BEAUTIFULLY UNFINISHED novel Chapter 13

TWELVE

M I R A N D A

"It's just Niall. Relax." I tell myself as I stare at my own reflection on the rear view mirror.

"Who am I kidding? It's Niall Horan!" I exhale. "But remain calm Miranda. Don't act like a thirteen year old. You're already twenty-five. Grow up."

I exhale heavily again.

Vivian is picking up Ben from school since I had to sign some papers from the hospital I used to work for since I had to drive all the way here at Alfonso's to meet the Irish business mogul Niall Horan.

I push my hair behind my ear and exhaled heavily. I know I can do this. I know I can talk professionally with Niall without screaming and hyperventilating. I mean, except for the fact that it's my first time to meet him face to face and we're in one table together, yeah I'm so gonna be okay.

Not.

Gosh Miranda, take it easy! You're thinking too much! Don't think too much! Relax so you could speak right and don't embarrass yourself.

I stepped out from my car and started walking towards Alfonso's. Gosh my heart is pounding. Pounding like hell. The door was opened by the waiter and faked a smile. I started scanning through the people in this restaurant while I'm trying to calm my heart down.

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale

"Good afternoon mam. Welcome to Alfonso's. Table for?" The waiter greeted.

"I'm with Mr. Horan?" I asked.

His eyebrows shoot up, "Ah! You're the guest he's been waiting for."

I smile.

"This way please." He says as he leads the way.

I followed him as he walk up the second floor of the restaurant. Every step I take on the staircase makes my heart climb out from my chest. When I reached the second floor, no one was around but I noticed that Niall Horan has already been waiting for me! Oh my gosh! He looks so handsome on that white polo shirt. Goodness this man!

We walk towards him and I was constantly pushing my hair behind my ears and smelled my own breath against my palm. We finally stand before Niall the second he also pulled his head up to me. He smiles that smile I fangirled years ago. Jesus Christ. Keep calm heart.

"You must be Nurse Miranda?" Niall stands and extends his hand.

Oh my goodness!

"I'm Niall." He adds.

I accepted his huge hand and smiled back at him. If you could only take a view from my heart I think it's pumping more blood than the average amount of blood needed to be pumped.

He grins. "Nice to finally meet you."

"You too." I croaked.

Oh my gosh!! Can I scream?

He released my hand and the waiter pulled a chair for me. I sat down right across Niall and he begins to sit too.

"Harry has been telling me stuff about you." He starts.

"I wonder what stuff that he's telling you about me." I smile.

He grins. "He was right, you are beautiful."

My cheeks are burning. I try to hide my smile by biting my lower lip.

The waiter begins to hand us the menu but I was still trying to calm my heart down. Harry told Niall I was beautiful and Niall agreed to it. Fuck the what?!

"Anything you want Miranda?" Niall asks while he sets his eyes on the menu.

"Coffee?" I answered in an interrogative tone.

He pulled his head up. "No. Dinner. I meant for dinner."

"Oh!" I snapped. "We're having dinner....here?" I asked.

He nods and gazes at his watch. "It's almost six in the evening."

I glance at mine. It is almost six. I wonder how long have I stayed inside my car a while ago but it must have taken me long.

"Do you like lobster?" He asked.

"Um, well... Whatever you're having, I'm having." I sheepishly say.

After taking our orders, that Niall had all chosen, the waiter left us. I kept playing with my fingers on top of my lap while I constantly drink water from my glass.

"So, Miranda." Niall snaps.

I moved my head to him.

"What have you been busy with lately?" He begins to ask me.

"Well..." I trailed off. "Aside from driving and picking up my son from school, I clean our home and do groceries." I slipped on telling him I have a son. I bite my tongue hard.

He almost choked on his drink. "You have a son?" He quickly wipes his cheek with the table napkin.

I nod. "Yeah. He's six."

"Seriously? How old are you by the way?"

The foods started serving on our table, dish after dish. And Niall smiles at the waiters that would put everything down on our table. "I'm twenty-five." I say.

He nods. "Seriously. You look younger than that. I thought you were twenty."

I chuckle, "Wow. What a great compliment to hear. Thank you."

He smiles, "It's true though. You look young."

I smile.

"Your husband is lucky." He asked.

"I'm a single mom." I say proudly. "Been raising that kid since his balls were small."

"Wow." He compliments with a smile on his face. "I didn't.... Sorry. I didn't know."

"You're sorry that I'm a single mom? Don't be. It's an amazing job." I smile.

He smiles again. "If you don't mind me asking... where's... Where's his dad?"

I bite my lower lip. "Well..."

He's at London. He's your old time friend. He's that curly haired guy from One Direction. He's Harold Edward Styles.

"I don't really wanna talk about it. Im sorry." I say.

"Oh. Don't be sorry. I'm the one who should apologize for asking personal stuff." He takes a sip from his drink.

I smiled ruefully.

"It's nothing." I say.

"So, Harry has been talking to me about helping you and since he's a dear friend to me, I will." Niall starts talking about what we're really here for.

My eyes widened. "You own this restaurant?" I asked.

He nods.

Alfonso's have been insanely famous franchise around the world and as far as I know, it has been known for such great lavish and quite expensive foods.

But as I listen to him, now I finally realize that this has all been really happening. All of my fears from when I was younger of once they'll end everything as One Direction has happened.

When I think about the past years, I was scared of the fact that One Direction will split up. I was scared that they won't bond together and that they would forget us, diehard fans. I was scared cos I won't be seeing them on tv, or new music videos on YouTube or hearing new songs from them. I was scared before cos I know every beginning has an end.

But as I look at it now, I'm still proud of my idols. All five of them. They've accomplished so much together and yet they still support each other through whatever.

"Well Harry's been the one who's insanely busy among the five of us." Niall continues.

"He's got his own recording studios in L.A, around England and New York, he also have charity works and medical missions, plus his Styles Enterprises which has been making him a multibillionaire even more." He adds.

"And I still adore him cos he's still contributing to the music industry despite his busy schedule in business." He adds.

I nod.

"And I'm sure as hell that he'll be busier now that he has a fiancée." Niall blurted.

I stopped and my smile fades.

Fiancée.

Harry Styles has a fiancée? Why haven't I heard about that? Why didn't I know about that? Who is she? When is he going to get married? When did he propose?

"I can't believe he's finally about to get married." He adds.

Fiancée.

Harry has a fiancée.

Harry's going to get married.

"You alright Miranda?" Niall caught my attention.

I nod vigorously. "Yeah. I am."

•••••

"Thank you for the wonderful dinner Niall. And for helping me out on job hunting." I tell him as he pulls my chair for me to stand.

"No worries." He winked.

Niall suddenly hugs me. "Good luck on whatever is ahead of you Miranda." He says against my ear.

He releases me and I smiled at him. "And good luck to you and your son too."

"Thank you very much Niall." I say.

"Stop thanking me. It's nothing."

Niall sets his eyes on someone, but not on me.

"You're on a wrong timing." Niall tells someone from behind me.

I quickly spin myself around and saw Harry standing gloriously before us with his hands placed inside his pockets and his eyes looking right at me.

"I'm not here for you." Harry responded to Niall.

I bite my lip hard as I stare at Harry while he moves his eyes back to me.

"Hi Miranda." He greets me.