Harry POV
I keep looking at Alice through my shades pretending I am looking at my phone. She’s looking out of the window not paying any attention to me. Her face lits up as she sees the monuments we pass by. I’ve never really paid attention to my surroundings when I’m being driven to hotels. I stop looking at my phone and look out of the window. Rome is not a foreign place to me. It’s my second home. I’ve lived here for two years after my break up with my ex. I needed some time away and I came to Rome. I obviously worked here but I never did the touristy thing. Maybe I should. I think Alice would enjoy it. Maybe I can take her to the Pantheon. And to the Vatican.
“We’re here sir” - I hear the driver calling me from my daydream.
I open the door and Alice holds my hand stopping me.
“Is your family here?” - She asks
“Some of them. My parents will arrive tomorrow” - I tell her as I get out of the car and offer her my hand.
She takes it and we walk into the hotel while I smile at the press.
My cousin is marrying one of my friends from here. He is filthy rich. They are called the monarchs of Italy. She is ridiculous about the press and she asked us all not to say a word as everything is controlled by the family. We know how things work.
We walk into the hotel and I quickly get the keys to our suit.
“Reservations for Payne, Harry Payne” - I say
“Mr Payne, we have the penthouse reserved for your family” - she says
“I’m sorry what?” - I say
“Mr Payne called and asked for the penthouse so the entire family can share” - she says
“No, not happening” - I tell her and she looks confused.
“Is there anything else available?” - I ask
“Yes sir, we have an apartment vacant” - she says
“I’ll take it” - I reply and she nods her head. The staff of the hotel take out luggage to the room while I fill the documents necessary and pay for the room.
We go into the lift and Alice looks at me not really understanding what is happening.
“My father is trying to control me” - I let out and she nods her head
Once we get inside the apartment Alice takes her shoes off.
I undo my tie and the first button of my shirt.
Alice looks around in awe as I take my laptop and set it on the desk in the bedroom.
“All the clothes are put away” - I hear a deep voice say.
“Thank you” - I reply offering a tip as I shake his hand.
Alice looks around and comes back with a smile on her face.
“It has two beds” - she says
“We can’t have the second bed messed up, housekeeping will see and they can tip the press” - I say and her face falls.
“I can make the bed again after we wake up” - she says
“Better not risk it, I’ll sleep on the settee” - I tell her and she nods her head walking into the main bedroom and grabbing her small luggage.
“Are we going out today?” - she asks
“No, I am tired and I have some work to do, but if you want to go have a look around feel free” - I say.
She smiles in excitement and walks into the bathroom. I take my blazer off and roll my sleeves to my elbows as I write on my laptop.
Alice comes out with her hair in a ponytail, black jeans and a white lace top and some white sandals. She looks gorgeous. She’s not wearing any makeup and she has a hat on that covers half of her face.
“I know how to hide from the press, and they are not looking for me anyway” - she tells me and I nod my head
“Do you need any money?” - I ask her but she shakes her head
“I’ll see you later” - she says as she opens the door.
“Alice?” - I call her
“Yes?”
“I’ll go with you, give me ten minutes” - I say standing up and walking into the bedroom grabbing some clothes and going into the bathroom.
Not long after I come out and she looks at me with her mouth opened
“I can hide as well” - I say as we both walk out of the bedroom
As the lift opens, I take her hand in mine and I guide her outside. We walked out of the hotel without being disturbed by the press.
We walked down the road and I started telling some stories about the places we were seeing. I know my history and I love Italy. We stopped by a restaurant so we could have some lunch. I was starving.
“I love pasta” - Alice says as she grabs her fork.
“Me too” - I say looking at her
After lunch, we kept walking around Rome. I even told her I used to live here. She was impressed.
Alice is a nice girl. She is strong-minded from what I gathered but she knows her shit. We had a very pleasant day.
I took her to a small restaurant in the back of the hotel where we had the most amazing pizza.
Alice can eat and I like that in a girl. It always drives me crazy when they order salads and starves themselves. What is that for? Food is a passion of mine.
I’ve been learning a lot about Alice. She has a twin brother that lives on benefits. He doesn’t want to work so she pays for his bills and he uses the benefits of alcohol and drugs. He got himself into some trouble with gambling and she paid for his debt. That’s why she’s still working as an escort and that’s why she lives in that rubbish place. Her auntie raised them both after her parents died but Alice was abused by her new boyfriend so she left at the age of sixteen. I thought I had a tough life. But what do I know? I grew up surrounded by money, and people taking care of me. I never had to work for food. I work because it’s what I know. She works for necessity.
As we end our meal and we walk to the hotel I hold her hand while I walk in front of the press camping in front of the hotel and one of them recognise us.
They start following us asking questions especially to me. Asking who Alice was. I stop in front of the door and I hold her chin up while my lips meet hers. She hands-on my arms while my other hand is tangled on her hair.
I break the kiss and she looks up at me with a smile. My heart is betraying me beating faster than I thought possible.
“She is my girlfriend” - I tell them and that’s when they started shouting questions. About her name, her job, where we met.
I ignored them and pulled her through her hand into the hotel and into the lift.
She laughed as she took her hat off and passed her free hand through her hair.
Alice POVI was in shock when I saw Harry appear in front of me wearing ripped jeans. Adidas trainers and a white t-shirt. His t-shirt hugged his muscles showing of the perfection under the fabric. He put a baseball cap on and we walked out of the bedroom. We walked past the press unnoticed which made me happy. I don’t know how to react in front of them. The day has been absolutely amazing. We walked and talked a lot. I got to know the real Harry. Sometimes he can be arrogant but then he stops and corrects himself. I think he is used to people wanting something from him, but this time it’s the other way around. He wants something from someone else. He wants me to help him. Today helped me to get into my character of a loving girlfriend. We had lunch and dinner out. All in small restaurants that he knew from the
Alice POVI Have a quick shower and do my skin routine. Once I come out of the bathroom wrapped in the fluffy bathrobe I see Harry sitting in the front room reading the newspaper with another mug of coffee. He looks so sexy with his wet hair brushed back. I close the bedroom door and I get dressed.The blush pink dress hugs my curves. The dress has a pencil skirt that goes to my knees. I put on the black high heels and black thin belt on top of the dress.I do a very neutral and soft makeup. My hair tied perfectly into a low ponytail. I spray my perfume and I walk out just holding my clutch. Harry’s eyes meet mine and I see his eyes
Harry POVAfter the Pantheon, we walk back to the hotel. It takes us around thirty minutes but I enjoy Alice’s company. She is grounded and she has some culture. I’ve apologised to her a thousand times about my mother and my family but all she says is that she is okay and she’s just doing her job.That gets to me. That she only sees this as a job. I am hoping to become her friend. She is different from the girls I’ve met before.As we are walking one of the journalists spots us and starts following us. I hate when they do that. If you want a photo just ask for it and get it done. Don’t follow me around. It drives me insane. I stop walking and I turn around to face the guy.
Harry POVOnce we get to the hotel restaurant we are taken to the table where my parents and Harold are sitting.“Sorry we’re late” - I say shaking my brother’s hand and kissing my sister in law’s faceI see them eyeing Alice from head to toe. I put my arm around her waist. And pull her close to me.“Mother, father” - I say as I kiss her face and shake my father’s hand.“You’re late” - mother says“I know. I’m sorry, I had some work I had to take care of” - I say “It is extremely disrespectful” - mother says and I can feel Alice shifting her weigh
Harry POVToday is the rehearsal dinner. I don’t get why they do this. Why rehearsal something like a wedding? I don’t even know what to expect and honestly, I am not bothered. I might come up with an important business meeting and not attend. Since Alice got annoyed with me I struggled to attend all the functions for this wedding. I just want this to be over so I can go back to my life and forget about her. I know it will be hard considering I have been spending twenty-four hours with her constantly. She can make me smile even when I don’t want to. Just looking at her makes me want to drop everything and wrap my arms around her. “What time are we going?” - Alice asks bringing me back from my thoughts
Harry POVToday is the wedding day and tomorrow everything will be over. Well be back in London and Alice will exit my life. I will pay the exorbitant amount of money that I have to and that’s it. I will never see her again because we are from different worlds. I shake my head avoiding those thoughts. I can let her leave my life without forgiving me. I like her. I don’t know what kind of spell she put on me but I like her. I like how she talks back at me and she doesn’t take my shit. I like how she looks at me because I know she likes me too. She says she doesn’t but I know she does. We had a serious conversation yesterday and she put me back in my place. Just because I am paying for her services doesn’t make her my slave. She is right. Was the first time she talked back at m
Harry POVAfter the wedding, I came back to London. I have arrived twelve hours ago and I am already swamped with work. Karen has been calling me since the day that Alice left but I haven’t answered the phone. I don’t know what she told Karen and I honestly am scared to know. I can’t avoid this anymore as I have to pay the rest of the money. According to my lawyer that is the only person that knows about Alice besides the people involved told me I wouldn’t have to pay the rest of the money as Alice was in breach of contract. Alice would have to pay a stupid amount of money to Karen instead of me. But I know she left for a good reason. My mother was nasty. Nastier than usual. So I wouldn’t let Alice in debt because of my mother. I have been trying to call Alice but it always goes straight to voicemail.
Alice POVI keep my eyes closed and his hand grabs my waist pulling me closer to him.“Alice, look at me” - he whispers and I open my eyes slowly. His beautiful green eyes are sad. I can see the uncertainty in his eyes. “Can we please talk?” - he asks and I am not able to talk. It’s like I’ve lost all the ability to formulate words. My heart is beating so fast that I think I will have a heart attack. His smell, his breath hitting my face as he speaks is sending me shivers down my spine and my butterflies are awake again flying in my stomach as he tightens the grip on my chin and waist making me give him an answer.“I’m sorry Harry, I can’t” - I say trying to walk away from him but he pulls me closer and his lips meet mine sending jolts of electricity through my body to my