“So how did your date go with Mr. Suave?” Talia asked me smirking as I walked into the lunch room the next day.

“It was great,” I smiled lightly, “We went to La Vie Boehm and we ran into some of my old friends.”

“Did they buy. . .” Maggie started.

“They did,” I smiled, “but we had a nice dinner I got to know him better.”

“I know that smile,” Talia grinned, “You two kissed last night didn’t you!?”

“Maybe,” I mumbled smiling and blushing.

“Oh my god,” Talia grinned, “One date and you’re totally falling for him! I know that smile Mel. You had that smile when you were with Louis.”

“I am not falling for him,” I replied a bit defensively, “It’s just fake remember?”

“Who knows Mel,” Talia smirked knowingly, “You might be the girl to take him out of the game for good.”

“I doubt that,” I replied rolling my eyes.

“You never know Mel,” Talia said and I just rolled my eyes.

“Can we talked about something else?” I asked in almost a begging tone.

“Well. . .” Maggie started but was cut off when Trevor, a doctor on our ward, came in.

“Mel there’s some guy named Liam waiting for you in the lobby,” he said.

“I don’t get off for another four hours,” I said quietly, “Thanks Trevor.”

He nodded his head and walked out.

“Before I go,” I said looking at Maggie, “You better say yes to James. I know he asked you out on a date.”

Maggie then blushed a bit and I smiled at her.

“Do it,” I said and then walked out of the lunch room to find Liam waiting in the lobby with a bag of food.

“I thought I’d surprise you at work with lunch,” he said holding the bag of food when he saw me and I smiled.

“Well aren’t you just a doll. You must have loved our first date last night,” I smirked at him as he pecked my lips.

“I try to be and I absolutely loved our first date,” he chuckled and looked up and I turned to see everyone staring at us.

“Come on lover boy,” I giggled, “We have to eat in the cafeteria downstairs.”

I then grabbed his free hand and dragged him to the elevator. I pushed the down button and felt him wrap his arms around my waist even they were full of food.

“Good day today?” he asked me and I shrugged my shoulders.

“As good as it can be working in the cancer ward,” I replied quietly as he kissed the top of my head.

We walked into the elevator and waited for the doors to close. Once they were closed Liam spun around to have me pinned against the wall.

“I like these scrubs on you,” he smirked at me, “They suit you.”

“They do?” I asked smirking at him.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Well someone’s feeling very confident since our first kiss last night,” I giggled as the elevator dinged and we headed into the cafeteria.

“I might be,” he teased.

We sat down and he handed me a sandwich from my favorite sandwich shop in London. I smiled lightly at him and he just smiled warmly at me.

“I figured eating a packed lunch can get kind of boring,” he said and I smiled at the gesture.

“Thanks Liam,” I replied, “That’s really sweet of you. You didn’t need to do that.”

“It’s not a problem problem love,” he replied, “So what’s it like to work as a nurse? You haven’t really talked about your work life.”

“It’s not too bad here,” I smiled lightly at the table and then back up at Liam, “It’s a job I absolutely love though. Did I tell you I knew I was going to be a nurse since I was three?”

“No,” Liam said shocked, “You knew all the way back then?”

“Yeah,” I said smiling lightly, “Back in the states there’s a hospital called St. Jude’s and it’s a research hospital for cancer and it’s only for children. Every time I watched the commercials I would tell my mom and my sister that I was going to be a nurse whether it was there or here. I just knew I wanted to help people. As I grew older it became wanting to help children because I absolutely love them.”

Liam just smiled warmly at me and I blushed. He hadn’t said anything in a little bit and I was squirming under his gaze.

“Do you think it’s stupid?” I asked and Liam quickly shook his head no.

“No I think it’s absolutely stunning that you knew what you wanted to do at such a young age,” he said, “I’m twenty-one and I still don’t know what I want to do with my life. I have a degree in Music Technology but I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Have you tried applying for a recording studio jobs?” I asked truly interested in what Liam wanted to do.

“I have for a few but I don’t really like the companies I’ve applied for,” he said as we ate, “Their ideas don’t match up with my ideas.”

“Well maybe you should expand your horizon,” I said, “If you want we can look for a job in New York.”

“Maybe,” Liam said and I had to smile lightly because I had I gotten Liam to talk about himself.

“Liam,” I said and he looked up at me and smiled lightly.

“Yes Mel,” he said.

“Could you tell me more about yourself,” I said, “Like your childhood stories? You know so much about me and I know so very little about you.”

I then watched as Liam’s demeanor changed I saw the walls that I have been trying to break down the last two days get rebuilt. I frowned and bit and shook my head.

“Forget I asked,” I said before Liam could answer, “I understand if you don’t want to talk to me.”

“Mel,” Liam started and I shook my head.

“It’s fine Liam. We’ve known each other three days and I’m asking for your life story. I’m sorry I pressed so quickly,” I said, “But I have to get back to work. Thanks for lunch Liam.”

I then kissed his cheek and rushed back up to the cancer ward before Liam could stop me.

---

The ride to my seamstress I’ve had here in London was one full of laughing. Liam was in a really good mood and was telling me lame and cheesy jokes even after the very awkward lunch we had shared.

“You’re such a dork,” I laughed as we got out of the car.

“I am not,” he said, “I like to think I’m a world renowned comedian.”

I just giggled as we walked in and I smiled when I saw Mrs. Henderson walk into the main part of the shop.

“Mel deary,” she exclaimed and I smiled and hugged her.

“Hi Mrs. Henderson,” I said.

“Oh this must be the boyfriend,” she said noticing Liam.

“Yeah,” I giggled as Liam wrapped his arm around me, “This is Liam. Liam this is Mrs. Henderson she’s been a family seamstress for years. My mom is from here originally and the Henderson family has been our family seamstress for years when we’re over in London.”

“Oh my deary you picked a cute one,” she gushed and I blushed and I felt Liam chuckle.

“I tell her the same thing every day Mrs. Henderson,” Liam teased kissing the top of my head.

“Well let me go get your dress and your tux,” she said and then disappeared in the back.

I smiled at Liam slightly and he smiled. Mrs. Henderson came out with the dress bag and handed it to me and Liam his bag. We went into the dressing rooms and we got dressed. I came out with half my dress unzipped and Mrs. Henderson zipped me up. I was standing on the podium with my shoes when Liam came out of his dressing room.

“This dress is perfect now,” Mrs. Henderson said, “You look absolutely stunning.”

I couldn’t speak because Liam looked so handsome in his tux. Our eyes met and I could tell Liam was shocked.

“You look. . .” Liam started.

“Oh let me go get the hair clip,” Mrs. Henderson said and I spun around to look at Liam.

“You look. . .” Liam started again but was cut off by his cell phone ringing.

He gave me an apologetic look and took the phone call. He walked back into the dressing room but I think he forgot to shut the door.

“No I told you I’m on vacation Jay,” he said, “I’m not working. Yes I’m helping that one girl. No I’m not getting attached. What kind of question is that? Yeah Jay. I’ll let you know when I’m back. Yes she is just a client Jay. Yes I have no feelings whatsoever towards her.”

He then hung up the phone and I spun around before he could tell I was eavesdropping. I had to thank that little conversation he had with his buddy because it reminded me that this was just an arrangement. Liam really wasn’t my boyfriend and I wasn’t his girlfriend, and no matter how much I felt like I knew Liam for ages I had just met him two days prior.

“So how is your hair going to be done?” Liam asked as he stood behind me and I looked up into the mirror trying to calm myself down.

“French twist,” I replied quietly.

“You look absolutely beautiful Mel,” Liam said and I smiled a bit at him through the mirror.

“Thanks Liam,” I said reminding myself I had just met Liam and we weren’t dating, “You clean up pretty well too.”

Mrs. Henderson then came back to the room and put the hair pin in my hair and I smiled lightly.

“Everything looks stunning Mrs. Henderson,” I said smiling at the older woman, “Thank you so much.”

“It’s no problem honey,” she smiled widely at me, “You go get changed and tell your mum and sister I say hi.”

“Oh I will Mrs. Henderson,” I said and then went to go get my clothes on.

I quickly changed to see Mrs. Henderson and Liam both looking at each other warily and Liam out of his tux. I pretended I didn’t see the looks they were giving each other as they heard me come out of the dressing room.

“How much do I owe you Mrs. Henderson?” I asked, “And don’t you tell me nothing.”

“Sweetheart,” Mrs. Henderson said and I shook my head no and took out the equivalence of three hundred dollars in pounds.

Even living in London for years I still can’t do the exchange rate. I gave it to her and she just smiled lightly at me.

“You’re too kind deary,” she said and I just smiled warmly at her.

“Well you’re a lifesaver,” I said and she just laughed.

“Well you two have fun at the wedding,” she said as we headed towards the front of the store, “Tell your sister and Greg that I wish them nothing but happiness. Remember what I told you Liam.”

“I will Mrs. Henderson,” I said, “And thank you again.”

“I will,” Liam said and I watched as his face became different.

“It’s not a problem deary,” she replied and nodded at Liam.

“And it was nice meeting you Mrs. Henderson,” Liam said.

“You too,” she replied shortly and then we headed out of the business with our garment bags.

“So we can send these back to my mom that way we won’t have to worry about carrying them with us when we travel or,” I started ignoring what happened back there.

“Do we need to buy tickets?” Liam asked following my lead and I decided to tell him something that not everyone knew about my family and the information I had gotten earlier this morning.

“No,” I replied looking at my hands and then back up at Liam, “You know how I said money isn’t a problem?”

“Yes,” he replied as we got into the car and headed over to my apartment.

“Well my family is well off,” I said, “because my dad is the CEO of the multi-million dollar consulting firm Walters Inc.”

I then watched as Liam’s eyes widened and I could see the anger boil up inside quicker than he could even process it.

“So my mom called me this morning and told me to not buy tickets because Lilly and Greg are in Ireland at the moment so they’re going to stop in London and we can travel with them with the family plane,” I said.

“Holy shit,” Liam said shocked.

“I know you’re probably mad that I left it out but. . .” I started and Liam just pulled up to my apartment building and shut off the car.

“Yeah I am mad that you didn’t tell me this piece of information,” he said as I saw his hands grip the steering wheel to where his knuckles were turning white, “Now I have to start researching your father’s company so I don’t look like a complete idiot. Thanks a lot Mel.”

I just took a deep breath because I could feel the lump starting to form. I then opened the door and got out. Liam looked me confused and I spun around and looked at him trying to calm myself down.

“Better go research then since you want to make this job so goddamn believable,” I said getting both his tux and my dress out of the car, “You don’t need to but you won’t listen.”

I then shut the door and stormed up to my apartment. I unlocked the door and rested the back of my head against the door once I closed it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to get a grip on myself. This was just a business deal, I was not really dating Liam Payne. No matter how charming or witty he was. I was just a job to him and he was just a convenience to me. I barely met the guy three days ago and I needed to breathe before I suffocated myself. Maybe spending as much time with him as I have the last three days and I knew I was starting to get attached. Maybe I needed some space. I let out a frustrated sigh when I pushed myself off the door and looked down at Ace who was looking at me confused.

“I think Mommy got in over her head Ace,” I sighed as I put the dress and tux away, “I got in way over my head.”

Notes

Here's one last update for the night. Please let me know what you think!