BEAUTIFULLY UNFINISHED novel Chapter 18

SEVENTEEN

M I R A N D A

"Mommy you're taking so long." I hear Ben over the other line.

"I'm already riding a cab honey. I'm coming there." I tell him.

Ben whines for more.

"Could you hand uncle Harry his phone back please sweetheart?" I asked.

I waited for Harry to speak from the other end of the line as I feel the cab finally moving on this traffic jam. The rain is pouring hard again outside the window pane of the cab's backseat. I glared at my phone and it's already five forty-five in the afternoon and I'm already starving.

"Hey Miranda." Harry finally speaks.

"Hey Harry. I'm on my way to fetch Ben. I'm sorry I picked him up late. It's just because..." I trailed off. The boss from the hardware store was a maniac and I had to be nice cos it's my first day.

"Because it's raining hard and there's heavy traffic." I added.

"You could've called me. I could've picked you up." He tells me.

"No. It's fine. I don't want to bother you. I'm quite near Royalton anyways." I lied.

"Alright, great. I called the front desk to help you up here. It's Penthouse South."

"Uncle Harry's room is really huge and cool mommy!!" I hear Ben screaming from the background.

I chuckle, "I'm sorry about Ben. Has he been a bother?"

"No. He's been a very good kid. He's not hard to babysit." He tells me which made me feel at ease.

I exhaled. "Thank heavens. Well I'll call once I'm in."

"Alright. Take care."

I bite my lower lip before hanging up.

I kept my gaze outside and thought about how to survive my job when my boss is a complete jackass who loves to do nothing but to stare at my boobs and my ass the entire time. But I need this, I need to take the agony of my maniacal boss who keeps on disgustingly flirting with me just so I could support Ben all through out.

But on the bright side of everything, now that Ben and Harry have been miraculously close together, the only problem that I've been totally bothered about was how to tell Harry. I'm still looking for the right time to tell him about it and I'm still looking for the right words to say.

The second I arrived outside The Royalton, my eyes scanned through the entire building. And damn I know only rich ass people like Harry could afford rooms, lofts and penthouses in here. I bet I can't afford a single food in this place.

As I hear the words Penthouse Suite, I only think it's only for celebrities, richest politicians, famous rock stars, Russian billionaires and anyone crazy enough to willingly fork over $40,000 per night to sleep on calfskin leather walls and custom Fendi beds.

So much waste of money. That's already my ten-year salary. I thought.

I began walking inside and every single thing around the lobby was extravagant, from the floor, to the ceiling, to the walls, the paintings, the porcelains, the curtains and almost everything that is around here. All of the people looked classy and glamorous. They were obviously wearing expensive clothes and designer dresses and bags. But here I am wearing a black leather jacket, some white shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Now I see how far Harry is from me. He's a billionaire. A multibillionaire. He makes money every second just by sitting down doing nothing and I can't possibly be fitted in his world.

Look around you Miranda. Who are you even kidding? Yourself? I thought.

This thing we have that is going on right now is nothing, I tell myself. He's just simply helping me and I should keep that in mind. I should always remember that he's about to be married. He's engage and I should stay away. This thing won't lead to anything. What do you even expect to happen Miranda? That he'll choose you over his fiancée? He just met you.

You're a laughing stock.

"Hi, good evening." I greeted the personnel from the front desk. She looked like same age as me.

Tiffany, the name carved on her tag, gives a bad look at my clothes. Okay you don't have to obviously look at me like I'm a poor woman cos I know I am and I know my clothes are not branded or made by famous designers. Ugh! I could tell the manager about your attitude.

"Good evening mam. Are you lost?" She asked.

Wow. I'm really offended.

"Excuse me?" I arched an eyebrow.

She smiles ruefully, "Do you want anything that I can help you with?"

"Yes." I snapped. "I'm here for Harry Styles."

Her eyebrows arched at me.

"He's expecting me." I say proudly.

The look on her face is worth photographed right now. Damn right woman, Harry Styles is expecting me up to his penthouse.

I smiled to annoy her.

"Name?" She kept her eyebrow arched.

"Miranda." I answered.

"The elevator's that way. Penthouse East." She said uninterestedly.

My eyes narrowing. "Nice try but Harry told me he's at Penthouse South."

She bites her lower lip, "Right. Sorry." She recovers. "My mistake." She smiles falsely.

I walked to the elevator and greeted the man who was operating the buttons. He smiled at me. At least he's welcoming than that jealous front desk staff.

"What floor?" He asks.

"Penthouse South."

He looks at suspiciously.

"Well. Harry is expecting me." I snapped.

He smiles. "Ah! Mr. Styles. They said he was expecting a visitor so it's you. Alright."

The elevator closes right before me and I listened to the song inside this box. I was inwardly hoping I look fine after my work at the hardware store. I just wish I still look presentable in front of Harry.

The elevator door opens.

"Penthouse South is that way." He gestures. "Have a great night ma'm." He tells me.

"Thank you." I say back

I stepped out of the elevator and walked to where he gestured to me. While I was marching my way towards Harry's penthouse, my heart was beating fast but I was trying to calm it down. I wonder what Ben and Harry has been doing for the last eight hours I left them. God I'm starving already. We need to go home as soon as possible cos I still have to cook and the traffic on the home is unbearable.

I exhaled as I stand right in front of Harry's door. Why am I nervous? Damn.

I quickly pulled out my small mirror and checked myself before knocking. I placed a small amount of lip balm on my lips and tucked my hair behind my ears. I look a little bit presentable now I think or is it the hotel hallway's lighting. I hurriedly placed my mirror and lip balm back inside my bag as I exhale heavily.

I knocked thrice.

I waited.

No one opened.

I knocked again.

I waited.

Still no one opened it.

Shit, am I knocking on the right door?

I quickly checked it, and I was standing in front of the right door.

Penthouse South it labeled.

I tried the doorbell.

I waited.

The door finally opens as I take a hold of my breath, hoping it was Harry's.

I exhaled.

Harry looks out of the window. "It's best safe if you're in here." He looks back at me. "I'm sorry but I won't let you go. The road is too slippery and I won't be taking the risk. Plus it's getting late. You won't find a cab this rush hour."

"It just turned six, Harry." I insisted.

"Still, you'll have a hard time going home." He tells me.

Ben suddenly grabs my hand. "Let's stay here for the night mom. Please mommy. Please? Let's stay please? It's sunday tomorrow and I have no class tomorrow."

I stare longer at Ben and I think Harry does have a point. And I think there's nothing wrong if I sleep here. Just as long as his fiancée won't show up with an ax.

"Please mommy! Say yes! Mommy please?" Ben whines and kept grabbing my hand.

"Please...mommy?" I moved my head to Harry with a cheeky grin on his face.

"For Ben." He adds.

I bite my inner cheek hard, stopping myself from screaming at his face.

I sigh. "For the love of overnight stay, fine. We're sleeping here tonight."

Ben jumps, "Yes!!! Thank you!"

Harry smiles and takes a grip tight on my shoulder. I kept my eyes glued on him and realized that his arm was still over my shoulders. I take a deep breath in to stop my pounding heartbeat.

"Let's call in for dinner?" Harry blurted.

"Yey! I'm starving!" Ben exclaims.

I smile as I watch the two of them getting along pretty well.

"What do you want to have for dinner Benny?" Harry asks him while he slowly releases his hand over my shoulder.

"Pizza!" Ben answers.

"We just had pizza a few days ago Ben." I tell him.

Ben frowns.

Harry nudges his elbow at me, "Let the kid have some pizza."

He's already acting like a father over Ben and it's making my heart leap out from my system. I just want to tell him straight right now.

Harry still glued his eyes at me.

"You're spoiling him." I say.

"It's fine." He answers with a smile.

"Alright then. Pizza and pasta for dinner." I say.

"Pasta?" Harry and Ben exclaimed at the same time.

I smiled at them. "Yes. I'm making pasta. Your favorite Ben."

Ben pulled his fist above his head and punched the air.

"What's his favorite pasta dish?" Harry asked while Ben runs away from us.

"The all time famous spaghetti and meatballs with a twist." I say.

Harry's eyebrows furrows. "With a twist?"

I smile, "I put squash on it. I learned it on google and Ben loved it the first time he ate it."

Harry nods. "Spaghetti with squash. That's new and it sounds healthily delicious. I wanna try it."

"You'll love it! I'll make some for the three of us. So do you have some ingredients around here?"

"I'll call the hotel staff to buy some for us. They never say no to me. Could you write down for me what you need?" He walks to the telephone.