You spent the rest of the evening and most of Sunday wrapped in a blanket, with pyjamas and fuzzy socks on, eating Ben and Jerry's ice cream while watching re-runs of The Office.

Emmy had come to your rescue when you'd first returned from the fiasco that was turning up to Harry's apartment, swiftly removing the beautiful flowers from your apartment when you asked her to take them instead. You had sobbed your heart out in the cab home; the type of sobbing you would do to Celine Dion's All By Myself, Bridget Jones style, so by the time Emmy arrived you seemed to have run out of tears. A weird calmness actually overtook you as you retold the recent events. Emmy was shocked, she wasn't big on social media as she knew the effects of hate first hand by being a superstars girlfriend, so hadn't noticed any headlines about Harry and this new girl either.

Even though you insisted that you were fine, she slept over that night because she knew that you might be fine, but you weren't okay at all. She even went as far to make you pancakes when you woke up late Sunday morning.

As you sat at your kitchen table in a comfortable silence, watching the small, ant-like people go about their lives far down below, you knew that Emmy wanted to ask you something from the way she kept fidgeting in her chair.

"Ems, quit fidgeting and say what you wanna say," you laughed half-heartedly.

"Ugh, thank you, I was dying there," placing her fork down on her now empty plate she folder her hands atop of each other on the table before meeting your gaze steadily, "What are you gonna do when you see Harry at work tomorrow?"

Sighing, you also placed your fork down on your plate. You ran your hands over your messy hair before matching Emmy's steady gaze, "I'm just gonna act like nothing happened. I don't know what else I can do - he knows how upset I was because he saw, he knows he's royally fucked up, but that doesn't change the fact we still work together."

Eyeing me sceptically, Emmy pondered her thoughts before she responded, "But do you not think that seeing him properly is gonna hurt you?"

"Yeah I do, without a doubt," your lip quivered, a sign you were close to tears, but you took a deep breath and carried on, refusing to cry anymore, "I'm having my pity party weekend and then it's just time to realise that I was too late and move on. I can't blame Harry; I did leave him stranded after he kissed me, as much as it does hurt to see that he's already moved on."

Emmy sighed and searched your face sadly. She actually found the whole situation very unlike Harry. For the few years she had known Harry, he'd never acted like he did around you with any other girls - completely besotted - and she just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else to it, like he had a reason for doing what he'd done. Choosing to not voice that opinion right now, she reached forward to grab one of your hands in her soft palm, "You're just gonna have to make him regret missing his chance with you,"

"Oh, don't you worry Ems, I'm gonna do exactly that."

◇

Even though you woke up on Monday morning feeling ready to face the day, your heart still ached painfully in your chest and your stomach felt like an empty pit, but you were determined to put on a brave face.

You hadn't slept very well - countless different scenarios of how the day could potentially go had been playing through your head like a crappy movie on repeat. You woke an hour before your alarm so decided to go for a short run around Central Park to try and rid the troublesome feelings still plaguing you.

The soft early morning light that spilled through the gaps in the trees reminded you of how sunbeams would break through a dark raincloud after a storm; it seemed fitting to your current situation and you took some comfort in that. Hopefully some sunbeams would be breaking through your dark cloud soon.

Once you had returned home and jumped in the shower, taking time to soothe your body before wrapping yourself in a fluffy towel, you stood in front of your open wardrobe contemplating what to wear, hands on hips.

You rifled through your collection of work dresses. It was quite warm today so something sleeveless would be a good idea, but you also had to make sure the chosen dress made you look absolutely unreal in order to begin 'Operation: Show Harry What He Is Missing'. Having found nothing that quite fit the bill, you hit the jackpot when you finally settled on a tight cerise pink number that hugged your curves and made your boobs look amazing (even if you did say so yourself). It ticked all the boxes - super sexy, but still professional and ideal for warm weather - it was the perfect choice. Smiling gleefully at your small victory, already picturing Harry's face when he saw the dress, you slipped it on before putting your makeup on and doing your hair.

A few butterflies had erupted in your stomach before you had even walked into the building, so by the time your heels were tapping along the tiled floor to your desk, you had about a thousand fluttering around.

Placing your bag on the floor beneath your desk you sat down at your chair and smoothed your dress down before checking your computer. One foot drummed nervously on the floor; you knew you'd have to go into Harry's office sooner rather than later to give him the usual Monday morning weekly rundown, but you were definitely prolonging the inevitable.

Biting your lip, you pushed away from your desk and stood, knowing the sooner you faced Harry the better it would be.

Rapping on his door lightly, you heard a soft "Come in."

Taking a deep breath, you walked in.

Harry was facing away from you and looking out of the tall windows, one arm raised and leaning against it. He turned and looked as dashing as ever in a classic black suit and soft blue shirt which made his eyes a sea green colour, rather than their usual emerald; it made your heart stutter painfully in your chest. You didn't fail to miss the bags under his eyes and the slight stubble lining his sharp jaw, had he been feeling as shit as you? When he took you in his jaw dropped. You still revelled in the way his eyes raked across your body and how confident and sexy it made you feel, but this time it had a bitter aftertaste knowing that you weren't the only girl he looked at like that anymore.

To say Harry was floored was an understatement. He did not expect you to come in looking so put together after how crushed you had looked after leaving his apartment building - had you already gotten over him? He knew his eyes conveyed so many different emotions: anguish at having hurt you, complete and utter desire at how downright gorgeous you looked in that sinful dress, a longing so deep his heart burned with pain, as well as a profound feeling of loss at having missed his chance with you after being so close.

It had been silent for too long, "Mr Styles, I just wanted to remind you that this week you've got a meeting with -"

"Mr Styles?"

"That's you name, is it not?" You could cut the tension with a knife.

"Well...yes, but you never call me that."

"I'm being professional - it's my job." You said with a touch of coldness at his initial interruption.

"Then you've been unprofessional for the past five months." His tone irked you; he was trying to get a rise out of you. He stood with his arms crossed on his chest, a firm look on his face that said he wasn't going to back down until he had a reason for your sudden change from calling him by his first name.

"You know that's not true Mr Styles. I've -"

"Since when do you call me Mr Styles?" You resisted the urge to roll you eyes at how pedantic he was being by staying silent and physically biting your tongue.

"Cecelia, I asked you a question. Since when do you -" The combination of his hooded stare and demanding tone reminded you of why he was so good at business, even if it did also turn you on, which just added to how annoyed you currently felt. And it was probably because of this that you were unable to hold your tongue any longer.

"Since you made it very clear that I am nothing more to you than an assistant!"

The only thing that broke the silence was your harsh breathing that following your outburst. His eyes softened as he noticed the tremble in your hands.

"Ceece, please, it's not like that let me explain -"

"No Harry. There isn't anything to explain. I just want to carry on doing the job that I love without having to feel like I've ruined that because of what has happened between me and you, so can we just leave it, please?"

He blinked at you in stunned silence before nodding mutely.

You released a breath you didn't know you were holding, "Okay. Thank you, now back to what I was saying..."

Harry didn't hear a word you said. He was too surprised at what had just happened. After you left his office he placed his palms on his desk, head hanging low and inhaling deep breaths of air to try and calm himself. Why didn't he say something rather than just nod in agreement when you said you felt like you were the one who'd ruined things? How could he just let you walk away like that yet again? Letting out an angry cry of frustration he swiped forcefully at the pile of papers and pens on his desk and watched as they flew off and crashed to the floor.

Sitting at your desk, hands clasped and resting against your trembling lips, you slid your eyes shut when you heard Harry's angry cry, willing the tears not to fall. For the rest of the day it took all of your strength to not cry but instead maintain the fake smile plastered on your face.

When you finally stepped through the door of your apartment later that evening, the first thing you did was slide down the door and sob. 

bit of a short filler chapter and a sad one at that tbf :( but I promise things will start perking back up again soon!!

can't believe I've got over 800 reads that is honestly amazing, thank you all so so much!

also isn't angry harry just so hot??

keep voting and commenting, love you guys <3 

kait x