Harley Cordell

athena knew for a fact that her card not working was a mistake on the other end. in her  ( 23 )  years of living , her card getting declined was impossible. she was seconds away from snapping at the worker behind the counter for obviously doing something wrong. hell , she could buy everyone in the starbucks about 10 drinks  &  more with the amount of money in her bank account.  “    i literally just bought a fucking le chiquito not even a couple of minutes ago  &  you’re telling me that my card is declined  ?  fix this bullshit. now.    ”  athena started at the employee before someone cut in. clearly taken aback , athena’s face soured as she turned around to look at the taller man. how embarrassing. not only was she holding up the line , looking like a pauper. some random was offering to pay for her drink. unbelievable.  “    fuck no. i have cash.    ”  athena begrudgingly spoke as she pulled a wad of money out of her bag , throwing the employee a  ( 100 )  dollar bill.  “    but you can pay for his drink  &  everyone else’s in line as well.    ”  athena ordered. her pride would never allow someone to pay for her things. let alone someone she didn’t even know.  “    &  i’m not your pal , but you’re welcome.    ”

Harley wouldn’t call himself the greatest guy alive or anything, but he usually helped people out in these situations whether they looked like they needed it or not. He didn’t like to assume things, but if he could pay it forward, he liked to. Though this time the girl he’d offered to pay for seemed offended and quite honestly disgusted at the notion. As someone who used to work in food service similar to Starbucks, he knew how annoying it was to have to break a 100 dollar bill with the limited change in the register, but he didn’t say anything since she’d just payed for everyone’s drink in line. Harley wasn’t expecting that, to be quite frank. He didn’t need anyone to pay for his things either, but he also didn’t feel any shame in someone offering kindness to him-- even if it was out of spite. “Thank you very much,” He replied genuinely, stepping next to her so he could order his little coffee (that he was addicted to, at this point). “I’m sure you probably felt like I was implying that you couldn’t pay for your own drink-- but don’t worry, I recognize your YSL earrings, I was just trying to be nice,” He said after ordering and stepping out of the way of the register.

clem glanced up from where she was digging through her purse for some cash, cheeks going red as she was interrupted by harley’s chivalry. “uhm, no it’s okay. i have cash.” she passed over a five to the barista running the register, tucking her hair behind her ear before adding a few dollars to the tip jar, including the change. “hi, harley.” she greeted, stepping away from the register with her arms crossed over her chest, smile thin on her face.

“Are you sure?” Harley asked, finally recognizing the girl. “Oh, Clem!” He chirped, giving a little wave. He lifted a finger to her for a second to indicate that he would talk to her again in a moment, ordering his own coffee quickly and stepping to the side with her. “Sorry, wasn’t meaning to imply that you couldn’t pay for your own coffee or anything, just trying to help out,”

“YOUR FUCKING MACHINE MUST BE GOD DAMN BUSTED, THEN. TRY THE HELL AGAIN. IF I HAVE TO GET MY APPLE PAY OUT, I WILL. DON’T GET IT TWISTED, I CAN PAY FOR THIS. JUST ADMIT YOU’RE WRONG.” Meilani was popping off, red in the face, about the young teenager behind the counter clearly not knowing how to work the system. She didn’t want to sound like a Karen, but fuck, a manager was more than needed right now. There was no way her card wasn’t working, she was half convinced the teen had been inserting it incorrectly and with germs, she refused to do it herself. “I’m no damsel in distress here.” Mei said with an annoyed roll of her eyes and moving to the side at Harley’s words, just wanting to make sure he knew what was up. “Just got my nails done and my card worked just fine, this idiot here must have just started because he didn’t know how to insert it the right way for me and I’ll be damned if I catch a cold from this machine.” Yes, she knew it was summer time but whatever. Letting her annoyance still be known as she tapped her fingers against the counter, she looked for the first time at the guy offering to buy her drink. “Don’t think this is going to be some epic love story or cliche thing.” The girl stated clearly as she took her phone out to scroll endlessly through insta.

Harley was admittedly a little shook by the way the girl was popping off on the employee, who quite honestly looked like he was going to shit himself. But, Harley was pretty empathetic and understanding-- or at least he attempted to be-- so he wasn’t about to back down. Especially if he could diffuse this woman’s attitude and possibly make the Starbuck’s employees day a little easier. “Hey, no one’s saying you’re a damsel in distress. The card reader is probably broken, but I have cash,” He explained, ready to help out. She looked incredibly annoyed, but once the girl looked over at him again, he pulled cash out of his wallet. “Don’t you worry, I’m not trying to make a move on you, just wanted to help out.” He assured her-- though, she was pretty, he normally did all his flirting at bars. And definitely not when people were popping off at baristas-- time and place for everything. He gave the employee his own order, and used cash to pay for both of their drinks. “So,” He started, walking with her to the counter where you pick up the drinks after he’d finished paying. “Masters is right around the corner, I’m assuming you work there too?”

trying not to remember their encounter was hopeless, after all, she had run into him naked, and for mardra, it was a sight that felt practically foreign for her. of course, she had done her best to avert her eyes, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t see anything. regardless, running into him in public seemed like the worst possible scenario, especially when he was offering to pay for her coffee run. “ yeah, mardra. I mean it, though. I feel bad to make you pay for everything. you don’t have to be so nice, ” she said, and she completely meant it. there really wasn’t a big incentive for him to pay for her order, even if he was trying to pay it forward.

“Ah, you don’t need to feel bad though, it’s the least I can do for accidentally flashing you,” He laughed heartily, pausing his conversation with her to grab his change and make his own order and pay for it. He gestured over to the counter where you wait for your coffee and walked with her. “Are you heading home for the day?” He asked out of curiosity, since it was a little later in the evening and he’d already clocked out of Masters before walking to the Starbucks. “I was lucky I got out today when I did, my boss left me  so much paperwork. I guess they wanted to remind me work is work right after getting back from the trip,”

mardra recognized the person behind her from their encounter in hawaii, even if she didn’t want to think of it again. it wasn’t that harley was ugly, but she was a bit nervous seeing someone who she had seen… all of. she couldn’t help it if her cheeks got a bit red seeing him again, and it was especially embarrassing when her company card wouldn’t work. she tried to brush off the chip and tried swiping it, but it was to no avail. “ thank you, ” she said to him, still a little nervous from their first interaction, “ I mean, as long as it’s no trouble. but please, let me make it up to you. ” she added quickly, her words practically stringing together as she forced herself to look at his face just as she did in hawaii.

When the girl finally turned around, Harley immediately remembered her as the girl who ran into him at the hotel in Hawaii. He wasn’t really embarrassed too bad about the situation, but she seemed like she definitely remembered considering her face was red like a tomato. “It’s not trouble at all,” He insisted. “You don’t have to make it up to you, it’s just coffee,” Harley laughed, reaching over to hand cash to the woman behind the register. “Mardra, right?”

mardra had wanted to take a quick dip in the pool after the company dinner, but of course she had gotten a bit sidetracked talking to people along the way and it was probably too dark to swim at this point. with a frown, she decided to head back to her room and watch a movie instead, until she collided with someone rushing down the hallway. “ oh my, oh my god, i’m so sorry, ” she apologized vehemently, looking up at the ceiling instead of where his towel had fallen down. this would make a great first impression, accidentally disrobing someone in public. “ I didn’t know you were… I mean, it was an acci – i’m sorry. ” she said, her heart racing and cheeks staining red as she stammered through a flustered apology.

Harley was grateful that the girl he’d ran into didn’t stare, but it was too late, there was no way she didn’t see everything. Maybe, by the grace of the universe, she looked up quickly enough. Didn’t stop him from turning a little bit red in his embarrassment, though. “No, no, don’t be-- don’t be sorry, you’re fine,” He said, tucking the towel firmly around his waist and keeping a hand on it just in case. “I shouldn’t have been rushing around the corner in this--- uh, state,” He laughed awkwardly. “At least I ran into a pretty girl and not some like, weird creep or something. Unless you are a weird creep and you just don’t look like one, you can never be sure. -- I mean, I’m kidding, I don’t think you’re a creep, you apologized way too much for that.” He laughed again, not sure he was making the situation any less awkward. “Uh, sorry for running into you,”

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: i'm sorry.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: i just didn't expect you to say that, you know ?

Harley: des p l e a s e stop apologizing to me for everything

Xavier couldn’t have cared less about the Hawaiian itinerary. It didn’t take a genius to see he was brought along for aestehtic purposes only, being nothing but one of the many beautiful possessions Rolfe liked to show off, especially in relation to Masters, especially when it came to showcasing the business outside of New York. He took his role in stride, strolling down the beaches of Hawaii with his shirt off, confidence practically screaming in the face of everyone who looked anywhere near towards his general direction.

Being the outspoken social butterfly that he was, it didn’t take long for him to find another group of loud, buzzed frat-guy tourists to play a game of volleyball with - just as it didn’t take long for the game to go south, the ball flying outside the borders of the playing field and towards an unsuspecting victim walking along the beach. "Heads up!“ he yelled, running after the ball.

Harley would normally be ready to party after every meeting, considering he had always wanted to visit Hawaii and see the beaches. He’d gotten to travel a lot in the past few years, but not nearly as much as he wanted to. But he was finding it hard to focus on anything besides work, especially after his text conversations with Des got deeper and deeper. But he didn’t need to think about that right now.

Harley decided a walk on the beach would lift his spirits, and he was practically kicking gently at every sea shell he came across as he walked when a voice rang out through his ears. Unfortunately, it wasn’t fast enough, since as soon as his head lifted, the ball hit him square in the forehead and fell to his feet. “Fuck,” He hissed to himself, lifting his hand to his head.he couldnt see it, but a big red circle had been left on his skin. “Hey, y’all should really watch where--” He paused, looking at the man running up to him. “Oh, hey! You’re--- um-- Xavier, right? From the bar...?” He questioned, surprise in his voice since he definitely didn’t expect to see him here.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: interesting.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: have you been seeing anyone ?

harley: ... as in dating? no

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: yeah. aside from the obvious.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: do you still agree with what you said that night ??

harley: well i was completely sober and being 100% honest with you

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: i think so

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: i can't really remember.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: did you have a hangover ?? ik u weren't there but yk what i mean.

harley: um, no. i just stayed home that night.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: we haven't talked since the gala.

𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖞: are you alright ??

harley: im... fine

@harleycxrdells​

Xav had made it halfway across the town, spent half an hour looking for the bar his friend told him he’d meet him at - just to receive a last-second ‘sorry, won’t be able to make it’ text. Last second as in Xavier was already entering the bar, looking for a place to sit last second. Frustrated, he chose to sit behind the bar instead, turning to the first guy he saw; “Want a drink?” he asked, channeling his best friendly smile, “My shit ass friend stood me up, I’m not about to drink alone.” He’s done plenty of drinking alone to last him a lifetime anyway.

Harley was used to being bought drinks at bars, but usually from people hitting on him. This guy didn’t seem like he was hitting on him at all, but definitely appeared to be alone and Harley had known what it felt like to go somewhere specifically to hang out with someone and have them flake. “Ah, can’t say no to a free drink. I’ll get the next round?” He asked, giving a smile back to the other man. “Your friend should be ashamed, what a jerk move. Oh, uh-- I’m Harley, by the way. I am here drinking alone, like a lonely idiot.” He laughed.

While Robin had taken the time he’d needed to take off of work the past couple of days, it was a little weird to not be walking into Masters every morning. Now that he was back on schedule, it was almost a relief. The common room felt almost like a sanctuary that he hadn’t visited in too long. Now that he was there, he was almost savoring it, listening to the conversations around him, photoshop open on his laptop on the table in front of him as he worked on a new campaign for one of their advertisers. It was nice to be back.

“Hey!” Harley said, walking over to the other in the common room working on a laptop. He didn’t know him very well, especially since Harley himself was still pretty new to the masters crowd, but it had been a minute since Harley had seen him around. “Is this yours? It was on the floor,” Harley said, holding up a work I.D. card that seemed to have Robin’s face on it. “Also, I’m Harley. I don’t think we’ve met, but I’ve seen you around-- very sparsely. How have you been?”