Chapter Text
The sun was casting its rays on Louis's window, enough for him to wake up and start his day. He turned to see the empty side of the bed with a sigh and yawned. He rubbed his face and pushed off the sheets onto the other side of the bed. His eyes flicked again to the cold side of the bed.
He intertwined his fingers together and flexed his hands above his head, he swayed left and right to stretch his body from the tiredness.
Scratching his scalp, he checked the time. It's 9 in the morning. Gosh! How good does it feel to wake up at 9 in the morning and get ready to work without a rush? He's 34 and he definitely deserves this life he made for himself. He looked at the slight gray hair poking out with in the mirror though.
Later, Louis took a bath and started to get ready to start his day. He buttoned up his white shirt and took the grey coat in his hand and walked downstairs.
The fight with his husband clashed before his eyes. It's been weeks. Louis sighed and locked his house door. He got used to these feelings. Recently, he either sad or screaming, is the only thing he's been facing.
Louis was humming and admiring the view of London as he drove to work. He parked his car and took the elevator to his office floor.
Everyone wished him good morning as he passed them over to get to his cabin.
“Good morning”
“Good morning Louis. Have a good day Louis!”
As soon as he sat on his ‘boss’ chair, someone knocked on the glass door. Louis asked them to come in.
“Hey Boss! Did you check out Meg’s new story?” Harish, Louis’s Personal assistant asked.
“Uhm—no. I had a long night” Louis shrugged but his hands typed Meg’s name on his laptop.
“Check it out, you will be thrilled” He winked and left Louis alone. Louis opened the story page and started to read it.
‘What is Dom and Sub?’
“What the fuck?” Louis cussed and read the whole story about the outline of BDSM. He rolled his eyes as he dialed the person who was the reason for this.
Moments later, Louis was arguing with Niall.
“You were supposed to check everything”
“Chill, it's only a page”
“A PAGE! Don't you know we can literally change people’s fate in a single page?”
Louis’s Grandmother started this magazine company, Echoes and Edges, shortly called as E&E. Ever since his mother took over, it became her baby. Louis was practically raised in this company. His mother was a workaholic. He celebrated his birthdays here, spent lots of time doing homework. He even took an intern girl to his senior year prom from this company.
Even though he has spent a lot of his time in this company, he despises this place, sometimes.
His mother was so involved in taking this magazine company to the next level. There are moments in Louis' life that he wished he could have shared it with his mother but her absence was the only constant thing in Louis' life. She made him study business management which he was not interested in. She was never listened what Louis actually wants. Always teach him of the company legacy and how to take it all over one day.
Louis's life was so black and white until he met ‘the person’, who brought colours back to his life. Like that one Taylor Swift’s lyric, he believed love was black and white until the person showed it's golden like daylight. But life tends to fuck Louis hard because right after he felt what love was, it was taken from him. He lost his mother. The grief made him unable to do anything. He searched for his mother everywhere and finally found her in this company. A place he never thought he would ever find solace in. Louis took over the company and continued to respect her work once he disliked it.
The magazine was started as a movie review and cinema gossip page, then slowly developed as a lifetime magazine including beauty tips, sports, short stories, arts, photography and the special column of ‘What's new with London’.
“It's not a children's magazine, Lou”
Louis sighed, “I know that Nialler! And I appreciate you covering for me yesterday but we never wrote something like this so maybe you guys could have consulted with me.”
“I'm sorry. I should've talked about it with you. I thought you are not coming home until Tuesday though.”
Louis nodded, “Me too. But the meeting ended rather quickly. I have no mood to wander around Tokyo, so I came back last night”
“You deserve the break, Lou” Niall patted his shoulder.
“I will rest once I find the perfect gift for Mark’s birthday"
Mark was Louis's mentor. Mark was the one who taught Louis everything he knows now. He's turning 60 in five months. Louis wants to give him a perfect thank you gift for everything he did for Louis. He's searching everywhere but still nothing clicks his mind.
As Niall leaves Louis’ room, he said, “That's good work, Niall. Convey my wishes to Meg for the piece she wrote. Looking forward to more from your team and her”
Niall nodded proudly and left Louis for good. Louis reached for his phone, Notifications stacked him. Work mails, group chats, but there was nothing that mattered.
Nothing from that one person.
He locked the screen again, jaw tightening, he forced his attention back to the documents in front of him. The words blurred at first with tears, but Louis kept going anyway. He always did.
Everyone left for lunch break. Louis sighed and picked his phone. He saw a text from Liam, his best mate. Louis blinked and opened the message.
“Are you really going?” Zayn whined as they crossed the streets to grab lunch.
“Aww. Come on, I know you love photography”
Zayn rolled his eyes, “Yes, as a hobby! I have my own restaurant to run you know. I'm not free, Lou”
Louis shook his head, secretly planning how to convince Zayn to say yes to the Brazil trip.
“I thought you love photography, man” Louis said as they pushed the cafe door.
“First of all, I hate this cafe. Secondly, I'm running a restaurant. Why can't you eat there?”
Zayn said.
Louis chuckled. “I'm just here to buy desserts, I’m craving chocolate truffle cake”
Zayn checked the line before them. “I should start working on signature desserts, but still I never get the reason why people like sweets this much”
“I will tell you if you agree to come to Brazil with me” Louis raised his eyebrows in suggestion.
Zayn made a face and said, “I'm happy with my restaurant. Dessert-eating people can fuck themselves”
Suddenly the room fell into silence and Zayn heard his own words ringing in his ear. “Uh-” His mouth parted, eyes wide as everyone in the cafe stared at him with judgement.
“I wasn't talking about you guys–” Zayn tried to do damage control but the damage was already done. Everyone gave him a face and turned to continue their work. Louis was trying to hide his laugh, standing beside him.
“Fuck off, Man” Zayn grumbled and turned, walking away from the coffee shop.
Louis gave his order and again checked his phone. He received his coffee and cake , nodded his head gesturing a thanks. He turned to move away as he bumped into a person with broad shoulders.
“Fuck” Coffee spilled onto Louis's phone from the impact. He lifted his head to see the man moving back with an apologetic face.
“Shit! I'm so sorry”
Louis was too stunned to speak but his hand was burning from the spilled coffee. There were wrinkles formed on the other man’s forehead with how much he's frowning, regret all over his face. The man looked dead gorgeous with his thin lips, sharp jaw and the prettiest eyes. He is wearing a floral blouse with so many buttons left open and a flared pants. Louis felt something stir inside him. A feeling which he shouldn't feel when he meets a stranger for the first time. Something unpleasantly sat on his stomach.
“The line is over there, man” Louis said, finally looking at the green eyed man.
“I know, I just came to get the tissue over here” The man spoke softly.
Louis just stared at the person, waiting for the man to say something more. But all the other man did was pulling his wallet and said, “I will pay for your coffee”
Louis chuckled drily. This has to be a joke. Louis is fucking wearing a burberry coat suit, obviously he has money to buy another coffee.
“Is your phone working? If not, I can pay for that too”
“Really? By how? By flashing your tits?” Louis asked, because who wears a shirt with four buttons loose for a guy who looks around 30. The other man looks like a wanna-be hipster.
The other man frowned, taken back, clearly not expecting the harsh words. He looked embarrassed. Some people glanced at them. Once the words were out of his mouth, Louis regretted it.
Shit!
“I didn't mean-” Louis tried but The green eyed man left.
Louis bit his lips and cussed. He saw a piece of paper down his shoe. He crunched down to pick it up.
“You are leaving early?” Niall asked
Louis was checking his phone. He lifted his head from the phone to Niall. “Huh?”
“Thought you gonna join us for the party”
Louis raised his eyebrows, “Who parties on Monday?”
Niall laughed, “It's Chris’s Bachelorette party”
Louis sighed tiredly. “Sorry man. You guys have fun” and Louis added, “But everyone should be here in the morning”
“Chill, Louis. We release magazines once a week. We still have three days for the deadline” Niall said.
Louis gave a bossy look which screamed Be here at 9 or you guys are getting fired.
Later in the evening, Louis opened his house to face the emptiness. No one is in the house, he sighed. It's only 6 in the evening, the sun hasn't even settled down, Louis should have gone to the party but instead he got ready and went to Zayn's restaurant.
“Your restaurant really shines under the night lights, Man” Louis said.
“Only because Zayn cooks at night,” Liam smiled cheekily.
“Ah! Don't pull your husband shits on me” Louis groaned. Liam shrugged.
Zayn and Liam came as a package deal into Louis's life. Louis met Zayn on the streets. Not exactly what you think, He's not living there, he was a street photographer. Zayn approached Louis, asking if he could take a picture of Louis's dog which is no more, Rest in peace. Louis was really impressed with the pictures so he asked Zayn to send them to his office. The pictures got published, soon Zayn got recognised globally and even had an interview with E&E.
Zayn introduced his boyfriend, Liam. They were in their mid 20’s when they three officially met. It's been a decade. Now, Zayn runs a restaurant but plays chef only at night because that's when he could cook for his husband, Liam.
"So about the message I sent earlier--" Liam was cut off by Louis. "Let's not talk about it"
Louis ended up getting drunk and band aid on his hand because he broke a glass. “Here you go” Zayn laid Louis on the bed.
“Don't leave me alone” Louis mumbled.
"Uhm–We are here, Lou” Liam assured. Zayn gave him a face.
“What?” Liam shrugged. They have no choice but to stay with Louis. Zayn slept near Louis, because if they are going to stay up and listen to Louis's shits, he is getting the bed. Liam can take the couch.
Louis talked in his sleep.
Zayn sighed with sadness, “You will be okay, Lou”
“Why am I not enough?”
Liam and Zayn looked at each other with worriedness.
*****
Louis was closing all the tabs on his laptop as he wrapped up his work. Harish was talking about the new project Ideas.
“Harish! Harish! If you have so many ideas, hold on 'em. I'm already stressed enough to think about Mark’s birthday gift.
Harish shrugged, “I have ideas for his birthday too” Louis shut his laptop and asked, “Enlight me, Please”
“How about you buy him a Gucci set?”
“Gucci set?”
“Yesh. The whole set of perfume along with the clothes?” Harish said. Louis shook his head.
“It's not professional and it's definitely not saying ‘Thank you, for everything’”
Louis gathered his things, “Ah! Come on. It's a nice innovative thought. You think anyone would buy him clothes?” Harish asked.
Louis threw his blazer over his shoulder and said, “Exactly! No one would gift clothes on a party event”
Louis left for home. It's only 5 in the evening. He sat in a silent dark house. He closed his eyes to feel something– Love, anger, Sadness but all he felt was emptiness. He pushed the lamp over the couch and cussed. He checked the weather app. No use of that but still. He checked and confirmed that there will be no rain.
Louis started his car, took a drive around London. Sightseeing if anything new catches his eyes.
As he passed the cafe shop, he remembered his rude comment. Louis sighed with embarrassment. “One time I was mean and it haunts me lifelong”
Well, it's not lifelong, It's only been a week—WAITT!!!
Louis's hand searched the passenger seat’s dashboard. He started to read it from the bottom.
Art expo
Coming Monday to Friday
A Week of wonder, A World of art.
Louis found this flyer in the cafe where the stranger spilled his coffee. How about an art for a birthday present? Louis wondered.
He checked the address and drove there. He parked his car and checked the poster which was stuck outside the place. The place was good enough to be elegant and attract people. Louis checked himself in the mirror, he wore white shirt with a green blazer with black pants. He styled his hair a little and walked inside.
There were two or three people inside, watching the art. Louis got a voucher from the reception and walked around the place, slowly admiring the arts. He got knocked over by the candle scent. It's really sweet and Louis loved it. He watched the themes and stood about three minutes to each painting. Finally a unique Art caught his eyes, the art stood out in the room. But the one thing Louis understood was—
Nothing
He understood nothing. He looked down to check they posted anything about the painting but nothing was there. Louis sighed and looked around, no one was looking at him. Still he felt stupid and awkward to move away so he waited there and acted like he understood the painting and then moved away.
As he turned, he jerked back as he saw someone standing behind him. “Fuck”
The room echoed his words. “Shit! Sorry–No shit–uhm–” When the green eyed man folded his hands and everyone in the room turned away, Louis whispered, “Sorry”
“For what? For cussing or for shit comment you gave the other day?”
Come on! That one incident can't make him remember Louis' face.
“Uh– I don't know what are you talking about–”
“Pay me with your tits?” The other man whispered. Louis cringed.
“Well, Technically I said, Flashing your tits–”
The other man locked his jaw tight. “Sss-Sorry. It was the rudest thing for me to say. It won't happen again” Louis finished the sentence.
The Artist stomped but before he could move away, Louis grabbed his arms. The touch halted them both leaving Louis with guilt and The Artist with amusement.
“I–” Louis took a step back “I'm sorry. I– I promise I'm not that kind of person”
The air felt suffocating for Louis. An alarm was triggered inside his head. He wants to get back home to the empty bed.
“Alright” That's all he heard from the other man.
Louis took this movement as his chance, “I was not in my best behaviour that day, Totally my fault”
The other man sighed and nodded. Louis extended his hand, “I'm Louis Tomlinson”
He spoke calmly, professionally.
They shook their hands, “H. Edward Styles”
Louis gave a dry chuckle but hands trembled, he didn't know why.
“What's funny?” Edward asked.
“I didn't know that people will introduce themselves with initials”
Edward gave an annoyed face. “It's not my initial, I happen to like my middle name”
“Why because you like Twilight?” Louis laughed but Edward stared back blankly.
“Sorry, If you don't know, It's a movie”
Edward bit his upper lips and said, “I know it's a movie. I'm surprised that you know the movie? Isn't it too old for you?”
Louis gasped. “Take it back!”
“No,” Edward said stubbornly.
“Rude,” Louis mumbled.
“Tit for that or should I say, Tits for that”
A sharp smile tugged at his lips but Louis hid it by saying, “You are a little shit, aren't you?”
Edward shrugged simply. Louis felt a shiver down his spine, an inner thought asking him to go back home.
“So, what are you looking at?” Edward asked.
“Well, I was checking out random arts but this one got my attention” Louis pointed to the painting behind him.
“Why?” Harry chirped.
“Because I don't understand a shit from this”
Harry chuckled, “That’s Because you don't understand art”
“Oh! Very well! Explain, then. Enlighten me with your art knowledge”
It's cool. It's all cool. Louis will behave like a professional and the stomach clenching feeling will fade away.
Edward stood beside Louis and started to explain. “The blue stands for—”
Louis listened to everything. He nodded his head and even twisted his lips, impressed. After a five minutes of explanation, Louis said,
“So me standing here is showing that I do have a taste for art after all?”
Edward exhaled, “Taste is simply just knowing how something makes you feel”
Louis averted his eyes to Edward.
“So, how does it make you feel?” When Edward turned to face Louis with the question, Louis turned away. Not that he wants to see the painting again but to hide from the emerald green eyes.
Louis's blue eyes scanned the painting, noticing every tiny detail and remembering the soothing voice of Edward. Louis took a deep breath and Edward was standing near with anticipation.
“Like a shit”
Without a beat, Edward said, “Alright” The word was forced.
“Hey! What's wrong? I just said, what I feel”
Edward sighed, palming his face. “What if everyone feels this way? What if my work was really just a shit”
Louis's lips parted in an O shape with realisation.
“Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was yours” Louis said, softly. Before he could hear the reply, a voice came through the speaker.
“That's it for the day. Thank you so much. See you tomorrow. The expo is open for the whole week”
Edward let out a slow breath and stepped away from the painting, hands sliding into his pockets.
Louis watched him for a second.
He told himself to let it go. This was nothing but just a conversation. A stranger whose name he just learnt.
Edward took another step.
“Wait" The word slipped out before Louis could stop it.
Edward turned back, eyebrows lifting slightly in quiet question.
Louis hesitated. His fingers curled at his side. “I was just—” He exhaled, frustrated with himself. “Never mind”
Edward didn’t move.
Louis met his eyes again, something tight pulling at his chest. “Are you-- Uh- Free for dinner?”
Edward’s mouth curved into a small smile, “You don’t have to do that. My art doesn’t require compensation.”
Louis shook his head. “It’s not about that.” He choose his words carefully. “I want to ask you for a favour. I thought… dinner might be easier.”
Edward took his time, then nodded.
“Alright,” he said quietly. “Just dinner.”
Louis let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Just dinner. They both pretended to believe that.
*****
“And I completed my graduation course in online, and this is my first time showing my art to public”
Louis asked about Edward’s journey to the art museum. “Don't you think it's too late to do these?”
“It is late. I was scared but Hey! Life always paves you a way. I mean–obviously I had a good job but you know passion” Edward shrugged.
“I know someone like this, You will like him. He's a chef” Louis lit his cigarette.
Edward looked around the restaurant with embarrassment. “Is it allowed to smoke inside?” Louis exhaled the smoke and said, “You know the chef I mentioned?”
Harry nodded
“It's one of his branches. His husband and him are running it”
Edward hummed. “To my surprise, I've never come here or know of this place. It's actually quite good here”
“Now, you do. Let's make it as a memory”
Once the words were out, Louis regretted saying that. Edward noticed and asked, “Memory huh?”
When Louis didn't reply back or Look Edward in the eyes, He continued to speak,
“Now, Tell me, Mr. Louis Tomy–”
“Tomlinson” Louis finally lifted his eyes to face Harry.
“Yes, now tell me, Why do you want to create a memory with me?”
Louis looked away, eyes dropping to the rim of his glass. He hadn’t meant to say it like that.
Louis exhaled the smoke. He rolled the glass between his fingers, buying himself a second. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “Some people pass through your day and disappear. Others---” He shrugged. “They stay”
Edward snorted, “Bold of you assume that”
Louis glanced back up. This time, he didn’t look away. “Why not? I think I made a strong impression inside your head” Louis gave a smuggled smile.
“Just now, I stumbled your name–”
“You got the Louis right which everyone pronounce with S”
Edward bit his inner cheek "Well, But I don't think we will meet again”
Louis took a slow drag, He exhaled the smoke to his left side, then looked at Edward again.
“You sound very sure for someone who agreed to dinner"
“Maybe because I don't wanna be rude, unlike someone” Edward smiled, cheekily.
“There is a difference between interest and politeness” Louis said, firmly like knowing how to play this game.
Edward chuckled a little, “You act like you already won this game but Honey, I don't date married men”
The smile in Louis's face fell, he looked down at the wedding band on his hand. Platinum, unmissable. Louis pressed it with his thumb, a habit he still has. He got lost inside the deep thoughts, he gave himself a reality chuckle and lifted his head, “Who said this is a date, Darling?”
The word darling slipped out before he could stop it. Edward’s brows lifted slightly, colour rising along his cheeks.
Louis seized the opening — not because he wanted to flirt, just to take the upper hand.
“I told you I wanted to ask you for a favour. I wanna know more about art. I have this gift idea in my mind. You seemed—Capable?”
“Are you flirting with me, Old man?”
“I'm just two years older than you” Louis said, not showing any emotions. Edward noticed that Louis dogged the question. Defence, He likes to play with walls around. It's interesting.
Edward gave it a thought for a moment. “I don't know so much about gifting art but if I get to see you daily, why not?”
Louis tried to hide his smile behind the wine glass. “Thought you don't date married man”
Edward leaned back in his chair and crossed his leg, “I don't date but I can make exception for a hot men”
Louis gave a sharp lip twist, “You think I'm hot?”
Edward crooked his head, “On your knees, yes!”
Louis is blaming the wine.
“Darling, I don't beg. People beg to me”
“Please, FUCKING STAY” Louis screamed to the shut door that night.
Edward scoffed, which pulled Louis’s out of his past.
“You are insufferable,” Edward said.
“I have been told so” Louis casually shrugged.
“I agree to help you, but on one condition”
Louis placed his wine down as he gulped the last shot. “What's that?”
“I want a muse”
Louis's eyes widened. “A muse?”
“Yes, for my art. If I say pose, you sit straight. If I say jump, you ask how high”
Louis's lips twisted a smile, mixture of offence and smugness. Oh, this will be entertaining.
He threw his hand over the arm of the chair and leaned back to the chair, showing that he's not gonna back down. His eyes gave a mysterious twist.
He locked his eyes with Edward, savouring the moment. He said, “I don't follow rules, darling”
“Then it should be really fun,” Edward replied with the same smug face.
“Deal” Louis extended his hand.
Later the night, Louis dropped Edward off in front of an apartment. “This is you?” He asked with disbelief.
“Not everyone is a rich daddy like you” Edward said and had the audacity to lick his lips.
“Okay! Too much wine. Now, get down” Louis said finally.
Edward laughed and unlocked his door. He stepped down and crunched down to face Louis through the window.
Edward wore a cardigan polo shirt, with a short sleeve with sexy v neck buttoning and obviously, he didn't button up so as he crunch down and look at Louis, he didn't exactly behave like a gentleman.
“Fancy what you see?”
Louis scoffed. “I'm Married, Mr. Harry Styles”
Edward was taken back. He stared at Louis like he's a ghost, his speech stuttering with panic. “How do you know my first name?”
“Like I said, I noticed the art and I saw your name down there. Harry Edward Styles”
Colour started to come back to Harry's face.“I think I'm gonna call you, Harry”
“Why?”
“I happen to like your first name”
Harry chuckled and said, “Good night, Louis”
“Good night, Harry”
Louis drove away from the place, he gripped the steering wheel, his wedding band stood out. Louis's heart twisted with sadness. Suddenly, he hates himself for this. He blinked and said,
“It’s just the wine”