Don't Let Me Go

I was on the way home when I got a call from management. “Answer.” I say to the hands free set Liam had gotten me.

“Hello, Niall. This is Kelly with Modest! Management and you're needed in a meeting. Now.”

I glance back at Carter who's contently watching some Nick show on the DVD player that was strapped onto the back of the passenger seat.

“Can I stop by my house first? I've got some..stuff to take care of.” I’ll just drop Carter off there with a probably very reluctant Emily and just have to pray he doesn't start a crying jag on her.

“Bring the kid, Niall.” Kelly says before hanging up (quite rudely I might add). There goes that plan.

The drive to the office was a short one, the only sounds being Carter's giggles and helpful answers to Deandre or Diego or whatever his name was. The short, Hispanic one.

“Okay, bud. I need you to be very good while we're in here. These are your Da's bosses.” I advise him as I unbuckle his carseat and place him on the ground before grabbing his hand as we walk towards the office's doors. Truth be told, I was hoping having him walk on his little toddler legs would take a while so I could stall for a bit. It didn't help very much.

“I'm here for a meeting with management.” I tell the blonde secretary at the front desk. She holds up a finger at me, gesturing for me to wait as she continues typing with her other hand.

“This way.” Her snooty voice calls as she stands up and smooths out her rather short skirt. You'd think they'd have a dress code of some kind here. She leads me down a long hall, decorated with all kinds of certificates and magazine articles on the walls. She walks so briskly that I eventually have to pick Carter up and carry him so we don't lose her.

“They're in there.” She points a dainty finger towards a glass door that I can see is filled with a good seven or eight dressed up business people.

Here we go.

All conversation stops as I push open the door that leads into your typical meeting room. A long, wooden table filled with tons of those spinning chairs.

“Hello, Mr. Horan. I assume you know why you're here?” Ms. Tarim asks. She was the head of management and the boys and I had met with her several times together, but never alone. She was a short woman, but her attitude made her seem like she was six feet tall.

“Yes ma'am. My son Carter.” As I speak everyone moves to take a seat and I follow, grabbing one of the chairs near the end and setting Carter next to me.

“I understand you were ambushed by paparazzi yesterday?” I nod and she shuffles some papers.

“Mr. Horan, you have to understand that keeping this child would be a very bad move publicity wise.”

“It's only for four months. And I have a cover-up. This is Carter James, a friend of the family's son. I'm just taking care of him while his mum is in America.” She purses her lips before shaking her head.

“This is a very risky move, Mr. Horan. This most likely will blow up in your face.” I nod, urging her to go on.

“If he is your biological son, then I have no choice in the matter. It's your neck on the line. If you draw too much bad publicity to this band, I will be forced to let you go.”

“I understand, Ms. Tarim.”

“Thank you for your time. You're all dismissed.” We all shuffle out of the room and I take a deep breath. Please don't let me screw this up.

The drive home Carter is pretty quiet and when I look in my mirror to check on him, he's fast asleep. When we get to my flat, I gently take him out of his carseat and walk to my front door. I open it and I almost drop Carter in my surprise.

All of Emily's stuff is gone.