Olivia
"So I'm guessing you had a good time last night?" Niall teased me. I groaned sitting at my usual table.
"Shut it." I barked, and he just smiled like the little ball of sunshine he is. "Oh Liv, he isn't that bad."
I sighed, "I know and that is the entire problem." I admired glancing discreetly over my shoulders. I just knew he would walk in while I was talking about him.
"He's got the afternoon off, no need to worry." Niall reassured and I let out a sigh of relief.
We didn't stay on the subject of Louis, well Tommo to Niall. Instead I skillfully diverted the conversation to Cails.
"So what are you two doing?" I asked giving him a smug look this time. His cheeks tinted pink, it was extremely noticeable against his pale skin.
"We're just testing the waters you know." he fiddled with his fingers and I rolled my eyes. "You treat her right or I'll dedicate a special article just for you." I threatened.
He gulped, but slowly gave me a small smile. "I think I'm going to make it official soon." He admitted, and I suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy.
No not because of Caileigh and Niall, they both were great, and great together. I was just crossing my fingers hoping that they didn't abandon me for each other.
"Don't worry, you can't get rid of us." Niall spoke up, and I was incredibly surprised that he seemed to read my mind.
"Has she met your mom?" I asked genuinely curious. I felt like I had dumped so many of my issues on Caileigh I hadn't bothered to ask about her life.
Wow I was a crappy friend.
"No, but I'm not worried about her meeting my mom, she loves everyone." he flashed me yet another Niall smile. He was always smiling.
I asked Niall about his mother, he said she was doing better but not best. We danced around the subject of her health, and ended up talking about him and Caileigh again.
"So how do you plan to 'make it official'," I put air quotes around the phrase. He rang his hands together. "I'm not sure yet, figured I would take her to a nice dinner, maybe the cabin."
I rolled my eyes at his cliché ideas, but I secretly knew that no matter how he did it, Caileigh would be overjoyed. I would too, just less obvious about it.
I had a meeting with Harry at one, and so that's where I found myself after Niall and I had a nice lunch.
"So how's the wife?" I asked propping my feet up on his desk. "She's moody and eating everything." He grumbled pushing my feet off roughly.
"Be professional Olivia." I rolled my eyes, and crossed one leg over the other instead. "I called you in for a meeting not to talk about my wife." he was suddenly serious.
I felt a lump forming in my throat, I didn't know what to expect. "You're not in trouble, before you go into a full on panic attack." He clarified and I felt better immediately.
"However I do need you to sign this." He smirked as he coaxed a form into my hands.
"Consensual Romance in the Workplace Agreement"
"Why on earth would I need to sign this?" I muttered under my breath. "Shouldn't you be giving this to Niall, or Caileigh?"
He was still smirking at me. Oh and I was the one who needed to be professional?
"Don't think that I'm unaware of the thing going on between you and the IT head." I wanted to slap him, but he was my boss and I liked my job.
"Harry, I can assure you, there is nothing going on." I held my hands up defensively. "Is that so? Then why did he call and request for one?"
I felt my cheeks burning. Not with embarrassment, but anger. Yes, he can be a bit arrogant, and overly friendly, but this rubbed me the wrong way.
"I refuse to sign this." I bit back shoving the paper calmly back into his hands. "There is no reason for it." I stood to my feet and turned on my heel leaving the office.
***
My bedroom apartment was small and cozy. I stared at my bookshelf as I drifted in and out of consciousness. It was only nine, but something in my head said it felt like two A.M.
Ironically enough my shelves were lined and tightly packed with romance novels. Something as cliche as the Notebook, to Shakespeare's greatest love stories.
For someone who hated romance as much as I did, I sure was a sucker for everyone else having it.
I thought about how angry I was at Louis for putting in a request for a consensual romance in the workplace file. I thought about how he didn't even mention it to me at all.
My phone buzzed, and I jumped groaning as I reached over to my nightstand.
Louis: "Soooo how was work today? Did you miss me?"
I squeezed my eyes shut. Okay Liv, take a deep breath, don't bite his head off, you have a date tomorrow.
I felt my stomach churn at the thought. A date, an actual date. I don't know why I was so worked up, like I admitted to Cails, I had been on hundreds after Zayn.
But Louis thinks he has a chance, and the more time I spend with him the more I am afraid that I'll give him one.
"Ha. Ha. good one."
I hoped he could sense the sarcasm in my text tone. Even if he did he probably would ignore it like he usually does.
Louis: "Now Olivia, I am a man who appreciates a good bit of sarcasm, but you love, are so bitter."
Now I was twice as angry at him as I was before we even messaged. Before I could think of a response he had texted again.
Louis: "I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous for our date, haven't been on one since Holly."
I felt my heartstrings being tugged a little. Should I be annoyed that he brought her up? "Beware of the men who bring up their exes." My writer mind pieced together.
In actuality I was kind of relieved. It isn't like he was trying to hide it from me, he was just being honest. Something I was definitely not doing with him.
"Eh, don't be nervous it's just a date that you wore me down on." I smirked as I typed this response.
Louis: " Feisty. ;) " I rolled my eyes thinking of a response, but instead I hit the call button.
"Olivia hello!" His voice was perky and raspy all at once. "We have something to discuss." I kept my tone neutral.
"Don't worry I've got the entire date planned, I'm sure you will com—"No Louis the stupid Workplace romance agreement." I spit in annoyance.
"Pardon?" He sounded genuinely confused. I told him about my meeting with Harry today making sure to ensure that I was highly annoyed.
"I put in a request, I didn't ask him to print it out and get you to sign it, I'm not a creep." He defended himself. "Why did you even put in a request in the first place!" I yelled.
