□ No Tears □

"Thank you for saving me, and driving me to Paris's house" I said, looking away from the city lights and at Mr Hayfield.

The red, yellow and green lights reflected across his angular cheekbones, lighting up the shadows across his face. "It's fine, Miss Jackson" he replied curtly.

He pulled into a busy street at my direction and followed my directions to the driveway of Paris's house. "Are you sure you want to come to work tomorrow, I can give you the day off" he said, pulling the car to a stop and looking at me.

I shook my head. "Thank you sir but I just want things to remain normal, I'll be at work on time and ready to go" I said, grabbing the doorhandle.

"Hope, if you ever need anything, don't be afraid to ask" he replied, reaching for my hand.

I turned to look at him, my hair falling in my eyes. He hesitated for a moment before reaching across the console and tucking the strands of hair behind my ear. I stalled a moment, my hand tightening on the handle. He seemed to realise what he was doing and tore his hand away, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I guess, I'll see you tomorrow" he said stiffly.

I opened the door and gripped my bag. "Yeah" I replied distractedly.

I stepped out of the car and closed the door. The car sped away almost immediately. Sighing, I turned around and walked towards Paris's front door.
She lived in a small house by herself, but I visited frequently.
I knocked on the hardwood, waiting for her to open the door.

I heard footsteps before Paris herself opened the door. Her blue eyes lit up when she saw me. "Hope!" She exclaimed before flinging her arms around me.

I winced as she pulled me into the hug tightly. I blew her blonde hair around way from my face as I hugged her back. "Hey" I said, before pulling away.

Paris smiled, her white teeth glinting against her tan skin. "It's been so long, like almost a few weeks" she said, searching my face.

She spotted my bruise and I could feel the anger radiate off her. "Did he hurt you again?" She asked, gritting her teeth.

Paris and I had been friends since almost the start of high school. She had saved me from some douche trying to feel me up in the girls bathroom at Orientation day. She'd kicked him, punched him square across the face and threatened him.

When he'd run out, she had consoled me and told me she'd protect me. We'd been friends ever since.
"I'm okay, Mr Hayfield stopped him from hurting me further" I said, looking away.

"Mr Hayfield? Your boss?" She asked, stepping aside to let me in.

I nodded and passed her, walking into her house. As usual, her house smelt of old books and pine trees. "He saw Harry beating you and saved you?" She asked, curious.

"Does it matter, I'm okay now and everything's I've between Harry and I" I replied, turning to look at her as I reached the living room.

"Babe, it should have been over when he first hit you" Paris replied, leaning against the wall.

I sighed and flopped down onto on of her couches, she followed me and sat opposite me. "Where are you going to go?" She asked, tilting her head.

I gave her my puppy dog eyes. "I was hoping I could stay here" I said, pleading.

"You can stay the night but I just can't accommodate you, this is a one bedroom house and you aren't going to sleep on the couch" she replied, sadly.

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm screwed, Paris, I've pushed everyone I love away just so Harry couldn't hurt them but now I can't turn to anyone" I said, suddenly feeling the weight of the word.

I couldn't help but sob. I felt Paris snake a hand around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug. "You will work it out, you always have" she replied.

I wiped at my eyes. "Here, I'll make us a nice hot cup of coffee and then we'll think of a plan, okay?" She asked, getting up.

I nodded and thanked her.

□■□

I yawned as Paris drive me to work the next day. "How are you feeling?" She asked, turning to look at me. 

"I mean, aside from the possible homelessness, I feel better, lighter" I replied, glancing at my best friend.

She looked at me guilty. "I'm sorry I'm not much more help, I wish I could afford a better house" she replied.

"Even with our combined paychecks, it's just way to expensive" she added.

"I'm know, it's okay, like I said, I'm going to talk to Mr Hayfield, maybe he could help me out" I replied as Paris pulled up in front of the building.

"I do have to admit, you look so much better in my clothes than I do" she replied, referring to the slim black office skirt and fitted light blue office shirt I was wearing.

I smiled and laughed. "Thank you Paris" I said genuinely.

I hugged her and she hugged me back tightly. "Good luck babe" she said.

I took a deep breath and opened the car door, stepping out onto the street. I waved goodbye to Paris as I closed the door and turned on my heel, heading for the twenty story office building. The big bold Hayfield Enterprises Ltd sprawled across the building seemed to reflect the still rising sun.

I walked towards the glass doors and pushed it open, revealing the lobby. Workers bustled in and out and I just waved my way to the elevator. Pressing the top floor, I swiped my security card and waited patiently for other workers to step in.
I closed my eyes when the elevator started to climb upwards, stopping every now and again to let people off.

Finally, with a ding, the elevator doors  opened for me and I stepped off into the office that seemed to never stop working. A woman ran by, stacks of paper in her hand.

I stopped, letting coffee strollers walk past and moved towards my office. I barely closed the door when the light of Mr Hayfield's intercom name started to flash. I sighed and put down my bag. I leaned across the desk and pushed the button. "Good morning sir, how may I help you?" I asked, fake cheerful.

"I need to see you in my office, right now" he replied, his voice not at all the soft tone I had heard many times yesterday. 

He was angry.

"Of course sir, right away" I said, before ending the call and running out of my office.

I practically jogged to Mr Hayfield's office and knocked on the door. "Enter!" He exclaimed.

I winced before opening the door and walking in. Hayfield was pacing, he turned his head to look at me. "Close the door" he ordered.

I did as told. "Sir? Is everything alright?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Your bastard of an ex boyfriend is suing the company" he growled out, finally stopping pacing.

My mouth fell open and I could feel the tears begin. "Oh my god" I said to myself.

"And he's suing for a lot of money" Mr Hayfield added.

I sat down on one of the chairs and put my head in my hands. "I'm so sorry sir, I should have known he would do something like this" I replied, getting hysterical.

"I'm so sorry, I'll quit, you can fire me, whatever you need to make this better, I'm so sorry, he ruins everything I have, I should have known" I cried out, starting to cry.

"Hope, listen to me" Mr Hayfield said before pacing again and coming towards me.

He pulled my hand away from my face gently. "I wouldn't change a thing that happened, alright, I wouldn't" he said.

His emotions were so weird, one moment he's mad and the next he's not. "No sir, it's not only that, I don't have a place to live, Paris can't accommodate me because she's just got a one bedroom, all of my stuff is still at the house Harry and I share, I have nothing, now he's going after my work and I know it's only reasonable I quit for the troubles I've caused" I said, expressing my sadness and hatred.

"No!" Hayfield said sternly. 

Surprised, I looked up at him.
"You are not quitting and I'm not firing you, your asshole ex can sue as much as he wants but he can't afford the brilliant lawyers I have and he doesn't have the one thing I do have" he said, moving away from me and pacing again.

"What's that?" I asked, confused..

"You, Miss Jackson, you can finally get him back for all of the abuse he did to you, you could put him behind bars" Mr Hayfield replied.

"I couldn't! I don't have good lawyers like you, I don't have anything!" I exclaimed.

Mr Hayfield stopped by the window, he stared out of it for a few moments before turning his whole body to look at me. If it wasn't this moment, I would have drooled at the sight of him wearing a business shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing the hard defined arms and a tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve.

"You can stay with me" he said, surprisingly curt.

"What?" I stuttered.

Was I hearing things?

"You can stay with me, live with me until you're back on your feet, you don't have to pay anything or do anything and I'd rather you not tell anyone" he said, folding his arms, exposing more of his arm.

"Sorry? Me live with you?" I asked, still not believing what I was hearing.

He started to look irratated. "Deal or no deal?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I gulped. I didn't really have any other choice. "Deal" I replied.

A/N

Oooo! I'm so excited!
Are you guys excited!
I'm tons excited!

Also Ariana Grande's No Tears Left To Cry song is I have no idea why but it's currently my favourite song, like I think she's so beautiful with the white hair and stuff and her vocals on this is just extrodinary.

Anyway.. enough fangirling..
What did you think of this chapter?
Let me know in the comments and don't forget to like and follow my account.
Please add the book to your library to be informed of updates!

Much love, T xoxo