Chapter 3 - Meeting Alice

Harry POV

I wake up with my alarm on my phone. I turn it off and I get up stretching my back. I had a horrible and uncomfortable night sleep.

I walk into the bathroom and get myself ready for the gym. I have a private gym inside my flat. I live in a three-bedroom flat in front of Hyde Park in London. I love it here. I can see the park from the Gym window while I do my exercises.

After doing my cardio and lifting some weights I decide to go out for a run. It’s seven in the morning and not a lot of people are out. It’s is a lovely spring day and it is already getting hot.

I run down and when I get to the park I put my EarPods on. Music blasting that’s all I need.

I start running and to my surprise, I bump into a girl that came in my direction. We were both distracted and we both ended up bumping and falling back.

For fuck sake. That was all that I needed. I look up to find my ex looking at me. Fate? I get up and offer her a hand. I might be an ass but I don’t let woman hurt on the floor.

She grabs my hand and gets up shaking the dirt from her leggings.

“Sorry” - she says

“No problem” - I reply walking away from her.

She grabs my hand making me stop. I take one of the pods off and I look down at her.

“I’m sorry” - she says

“You already says that” - I tell her

“No, Harry, please, can we talk?” - she asks

“I’m in a hurry, I can’t right now” - I say as I put the pod back on and I start running

I can’t look back. She brings way too many memories. I thought she was the love of my life but then she cheated on me with my best friend at the time. This was five years ago and since then I have been single. I can’t believe that she’s back in London and that she thinks that saying sorry will cut it for her. I shake my head and I run back home.

I finish my run and go back home to have a shower and go pick up Alice.

I open my flat door and I take a deep breath. I walk into the kitchen grabbing a bottle of water and I walk to my room so I can sort myself out.

I turn the hot water on and I let it fall on my back relaxing my aching muscles. I shake my head trying to erase the memories of the past.

I finish my shower and brushing my teeth. I grab a dark grey suit from the dressing room and I get myself ready. I pull my hair back and I look at myself in the mirror. As good as it can get. I grab my luggage and put it in the middle of the dressing room table. I put in some jeans and t-shirts. I pack some suits and shirts on their travel bags. I put my aftershave, toothbrush and toothpaste with shampoo and shower gel in my small bag throwing it inside my luggage. I can’t forget gym clothes. I know the hotel has a gym that I can use.

Once I’m ready and my luggage is packed I walk to the kitchen making myself a cup of coffee. I call the driver and he comes to collect my luggage and take it to the car. Once I finish my coffee I lock up and leave.

I sit in the back seat of the car and the driver has the address to pick up Alice. We will be flying in two hours on my private jet.

I open the email with Alice’s folder again. I look at her photo and she is beautiful. I won’t mind looking at her every day for the next two weeks.

“We’re here sir” - he says

I look out and realise she doesn’t live in luxury as I expected her to. I nod my head and I get out of the car. Once I look at my phone to call her I see her opening the door pulling her luggage.

She’s wearing a dark blue pencil skirt that hugs her curves. High heels and a white blouse. Her hair is neatly brushed and her make up is soft. She is breathtakingly beautiful.

I shake my head and I walk to her with the driver.

“Miss Turner” - I said offering her my hand to shake

“Alice, please” - she says shaking my hand. Her skin is soft and warm. Today is a hot spring day and I can see she will melt if she doesn’t get into the shade.

“This way” - I say opening the door for her. The driver puts the luggage’s in the boot and we both slide into the car.

“I’m Harry Payne” - I say

She looks at me into my eyes and she smiles nodding her head. She has both her hands resting on her legs.

She will be perfect. She looks exactly like a girl I would actually fall in love with and bring home to meet the family.

“Do you have any questions?” - She asks in a low tone of voice

“I read your file, I am okay” - I say looking down at my phone again.

She nodded her head and looked out of the window. She puts her shades on and we ride in silence the rest of the way to the private airport.

Once we arrive I look at her and she looks at me.

“This is where everything starts, there’s some press here” - I tell her and she nods her head.

“I will be the perfect invisible girlfriend “ - she says

“I don’t know about invisible” - I let out and she lifts her shades looking at me in disbelief.

I open the door and I slide out already seeing the staff taking out luggage from the boot of the car.

I offer Alice my hand and she takes it getting out gracefully of the car.

She will definitely be perfect for this. I hope.

She wraps her arm around the one I offered her and we both walk smiling to the jet.

I shake hands with the pilot that is waiting outside for us and I introduce Alice.

“Alice, this is our pilot Antonio. Antonio, this is my girlfriend Alice” - I say and they both exchange hellos and shake hands.

I show her the way to the jet and she clubs the stairs next to me. I rest my hand on her lower back while we get inside. Once the media has no more sight of us I pull my hand away and show her to the bedroom in the back where she can rest and her seat in the jet.

She sits and crosses her legs grabbing an orange juice that is offered to her.

She hasn’t once grabbed her phone or even done anything for herself.

I take my place and soon after we can hear the pilot explaining the duration of the flight.

Once the seatbelt sign turns off she stands up and walks to the bathroom.

I follow with my eyes her every move. She can’t see my eyes as my shades have extremely dark lenses. I take a deep breath and pass my hands through my hair.