Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

Lara could not help but think about the lonely figure Harry cut in the rain. The image haunted her on the way to Tony’s house, until she walked into his warm apartment and found him in the kitchen making hot chocolate. He turned to greet her but raised his eyebrows instead.

“Did you get caught in the rain?” He asked, gesturing to her wet dress and dishevelled hair.
“Uh huh.” Lara responded, stepping out of her heels.


“Poor baby.” He smiled. “I’m not going to feel sorry for you though.”

“You’re making hot chocolate… and you knew I was coming.” Lara said, sidling up to him and placing her arm around his waist.

“Well I knew you were out on a date with Mr. Pop Star, so I figured what the hell? Make a hot chocolate. Maybe someone will join me.” Tony said lightly.

“Well, I’m here. And I’d love some.” Lara told him, hugging him close. “Guess what I had for dinner?”

“No idea. Caviar and oysters maybe?”

“Nope. We had a pie. A pie. Can you believe it?”

“You’re dressed like that and all you had was a pie?” He said, adding a marshmallow to his mug.

“Yep and it wasn’t even a gourmet one either.” Lara said, adding a second marshmallow to hot chocolate. Tony gave her an affectionate smile as they headed to the couch.

“And we snuck into a cinema and then almost kicked out. So we had to make a run for it. And that’s when it started raining. But we were so hungry, because we skipped dinner.”

“What about the pie?”

“We had a pie after the rain started. We escaped the restaurant… and then ended up at the movies. Only it was an Italian movie and Harry kept throwing popcorn at me.” Lara suddenly stopped and looked at Tony. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”

“A little.” He said. “But it sounds like you had fun.”

“Fun?” Lara said. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Well then, let’s just change the subject then.” Tony replied testily.

Lara regarded the tight expression on his face as he refused to meet her gaze.

“I’m sorry.” He said. “It’s just I’d rather talk about us than about him.”

“Don’t be sorry. It’s my fault. I-I didn’t mean to go on about it.”

“It’s okay, just ignore me. I’ve been in a bad mood all night. That’s why I called, I guess.”

The idea of Tony being in a bad mood surprised her; he was usually so happy and laidback.

Even tonight he had greeted her with a smile and despite expressing his sadness; the tone in his voice was so even and light. The total opposite to Harry, who could never hide his anger; it was always written on his face.

“Well I’m glad you did call me.” Lara said kissing him on the cheek. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

The lights were dim as they cosied up to each other on the couch and it wasn’t long before they were exchanging kisses. Lara could hear her phone buzz, but they both did not stop. It was not until Tony excused himself for a moment when Lara finally checked her messages.

I’m still find popcorn in my hair
La-ara, you there?

It was Harry and against her better judgment Lara could not help but respond.

Lara:Where are you?

Harry: Out and about

Lara: You should go home

Harry: Maybe you should go home.

Lara: Can’t talk right now…

Harry: Neither can I

Tony returned not long after and Lara quickly shut her phone before he took her by the hands.

“Do you want to go inside?” He asked. Lara nodded and could not help but think that Harry would not have even asked. He would have probably taken her right there on the couch or even on the living room floor. But she had to stop thinking like that. With Tony, she knew what was going to happen next. With Harry, she had only encountered the unknown.

Later that night, Tony proved her wrong as she nestled in his arms and he spoke softly in her ear.

“Do you want to move in with me?”

Lara pulled back to look at him. Move in with Tony? She had never even thought about it.

They had only been together for a short while, but everything had felt so right, even with Harry back in her life.

“Are you sure you want me to?” She asked.

“I wouldn’t ask otherwise.” He chuckled. “Go on. Do you think you could put up with me?”

“Do you think you could put up with me?” Lara countered.

“I think I could try.” He said kissing her on the tip of her nose.

After her breakup with Harry, she had rented a small little apartment, the size of a shoebox.

There were moments when she relished living on her own and having her own space, but there were times she felt lonely. And then there were the weird phone calls she had been receiving and the dark car that sometimes hung around the front of her apartment block.She hated having to face all of this on her own and she could not help but feel tempted at Tony’s offer.

“So what do you think?” Tony asked.

“I’m thinking yes.” Lara said. “I’d love to move in with you.”

The next morning Lara returned to her little apartment to see that same dark car round the corner. Who was it and why they were always hanging around? Lara thought to herself as she unlocked her door and then bolted it. She could never see the person driving the car, but coupled with the phone calls she had been getting, she knew the two were connected and the thought frightened her.

Lara opened her phone to hear multiple beeps as a barrage of messages came through.

First and foremost were missed calls from Julian, including a short text message.

Call me ASAP

Feeling a little unsettled, Lara switched on her laptop and waited for it to load, before clicking onto the Daily Mail.

Harry Styles Caught Out- Again

Harry Styles fell out of the Funky Buddha bar in the wee hours of the morning. Too intoxicated to walk on his own, he relied on the help of a couple of friends who loaded him into a taxi.

Lara nervously bit her lip as she gazed at the accompanying photos that pretty much confirmed everything the article had said. She clicked on the video and watched as a dishevelled Harry stumbled out of the front entrance of the bar in full view of paparazzi who clicked away. A couple of people that Lara half recognised as being his friends took him by the arms and led disoriented Harry into a waiting taxi. Harry briefly glanced at the camera and winked before departing.

So it looked like his little adventure had not ended after their dinner “date”. Lara sighed in anticipation, knowing there was going to be a huge fall out.

X

“So you’re telling me that two supposedly grown people could not sit down and have a meal together?” Julian boomed.

Lara snuck a look at Harry, but his face was solemn as he gazed straight ahead.

“Can someone please explain?”

Silence. Neither Harry nor Lara had been forthcoming with information since they had walked into the office minutes earlier. Instead they settled in for a hopefully one sided interrogation.

“Lara did you just leave him and go?”

“No!” Lara responded. “We left the restaurant and just-“

“Just what?”

“Just figured we’d end the night there.” Lara said uncomfortably.

“Nice to see you both still know how to follow directions.” Julian stated sharply.“You are both more trouble than you’re worth.”

He heaved a big sigh as he fumbled with the files on his desk.

“It makes what I want to say next very hard actually. The boys are off to Japan for a couple of days and we wanted you to come along.”

“Why?” Lara said dumbly.

“I only wish I knew.” Julian mumbled as he checked what presumably the itinerary. “We’re leaving the day after tomorrow.”

Lara’s mouth fell open in response; the very first thought that popped in her head was fabrics. She could only imagine the beautiful things she could source for her business in a place like Japan. But just as quickly, her mind then flitted to Tony.

“I-I can’t.” She said timidly.

She had promised Tony she would start moving her things in that week and she somehow did not think he would be thrilled with the idea of her jetting off to a foreign country with Harry.

“Why not?”

“I-I’m moving out of my apartment.” She told him, glancing nervously at Harry. “So I have a lot to do.”

“I’m sure it can wait.” Julian said, but she did not hear him when she saw the doubtful expression forming on Harry’s face. He had slouched down in his chair with his arms crossed as he unashamedly stared at her. “We need an answer from you, so what is it going to be?"

“I’ll have to think about it.” Lara said.

“I want an answer by the end of today.”

Julian continued to ramble about their agreement and how she was not holding up her end of the bargain. He then began to talk about her relationship with Tony, but Lara could barely focus on what he was saying. Harry’s stare felt like daggers and she pointedly ignored him until it was time to leave. As she quickly hurried out of the office and into the corridor, she heard his voice.

“You’re moving in with him, aren’t you?” He said the first words he had spoken to her since they had arrived.

“That’s none of your business.”Lara mumbled nervously, her eyes focussed on the elevator ahead. She felt him grab her arm in a bid to stop her from walking away.

“What the fuck are you doing?” His said lowly, his green eyes blazed in anger.

“Let go of me.” She said, struggling to get out of his grasp. “I’m doing what I want to do.”

“Moving in with a married man? Is that what you want to do?” Harry asked.

“It’s got nothing to do with you.” She said failing to untangle her arm from his firm grip. “Now please let me go.”

“What are you doing?” He said in a slow and measured tone.

“I’m doing what I want to do.” Lara repeated.

Harry paused and took a step forward, backing her up against the wall. He towered over her as he tenderly regarded her flushed face.

“You know what?” He said. “I don’t think you even know what you want.”

She could not help but stare at his pink lips as he spoke, her eyes then flickering to his penetrating gaze. His lips seemed to be so close and his arms had closed around her, her back now flush against the wall. She could feel her heart beat faster as she felt his warm breath tickle her skin, when suddenly the ding of the elevator sounded. Harry glared over at the interruption and Lara grabbed the opportunity to pull away from his hold, rushing down the corridor and into the now empty elevator.

Notes

Hope you guys enjoyed the latest chapter... let me know what you think :)