Mirabelle’s POV:
Morning came. Jamie had already taken care of the kids and gotten them ready for school, and the driver had taken them off, leaving me alone in the house. Noah was in the shower, clearly avoiding me after his behavior the night before…
He actually pretended to be asleep just to dodge the kids.
When he steps out of the bathroom, I will be ready to give him a piece of my mind.
I swung my legs out of bed, slipped on my flip-flops, and headed to the table to grab my laptop. It was only a few days since my return from abroad, and I was still struggling with the shocking news about the company Ken and Michelle had taken from me.
How had everything crumbled so quickly? The house, the cars-they were all gone. If I didn’t act fast, I feared they might even sell the company.
Climbing back into bed, I began scrolling through the research I had done on Ken’s business. Over the past five years, they had made crazy decisions, mismanaged transactions, sold shares irresponsibly, partnered with fraudsters, and drained funds on frivolous expenses. It was evident they had driven the company straight into bankruptcy.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice when Noah stepped out of the bathroom until he called out to me.
“Looks like you’re busy,” he said, towel-drying his hair. My breath caught in my throat as I turned to face him. He stood there with only a towel around his waist, his sexy torso on full display.
Gulping down hard. “Y-yeah, I’m just sorting out some files,” I stuttered, trying to regain my composure.
Noah’s lips curled into a smirk as if he knew the effect he had on me. I watched him walk to the wardrobe, selecting his work clothes and dressing with an ease that made my heart race.
Noah stood in front of the mirror, his movements fluid. First, he loosened the towel wrapped around his waist and tossed it onto a nearby stool. He then slipped into a pair of snug black boxers that hugged his ass tightly. Next came black pants, followed by a crisp white vest and a fitted black turtleneck sweater.
Finally, he donned a sleek black trench coat. His tie, already knotted from the previous day, was quickly fastened around his neck. He settled onto the stool, pulled on white socks, and finished with polished black leather shoes.
As I watched him dress, I couldn’t help but wonder why he chose all black today.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “What’s the occasion?”
He turned to face me, his expression slightly shocked. “I told you last night, didn’t I?”
I shook my head, trying to recall any mention of plans. “Oh, you never mentioned it.”
“I guess I forgot,” he said with a shrug, then stood up and walked to the dressing table. After spraying a mix of Dior and Chanel perfumes, he approached me and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
I closed my eyes, savoring the moment. When I opened them and our gazes met, the air around us thickened with tension. Suddenly, I was reminded of how close I had come to giving him a blowjob the night before, just before the kids interrupted us. My cheeks flushed, and I quickly looked away, feeling a rush of shyness.
Fuck!
I had almost forgotten to scold him for feigning sleep last night.
When I turned back to scold him, I noticed that the mischief in his eyes had been replaced by something deeper-worry, perhaps. Was he upset about how busy I had been lately?
Noah had always been my steadfast support, patiently understanding my messed-up schedule. He had never pressured me, but whenever he finally asked for something, I often found myself declining. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be close; it was just that the timing was rarely right.
Maybe I should change that. I should stop blaming him for everything.
Perhaps we could arrange a dinner date, just the two of us, leaving the kids behind for an evening.
That sounds nice!
Lifting my hands, I cupped his face and asked, “Are you okay? You seem stressed.”
I needed to understand exactly what was bothering him.
He sighed deeply and placed his hands over mine. “Ken has told my father about us,” he began. “And my father insists we come over for dinner tomorrow.”
“If you are uncomfortable with the idea, I will definitely find a way to convince my father otherwise.” He added.
I suddenly found his concern cute and let out a laugh.
“What’s so funny, Mira?” he asked, a puzzled look crossing his face.
“You,” I replied, still chuckling. “You’re both funny and cute.”
“Cute?” he echoed.
“It’s cute how much you care. But you need to understand that I am grown enough, so I can definitely handle myself.” I replied. “My father-in-law wants to see me, so I’ll definitely go.”
“As long as you’re okay with it, then I’m good,” he said, visibly relieved.
“Great! So how about we ditch the kids for a night and go out for dinner tonight?” I suggested, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Do you mean it?” He beamed, a smile spreading across his face.
“What do you think?” I replied, chuckling at his enthusiasm.
“I think you’re just trying to make me smile, but you don’t really mean it. You have so much work to do.”
“Do I always say that?” I asked, raising an eyebrow and he nodded.
“Well then, Noah Sylvester, will you go on a date with me?” I tilted my head, trying to look innocent.
“Mirabelle Estella Davies, I will not go on a date with you.” His reply shocked me.
Did he just reject me?
“Why?” I asked, genuinely confused and disappointed.