Chapter Three
Louis
Louis tried not to stare at Rosie, he really did. How different this was to a mere hour ago; he just couldn’t believe it. Were they on some parallel universe? They must be, not that this was a bad thing.
An hour ago, they had been in each other’s faces to shout and snap as much as they possibly could in anger, just like they had done many times before. They were practically enemies with their different agendas.
Now? Now, they were sat opposite each other having lunch together. They were being civil and actually having a pleasant conversation, in public, at a socially acceptable volume.
As soon as he had heard her stomach rumble, his need to take care of her had kicked in. He wanted to believe it was because she was part of his team, and his job was to look out for them all.
But, really?
Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Nothing to do with the fact you admire her and used it as an excuse to spend time with her.
Scowling at himself, he focused on his companion. For now, they were playing nice, and he wanted to use this chance to get to know her better. She was actually quite fun. This was what friends did. They had lunch. Talked. Got to know each other.
At first, she had tried to decline his offer. “I can go get food by myself.”
“I know.” Louis smiled. “But as I need to eat, too, why don’t we go together? It gives us a chance to talk and plan some more.”
There was hesitation. He understood that since they were on shaky ground and not friendly at times. In fact, Louis couldn’t even believe he was suggesting it, but here they were.
“No pressure, though,” he assured her. “I just thought I would offer. If you want me to leave so you can get food alone, that is absolutely okay.”
Relaxing, she met him at the door. “Okay. I would like to get lunch with you. It does sound nice to eat with someone else since I eat alone a lot in my office. Where do you fancy?”
That broke his heart. He couldn’t imagine feeling so isolated in such a big team. He would change that. If she felt happier and more confident within the team, perhaps she would trust them more. Which meant they could trust and respect her more.
She did things for a reason. They may not understand those reasons immediately, but it would help if they understood her processes just like he was hoping to teach her theirs.
The better they communicated, the more efficient their team would become.
A more efficient team lasted longer, had more fans, and found more opportunities. They also fell out less.
“I know a small restaurant round the corner,” he suggested. “They do a little bit of everything, so plenty to choose from. The owner knows most of the players and doesn’t allow fans to approach us. So, we have somewhere we can go for privacy.”
As much as Louis loved his fans, he did appreciate the chance to eat a meal in peace. Some waited outside of places he went, thinking he was no longer busy, or just popped up because it did not matter to them that he was busy. This restaurant was a safe place.
“That sounds absolutely lovely.” There was a smile on her face.
It was a sweet, soft smile with a hint of teeth.
Then she met his gaze and raised an eyebrow, a slight blush rose on her cheeks.
“But just so we are clear, we are splitting the bill. I don’t want it getting out to the team and they think it is a date. ”
“This is strictly a business meeting.” Raising a hand to his heart, he made it a promise. “Not that they are likely to find out, but if it makes you more comfortable, that is what we do.”
Which led to now, where they were sat together in a small booth. Rosie sat so stiffly as she ate her salad.
Wait? When did I start calling her Rosie instead of Harpy?
Maybe when you started showing each other respect.
He had noticed he had called her Rosie a few times today, but he hadn’t really made the connection that she was no longer the Harpy to him.
Glancing up, she spotted him staring. Tensing even more, she put down her fork. Picking up a napkin, she started to dab her lips.
“What? Do I have food on my face?” There was worry in her eyes.
Rosie liked control, he had figured that out easily. And appearance was also a big thing for her. It wasn’t vanity, more like her routine.
Wincing, he ducked his head, embarrassed to be caught. In this light? The blush made her eyes and cheeks glow.
Oh, dear . . .
To give himself something to do, he picked up his burger. “No. I was just thinking about how different this is compared to an hour ago.”
Frowning, she asked, “When we were arguing with each other?”
“Exactly.”
She chuckled, then carried on eating. Well, eating was generous to call what she was doing. She was simply making it look like she was eating, even though it was more like she was moving food about.
Was she conscious that Louis was there and watching? As she ate alone so much, of course she would be nervous about another person being present. Seeing her discomfort, he leaned back and put his own food down.
“If I am making you uncomfortable, I can leave. I want you to be able to relax,” he suggested. “And enjoy your food.”
Eyes wide, she stared at her plate in distress. Her fork stopped moving.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” Louis winced again and rubbed a hand down his face. “I will shut up now.”
Internally groaning, he knew he was a fool.
Try as he might to help others, he didn’t always think before he spoke.
Removing his eyes off of her, he wanted to make her more comfortable by focusing on something else.
That something being his food. Taking a big bite of his burger, he heard her sigh.
Looking up, her gaze of longing at his burger left him so confused.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“If we are to be allies, I suppose you need to know what makes me work.” Dabbing her lips again, she sat back.
“I grew up with old money. My parents were very strict. Caring, but strict. I grew up being told everything needed to be perfect. My job, and the outcomes. My manners. How I sit, or stand, or walk. How I eat. My appearance. I had to remain thin.”
Now it all made sense. She wasn’t tense, it was simply how she sat.
“So, you sit with a straight back because that is how you were raised. Sorry, I should not have assumed you were uncomfortable.”
Shrugging it off, she took another bite. “It’s okay. I can only imagine how it looks. I am not uncomfortable around you. In fact, I am very comfortable. You are the first person I have told that to.”
“Sometimes it is nice to let others in,” he said softly.
“I am lucky with the team I have, but I can imagine being alone in an office is very different. Thank you for sharing that with me.” Leaning forward, he took another bite.
When he swallowed, he said, “I grew up with family money, too. But my childhood was very different. My mother was raised like you, and she didn’t want that for me.
So, she let me be wild, as long as I worked toward achievable goals. ”
Taking a bite of her food, she covered her mouth as she asked, “Do you have any siblings?”
He pouted in thought as he considered the best way to explain and that made her frown again. It also surprised him that she didn’t know this, considering how much research she did. Then again, that was a personal nature, and she focused on their public image.
“I was technically an only child,” he answered. “However, I am very close to my two cousins, Emerald and Vincent. Emerald, especially. Her parents passed away when she was six, and my parents took her in. I was about nine. They treated her like their own, basically making her my little sister.”
Pausing her own meal, she put down her fork to pat his hand in comfort. “I am sorry for her loss. And for yours.”
“Thank you, I am sure she would appreciate your kind words. I certainly do.” They were silent for a moment as they ate. “Do you have siblings?”
“A sister, but we do not talk often,” Rosie responded.
Louis watched her slump. Not talking to her sister obviously hurt.
“Her name is Louisa. While I stay in touch with our parents and aim to please them, she broke free.”
“I am sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
For another moment they were silent. Something about her words got to him.
The way she said it, as if she wanted to cry.
Aim to please them? This would explain her need for control.
The need to feel she is doing a great job.
But he wouldn’t bring it up, in case it embarrassed her for making the slip.
Instead, Louis ordered another burger to give her a moment to compose herself. Waiting for the burger, they did some more small talk like discussing the weather, and their plans for the weekend.
When his food arrived, Rosie’s eyes followed it. How she watched it made him wonder if she wanted any. Considering how she ate and was told to keep slim, had she ever tried one before?
“Have you ever eaten a burger before?” Louis blurted out.
Could he not have thought about that first and softened the question? Her eyes widened.
Great, let’s just humiliate her again.
“No,” she responded quietly. “I know I could. I am an adult with the ability of making my own choices, but habits are hard to break.”
The way she was looking told him she wanted to try it. So, he cut it into quarters. It was a vegetarian burger, just like the first one. Rosie was vegetarian, and he didn’t want to eat meat in front of her in case it made her uneasy.
“I will not judge you for how you eat or what you eat. That is your choice, and that will always be respected,” he told her.
Her eyes lit up, probably because she had never heard that statement before.
“If you want to eat with proper manners, you go for it. If you want to inhale it like I have been told I do, go for it.” He pushed over the plate.
“If you would like to try a burger, here is your chance.”
“And if I eat it?” Her voice was so timid.