“W-What? No, I’m fine, really! You don’t need to do that. It comes with the job.” I flailed my arms around and created a small scene at the table. “Really, Mr. Malik. I’m completely okay. Please don’t worry about me.” When I flailed my arms around I accidentally hit my wrist on the side of the table. I felt the blood drain from my face and I groaned, clutching my wrist close to my chest. “Ow….”

I heard Zayn shuffle across the table from me and come to my side. He took my hand gently and inspected the wrapping around my wrist. “This needs to be tighter.” He slowly unwrapped my wrist while kneeling next to me. He was so concerned with my wrist and the look on his chiseled face was concentrated. He rewrapped my wrist and it was definitely tighter this time. When my wrist was secure, Zayn got up from his kneeling position, fixed his blazer and sat back down in his own seat. 

I remained quiet and didn’t touch my win glass in front of me. Zayn was carefully sipping his and watching me closely. He took another sip of his wine and then finally put the glass down on the table. “You don’t like wine?” He asked, pointing at my full glass. 

I shook my head. “Not really. I don’t drink.” I shrugged and played with the folded napkin in front of me. Out waitress came by again and I didn’t know what I wanted to eat. I honestly couldn’t read half of the dishes on the menu. I think Zayn caught on to my confusion and set his menu down. “We’ll have the soup de jour to start and the stuffed mushrooms as well.” The waitress nodded and was about to walk away before Zayn caught her arm. “Darling, can my date have something other than wine to drink as well.”

“Yes, sir.” She nodded and walked away.

 I half expected Zayn to watch her walk away, since she had a nice butt, but he kept his eyes on me. It felt like he was analyzing me. We stayed silent until our food came and it was then I realizes how hungry I was. I had bought all those groceries, but with my busy schedule and then feeling overall down, I guess I forgot to eat. I dug my spoon into the soup that looked like it was french onion. It was so delicious that I actually moaned. 

“I take it you have never been to a place like this?” Zayn finally spoke and dunked his spoon into his own bowl of soup. The stuffed mushrooms sat between us and smelled amazing. I sighed and nodded my head slowly. “I see. I didn’t expect you have before. I thought this would be special for you.” He began eating his soup. 

I was so confused by Zayn. I don’t know why he was going out of his way to treat me nicely. I wasn’t expecting it, but Zayn was giving it to me anyways. I would definitely have to work for this later. Maybe we would get to the actually sex part this time. 

I think Zayn enjoyed the silence while we ate slowly. The rest of my soup and those stuffed mushrooms were amazing. I had never tasted something so good before. After Zayn ordered our main meals he rested his elbows on the table top and locked his fingers together under his chin. 

“So Niall, tell me about yourself. Your history. I’m intrigued.” He leaned forward and my voice got caught into my throat. “I’m assuming you lead an interesting life.” He dropped one of his hands and caught mine. He held my hand and ran his thumb over my skin. “Hmm?”

“I don’t want to ruin our dinner.” I sighed. I had a rough life and I didn’t think it was the best topic for a dinner like this. Zayn’s squeezed my hand and gave me this brilliant smile. “Honestly, I don’t think you want to hear it.” He still insisted and that made me smile. 

“You have beautiful smile.” Zayn spoke and my whole body shivered. I looked down at our connected hands on the table and smiled wider. I had never felt this way with a client before. He was being very forthcoming in everything he did and honestly wanted to know things about me. “So, Niall? Can I have a peak into that past of yours? Where are you from?”

I had to give him something, so I decided to fib a little. “I’m from here, actually. I grew up in the city.” That was more than a little fib. Sure, I’ve spent that last two years in the city, but I grew up outside of the city. I made it here by bus after running away. “Been here my whole life.” I nodded to further the lie. “How about you, Mr. Malik?”

“Please, I told you to call me Zayn.” Zayn pulled his hand away from mine and leaned back in his chair. “I’m originally from England, but my family moved to America when I was young.” I nodded, listening to every word he was saying. “And I went to university here for my business degree. I graduated just three years ago.”

“And you’re this successful already?” I asked, a bit blown away. He had only just graduated college which meant he was still young. I never had a doubt about that. He was stunning to look at. I mean, damn. He chuckled and I felt my cheeks get hot. 

“I have worked very hard for my company.” He smiled and then turned his attention back at me. “But I didn’t bring you here to have you listen to my boring life. Tell me more about you.” He went back into that leaned position on his seat and watched me closely. I was terrified that he was going to ask how old I was, but he never did. I was grateful for that. He just asked me what my favorite foods were and then he started to ask about my family. 

I shut my mouth and the silence between us got extremely awkward. “Sorry, I just don’t like to talk about them.” I crossed my arms over my chest as some sort of defense mechanism. I really didn’t want to ruin his dinner by talking about my abusive father and me running away. “All I can say is that they’re gone and I’m here.” I ended it at that and then our food came. It looked just as delicious as the soup and mushrooms, and it was. The rest of the dinner was nice and at the end Zayn paid for our large dinner bill. 

He had this tinge of red in his cheeks from the wine he drank throughout dinner. He stood up and told me to sit until he pulled my chair out for me. I had never been treated this way before and it was nice. I was fed. I was happy. And I had forgotten all about my injuries from earlier in the day. 

Zayn scooped his arm around my waist and led me out of the restaurant with him. The hostess in the front nodded towards us, telling Zayn that she would see him the next week. If he came her weekly, he must make a ton of money. Heck, he was buying me for an entire month. I wanted to ask him about it, but I didn't think the topic would be appropriate for the dinner. Plus, I had an entire month with him to find out. 

We walked outside and there was a chill in the air. I pulled my one arms coat closer to me and shivered. I looked over at Zayn who was wearing a scarf. He looked down at me and took his scarf off, placing it around my neck. It was so soft and had to be made of cashmere. “You don’t have to-“ I tried to give it back to him, but he wasn’t having it. 

“I insist.” He helped me wrap it around my neck and I started to feel warm again. We walked a little further down the street and I could see the limo down the road. I knew the pleasantry was going to end and the night would start with Zayn. I was afraid that I was too injured to do any good for him. When we got to the limo Zayn opened the door for me and I crawled inside. The driver had the heat on full so I pulled the scarf and my coat off. Zayn entered the limo, pulling the door behind him and sat next to me. I intuitively scooted closer to him, placing my hand on his knee.

He smiled at me and the limo started moving. I leaned in towards Zayn and looked up at him. He looked down at me and I went in for the kiss. When our lips touched I was instantly taken back to the first night we met. He was rigid at first, but melted into my lips. I moved around and swung my leg over his lap, straddling his lap. Our kisses became heated and his hands stared to grab at me, my hips, my thighs, all of me. But when he grabbed a certain spot on my hips, I yelped and he pulled his hands away. 

“S-Sorry. I just-“ My eyes were tinged red as I started to feel tears come on. I was especially sore in that area and it must have scared him when I cried out.

“No. No. You’re fine. I’m fine. It’s okay. Let’s just stop. I didn’t ask you out on this date for this anyways.” He didn’t push me off of him. He helped me sit next to him as he asked to see my injury. “I just want to see how bad it is and if I can help.”

I didn’t want him to look because I knew it was bad, but I also knew that I had something there that I didn’t really like people to see. It was small enough that my clients wouldn’t see it while we were rolling around in the sheets, but Zayn was looking closely and I bet he knew what it was. 

“P.O.L.T. Sixty-three?” He said out loud as he finger over my brand. Property of Louis Tomlinson. Number sixty three. The large bruise that was hurting me badly was just above my hip and the brand. “Niall, what is this?” He asked. I kept my mouth shut and shook my head. Zayn carefully dropped my shirt back down over my side and I pulled my pants a little higher, wincing when I moved in the wrong place. “You should rub lemon juice on those bruises. It helps them heal faster.”

I nodded and sat back in my seat. “Thanks.” I stared at my feet the rest of the cab ride to the corner and when it was time for me to get out, the driver opened the door for me. I ducked down and got out of the car easily, considering I hurt all over. I looked back at Zayn and gave him a genuine smile. “I’ll see you soon, Mr. Malik.” I waved at him and he pursed his lips. 

“Please, Zayn.” He corrected me.

I rolled my eyes at him, laughing a little. “Okay. I’ll see you soon, Zayn.”

“That’s better. Goodbye, Niall.”

“Goodbye.”

The drive shook my hand and wished me well. He then got back into the limo and they drove off, leaving me on the corner of Main and Sixth. I sighed and felt this heat in my chest. It was probably one of the best nights I had had in a while. I had never been pampered like that and treated with so much respect in my life. My parents never respected me, and hell if Louis does. 

I wrapped Zayn’s scarf around my neck to protect me from the cold. As I walked closer to my apartment complex I felt off about something. There were unfamiliar cars in the parking lot and a couple of tough looking guys standing around. I hid my face within the scarf a little and walked up the outside stairs to my place. I ran inside when one of the guys looked up at me. I locked my door immediately and looked out the window, shutting the blinds so they couldn’t see out. 

Even though I thought I was safe inside my own home, I heard a radio call into the room. “He is secure in the room, Mr. Payne.” I yipped and faced the noise all to see Liam Payne sitting on my couch with a pissed off look on his face. 

A/N: Hello! Thursday updates are still a thing! Please vote and comment! I'll talk to you guys next thursday! Don't forget to check out my other fics too!

Much Love

Jach