A/N: Thank you SO much for the reviews on the last chapter, I love that new people are finding this story all the time! Please ignore any spelling mistakes etc, I've tried to check for them but I may have missed some!
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Robert is currently in Italy at meetings, so instead of spending the evening alone, I head out for drinks with some colleagues. I surprise myself with how much fun I have, staying out until eleven o'clock. I get into bed quickly, cold and tired, but I'm disturbed by a knock at the door. I groan and roll my eyes as I climb out of bed and shrug on my dressing gown. I make my way to the door. There's another louder knock as I reach the door. I frown and undo the lock, opening the door.
"Cora!" my brother exclaims, grinning. I gasp and my hand flies to my chest in shock, why is Harold here? "I thought you'd probably gone to sleep, I know it's late. Well, late for you."
"Harold!" I squeak. "What are you doing here?" He laughs.
"Surprise! I wanted to visit you. I haven't seen you since June."
"How did you know where to come?"
"Mom has your address in her address book, as well as the little code for the elevator. It wasn't hard." I smile and hug him awkwardly, ushering him into my apartment. He looks around appreciatively. "Nice place."
"Thanks. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I'm working every day this week, I won't have time to show you around!"
"That's fine. I can entertain myself." I frown at his indifferent attitude, but he's always like this.
"Do our parents know that you're here?"
"Yes, Cora." I feel slightly awkward. Harold and I have never had the easiest relationship. We've got nothing in common, nothing to talk about. Which is why I'm extremely confused about why he's decided to surprise me, he must be in some sort of trouble back home... I won't push him for details. He'll tell me if he wants to. "How's the billionaire?"
"His name is Robert." I answer, rolling my eyes. "Do you want something to eat?"
"Please." Harold follows me into the kitchen, where I put leftovers from last night into the microwave for him. "So?"
"He's fine."
"Where is he?" I pour Harold a glass of water and he accepts it gratefully.
"Italy, working."
"Ah."
"How's your girlfriend?" I ask, unsure of her name. Mom mentioned her on a few occasions, but Harold moves through girls so quickly that I never remember their names.
"We broke up," Harold answers, indifferently. "She was pretty, but a bit of an airhead." I frown, removing the plate from the microwave and passing it to him. He takes it gratefully and sits down at the table to eat.
"Haven't you got a new girlfriend yet, then?"
"I don't want a girlfriend, being single is so much more fun."
"Why is that?"
"You're free to flirt with anyone you want." I shake my head, disgusted at my brother's playboy ways. I always forget how different we are. "Can I meet the billionaire?" I narrow my eyes, suspicious.
"Why?" Harold makes a face.
"Because he's your boyfriend. I'm interested. You never have boyfriends."
"No, I don't," I concede. "Well, how long are you intending to stay?" Harold shrugs.
"Indefinitely, I'll see what suits me." Only Harold wouldn't think to ask if his staying in my apartment was an inconvenience to me.
"Robert gets back from Italy the day after tomorrow. I'll ask him if he wants to meet you."
"Thank you."
"You'll have to be on your best behaviour." Harold rolls his eyes.
"You're not my Mom, shove off." I sigh, irritated.
"Harold, why are you here?"
"I told you," he says, in an tone that implies I'm being stupid. "I wanted to surprise you."
"Oh, come off it. What have you done now?" Harold doesn't answer straight away, scraping the rest of the lasagna off the plate and eating it.
"I got sick of Mom telling me that I needed to get a job. Apparently all I can do well is party and sleep with girls." I fight the urge to laugh, it seems nothing has changed in my abscence.
"So you just ran away?"
"No, I came to visit you to get some distance. I'll return and work when I'm ready, which is why my visit is open ended." I smile, pleased at Harold's words. Somehow, Mom seems to have finally got through my brother's thick skull.
"Will you work for Daddy, then?"
"No. Well, I may but I want to do something with yachts."
"Such as?"
"I'm still thinking about that." I nod, glancing at the time. It's after midnight now. I pick up Harold's empty plate and glass and load them into the dishwasher.
"I'll show you to the spare room," I tell him, and he nods, standing up. I'm glad I had the foresight to clean the spare room earlier this week, so it's thankfully not too dusty.
"Thanks for the lasagna, and the room," Harold says, wheeling his suitcase into the spare room. I nod.
"You're welcome. Good night, Harry."
"Night, Cora."
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I wake up the next day thinking I dreamt Harold's arrival, but his snores are audible to me from down the corridor. Definitely not a dream. I shower and dress as quickly as possible, and make breakfast for both of us. Harold is still asleep when I finish, so I knock loudly on his door.
"Harold!" I call. "Breakfast!" He doesn't answer, so I eat breakfast alone. I place the pancakes out on the counter for Harold when he wakes up, and leave for work. One of the colleagues I went out with last night, Claire, is in the lobby as I enter.
"Hey!" I say. "Good morning."
"Morning," she says, smiling. I wait for her to collect some paperwork from the reception and join her in the elevator. "How was the rest of your evening?" I laugh.
"Interesting. Shortly after I arrived home, my brother turned up!"
"Oh my!" Claire exclaims, laughing. "All the way from America?"
"Yes, without a word to me of his plans to visit." Claire shakes her head, still chuckling. "And the best part is, his stay is open ended."
"Oh, it never is!"
"I've barely had the chance to talk to him, he arrived just before midnight and wasn't awake this morning."
"Oh, Cora." I laugh too, my situation is rather unorthodox.
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I have a pretty quiet day, with only a few small meetings, and manage to get home around half past five. I wonder if Harold is going to be present, but he's in the kitchen.
"Are you cooking?" I ask, shocked.
"Good evening!" Harold says, sounding cheerful. I remove my jacket and put my handbag down, moving towards my kitchen. I don't smell anything burning, surprisingly. I peer over Harold to see what he's making. It's beef stroganoff. "I'm making dinner," he announces. I frown, but decide to leave him to it.
"Well, call me when it's ready. I've got a phone call to make."
"Sure." I head into my room to call Robert. He answers on the first ring.
"Hello," he answers.
"Hey! How is Italy?"
"Oh, so beautiful. I wish you were here with me." I smile, but I'm lucky I didn't go to join him in Italy as Harold would have been stranded. "The food is divine, and the people are lovely."
"How did your meetings go? Has it been a successful trip?"
"I'd say so. We've got a final meeting tomorrow with the important people, but the cronies I met today seem happy so I'm fairly confident I'll get the deals I need."
"That's great!"
"Yes, it is. How was your day?"
"Interesting," I say, with a laugh, thinking of Harold cooking in my kitchen. I haven't yet told Robert that my brother has decided to visit.
"Oh? Please elaborate. I've been stuck in meetings all day, I'd love to hear something that isn't a statistic."
"Harold is here."
"Harold?" Robert exclaims. "Well, that's unexpected." I laugh.
"I know! He appeared last night, just before midnight." Robert laughs too.
"How long is he planning to stay?"
"It's open-ended."
"Oh," Robert says, chuckling.
"And he wants to meet you."
"Well, I'm free tomorrow night." I frown.
"No, you'll be exhausted tomorrow night."
"Cora, this trip has been the very opposite of tiring, I'll be fine. Besides, I want to see you." I decide there's no point in debating with him, and I want to see him too.
"Alright, where will we go?"
"I'll call around and see what restaurants are free, and then I'll message you." I bite my lip, worrying slightly about Robert meeting my brother.
"Okay, I should be finished work at six, and Harold isn't doing anything."
"Brilliant. I'll book us somewhere at eight, give you time to get ready."
"Cora!" Harold shouts, interrupting me.
"I've got to go," I tell Robert. "Harold has made us dinner, and it's ready."
"He's made dinner?" Robert asks. "That doesn't sound like him, from what you've told me." I grin.
"Yes, it's very out of character. He's acting very strange, very cheerful."
"Well, don't spoil your dinner by letting it cool down. I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night," I promise. "Good night."
"Cora!" Harold shouts again. I hang up and enter the kitchen, and I'm pleasantly surprised by what I find. Harold has set the table, laid out two plates of beef stroganoff and poured glasses of wine for both of us.
"Oh, Harold, this looks great," I say, sitting down.
"There's no need to sound so surprised," he tells me, making a face. I laugh and we both eat in silence. I load the dishwasher and help Harold clean up from cooking.
"Well, you've proved Mom wrong on one score, you're not completely useless." Harold laughs.
"Thanks, Cora."
"No, really, it was lovely. Thank you, Harold." Harold simply nods, and we move into the living room. I let Harold pick what he wants to watch, I'm not bothered.
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As it gets later, I remember that I haven't informed Harold of our dinner plans for tomorrow. He's barely awake, jet lag getting to him. I clear my throat and he jumps, looking at me.
"Sorry," I apologise. "I phoned Robert earlier. He wants to meet you too."
"Oh?"
"Tomorrow night, dinner."
"Do I have to dress up? I didn't bring much."
"I'm sure a shirt and smart trousers will suffice." Harold nods.
"Where are we going? Somewhere fancy?"
"He's picking somewhere, I don't know."
"Okay," Harold answers, looking back to the TV. I glance at my watch, it's ten o'clock.
"I'm going to head to bed," I say. "Just tidy up after yourself and switch the TV off when you go to bed."
"I will," Harold agrees.
"I won't wake you up tomorrow, you seem tired. I'll leave pancakes out for you again." Harold nods.
"Thanks, Cora. Good night."
"Night, Harold," I reply, standing up.
-
The next day is much the same, but I get home slightly later. Six o'clock instead of five. Harold is watching TV in the living room.
"Hello," I say, taking off my jacket.
"Hello," he replies, following me into the kitchen where I pick up an apple and begin eating it. "How was work?"
"Fine, thanks. Quiet." Harold nods. "How was your day? What did you get upto?"
"I went shopping!" I frown.
"Really? For what?"
"Clothes, to meet your billionaire."
"Stop calling him that."
"Sorry," he apologises.
"What kind of clothes?"
"Like you said, a shirt and nice trousers."
"Didn't you bring that already?"
"No, I packed for a visit to my sister, I didn't factor in her billionaire boyfriend."
"Harold, I mean it. Stop referring to him as a billionaire."
"Well, he is a billionaire."
"Yes," I acquiesce. "But he's also so much more than that."
"Well, I'm looking forward to meeting him. You and Mom have left me with high expectations."
"What did Mom say?" I ask, suspicious.
"Just that he was extremely agreeable and attractive."
"Did Daddy say anything?"
"No, but you know our father. He keeps his opinions to himself, unlike Mom." I smile. "What time did you say this dinner was at?"
"Eight o'clock." Harold glances at the clock. "We need to leave by seven forty five though, the restaurant isn't close." Harold nods.
-
Harold and I are both ready by half past seven. He looks very smart in a black shirt and black trousers. Hes even ditched his usual trainers for smart suit shoes.
"You look great, Harold," I tell him and he smiles.
"You look pretty good, too." I grin.
"We should take a photo for Mom."
"Alright," Harold agrees. We take a few selfies and I take a picture of Harold in his new outfit and send them to Mom. "Can we go now?" I nod, putting on a trench coat to cover up from the cold air outside. My jacket has enough pocket room for everything I need to carry, so I don't take a bag. Harold hails a taxi and I give the driver the address Robert texted me.
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Inside the restaurant, the hostess takes us to a private booth where Robert is waiting for us. He stands up as he sees us, and kisses me quickly.
"Hello," he greets us.
"Hey," I answer. I gesture to Harold. "Robert, this is Harold. Harold, Robert."
"Pleased to meet you," Harold tells Robert, shaking his hand.
"Likewise." I bite my lip as we all sit down at the table, Robert and I opposite Harold.
"I hear you're just back from Italy," Harold says, and Robert grins.
"That's right. Working, I'm afraid, but it's still Italy." Harold returns Robert's grin.
"I've never been..." Harold muses. "But I've only heard positive things."
"I'd highly recommend it," Robert tells him. "That's where Cora and I had our first date."
"In Italy?" Harold exclaims. "Wow."
"We were working," I explain, laughing. Harold frowns but doesn't ask for any more explanation. We order food and Harold and Robert are chatting happily. Robert's arm rests comfortably behind my shoulders.
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I'm pleasantly surprised by how well Robert gets on with my brother. They find common ground quickly, comparing American and English sport. I try to pay attention, but I don't know half of the athletes and players they're referring to. The food in the restaurant is amazing, so I concentrate on that instead. Watching Robert talking to Harold so animatedly passes the evening quickly, and it's soon time to leave. Harold, to my surprise, insists on paying. I hide my smirk with my hand when Robert finally relents and allows Harold to pay. Harold excuses himself to the counter to pay, leaving Robert and I in the booth.
"I really like your brother," Robert comments. I turn to look at him. "He's got good taste."
"You only say that because he supports the same teams you do." Robert laughs.
"Maybe, but I do like him. He's very different to you though, I wouldn't have said you were related."
"Really?" Robert finishes his drink and nods.
"He looks a lot like your parents, but not like you. And obviously, you're completely different people." I raise my eyebrows, that's an understatement.
"I'm really glad you get on with him." Robert smiles and leans in to kiss me. I kiss him back for a few seconds before we're interrupted by someone clearing their throat. It's Harold. I blush and jump back from Robert, but Robert just laughs.
"That's the bill paid. I'll wait outside," Harold says gruffly, clearly feeling awkward. He doesn't give either of us a chance to reply, picking up his jacket and heading for the door. Robert is still laughing, and leans in to kiss me again properly.
"Come on," he tells me, pulling back. "Can't keep Harold waiting." I laugh too, and stand up.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, reviews are really appreciated! I thought it was about time to introduce Harold :) I was also unsure about how to write him and his relationship with Cora, as with all the characters in this story, it's just how I imagine their personalities in 2020.