BEAUTIFULLY UNFINISHED novel Chapter 37

THIRTY-SIX

While the foods were served one after another, all of us started eating and I still feel Harry's gazes from time to time. He stares at me when he feeds himself, when he takes a sip from his drink, when he wipes his cheek with the table napkin or anything he does at the table, his eyes were on me all the freaking time and I was trying really hard not to be bothered about it.

But I am.

They kept talking about random stuff that I couldn't relate to since it was about work. But then Louis would ask me if I was fine and I think he noticed that I was getting out of place of the topic but I was glad he's here to make sure if I'm okay.

The dishes were really delightful and it was the only thing I was getting busy of aside from counting how many times me and Harry have locked eyes for this night. I didn't really mind how skimpy and tight my dress was cos it's very seldom for me to eat English cooked meals in such expensive restaurant.

The lads were talking about work and how their own businesses were going. As I listen to them, expanding their own chosen field aside from the music industry, I am certainly proud of them and what they have achieved after the splitting of One Direction. They talked about how successful their new businesses were and they were planning on expanding to other countries too.

I'm so proud of my boys. My idols.

"Well I know someone who owns a hospital. I could tell him you need a job, Miranda." Liam says to me.

My head moved to Liam. "Really?"

"Yes. They're not hiring as of the moment though but he never say no to me. I can get you in right away, just pass me your resume. I'm sort of one of the co-founders so it's easy." Liam answered.

Oh my gosh! That sounded very exciting. And to be honest I miss working at the hospital even though being a waitress at Alfonso's is a really cool job despite fatty Fatima, but it's not different if you're running your own field.

"Hey, she's mine." Niall says.

"No Niall." Louis commented right away.

"Miranda's mine." He added jokingly with a grin on his face.

Everyone on the table were smiling and so was I but then I noticed that Harry was just staring at me eagerly with an emotionless face and it was making me feel terribly awkward.

I ignored him and smiled at Niall.

"I didn't mean it that way." Niall chuckles. "But she's one of my very very great and valuable employees." He added.

"I just started working for you Niall." I shied.

"But still. You're very good at it." He says.

"Wait." Audrey snapped.

All of us moved our heads to her. It's like when she talks she needs to be the center of attention and I think Perrie and Sophia doesn't really like her being around here.

"You work for Niall?" Audrey arched an eyebrow at me.

I nod. "Yeah."

"As?" She asked before taking a drink from her glass of wine.

"A waitress." I answered.

All of a sudden Audrey chuckles and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"A waitress? How come a nurse works as a waitress?" She keeps giggling.

The table was quiet and Harry didn't look happy about how Audrey was acting over it.

"Well I can't blame you, being a waitress suits you too." Audrey adds.

"Audrey." Harry snaps while glaring.

Louis stops from eating stares at Audrey. They were all looking at her then would glare at me but I just remained quiet. I was offended, of course, but then I can't do anything about it but to accept what she told me. She's widely known and I'm just a mere ex-nurse who's working as a waitress. Even though being a waitress is a decent job, it's still not enough to what these other women have accomplished.

"Well I guess there is really nothing wrong with being a waitress." Zayn commented.

My eyes moved to Zayn and my hearts swells that he's defending me.

"Yeah, I've worked as a waitress before getting in Little Mix. I worked my ass off. It was totally tiring but fun." Perrie adds.

She smiles at me and I smiled back.

"Being a waitress isn't far from being a nurse." Sophia then adds. "The waitresses still needs to take care of the customers just like how the nurses take care of the patients." She explains.

"Exactly!" Niall snapped.

"And having Miranda at Alfonso's is a bonus. Our valued customers loves her." Niall boasted.

"I'm forcing you to apply for this hospital. I'll be the one to refer you." Liam says.

"Stop stealing my employees." Niall blurted which made the entire table lightened up a little after a gloomy second.

I'm sort of amazed that they were defending me, sort of, and Audrey got quiet for a while as she glares at me angrily. She seems to be embarrassed by what she did.

"She's a very very good nurse." Harry complimented which caught Audrey's attention right away.

My eyes moved to Harry's but he wasn't looking at me.

"How did you know Harry?" Audrey asked right away and the table's aura darkened again.

"Did she nurse you?" She arched an eyebrow while she gaze at me.

I gulped.

"Not me." Harry pulled his head up and glanced at Audrey then stares at me eagerly. "My mum. My mum loves her."

Harry and I locked eyes more than a few seconds that I think Louis noticed it cos he was obviously clearing his throat dramatically. I moved my eyes to Louis and he was looking at me.

I smiled anyways while Louis takes my hand under the table and holds it.

"And that's what I loved about Miranda." Louis spurted out.

"She's very caring, not only to me and to her son but to the other people around her as well. I'm proud to have her. I'm very proud." He adds.

And my smiles stretches wider on my face. I cupped his cheek and he smiles at me as he kisses my forehead.

"Son?" Perrie snapped. "Oh my gosh you have a son? How lovely!" She adds.

New Message from Harry....

When I pulled my head up to his direction, Harry was already staring at me. I quickly shove my phone back inside my clutch and took a quick drink from my glass. I continued eating and just listened to Perrie and Sophia talking about going for a quick shopping around London tomorrow and they even invited me.

"Oh as if she had the money to afford such clothes for shopping." Audrey commented right away.

Louis sighs, "What's your problem with my girlfriend, Audrey?"

She moved her eyes at Louis and the entire table grew even quieter. I quickly held Louis' hand under the table to calm him down and I think Liam was also staring at our hands holding each other.

"Nothing" Audrey snapped. "I just wondered if she can afford." She raised an eyebrow at me and I seriously wanna shave all of her eyebrows.

"Can you please keep your mouth shut if you don't have anything nice to say about Miranda?" Louis sassed.

"Louis." I call out to him softly.

"Louis' right Audrey." Harry interrupts.

"I can't find a single reason why you're acting like this." Harry adds.

My head moved to Harry who was busy staring at me. And the tension grows on Audrey's face.

"It is very pathetic and very unprofessional of you." Louis snapped.

I pressed my lips together and the three of them makes me think that they still hasn't reconciled. Or maybe Audrey is the problem here cos of her sickening attitude. Or maybe I shouldn't have come along cos I seemed to ruin this night.

When it was time to go, all of us bid goodbye to each other even though Zayn and Perrie went home first because something came up as what they said. But the good thing about this night is that I had a group photo taken by the waiter which is on Niall's phone, Liam's and mine.

I had a photo of me having dinner with One Direction! Yes heavens! Alleluia!

Louis was busy talking to Liam, Niall and Harry while Audrey and Sophia were probably talking about the latest fashion trends. As for me, I excused myself to the bathroom. Since the bathroom was far from the VIP 1, I took a quick walk around the entire second floor. From the end of the hallway, there was an all glass floor-to-ceiling window which allowed the guests to take a view from what's below.

I exhaled heavily once I arrived the bathroom. I stared my own reflection and told myself that I survived a night full of awkwardness. If Louis told me in advance that I was going to meet One Direction tonight, I could've prepared myself! I shouldn't have worn this skimpy sexy outfit that shows off my cleavage.

I opened my clutch bag and found the message that Harry sent me a while ago. My breathing hitched.

Harry: We need to talk. Personally.

That was the message he sent me minutes ago. Oh god why can't I breathe properly? What does Harry want from me this time? Does he remember me by my necklace? Oh my gosh! Does he still have it with him? After all these years? No. He shouldn't. I think he doesn't. Oh shit I hope he doesn't. Now is not the perfect time to tell myself that I was that girl he had a one nightstand with, Harry is a very good observer and he will figure it out himself that Ben is his son just by knowing my last name and the necklace.

Shit!

Now isn't the right time. He's having a baby with Audrey!

Harry: Open the door.

My eyes widened and I quickly flinched when I heard down one knocking by the door. Shit. Shit. Oh god. Shit.

I quickly fixed myself and slowly marched to the door. I opened it and Harry was really right outside the female's bathroom. He looks at me very eagerly.

"What do you want?" I asked.