Chapter 14: Chapter 13

NOAH

Lillian’s departure left Noah alone in the small town. The charm he’d found in her presence had vanished with her. The town hadn’t changed, but his mood had.

The villa felt too large without her, and he struggled to fill his days. He’d planned to stay until his lease ended, but boredom got the better of him. He packed up and left just three days after she did, unconcerned about the money he was forfeiting.

He made a pit stop at his father’s before hitting the road again. Destination unknown. This time, however, his usual cheer was missing, and he couldn’t pretend otherwise. Her words echoed in his mind, planting seeds of doubt.

For three years, he’d traveled the world, convinced he wasn’t cut out for business. He’d taken that option off the table. But now, he was questioning that decision. Could it be that he had potential but was just misdirecting it?

If that was the case, what was the right path for him? His skills were all tied to his father’s business. Everything he’d learned was to prepare him to lead.

The idea of doing something else—leading something else, something of his own—had never occurred to him. Especially since working for someone else held no appeal.

Then, an odd and irritating thing started happening. Every time he passed a building, he’d imagine himself inside, back in his old role as CEO. The thought was repugnant, but he couldn’t shake it.

He returned home again for his brother’s exhibition in September. He’d received an invitation and, having nothing else to look forward to, he wasn’t about to miss it. When he arrived, he realized he’d made the right choice.

Asher’s work impressed him. He’d seen his brother’s photos since they were kids, and despite his reluctance to openly admire them, he’d always liked them. Back then, Asher’s talent for photography had been another point of contention for Noah.

He couldn’t pinpoint why. Maybe he was so caught up in their rivalry that he couldn’t appreciate his brother’s skills.

Once again, he realized how foolish that was. In the end, it had all been for nothing. Asher, without even trying, had come out on top. He had the company, the photography exhibition, the woman he loved, and a baby on the way.

Meanwhile, the only bright spot in Noah’s life had been a summer fling with his former assistant. But he couldn’t bring himself to be jealous of Asher’s happiness. Their paths had diverged. There was no competition anymore.

He could appreciate Asher’s art, which was well-deserved. Each photo had its own life, its own story. His own travel photos paled in comparison, and he’d only ever shown them to Lillian. They weren’t meant to be artistic, just reminders of the places he’d visited.

But Asher’s photos were more than just reminders. There was an entire section dedicated to Maggie at various stages of her pregnancy. These photos weren’t for sale, just for display. Some were posed, others candid, but all were beautiful.

“They’re stunning, aren’t they?” Maggie herself commented, appearing at his side.

“I have to agree,” he replied.

She seemed larger than the last time he’d seen her, but he wisely kept that observation to himself.

“They completely hide the fact that I feel like I’m about to burst,” she joked, catching him off guard.

“Isn’t this supposed to be the happiest time of your life?” he asked.

“How am I supposed to know if this is the happiest time of my life?” she mused.

“Don’t all women say that?”

“Perhaps they do. I don’t have any female friends who are mothers. But if having a baby is the pinnacle of a woman’s life, then a woman who can’t have a child would never experience true happiness. That’s a thought I don’t like.”

“It’s a pretty bleak way to look at things,” he noted.

“I have two friends who’ve been married for years. They’ve never been able to conceive.”

“That’s not your fault.”

“Of course it isn’t. But they’re the happiest people I know because they have each other. I can’t think of them as less fortunate or less happy because they don’t have a child. Besides, we only recognize truly happy moments once they’ve passed.”

That was an even more pessimistic thought, but it was true. Otherwise, nostalgia wouldn’t have a place in our emotions.

“Are you a philosopher now, Maggie?” he joked.

She laughed.

“No, but I’ve been doing a lot of reading. I never used to enjoy reading, but Asher insists I shouldn’t overwork myself now that I’m so close to giving birth. The doctor said the same thing, so I’ve been spending the last few weeks at home. There’s not much to do but read; I could take Bitch for a walk if we were still in the city, but now that we have a garden, there’s no need. I’m even learning a new language, but I don’t think I’ll have time to get a degree before the baby comes.”

“Why are you talking to me?” he asked, his brow furrowed.

“Excuse me?” she responded, taken aback.

His question was sincere. He had been the source of her unhappiness for a while, and yet here she was, making small talk with him, even though he knew she didn’t like him much. His brother wasn’t showing him the same courtesy, as he was busy chatting with the other guests.

“I was a terrible boss, and I tried to break you and my brother up,” he reminded her. “You should be holding a grudge.”

“But you’re also the one who brought him back to me,” she pointed out.

“You can’t really be this forgiving?”

He gave her a skeptical look, and she laughed.

“Oh, I’m far from it. I wasn’t angry at you because I didn’t expect anything better from you, Noah. You were a terrible boss, like you said. You were short-sighted and incompetent, relying on spies to keep your position. Back then, I thought you were the worst person I’d ever met, and I was miserable working for you.”

“I take back what I said,” he muttered. “You’re pretty sharp-tongued.”

“Well, I’m just telling the truth.” She shrugged. “I don’t know why you acted the way you did, but you weren’t well liked.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“But after you left the company, I can’t say I continued to dislike you. Asher also talks about the work you did at the European branch before you left, and he speaks highly of it.”

“He does?”

“His exact words were: ‘If the bastard had worked like that when he was in charge, the business would have soared.’”

He didn’t respond to that because he didn’t know what to say. Even though he had always sought praise, he wasn’t really prepared to receive it. Not when it took him so long to accept his own incompetence.

First it was Lillian, and now it was Maggie, and indirectly, his brother.

“What are you two talking about?” Asher finally appeared, a smile on his face. “Are you discussing my work?”

“We were,” Noah confirmed.

“Well, we started with that,” Maggie added.

“And where did you end up?” he asked, curious.

“I was telling your brother what you said about his performance before he left.”

“Oh, I see.” He turned to Noah. “Whatever she told you is the truth. Unfortunately, she’s incapable of lying.”

“Unlike you two.” She raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t lie. Not to you, at least,” his brother said, cupping Maggie’s face. “Not after what happened back then.”

“It wasn’t exactly lying, though,” Noah interjected with a mischievous smirk. “You just left out the truth.”

“Which is the same as lying,” Maggie said flatly.

“Okay, okay!” He lifted his hands in surrender.

“Smart move not to argue with her hormones,” Asher murmured.

Noah nodded.

“As for the company, I just followed your lead, Ash. I didn’t do anything more than that.”

“That’s not like you to be modest, brother.”

“I’m not being modest. I’m just being honest, because I have nothing to gain,” he said flatly, hoping this would end the conversation.

Asher laughed. “That’s so you. Are you sticking around for a while this time?”

“I’m just here for the exhibit. I’ll be heading out tomorrow afternoon.”

“So soon?”

“Yep. But I gotta say, your work is amazing.”

“Take any photo you want.”

“Really? For free?”

“Absolutely. I told Dad the same thing. But you guys better hurry. I’ve already sold a bunch.”

“I’ve got one in mind,” he confessed, “if it’s still available.”

He pointed out a photo of a seaside house. It didn’t look like the villa he’d stayed in last summer or Lillian’s house, but it reminded him of her. It was a bit out of character for him to be so sentimental, but he couldn’t deny that last summer was the best he’d ever had, and his former assistant was the reason why.

Luckily, Asher didn’t question his choice. He just confirmed that the photo was still available.

Later, he left the gallery, the photo tucked safely in an envelope. He decided he’d bring it with him on his next trip.

***

The next day, on a whim, he felt the need to see Dorothy.

He was supposed to leave, his ticket already booked, but he found himself thinking about his ex-wife and the last time they’d seen each other, months ago. She’d been going through a tough time, and he wondered if things had improved for her.

He could’ve asked his dad, but he wanted to hear it from her. He’d never been so eager to see her when they were married, but he’d been a jerk for most of his life, so it wasn’t surprising.

He realized he didn’t have her number anymore, or even know where she lived. He had to call his dad, which was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. Oddly enough, Tyler Ryder didn’t ask any questions. Well, not about that. But he did ask when he’d see him again.

Noah didn’t have a clear answer, but he promised to try and visit during the Christmas holidays.

“You better be here,” his dad warned. “I won’t accept another world tour as an excuse this time.”

“Chill, Dad. I’ve seen enough of the world. I’ll try to make it, but I can’t promise I’ll visit before then.”

His dad had no choice but to accept his answer. They hung up, and Noah called Dorothy. He thought it’d be better to call first, rather than just showing up unannounced, even though his dad had offered to give him her address.

“Noah?” Dorothy sounded surprised when she heard his voice.

“The one and only,” he replied.

“Where’d you get my number?”

“From my dad.”

“Oh. Where are you?”

“Here.”

“Here?”

“Yes. I’m in town, and I’m leaving this afternoon. I know it’s short notice, but can we grab a coffee?”

“I don’t know… Kyle’s at work, and I can’t leave the baby alone.”

“Can I come to your place?”

She hesitated, and he wondered if he was making her uncomfortable. Or maybe she was thinking the same thing he was: what the hell was he doing?

“You can,” she finally said. “Let me give you my address.”

“I’ve got it. Can I come over now? I’m sorry to rush you, but I’m short on time.”

“Yes, you can come over.”

He took a cab. He would’ve taken public transportation, but he didn’t want to waste any time. He frowned slightly when they reached her neighborhood. It wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t the best either. It was middle class, maybe even a little lower.

Dorothy’s house was nothing like a mansion. It was a small, one-story building with a tidy porch. It wasn’t freshly painted, but it wasn’t run-down either. He didn’t judge it, having seen so much of the world, but it felt a little wrong for his ex-wife. She’d grown up wealthy, and he wondered how she was managing.

She answered the door herself, wearing a simple sundress and her hair in a messy bun. He’d never seen her look so casual. She looked a bit tired, but not unhappy. She smiled genuinely at him. At least she didn’t seem upset by his presence, which was a good thing. Unlike the old days, he wasn’t here to cause trouble.

“Welcome to my little corner of the world,” she said, stepping aside to let him in. “Literally.”

He smirked. “With pleasure,” but didn’t comment further.

He didn’t seem disappointed by her comment. Maybe she was just trying to set his expectations low—to prepare him for the lack of luxury. He’d already suspected as much, so he walked in without a second thought.

Inside, it was a bit messy, but that was to be expected with a toddler running around. The furniture wasn’t new, but it was in good shape and looked comfortable. He took a seat on the couch when Dorothy gestured toward it.

“Where’s your little guy?” he asked, looking around.

“He just went down for a nap about fifteen minutes ago. If we’re lucky, he’ll sleep for a couple of hours.”

“That’s too bad. I was hoping to meet him.”

“Since when are you a fan of kids?” she teased.

“I was just trying to be polite; it’s your kid after all.”

“You don’t have to be polite. If you want to see him, there are pictures all over the place,” she replied.

“Can I get you some coffee?”

“Do you have any juice?”

She looked surprised. “Juice? You? Since when?”

“Since I left the company.”

He had a strange sense of déjà vu, remembering when Lillian had asked him the same question, but he brushed it off.

He was here to check on Dorothy, and he needed to stay focused on that.

“I’ll get you some orange juice then. Just sit tight. I’ll be right back.”

Not that he was the type to snoop around, but he didn’t have to worry about that.

She was back in no time with a tray holding a jug of orange juice, two glasses, and some cookies.

“I didn’t bake these,” she admitted as she poured the juice. “But they’re pretty good. My son loves them.”

“Thanks,” he said, accepting the glass she offered.

She took a seat across from him and took a sip of her juice before setting the glass back on the coffee table.

“Why did you want to see me?”

“I told you, I had some time to kill and thought I’d check in on you. Last time we talked, things weren’t going so well.”

“Nothing’s really changed,” she sighed. “Our situation is pretty much the same.”

“You said Kyle was at work, right?”

“Yes, he found a job so we could pay the bills. But he’s blacklisted from all the big companies, so he’s working below his skill level, and the pay is barely enough.”

“Why don’t you let my father help? He’s always looking for people. Kyle could work at the company for a year or so, then he’d be able to get a job anywhere, regardless of what your parents do.”

“Kyle’s too proud for that.”

“Dora, Kyle’s an idiot,” he said flatly.

“Don’t say that,” she scolded. “He’s a good man, doing his best for us.”

“You have a child to think about.”

“And like I said, he’s doing the best he can. The first few years will be tough, I know, but once our son is old enough for daycare, I can start working too, and our financial situation will improve.”

“Dora, you’ve never worked a day in your life,” he scoffed. “You don’t even know if you can do it.”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my family, Noah. I’m not afraid of work.”

“No, I suppose you’re not. Most people aren’t,” he said with a smile. “But you’ve never actually done it. Your degree is purely theoretical; you’ve never used it.”

“I could use it now, or I could use the languages I speak,” she shot back. “I could tutor kids. That’s actually what I’m thinking of doing. But with a toddler running around, I can’t schedule anything. Once he starts daycare, I’ll be able to manage.”

“But wouldn’t you rather stay home and raise your kid?”

“I would. But I can’t lie and say that all I want is to be a housewife. I tried that with you, and it didn’t suit me. Having people wait on me hand and foot, making me feel useless… I remember once I went into the kitchen to make a sandwich, and the cook looked at me like I was crazy.”

“You weren’t supposed to do that.”

“That’s ridiculous.” She scoffed. “I felt so stifled and depressed all the time. I had nothing to do, and after a while, I just felt numb. My life had no meaning…”

Her words hung in the air, unfinished. She could have brought up his coldness, his infidelity, but she chose not to.

He had convinced himself that she didn’t mind his affairs because she didn’t love him. But the truth was, the emptiness of their life together was what really got to her.

He wasn’t sure where this understanding came from, but he was certain it was accurate.

Still, he didn’t want to delve into deeper topics—not only because he was uncomfortable with that kind of emotional stuff, but also because he was pressed for time. They needed to focus on the here and now.

“Wouldn’t you rather work because you want to, not because you have to?” he asked, his tone gentle.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she retorted with a snort.

“You’re not a beggar,” he countered.

“My parents are doing their best to make me one. They’re doing the same to my husband,” she added.

Noah finished his drink and grabbed a cookie before standing up. He shook his head in sympathy.

“I need to leave now. I’ll be back in town in a few months. If things haven’t changed, let me try to talk some sense into your husband,” he offered.

“Why are you being so kind all of a sudden?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Turns out, I don’t have anything better to do with my life right now,” he replied with a smile.

She opened her mouth to say something, but then thought better of it and remained silent.

Smart move. The last thing he needed was someone else making him question where the hell his life was headed.

They said their goodbyes with a warm handshake, and he hailed another cab to take him to the airport.

As always, he traveled light, carrying nothing more than a duffel bag. And, as was often the case, he didn’t have a place to stay.

But this time was different. This time, he had a very specific destination in mind—a clear goal.