The amount of support and love I've received from this story is huge, maybe not that big to other people but still biiig.

Thank you so much!

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Chapter 8

Louis knew he should stop procrastinating and start working soon before Eleanor actually flips and fires him, but he just can't make his mind focus on the work and task he has on hand.

He was usually very natural with working out creative ideas for photo shoots. Eleanor owns one of the most prestige Advertising Company in London with clients all over the world, she might not look the type to be owning such a big company but behind the sweet appearance she displays, she was actually very vicious and most big burly CEO's get intimidated around her. Louis had seen Eleanor under pressure and he knew that he should start planning out this next photo shoot for Armani or Eleanor will have his head.

"Of all the days to be lazy, I chose this." he muttered under his breath followed by a deep sigh.

He was too distracted with his thoughts which he still doesn't understand completely that he didn't notice anyone walking inside his office.

"Are you really lazy though or distracted?" Eleanor's curious voice caught Louis by surprise, he almost jumped out of his seat but luckily didn't embarrass himself in front of his boss.

"Oh Eleanor, you're here." Louis said as he tried to look busy by messing his table and quickly taking the trash bin under his desk which made him pause because why was he holding it again?

His actions only made Eleanor raise a suspicious perfectly shaped eyebrow at him.

"I can here you moaning in despair from a distance and I knew something must be wrong, you were usually ordering people around or screaming but you've been staring at the wall for a while now." she stated as she walked closer to Louis' desk.

"I am not." Louis replied with an eye roll.

He is definitely not an over dramatic bitch in the office, maybe a little but not over the top. A few ordering of people around is completely normal for a healthy working environment.

"What's wrong to my favorite employee, I need you to be artistic and shit and not winning a staring contest with a wall." Eleanor said and decided to take a seat on Louis' table, mini-skirts and all. Louis doesn't even spare her long set of legs a glance because it's not something new and he's seen her naked so many times and he's gay to top it all off.

"I'm just thinking of stuff I guess." Louis excused himself before going over to his cabinet only to stare at it again confused because what was he going to get from the cabinet again?

"That's code for man issues." Eleanor suddenly spoke which made Louis spin on his heels to give her a glare.

"Eleanor." He said her name slowly and pointed to his door to try and make her leave.

She will just start pestering him even further and he's already confused enough but Louis knew Eleanor better than anyone in the office and if there was one thing she doesn't do is following any orders.

"Is this about that hot teacher slash housemate you have? I vaguely remember you describing his out of this world cheekbones." She asked before jumping off the table and taking at seat on Louis office chair.

Louis just crossed his arms over his chest, massaging his temples because he can already feel an impending headache. He prefers when Eleanor was out bullying other employees and not him but most employees would cower under her attention but Louis was just used to it.

"It's not man issues and certainly not Zayn." He grumbled.

He may or may not been too obsessive of Zayn at the beginning but after finding out that Zayn prefers Liam, Louis didn't give him any much thought. Zayn was a cool guy but he knew he and Liam had some sort of connection which Louis wishes he has with someone.

He can only dream really.

"Hmm, I've been a little out dated with what's happening with your life. Why don't we grab some coffee and talk this issues of yours so you can start being productive?" Eleanor announces after standing up from Louis' chair and walking towards the door, looking at Louis expectantly when he didn't move.

Louis knew there was no way out of this, he's not even sure why Eleanor was asking him if it's obvious that she's being demanding.

No one can just say no to her, Louis was not sure if it was because she was spoiled when she was little or just plain good at intimidating people with the icy look she perfected years ago.

"Fine." Might as well get himself free coffee if he'll get interrogated by his boss. "For the record though, it's not man issues okay!" he added with a huff before taking his jacket.

"Let's go." Eleanor rolls her eyes and walked outside, heels clicking against the corridor making other employees hide under their desk, not wanting to get the attention of their boss to themselves.

Louis jogged next to her and whispered quietly on her ear.

"Your reputation in your own company is nasty."

"The more scared they are, the harder they try to not fuck things up." She muttered seriously before putting her sunglasses on.

Louis will not admit that he shivered a bit and prayed that he can get his focus back after this coffee break, god knows he'll need it.

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Eleanor has decided to take Louis on an expensive Italian coffee shop, Louis wasn't even surprised. Eleanor was not the type to buy coffee at the likes of Starbucks because he remembers her saying that 'Starbucks is too cliché.'

Eleanor ordered two cups of expensive coffee and two slices of strawberry cheesecake.

She took a sip of her coffee before humming to herself and putting the cup backdown.

"So let me get this straight, the house you own isn't actually yours and someone who legally owns it wants to have it but you don't want to give it to him so you made him stay?" she said, brows furrowed as if she was recalling what Louis had said.

He had already told her a few things about what was going on in his house while they were on their way on the café.

"I'm going to buy it off from him after I save enough." Louis said after taking a forkful of cake and eating it, face cringing a moment later when his taste buds were assaulted by the sugary treat.

He should have gotten the dark chocolate one. Eleanor laughed after seeing his reaction but Louis ignored her, choosing to take a hefty gulp on his coffee. This tiny cup of coffee that was worth more than Louis' water bill, Eleanor's spending habits were astronomical and unethical.

"But you could have just borrowed some money from me." She said in confusion.

Louis knew it wasn't that hard to borrow money from her, he had initially borrowed the down payment of the house when he bought it and he insisted on paying her thru salary deduction. He had completed paying it on the month Kyle decided to fuck their relationship. Louis can already feel his blood boiling at the thought of his ex-boyfriend but he forced himself to calm down and focus his hatred on his strawberry cake.

He shook his head as an answer "I'm not going to do that El, half of the company already thinks I don't deserve being your Head Creative Director because I only got the position for kissing your ass." He stated flatly.

It wasn't the greatest thing on Louis' name but it wasn't true, just a nasty rumor you hear when you're locked up in the bathroom doing things like playing on his mobile. He had reach this very position through hard work and perseverance. Eleanor being his close friend was just an added bonus and the perks of free food is not something to be easily turned down when she's offering right?

"Who told you that? I'm going to fire them." Eleanor said seriously as she took a sip of her coffee.

Louis believed that she'll do it.

"That would not help my case you know." Was his answer instead of provoking her to do it.

Eleanor only scoffed in reply as if she couldn't believe Louis was being unreasonable which was the other way around. Louis knew Eleanor can't just go firing every person she doesn't like especially if they have a lot of upcoming projects and Louis will die if he ends up arranging everything.

So it's better to keep them all hired and working.

"You're the greatest person on the job, that's why I'm trying to help you focus so you can help me earn more money." She said seriously.

Louis would have felt honored by her words but the last statement was seriously a perfect description of how Eleanor views people. He knew she was just kidding but half of it was a fact.

"You only care for my talents." Louis rolled his eyes at her.

"Shut up and tell me more about this guy." Eleanor demanded.

Louis was quiet for a while, trying to process what they were talking about earlier until it suddenly dawned on him that they were discussing about his most recent roommate; Harry.

"He's fucking weird." Was the first thing that came out of Louis' mouth.

That statement alone had piqued Eleanor's interest.

"Oh, really? Is this level of disgusting weird or just plain weird?" she asked.

Louis wasn't even sure there were different types of weirdness. He just knew that if there was something out of the normal, then it was weird.

"He's a sex therapist." Louis explained to her.

"That doesn't really make him weird." Eleanor reminded him, something Niall has mentioned to him a long time ago.

Louis should stop with the judgmental work thing.

But he tried to think of another weird thing that Harry have done so far which to be honest, weren't all that weird. Louis just doesn't know why he's initial impression of Harry was like that. They have come of at a bad start with Harry ruining his shirt with spilled coffee to Harry wanting to kick him out of his beloved house, so Louis knew the hatred did not just arise randomly but from a pile of inconvenient events that involved the guy.

There was one particular un-normal like behavior that Harry have done.

"I've seen him naked on our first meeting." Louis told her with a slight flush on his cheeks.

He thought he had erased all memories from that day but images of it keeps coming back from the evil side of his brain.

His brain just won't cooperate.

"Now that is something I would like more information about." Eleanor said, a knowing smirk and a waggle of her eyebrows had made Louis flush even more.

He should have just kept his mouth shut.

He sent her a glare before replying, "Nothing happened you perverted woman." He hissed at her boss.

"Oh come on, when was the last time you got laid?" Eleanor checked.

Louis shook his head and tore his gaze away from her.

"Let's not talk about my sex life." He replied with an eyeroll.

There were just things that should be talked about no matter how Louis feel comfortable around her. He was not the type to boast about his non-existing sex life and maybe that was the reason behind it, it was nonexistent and embarrassing.

"See? No sex means you're cranky and bitchy and can't seem to focus on work. Sex is good, it's damn great too." Eleanor reacted, sighing almost dreamily on her seat.

"You have no filter." Louis pointed out after scrunching his nose when he took another forkful of cake.

"Come on Lou, it's been months since you left that asshole of a boyfriend of yours." Eleanor reminded him.

That made Louis pause for a second.

"I actually saw him just last week." He mutters quietly, unsure if Eleanor even heard him.

Base from her reaction, the stormy look crossing her face and the annoyed huff, Louis suspects that she had heard him.

"Did you punch him?" was her question towards him.

Louis knew that he should have punched him, everyone knows he deserved anything that comes to him but he was too overwhelmed at seeing him again that he only sat there and did nothing but feel self-pity over himself.

"No." he answered her.

Kyle's words ringing on his ears and how everything made a little sense.

Kyle might be a shitty piece of human being but he knew Louis after spending many years with him, things that even he didn't completely know about himself until that night.

"He told me that I suck at sex and too obsessed with starting a family." He stated nonchalantly, trying not to look that affected but Eleanor seemed to see right through him.

"I really don't understand why you ever liked him." She murmured.

"I think he's right though."

Eleanor just looked at her strangely.

"That you suck at sex?" she questioned.

Louis let out a gasp at that, that was not what he was trying to say. There is no damn way he was boring in bed and Kyle was just trying to rile him up at that time.

"Excuse me, I am very good at sex." He exclaimed with a huff.

"Then why are you saying he's right?" Eleanor asked him in confusion.

Louis blows the air he was trying to hold and avoided looking at Eleanor.

"Because maybe I really am just obsessed with the idea of a family. I was in a relationship with him for so long but when I caught him cheating, I was only mildly hurt but not really heartbroken." He explained to her.

"Thank god for that." Eleanor muttered.

Louis couldn't help but laugh at her reaction because part of him was glad too. He didn't what could have happened if he truly loved Kyle, maybe he was not as happy as he was right now.

"It seems my feelings for Kyle aren't as strong as I thought it was." Louis said almost to himself.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting a family Lou, but you have to be very careful on who to start it with." Eleanor said with a small smile, taking a sip of her coffee and looking at him knowingly.

"Forever is a long time." She finishes with a wink.

"I know." Louis laughed and shook his head, not even realizing that he was taking another bite of his cake. He was too late to realize so he was let with no other choice but to groan at the sweetness, Eleanor laughing at him.

He just grumbled and threw the strawberry at her face which made her shriek, catching all the attention on the people inside the café, he couldn't help but laugh.

Maybe at some point, Kyle was right. Maybe Louis was just too obsessed with having his own family that he didn't give much thought on who he'll be spending it with. It was honestly the stupidest thing to do but he learned his lesson.

Love does not come that easy nor does time defines it.

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Louis arrived home late, he had decided to finish the task for today and not have it done later because he was sure tomorrow was a much busier day than today.

What comes after a long day at work is the tiredness and sleepiness that follows, along with the grumbling of his stomach that demands to be filled.

He almost cried when he opened the door and he was immediately assaulted by the smell of something cooking coming from the kitchen. He knew Liam was home but Louis never demanded for him to cook, Liam would always just say that he likes helping around the house. If Liam doesn't have the hots or Zayn, Louis will surely elope with him.

He quickly made his way to the kitchen, he was almost jumping in joy like a kid on a Christmas morning.

"Liam, I will kiss your damn mouth for a week to have a taste of what you're cooking and-" he was saying all the things to worship Liam but the words froze in his mouth when his eyes landed on the person standing in front of the kitchen.

Harry turns to the doorway when he heard someone come, face brightening when his eyes landed on a surprised looking Louis.

"Hi Louis." He greeted, waving his hand on him.

Louis was really confused why Liam was not here, he might have already cooked the food and Harry was just getting himself some but the pink apron he was wearing was noticeable and the stains over it was proof enough.

"Harry? What are you doing?" Louis asked, wanting Harry to confirm it himself.

It's not like him to wear a used apron just or show, but Louis was also not informed that his curly headed housemate can cook.

"I'm cooking." Harry grinned while he took the stirring pan and began stirring whatever was Louis smelling earlier.

Louis' mouth was already watering because of the smell.

"Oh, I thought Liam was cooking." Louis muttered but decided to walk closer towards to him to inspect what was inside the pot he was stirring.

Harry doesn't seem to mind that Louis' was invading his personal space.

"I got hungry so I started on dinner." He answered him before taking a plate and pouring what looks to be beef stew and handing it to Louis with a smile.

Louis had long gone realized that Harry has an attractive smile but there was something different about a smile when you're being handed by a delicious food.

If this was Liam, Louis was sure he could have kissed him.

"So you're cooking for everyone." Louis decided to ask as he made his way over to the breakfast bay to eat his food, sniffing at it and humming appreciatively.

"I hope you'll eat what I made yeah." Harry told him, leaning on the counter and watching Louis stare at the food he prepared.

"Well I'll be the judge of that." Louis claimed before digging in.

The food had cooled enough that the first bite did not burn him but being assaulted by its taste had made him gasp in surprise.

"Holy shit." He almost cried right there.

"Is it that bad?" Harry asked worriedly, seeing the array of expression on Louis' ace which doesn't look good.

Louis wanted to hug the plate of food in front of him.

"This is the best food I've tasted in my life." He told him before taking more spoonful of broth.

Harry laughed and took a plate from the cabinet, preparing his own food and sitting in front of Louis.

"I can see from the way you're almost having an orgasm." He commented.

Louis paused, his 15th spoonful hanging on the air as he sends Harry a glare. He was counting every bite of this delicious food and here was Harry, ruining it.

"Don't start being weird until I've eaten." He told him before shoving the food inside his mouth.

Harry only smirked in response and cocked his head on the side.

"But you said you'll kiss Liam if you get the food, will I be getting a kiss?" he asked him instead.

Louis knew Harry was trying to get a rise out of him, he was used to Harry always saying random things to make Louis flush embarrassingly. It had happened numerous times especially after that night he had announced to be Louis' fake boyfriend.

Louis was crossed between wanting to thank him and wanting to punch him.

"Shut up Harry." He answered instead, he can punch Harry later when he's done eating.

Food always comes first before violence.

"I can see that you have a lot of pent up sexual frustration in you." Harry suddenly said after a minute of silence between them which made Louis splutter.

He coughed after almost choking, gasping for air and grunting when Harry immediately handed him a glass of water.

"Oh my god Harry, I'm eating!" He shrieked at him, face red from coughing and utter embarrassment.

Harry sent him an apologetic smile and Louis wanted to bang his head on the table.

"Am i interrupting something here?" Niall suddenly appeared out of nowhere, looking between the two of them curiously. Biscuit was following behind him, barking excitedly after seeing Louis.

"No Niall, Harry was just leaving." Louis said with a glare directed to Harry.

"I'm really not, I just cooked this delicious meal and I plant to eat it." Harry shook his head and acted as I he didn't almost kill Louis earlier. He took a few sips of his food and stared at Niall.

Niall's face visibly brightens.

"Oooh you just got my attention." He said before going to the stove to have a look on the food Harry prepared.

"Anything that involves eating will get your attention." Louis told Niall.

When he was ignored by his Irish housemate, he shook his head and continued eating but not before sending another glare at Harry who only smiles brightly in return.

They continued eating in silence, Harry throwing pieces of meat on Biscuit and Louis scolding him when he was caught.

"My god this is orgasmic, marry me Harry." Niall suddenly moaned from where he was eating, next to the stove.

"That rhymes." Harry giggled helplessly at him.

Louis forced himself not to stare at the man in front of him and focused on his own delicious food.

It was really unfair because no matter how many times Harry had gotten into Louis' nerves, he couldn't deny the fact that there was a certain kind of attractiveness about him which he will never in a million years admit.

"I'm living with utter idiots." He decided to answer Niall, completely ignoring Harry.

Liam soon arrived and he looks delighted at having seen them there.

"Dinner is already ready? Wow thanks Harry." He said, going straight to where the plates are neatly placed.

They didn't even bat an eyelash at seeing Liam's outfit or tonight, it was the sexy version of a nurse's outfit.

It was something they grew accustomed to, a normal reoccurring event.

"You're welcome Liam." Harry answered him.

No one was surprised when Zayn came downstairs a moment later.

Zayn had a habit of only getting outside his bedroom when he hears Liam's voice. He was like a bat that only emerges from its cave when hungry, hungry for what though?

Everyone already has a hint.

"Hey guys." Zayn greeted them with a smile.

"Hi Zayn." They all chorused back.

But instead of going straight to the food like the others have done, Zayn stood on the middle and clapped his hands.

"I will need all your help." He announced when he got everyone's attention.

Everyone in the room can see how his eyes automatically landed on Liam's exposed six packs but like Louis had mentioned earlier, everyone was used to it except Zayn who never fails to look thirstier as the minute goes by.

"What for?" Louis decided to get Zayn's attention back into focus.

Zayn looked like he had snapped out of his daze and he smiled apologetically at Louis.

"Our school is having a bake sale and I don't know anything about baking." He explained.

Harry was first to raise his hand excitedly.

"I will bake for you Zayn." He said.

Louis stared at him in surprise.

"You bake too?" He asked in disbelief.

Harry suddenly looked embarrassed at being overly excited at the prospect of baking for little kids like it was not a manly thing to do.

Louis was thinking differently.

"I used to be a baker." Harry said with an embarrassed smile.

"Huh." Was the only thing Louis was able to reply because he sure as hell not imagining Harry baking for small children. Nope, of course not.

It'd not like Louis has a thing for guys who cook out of this world foods and now admitting to having vast knowledge on baking as well. Kyle was shit at the kitchen so it's not like a thing, but Louis knows Kyle was far from being close to Harry in the attractiveness spectrum.

Over a thousand actually.

"I'll help you sell them Zayn." Liam said with a warm smile, the only smile reserved for Zayn, complete with heart eyes and rainbows, everything that makes it gayer.

Louis believes Liam could sell anything with that ace and body, all the moms on that bake sale will melt under his gaze.

"I will buy all of it for you." Niall announced, Louis had a hard time understanding it because his mouth was full.

"They're for the kid's idiot." Louis grumbled at Niall.

Louis was panicking deep inside and cursing internally because now his mind was making this weird image of Harry with an apron on and chocolate frosting on his cheeks.

He was just having delusions because he was hungry earlier and now he's really full.

"I will buy it and give it to the kids." Niall shrugged and shoved more food on his mouth.

Louis knew Niall wasn't kidding about buying everything on that bake sale, he was just like that. Too nice for his own good, Zayn looked happy at the prospect of not spending the entire day selling treats though.

"That's settled then, we're all going to our annual bake sale." Zayn said with a victorious smile.

Louis's house will be used for preparation, Harry will prepare the goods, Liam will sell them and Niall will probably buy everything.

He will not be doing anything again this year which was the plan all along like all the other years.

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What do you guys think of Louis and Eleanor's friendship? Let's not be bitter aye?

So Louis is  being all weird around Harry, which is a normal human reaction at being around such attractive human being.

But it's a start!

The first way to a mans heart is through his stomach!

Tell me your thoughts!