Chapter Text
Niall has the best life for a twenty three year old. Her job fucking rules, she lives with her best friend, and she's single with no kids, so there's nothing tying her down or holding her back from partying, which is essentially her job.
Niall had woken up no more than twenty seconds before Louis bangs her door open, holding a steamy mug Niall already knows isn't for her.
"Haz wants us in gold tonight." Is all she says before walking away without shutting the door.
Liam's hand jerked away from Niall's crotch upon Louis' entrance. When Niall looks at him he's blushing and pouting, clutching the duvet to his chest. She laughs at him.
"She's rude." He complains. Niall nods in agreement, though she's fond of Louis' grumpiness by now. She's up before noon though, so that explains it.
"How can you live with that? Total lack of respect for privacy." This time his hands on her hip, pulling her to cuddle and apparently abandoning his earlier plans.
For which she's grateful for. If he'd woken her up with cunninglus, well now that'd be a different story, but last night she took two rounds of pounding while she held herself up on her hands and knees, her twats a bit sore this morning.
He's not exactly small, he's not even average. In fact Liam's cock is wider than the circle her thumb and /middle finger/ makes and probably as long as her forearm. If it wasn't there really wouldn't be any other reason for her to keep up this "relationship" with Liam. Sure he's nice enough, but financially he's only good for her phone bill and Chinese takeout. She's looking for someone to take care of her if she's going to settle down. Plus, there's that thing where Liam's kind of already married.
So, yeah. He's a good time but Niall's probably going to have to set some boundaries about him staying the night, especially since he pouts and furrows his brows when her phone rings.
"Who is it?" He peers over her shoulder as she silences the device and tosses it back to the floor.
"Sophia, she said it's time for you to go home." Niall smiles, fluttering her flashes to feign innocence.
"Ha-ha very funny. Was it a guy?" Liam Payne frowns his trademark Liam Payne frown.
It was indeed a guy, a guy she met last night who said he'd take her shopping with his unlimited credit card. If he was bluffing for her number, well she'll just block his calls like she does the rest- the rest who get too serious or suddenly stop showering her with expensive gifts. She doesn't have time for cheapskates that aren't Liam Payne, hell she's barely got the patience for him.
"No baby it wasn't a guy. Unlike some people I like to stick to one spouse at a time." Niall pinches his cheeks and gives his pouted full lips a chaste kiss.
Liam, God bless his heart believes Niall when she says she's in love with him. He says it back, whether he means it or not she doesn't care to find out. Probably not, considering he's never brought up leaving Sophia. If he did Niall would have to find a way to break it off immediately, probably join the witness protection program or some shit.
"You're a good girl, sometimes I forget that." Liam sighs, laying his head on her shoulder.
Yeah, definitely no more sleep overs. It's hard to pretend to be in love this early in the morning without the promise of mimosas.
"You probably have to get going soon, huh? Current Missus Payne is probably wondering why you left at four in the morning and still aren't back."
And Niall would quite like some more sleep before work tonight, and the pre-work drinks beforehand. She's got a busy night every night Thursday-Sunday. It's Friday, she's needs a rest up.
"Nah, I made up some shit fib about Andy. She's at work by now."
Niall pictures him in bed with his wife, who's beyond gorgeous, when he gets Niall's text. Seeing Liam lie though, that's something she can't imagine. The thought alone amuses her.
"Should go soon though, gotta get fitted for my new running shoes." He says like that's a completely normal thing to make an appointment for. It's not even like he's rich enough to do that kind of stupid shit, what actually is his life.
"Mmmm, no." Niall fake pouts, already rolling out of bed to put a top on. "Make me and Lou breakfast before you go?"
Liam can never say no to her sad blue eyes. Hell, nobody can. That's her advantage.
Well, those and her tits.
***
"Woooow, not what I was expecting but wooow!" Harry compliments when Niall and Louis walk into the back room for pre-drinks.
The girls chose the same gold rhinestoned bra, except Niall's had a string of yellow and white flowers crossing over the top. Bigger flowers cover her white bottoms, Louis' matches her top too.
Harry's eyes narrow at Louis' gold and black belly button ring, sucking in a sharp breath. The girl just smirks and pours herself and Niall a shot.
Louis practically gags when the vodka goes down, Niall just scrunchs her nose a little. It's actually not that bad, a squirt of lime and she could drink that all night.
"Why are we in gold, Styles?" Niall asks, pulling him from his daze of eye fucking Louis.
Harry's in a gold button up shirt that's got about two buttons done and black leggings. Or maybe jeggings, but they aren't jeans. They're too form fitting.
He's not even their boss, he's just the DJ, but sometimes he has suggestions and nine times out of ten said suggestions get the girls more tips. He's exceptionally fashionable for a straight guy. Straight is used loosely, of course. Harry's a bit... wavy.
"Mmm," Harry hums, obviously glad someone asked about his /brilliant/ plan. "We're expecting a bit of a different crowd. A little older I suppose. A producer reserved like four booths." He shrugs.
Niall wonders how old is /older/ as she pours another double shot. She's twenty three, Louis' a year older than her, Harry's barely twenty two. But Liam's twenty eight, and she's had a few shopping "dates" with men in their thirties. Old can be anything older than Harry though, in his opinion. So.
The club opens at ten, and while there's always a line waiting at the door the real crowd doesn't show up until an hour or so later.
They're not supposed to drink on the floor, but Ben isn't out there yet so Niall has Mani make her a Red Bull and vodka before it gets too busy.
"He wants you to start with these," Mani puts the round tray filled with rainbow colored shots on the bar. "After that we got a tonne extra Jager to get rid of."
Twenty minutes later Niall was on her way back to the bar, empty tray in one hand and a stack of surprisingly crisp bills in the other. Usually the bills are always crumpled and sweaty, these look brand new.
"Hey," a hand on her waist stops her less than four feet away from her destination.
"Hey, I'm out of shots." She waves the empty tray at the man. He doesn't have a neck and he's full of sweat, he'd be the perfect kind of pathetic pray she'd flirt with for gifts or money if he wasn't wearing Ed Hardy. Dead give away that he's either cheap or poor and don't even get her started on his plastic watch. Honestly.
"Fuck the shots, come chill with me. I got a couple bottles, I can show you a good time." Behind him a group of men are watching them, smiling and clinking their glasses. They're all better dressed than him, so there's some potential there.
"Alright, just let me-" Niall holds up the money and the tray, nodding to the bar. He follows her the whole way, then leads her towards his booth with a slimy hand on her back.
"I'm Naughty Boy, are you a naughty girl?" So /that's/ who he is. He looked vaguely familiar, his pick up line/ chat up approach is embarrassing and not as smooth as it should be for someone who calls himself Naughty Boy.
Niall laughs, shrugging. "Maybe."
"Here, sit here baby." Naughty Boy gestures for someone to scoot over in the booth and pulls her to sit there. The group is mostly men, there are only three other women with them.
Most of the men stare at Niall, smiling. It's weird.
Naughty Boy seems to have disappeared, probably out to recruit more girls. This is the most pathetic thing Niall's seen in a really long time, and Liam was in her bed this morning.
"How much for a dance?" A guy, a really good looking guy she definitely hadn't noticed before leans over table to ask her. He's sitting in a chair smoking some sort of cigar, his hands littered with tattoos. They seem to go all the way up his arm, his white button up shirt is rolled to his elbows.
"I'm not a dancer." Niall licks her teeth, the bottom of her tongue ring rolls over her bottom lip. Satisfied when his eyes track the movement.
"How much to take you home for the night then?"
The question catches her off guard, no man has ever been so straightforward and upfront about it. She's all for making money but she isn't exactly a prostitute.
"Pretty boy like you would actually pay for it?" Niall laughs, disbelieving. This man is gorgeous, he's probably married. They're always married.
The man holds eye contact with her the entire time, a small smile forms on his pink lips.
"Baby, I'd give this Rolex to come on your face."
She glances down at his wrist watch. It appears to be white gold and she gets a feeling in her belly that it isn't a knock off. Maybe it's the sharp but soft features of his handsome face or the way his words come out smoother than warm butter, but something about him screams wealthy. Rich. Important. /Royal./
Composing herself, she looks back at his face and good god she really hopes he's actually this beautiful and it's not the alcohol in her blood or the dim flashing lights that make him look like a runway model had Jesus's baby.
"It's not my size."
The man's smile quickly drops to annoyed look, tonguing his cheek. He obviously isn't used to being told no, though Niall hasn't exactly told him no. But she hasn't said yes either, and it shows on his face that that doesn't please him.
"But you're my size, so give me an answer before I get bored of you."
Called it.
"What's your name?" Niall asks instead.
"Unimportant." He snaps.
"Oh I have a feeling you are very, very important."
Unimportant people don't reserve six out of ten booths in a club that changes six fifty a shot, dressed in what she assumes is Armani and a half- or at the very least a quarter million dollar wristwatch. The diamond in his nose stud alone could probably pay her rent for a few months.
So why isn't she jumping at the opportunity to hop in his over priced douche-mobile that he probably bought because it matches his outfit- because rich people do shit like that? She wants to tell herself it's because she's looking for long term- to hook line and sink him like she did Liam without any actual commitment on her part. She wants him to fall for her and give her credit cards and attention when needed then piss off for the rest of the week. She tells herself it's about the money, it's a new tactic to get more out of him. In reality, it's because she's intrigued.
"Okay Mr. Unimportant, I'm off at three thirty and out of here by four. If you're still around, maybe we can negotiate over an early breakfast."
Niall doesn't stick around for his answer, just slides out of the booth and sways her hips extra hard on her way to the bar. Louis will probably give her shit later for having to pick up the extra slack.
***
As expected Mr. Unimportant wasn't there when she left, and for some odd reason she felt a small unfamiliar twinge of disappointment. That... just won't do for her.
"Come to ours for drinks?" Niall leans against the bar to ask Normani and Nick as they wipe the sticky spilled drinks from it.
"I'm beat babe," Normani shrugs apologetically.
Niall turns to Nick, who's already looking at her chewing a piece of gum or something like a total douche. Only Nick could make chewing annoying. But, she's running out of options here.
"Nicky poooooh,"
"Nuh uh," he shakes his big head. "No. You drink too much and I'll be stuck with you when they piss off to go fuck, which is very loud." His quiff jiggles a little when he nods towards Louis and Harry.
Harry's leaning against a wall with his bottom lip between his teeth, staring down through hooded eyes at Louis while she tells him something. Probably complaining about Niall or some handsy bastard grabbing her ass again. The usual. On the other hand, Louis could be talking about moth balls and Harry would still look at her that.
"Oh pish posh you dirty hipster, 's not like you got anything better to do!" Niall accuses.
Nick purses his lips at her. "Raincheck? Gonna have to pass young Nialler."
Niall groans all the way over to Louis and Harry. She's still got at least three hours until her Adderall wares off and she's going to be so bored, because all Harry and Louis ever do is weird sex stuff. They don't even invite her for threesomes either, and they fucking had one with Nick before so what the fuck.
"Are you losers ready to go?"
Louis squawks, offended at the same time Harry grins and nods.
"Ugh disgusting." She mutters, snatching her long pea coat from Harry.
"Hazzy tell Niall I'm not a loser!" Louis pouts. Somebody must of bought her shots earlier.
That happens a lot, guys will buy shots from their tray and ask them to drink with them. They literally get tipped to get drunk. She has the best job in the world.
"Niall Louis isn't a loser." He obeys somewhat robotic as he puts Louis' coat on her.
"Um Harry tell Louis she /is/ a loser, because she's an awful best friend /because/- oops sorry!" Niall bumps into someone on their way out the door. She's only a little embarrassed by his happy she is when she looks up and sees Mr. Unimportant peering down at her, bemused.
"Excuse us, /Pal/, we're trying to walk!" Louis yells at him. Yep, she's definitely drunk.
"Friends of yours?" He asks, side eyeing Louis and Harry.
Niall nods, then turns to see Harry wrapped about a scowling Louis. "I'll meet you guys at the house,"
"You have your phone?" Harry asks, sounding like a concerned parent.
"Yes dad I have my phone."
"If she comes back with one less blonde hair on that perfect little angel head I'll have a barbeque of your bits." Louis glares at Mr. Unimportant and twirls her finger wildly pointing to his groin.
Mr. Unimportant nods, but otherwise remains silent.
"I'll see you in a little bit, alright? I'll bring you both cookies." Niall grabs Mr. Unimportant's unsurprisingly baby soft hand and leads the way towards the diner.
"That guy looks like a prick!" They hear Louis yell in what was probably meant to be a whisper. Niall vaguely hears Harry shushing her, she makes a mental note to bring him a hot cocoa for his efforts.
"You were serious about breakfast then." The mystery man comments, still holding her hand. Niall goes to pull it away and he laces their fingers together. She wills herself /not/ to blush at the intimacy.
Hand holding is so much more intimate than sex. That's a proven fact.
"Yeah, this place is open twenty four hours."
When they get to the little restaurant they sit off to the side, across from each other. Niall orders a bunch of shit and sort of regrets it when Mr. Unimportant doesn't order anything. If she knew she was paying for herself she wouldn't have ordered thirty bucks worth of food.
"You gunna tell me your name any time soon?" Niall asks, twirling a steak fry in ketchup.
"Depends. Will you tell me yours if I do?"
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes she shoves the fry in her mouth. He may be beautiful but he's turning out to be the average fuckboy.
"Niall." She chirps.
"Niall, cute. I'm Zayn."
Zayn, the name sounds familiar. Just vaguely, she doesn't too much keep up with gossip. Maybe Liam's mentioned him? She won't ask though, because Liam's married and she's not willing to explain she's essentially a side ho.
"I'm cute or my name is cute?"
/Zayn/ hums. "I don't wait outside of random clubs in dodgy cities for /cute/. Your /name/ is cute, though."
"Why did you wait though? Seems like a lot of effort for a one night stand." She's... pleased and pleasantly surprised he did wait but it doesn't make sense. He's beautiful and obviously wealthy, what's he doing putting in all this effort for her? She's hot, sure, but there are hot girls everywhere.
"Are you implying you're not worth the wait?"
/Not to you/, she thinks.
"What if I'm not?" She asks instead.
The waiter arrives with the styrofoam container of cookies and the bill, Zayn waits until he walks away before he speaks.
"Let me decide that."
Niall finishes eating and grabs the to go boxes. She's just fishing through her pockets for two twenties when Zayn lays a crisp Benjamin over the bill and takes the boxes, offering his elbow for her hold on to.
Mr. Unimportant is turning into Mr. Perfect, and Niall isn't sure how she feels about it.