FLASHBACK
(Harry and Esrin are 12
/13 years ago)

"Harry," I called, chasing him after he darted out of the classroom and straight through the field. I may be a teenager now but that forest still scares me and if he keeps walking at this pace, we'll be there soon.

His wild hair is flying all over his face but he's too angry to move it away or do anything other than look like an angry puppy. "Go away, Esrin!" Harry shouts and I know he's only using my full name to scare me off. "You can't be seen with me, not after that," I can hear the heartbreak in his voice.

We started the big school together last week- high school- where things finally matter. At the start of history class, Harry decided to sit at the back of the class instead of the front where he'd usually be with me.

Turns out, he accidentally stole Willow Thorn's seat. Our teacher allowed us to watch a historical film for an hour in class and after that when we heard the rumours. The rumours that Willow started involved Harry unzipping his pants to have some fun with another girl in the back of the class during the movie. I knew they weren't true from the moment I heard them because I know Harry. Others believed it.

"They're just silly rumours," I dismissed, wishing he'd just stop. "They're not silly to me. They ruined me!" He shouts in a way I know his throat aches now. "Well don't let them anymore!" I shouted and grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stop and I walk in front of him so he'd look at me for once.

His cheeks are so red and wet, the whites of his eyes mixing with red, the eyelashes framing them are sticking together and even under them are swollen. Harry sniffles, wiping his runny nose with the back of his sweater covered hand.

"Just breathe," I tell him and Harry focuses on his breathing while I wiped away the tears from his cheeks the way he always does for me. When he seems to calm down, an uncertain look comes over him. One that stops him from hugging me.

"I didn't do it, you know that right?" He says softly. "I know," I tell him without hesitation. Then his face screws up in anger again and he forced himself away from me. "Stop it! I can see it in your eyes. You think I actually did that?"

"I don't, I don't. I swear it, Harry. If you tell me you didn't then I believe you," I say, reaching for him again and thankfully, he doesn't run away again. I just wanted to make the hurt go away, that's what we do for each other.

"Heart promise?"

The two words raggedly left Harry. Confused, I pull away slightly. In all of the five years I've been best friends with Harry, I've never heard him use that term before. If it meant that he'd trust me again then I'd do whatever promises he says though.

"Heart promise?" I repeated. Harry nods his head frantically, sniffling and then wipes his nose with the back of his green sweater again. "It's deeper than any pinky promise," he sounds so tired and helpless as he says it, so close to giving up but still holding onto the thinnest piece of thread.

"Heart promise, Harry," I say the word. Harry holds out his hand with his pinky finger out and I interlocked mine with his. Then he brings our hands to his chest.

It scares me when our friendship wavers or something tests it and I'll never stop trying to fix it. He's the only person that understands me.

I hope I never lose him.

PRESENT

This morning I woke up to a bloody surprise.

It only adds to the depressive cloud that has been hovering over me.

I knew my period was coming however it slipped my mind yesterday so today, I was surprised. Already, I knew that the day was off to a bad start. Which sucked because I'd really love to get back to the gym and into the ring again. Trust me, I need it. To remain sane, I needed to get out all these emotions stuck inside me but I guess that would have to sit on hold.

Nevertheless, I got off the bed and quickly started my morning routine of getting ready for work. My outfit of choice was a black pencil skirt that ended an inch below my knee and tucked into it was a white long-sleeved shirt.

When I finished getting dressed I started my makeup look with a simple base and finished with classic red lipstick. Today signifies a change. Sure yesterday took an awful turn but I won't let that stop me on my path to fixing the mess of my life.

So I straightened my hair which I rarely do and my hair is so curly that it changes my appearance altogether. Before I left the room, I slipped on simple back high heels and grabbed my things for the day.

Uncomfortable tension hovers around the house as I made it outside. Last night while the three of us ate pizza, Harry assured me I was free to do whatever I wanted in the kitchen. I know that wasn't something I'd do in someone else's home so I planned to grab something on the way to work.

However, waiting for me on the countertop was my Chip cup with steam pouring out. Curled steam that promised hot, delicious tea inside. Having to deal with this monthly and when I'd experience my period twice a month before birth control, I could feel the cramps coming and my mouth salivated at the cup.

I slide onto the stool carefully since this skirt offers little movement. Unable to help myself. I slide both hands around the cup and brought the rim to my lips, taking a careful sip and sighing at the wonderful taste. It's different from the way Remi makes it so I know it wasn't her.

I feel him standing behind me before he says anything. I don't know how he got here, it's like he appeared out of nowhere but I can feel him there. My back straightens as tingles ran down my spine, more down my arms, and even my beating heart seems to dance faster.

"Good morning," Harry whispers and I'm so caught up in his teasing touch like a wet dream that I forgot how to reply. He's careful not to mess up my hair as he moves it all to one shoulder.

Gripping the cup tighter, I continue drinking, eager to know where he's going with this. His hand goes around my sides and then rests at the top of my thighs. Suddenly I hated that I was wearing a damn pencil skirt and on my damn period. Considering I get hornier faster on my period, that doesn't help either.

"Where're your manners, Rin?" Harry murmurs, his hand sliding down my thigh slightly and it lowers his face too so I feel his lips brushing my cheek. "Want my attention?" I ask instead of returning the greeting, putting down the cup. My hands grab his wrists and I throw them off, they return to his side and Harry stands at his full height.

"Why the hair? Dressed up for Zayn?" He wonders while walking around the island, trying to be calm and casual but I hear the coldness in his tone. "Maybe," I answered. Suddenly, I felt a little like throwing up when I remembered Zayn's hands on my body in the hotel room in Manhattan.

I wondered if he felt the same way that I did when I remembered he and Remi slept in the same room last night.

Harry stares at me a few seconds longer because neither of us wanted to back down and break the contact first. Eventually, he does, pushing off the counter and then walking back around me, returning to his room.

"I'm screwed," I say to nobody but myself when he's gone because I realised that I was disappointed. Disappointed that he left instead of kissing me the way he did yesterday or even a stolen kiss like the one at the beach house.

Instead, he disappeared to his bedroom. Where Remi is also sleeping. Who he slept next to all night. Who knows what happened between them?

That's enough to sway me away from my thoughts and I downed the rest of my tea quickly, no longer in the mood to enjoy it.

Work needs all of me and that's what I plan to give. Not this mess of a disaster bound to happen with Harry. I took off in a quiet Jeep because my thoughts are so loud no song on the radio is enough to distract me from them.

I reach there faster since it's earlier and the traffic isn't plenty yet. It felt like such a long time since I last parked my Jeep in its reserved spot. So much has changed in so little time.

With my shoulders back, head high and spine as steel I gracefully walked to the elevator, paying no mind to anyone else as I made my way up the elevator and to my office

When the door shuts behind me deeming me alone, I sighed and my shoulders slouched slightly. A wide smile stretches on my red painted lips when I see the neon green sticky note stuck to my desk. I place my things down beside my laptop and peel the paper off.

You got this.
Bad vibes don't go
with your outfit.

-LT.

Once again as always I cherished the words scribbled on the paper by Louis and then I let go a deep breath. My shoulders are less tense and the weight sitting on my shoulders feels a little less.

Feeling much better, I started the work that was already waiting for me to start and continue. It feels weird especially since I haven't heard from Zayn after emailing him yesterday but with all my fingers and toes crossed, I went ahead.

Thirty minutes through work when I don't receive any calls from my boss, I decided that I needed coffee. So I left my office and to the cafeteria where Seth was mixing in his usual coffee mug. "Hello there," I say and when he spins around, his eyes light up to see me.

"Esrin! It's been so long," I almost winced at his shock. "I know, but I'm back now, how are you?" I asked and my eyes dropped to look around for the little packets of vanilla coffee I like to have. "Oh, we're out of vanilla but there's some on the first floor," Seth catches on.

"Oh, thank you," I say, mentally groaning that I'd have to visit the first floor. That's where there's a tea and coffee station for all the customers that come and go. "You're welcome. Find me here lunchtime and we'll catch up?" He says, already walking away but waiting for my response.

"Yes! I'll tell Louis to join us," I say and a blush colours Seth's cheeks and he scampers away. I grinned, remembering my theory on both of them. I walked to the elevator and then made my way downstairs.

I smile at a few friendly faces on the way and endured a few small talks too because everyone has to get back to work. Grabbing a paper coffee cup, I poured steaming water into most of it and then emptied a packet of vanilla coffee inside.

Stirring it together with a wooden spoon, I'm not watching where I'm going when I turn because I suddenly knocked right into someone. Half of the coffee spills over me and soaks into my white shirt, having the thin material stuck to my skin. I gasped, my skin feeling as if it's been burnt by actual fire.

"Oopsy! I'm so sorry!" I don't pay attention to the person that says it because I'm too busy putting down the cup and pulling the shirt far away from my skin as possible. Napkins are being blotted to my clothes by a fair pair of hands.

"It's fine," I brushed it off because this isn't the first time this has happened to me so I suck up the pain. Usually, I'm prepared for situations like these. I usually sneak a blazer or two on the coat hanger in my office but I took them all home last time. Damn it.

The napkins soak up as much as they could and my burning skin has eased. The woman apologised through every second of it even when I dismissed her every time that it was fine. I look up at her, firstly noticing the lovely frame of her glasses.

Behind them are a beautiful pair of wide hazel eyes and her nearly straight long brown hair are a few shades darker. For some reason, as my eyes studied the shape of her face and all its features I'm a bit frozen. Even after hearing the British accent of her voice, it's too odd for some unknown reason.

She gives me a sense of familiarity but I know I have never seen her before.

"I'm Emma," she throws her hand out, not really giving me the decision to shake her hand or not so I do. "Esrin," I returned and her smile brightens. "Goodness, my day is going awful!" Emma starts jiggling her keys at her side. It's annoying but I don't say anything.

"First, the traffic was horrible and someone scratched my car! Then I came here to find out something about my brother and no luck!" She exaggerates. "Your brother?" Is my attempt to actually care about what she was saying.

"Yeah, I thought someone here might know him. But anyway, I'm so sorry my shitty day has affected you," she explains. "It's not a problem, accidents happen," I assured her and even with a small smile I can tell she still feels horrible about what happened.

"I have to get back to work but it was lovely meeting you, Emma," I say, not wanting to get into another round of apologies. "Anytime!" She shouts and then I'm off.

Odd.

After being on a phone call discussing how the chaos in Esrin's penthouse even happened it ended with me firing my entire security team.

All of them were responsible for it happening right under their noses. Especially to her home. The penthouse, the most luxurious room on the highest floor was supposed to be the most guarded.

The longer I thought about seeing her like that yesterday, the longer the list of fired employees gets. By the end of it, half of my staff was gone and Remi was just submerging from the room, dressed in her uniform.

I shut the laptop and cut off my phone before she could see any of it. "Good morning," I say as she makes her way to the coffee that was already made and waiting for her. "Morning, morning," she returns followed by a tired yawn.

"What time are you getting off work?" I asked Remi. I won't be here later when Esrin comes home since I'll be too busy getting to the end of whatever happened yesterday. Especially, now that I have an ex-boyfriend to find.

"Probably midnight," she says with a sigh, rubbing her forehead. I know better than to tell her about overworking because she may not be stubborn but she's determined. "How will Esrin get in? I won't be here," I say, realising that this might actually be a problem. "You could drop it off at work. They'll authorize you once you give identification and a signature," she shrugs her shoulders.

The thought of having to enter that building stirs a storm inside me. Pondering over the idea, I hated it. Going anywhere near that building is horrible, horrible, horrible.

"Can you drop off lunch for her as well? She'd probably tell Louis to buy her a salad or something but deep down she doesn't like to eat salads on her period," Remi adds. "What?" I blurted out, that pulling myself away from my thoughts.

"God, you're not getting grossed out about the word period right?" Remi scrunches her face. "No! I just didn't know...forget it," I trailed off. "Okay," she drags out the word," so will you be able to get her food as well? She likes chocolate-covered strawberries on her period too but I can't make those right now." Her eyes dart around the table as if she's imagining the pile of work she probably has on her desk at work right now.

"You could check the bakery down the road," she suggests. I remembered the strawberries sitting in my fridge and the chocolate chips waiting to be melted. "Sure. I've got the time now but I won't tonight," I agreed.

"Great."

Zayn is gone all morning and into lunchtime so I'm able to get a lot of work done. I assumed he'd be gone all day, maybe on another flight or something but I'm proven wrong when the office phone rings and it's Zayn. "My office, now," he calmly tells me and ends the call.

Since I don't want to keep him waiting, I'm off my chair and fixed my clothes as I darted down the hall to his office. I knocked as usual and hear him grant me permission to enter before I open the door. Currently, I'm trying to ignore the fast beating of my anxious heart.

Zayn is sitting behind his massive desk as if he's on a throne wearing his overly expensive navy blue suit. His glasses sit on his face but still, I can see the anger in his eyes through them.

"Sit," he tells me before I can even get a greeting out. I shut my mouth and sat down on the leather black chair. Zayn drops the pen in his hand, leans back and then his eyes met mine. "What day is it today, Miss Sage?" Zayn calmly asks. Mentally, I rolled my eyes because we were back to miss Sage.

"Tuesday, Mister Malik," I answered. "When were you to return to work?" He follows up. My eyes shut as if to prepare myself because I knew what was coming. "Yesterday," I answered, opening back my eyes. "I apologise for my tardiness however, my absence yesterday was unavoidable and I sent you an email," I informed him.

My mental health can withhold a lot- you name it. But yesterday, seeing my home in that state tumbled every rock I've been holding.

"I don't care about writing email excuses! This company offers zero room for slacking, I thought you were aware of that," he shouts enough that I flinch in my seat. "I am aware, I just needed time. It won't happen again," I assured him.

"Time? Time for what?" he interrogates and I instantly regretted letting that line slip past my mouth. "Answer me or you'll be packing up your things," he threatens when I say nothing.

"I needed time to process what happened in Manhattan. You can't expect me to be fine after you tried to- after you were suddenly tired of being professional," I quoted his own words that were still fresh in my mind. That wasn't the reason for my absence yesterday but I refuse to ignore it or tell him about my personal problems.

Zayn swallows and I see the coward in him coming to the surface. "I apologise for the way things ended on our trip. For the sake of this company, I will forgive you for the way you acted. Especially, in hope that it won't happen again," he confesses. Great. Now he's turning this over on me.

Sucking it all up because right now, I can't afford to ruin my life more than it already has been. If Zayn fires me for acting out, my savings won't be enough to last a long time. Especially, since everything I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on is destroyed in the penthouse.

"Okay. May I get back to work?" I gave in. Pleased with my response, Zayn nods his head and flicks his hand away. I stand and returned to my office. I'm so caught up in replaying what just happened that I don't realise I'm not alone in my office when the door shuts behind me.

Harry is pacing the floor when the door opens and he freezes when it shuts, his heated green eyes on me. "What the fuck is Zayn talking about, Esrin?" He demands, dropping his hand that was previously pinching his bottom lip in thought.

Since my hormones are still all over the place, I noticed how hot he looked in the black shirt and matching long pants. He even rolled the sleeves up to his elbows, exposing some of his inks and I'm confused why I found that hot.

Then I realised that Harry was actually standing in my office at work. And asking about my conversation with Zayn.

"What?" I bluntly asked, noticing that there was a black bag sitting on my desk too. "What the fuck was he talking about?" Harry demands and I try to keep my eyes on his face only. I don't even have the energy to be angry right now," you eavesdropped. How did you get in here?"

It's not hard to hear Zayn's loud voice from outside his office if someone happened to be walking by. However, someone would need to stop for a while to piece together his conversation.

Harry's heated eyes scanned my face and then he sighs and as his shoulders relaxed, his entire body does too. He walks closer so close that I can smell the delicious cologne off his skin. "Work isn't as peachy as you make it seem, is it?" He whispers.

My head falls on his chest at that, shutting my eyes for a second and I feel his hands on my hips. "That's what you get for saying no when your boss wants to sleep with you," I muttered coldly. Harry's body stiffens again, his hand on my hips holding me closer and it's like venom on his tongue as he states," I'll kill him."

I look up at him, seeing the fire swirling around the green ocean in his eyes hooded by furrowed brows, his jaw clenched so tight his teeth had to hurt. He means that. "You can't. Especially now. it's fine," I denied.

The look he's giving me isn't normal and I have a hard time believing that this was just about me. It's never what it seems with him, is it? "Is there more, Harry?" I asked, my gaze hard on him in hope that he'd be honest with me. A battle of contemplation occurs in his mind and when I say," tell me," he breaks.

"Our dads were friends," Harry sighs. "We tolerated each other at a few dinners and parties over the years," he confesses and this news surprises me so much that I slide out of his touch. Something flickers in his eyes. A look I didn't like him wearing. "He's so much like him," he whispers more to himself.

"His dad did...horrible things to his employees. He's gotten away with it and I won't let Zayn too," he's determined, I see it all over him and I should be scared of it but I'm not. All of this is new information that I need to think about and know more about but not here.

"Not now, let's just sort out this penthouse thing first," I requested and placed a reminder for later to talk about this more when I'm ready. The fact that Zayn and Harry knew each other was bad enough.

"Now tell me why you're here, Harry," I changed the topic and sat down on the edge of my desk instead of the chairs. His eyes light up as if he just remembered and then he grabs the black bag that sat beside me. I'm relieved he goes on with it and does not dwell on the topic longer.

"To drop off food from Remi," he answers, dropping the sides of the bag to reveal the two containers of food. "Uh Remi made these too," he adds and then holds a smaller clear container. I can see the chocolate-covered strawberries through the bowl and I wish Remi were here so I can thank her with a tight hug.

I can never say no or never have chocolate-covered strawberries when I'm on my period. They make the world suck a little less. Especially today, I needed these.

I gravitate towards them, snatching them from Harry and peeling off the lid. Moaning at the beautiful sight of the treat, I take one, slowly biting it and the delicious flavour erupts in my mouth. Fluttering my eyes open, I became aware of the way Harry was staring at me. Specifically, my red painted lips wrapped around the chocolate strawberry.

Then I'm a little more slower and aware as I have the other one, my lips wrapping around the strawberry before biting down. The image he puts in my head isn't anything but dirty and it involved me on my knees.

"I'm not going to be responsible for what happens next if you keep looking at me like that," Harry warns. Now I'm wondering when he'll give me the chance to return the favour he did for me at the beach house.

Sitting on my desk, I finished my strawberry. Harry leans off the wall and walks to me, his hands falling at either side of me to cage me between them. Since I'm wearing a pencil skirt I can barely part my legs but now I'm thankful because I'm pressing them tightly together as possible. "I like you better with your legs spread wide," Harry whispers.

I'm frozen for a moment, my brain suddenly turned to mush. Then I groaned, my head falling on his shoulder. He's going to make being on my period much more difficult. I feel his chest vibrating and then his laughter hits my ears. The idiot has the audacity to laugh about it too.

Then I feel his fingers running through my hair and it's better again. I'll probably be the cause of something very stupid if Harry stays in here. Something stupid like re-enacting the very dirty scene twirling around my mind right now.

"Give me your shirt and get out," I demanded. "What?" Harry asks genuinely confused. "Mine has a coffee stain as you can see so give me yours and out, I have work to do," I explained and Harry seems to notice my shirt for the first time.

"Yes, ma'am," Harry beings undoing the buttons with a silly grin on his face and while he does that I help myself to another strawberry. It annoys me how slow and seductive but also playful he makes the entire thing. I snatched the material off his hands after he shrugged it off his shoulders.

He wasn't shirtless now, he still wore a white vest below it. However, now there's a thin black necklace around his neck with a key as its pendant. It's wide enough to slip through his head and Harry does then he slides it over my head and it drops around my neck. "Key to my house. Won't be there when you're done," Harry fills me in. Oh.

I'm staring up at him feeling so many things at once because that felt more than it should've. "Can I at least borrow a kiss before I go?" He wonders and I think finally. Sliding my hand around his neck, I tugged Harry closer. His lips brushed mine and my eyes are fluttering shut, ready to kiss him and I don't care if it ruins my lipstick or not.

"I change my mind," Harry whispers and pulls away at the same time. "See you later, Rin," I have to take my jaw off the floor as I watched Harry spin around and leave my office. Even after he's gone, I'm still so shocked staring at the plain door that he just left through.

Harry messes with my emotions in ways that I wanted to stay at work longer just so I can avoid it. Damn it.

Not me and Esrin starting our period at the same time🤭 to make it even better, I've been horribly sick and recovery really dragged. Sorry this chapter took a while.

Thank you for 13 thousand reads by the wayy!! My favourite number. Love you always<3

Soooo....smut next chapter?