damn, I hate to see her like that. 

A very loud, insistent knock comes from the door. I know the staff would never knock so impolitely. Intrigued, I go to the peephole and check who's there. To my surprise, it's the woman of the hour. 

I open the door, a little too happy that she's decided to pay me a visit. She stumbles when she sees me. I see a bottle of alcohol in her hand. She's drunk. Disappointment courses through me.

Of course she needed liquid courage to come see me. Maybe it's worse, maybe she only came because she's drunk. 

"Hey Harryyyyy," she drags out my name. She walks right past me and into the room. 

I close and lock the door. When I turn around, she smacks her lips into mine. How I've missed the taste of her. I eagerly kiss her back, not being able to resist.

I back her into a wall, still making out. She moans as my hands begin to wander. She uses her empty hand to slide under my shirt and feel my abs. I flinch at the coldness, but she doesn't notice.

She gets on her tippy toes and begins to kiss me all over my face. She gets to my ear and begins to nibble on the lobe. No one has ever done that to me, but it feels pleasureful. It's a completely new sensation. I groan, encouraging her to keep going.

She leans into my ear and whispers, "I want you to fuck me."

I feel my dick getting hard. The temptation is strong. I want nothing more than to rip her clothes off and take her right here and now.

But, I know she doesn't mean it. She's drunk, and it's her first time. I don't want her to lose it in a drunken haze. I want it to be meaningful, and I sure as hell want her to remember it. 

"How about we keep doing this," I whisper before moving to her neck. I give a little nibble, then suck on it. It's surely going to bruise.

She doesn't object. She slowly drops the bottle and both her hands reach for my hair. She twirls my curls and tugs. 

Fuck, that feels so good.

"I must make you feel so good," she whispers. "No one else can."

I moan, signaling my agreement. 

One of her hands disappears for a moment. I don't think much of it until I feel her grab my dick.

Oh shit.

I pull her back. "No, El," I warn.

"I can finish I swear," she slurs. I grab her arm to prevent anything else from happening. 

Tears begin to well up in her eyes. I let go, afraid I'm hurting her.

"I'm so ugly that I can't even get you to have sex with me," she cries. She slides her back down the wall, sitting on her butt.

What? That's what she thinks?

"Hey, no that's not true. You're the most beautiful person I know." I coo, kneeling to be at her level. My heart breaks at the sight of her. Even though she's blackout drunk, she still manages to look heart-stopping. Her lips are swollen from our makeout and her eyes are wild. 

"Then why not?"

"Hey," I wipe the tears off her cheeks. "I want your first time to be special. You deserve that." Not to mention that we're in an awful place and she'll hate me even more if I go through with it. 

She grabs the bottle and takes a huge sip. 

"Is this why you came here?" I ask, not wanting to know the answer. If she's really come up here to have sex, that means nothing. She didn't come for me, she came for pleasure. If that's true, I don't know if my heart can handle it. 

I've already hurt her so much and I deserve the pain, but this sensation is something new. I've never felt this type of hurt before. 

She shrugs. "I'm replaceable," is all she says before passing out, her head on my chest.

What in the world does that mean?

A/N:

There may or may not be typos. I like the idea of this chapter but I don't like how I've executed it so.... might change it up but not for a while. I am planning on rewriting this whole story in the future. My writing's weird at the beginning because it felt so unnatural. I haven't written in such a long time, but as the book progresses, I swear it gets bearable. Don't forget to vote and comment! I love reading the reactions to certain parts.