Chapter 6: Chapter 5

NOAH

Walking into the office without his usual suit and tie felt oddly liberating. The weight that used to press down on his shoulders was gone.

Sure, it took the security guard a minute longer than usual to recognize him, but he didn’t mind. He’d sworn off ties for good, and if Lillian Astaire could waltz in three years ago looking like she did, no one was going to stop him.

Once the security guard recognized him, he greeted Noah with a polite nod and stepped aside.

“Is Miss Coleman in?” Noah asked.

“Yes, sir. But I’m not sure if she’s free at the moment,” the guard replied.

“That’s fine. Thanks,” Noah said, heading for the private elevator.

He was relieved to find that his successor hadn’t changed the password to his old floor. He whistled a tune on the way up, but his mood soured when he stepped out of the elevator to find the assistant’s desk empty.

Before he could ponder it, a tall woman with brown hair approached him.

“Noah!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up. “Security just called to say you’re here. What a pleasant surprise.”

“Tamara, it’s good to see you,” he replied, returning her smile. “How’ve you been?”

“I’m managing,” she sighed. “But things would be a lot better if you hadn’t left that nightmare of an assistant behind.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. He’d never fooled himself into thinking Tamara and his last assistant would ever get along. That’s why he’d insisted that Lillian couldn’t be fired for at least five years.

He knew Tamara would hire a male assistant the moment she could fire Lillian, and probably sleep with him within his first week.

He didn’t judge her for it. Nor did he feel guilty for denying her that particular pleasure. He knew Tamara had no trouble finding willing men. She was attractive, successful, and had a way of dominating men who were weaker than she.

“Speaking of Miss Astaire, where is she?” he asked, gesturing to the empty desk.

“On vacation,” Tamara replied, rolling her eyes as she turned to walk back to her office. Noah followed her in, not waiting for an invitation before sinking into an armchair.

“Why do you say it like that?” he asked, deciding to play dumb about their latest disagreement. “Isn’t she supposed to have a summer leave?”

“Yes, but she’s a complete pain,” Tamara spat. “If it weren’t for your orders, I would’ve fired her the moment I laid eyes on her. I don’t understand why you insisted on keeping her here.”

Initially, only Asher knew about Lillian. But when Tamara started complaining about not being able to fire her, he’d had to tell her.

He’d hoped that explaining his arrangement with Lillian would put an end to Tamara’s questions. Clearly, it hadn’t.

“I know her appearance isn’t exactly office appropriate, but she’s useful,” he said, trying to be as vague as possible.

“Oh, please. She’s no more qualified than any other job-seeker. If she’s good at anything, it’s causing trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” he asked, feigning ignorance to hear her side of the story.

“She complained to your brother about me not approving her vacation time. She didn’t even go through HR like she should’ve. She went straight to the CEO. She emailed your brother, complaining about not getting her way, and he called me out on it.”

“Ouch!” he chuckled, pretending to wince. “Did he give you a hard time?”

“He didn’t yell, but he did remind me that we need to be lenient with our staff and exhaust all other options before denying a request,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

He gave a nod of understanding. It was so like Ash to think that way, and now that he was on the outside looking in, he could see his brother’s logic. Plus, it seemed to keep the staff happy and efficient.

From what he’d heard, the company’s turnover rate had plummeted since Asher took the reins, which was saying something. Back in his day, employees would leave the company like birds migrating south for the winter.

“Was there another way it could’ve been handled?” he asked, a small frown creasing his forehead.

She let out an exasperated sigh.

“There wasn’t a method I was willing to employ,” she responded, her tone icy.

“Can you explain?”

“I had to rearrange meetings so she’d be present at the crucial ones. I can’t take notes and persuade others when someone else is being paid a pretty penny to hold the damn pen and paper.”

“Of course not,” he agreed. “That’s what assistants are paid to do—support their superiors.”

“Exactly!” she exclaimed.

“Did you have any issues with the clients?”

“Not really. But it was still a nuisance. You know how I hate it when things don’t go according to my plan.”

“I don’t know anyone who likes that,” he said, a smile playing on his lips.

“Let’s stop talking about her. I won’t let her ruin my day when she’s not even here. What brings you here?”

“On a whim.” He shrugged. “I haven’t been here since I left. I’ve been traveling around Europe this summer and thought I’d drop by, say hi…”

“Mmm, I see,” she purred, her demeanor instantly shifting to a flirtatious one. “After all your globe-trotting, you’re feeling a bit lonely, aren’t you?”

~Not in the slightest,~ he wanted to say, but he wasn’t one to turn down a good fuck if it was being offered so freely. So, he put on his most charming smile and leaned in closer.

“Just a smidge, as they say around here,” he replied. “Do you have any suggestions to alleviate my loneliness while I’m here?”

“Dinner…” she drawled. “At my place. Tonight.”

“I see I’m not the only one feeling a bit lonely,” he remarked. “No handsome man to sweep you off your feet?”

“None at the moment, no. The men around here have been quite disappointing,” she admitted.

He laughed. “Or maybe you’re just as demanding as ever.”

“True,” she conceded. “But I deserve it, and you’d see that if you’d give me more than just one night at a time.”

“We’ve discussed this, haven’t we?” he gently chided her. “No strings attached.”

“Yes, yes, I know. And honestly, it works for me right now.”

“Then why the hint?”

“I want to feel wanted, and you’re quite elusive.”

“You’re a very desirable woman, Tamara, and you know it.”

“All women are desirable for one night,” she scoffed.

“I assure you that’s not the case,” he said, smiling. “You shouldn’t compare yourself to other women.”

“I don’t. But most men are no better than pigs. You’re the exception, of course.”

“Thank you.”

“So, I’ll be expecting you at eight at my place.”

“I’ll be there,” he promised, rising from his chair.

She mirrored his actions, circling her desk to stand directly in front of him. With her heels on, she was just the right height to look him in the eyes. He had a thing for tall women—not that he had a fetish for height, but tall women tended to carry themselves with more grace.

She moved her face closer to his, and he smirked.

“Do I get a little preview?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

She let out a soft chuckle before kissing him passionately.

“Always,” she breathed, pulling away from the kiss.

Then she stepped back and returned to her desk, gently wiping the corners of her mouth.

“See you at eight for the rest,” she said, a smirk playing on her lips.

“I can’t wait,” he said with a wink.

And with that, he was gone.

***

A night filled with sex was just what he needed. The second thing he needed was to avoid any morning small talk, so he slipped out while she was still sleeping. It wasn’t the bravest move, but he didn’t want the memory of the previous night to be tainted.

Tamara had hinted more than once that she wanted something more, but he always brushed her off. When they first met, he was married, but that wasn’t exactly a shocker. He’d had more mistresses while he was married than when he was single.

He didn’t carry around a lot of guilt, even now. His marriage to Dorothy had been a facade, and since she’d been in love with someone else during their union, he didn’t think he’d truly hurt her. But he did regret not being more discreet when he cheated on her, making her the talk of the town. That was something he could have prevented.

He’d learned enough to know that he shouldn’t lead women like Tamara on. It wasn’t that she didn’t deserve more than just sex, but she was the type to cling when she couldn’t easily control the situation. And he didn’t need that, as harsh as it might sound.

He’d never been one for long-term relationships. The only time he’d found himself in one was when Ness had tricked him, and thankfully, that hadn’t lasted long. If he were the type to commit, he wouldn’t have cheated on Dorothy so much during their marriage, regardless of her feelings for him. He would have tried to make it work. He would have given her a chance instead of leaving her to suffer in silence.

Noah decided to leave that very afternoon, not wanting to give Tamara the wrong idea. He hadn’t planned on staying long anyway—the summer weather in this part of Europe didn’t agree with him. So, he set off for a different part of the continent, one he hadn’t explored as much.

He chose a coastal town he’d never been to before, planning to spend his summer there, just relaxing. He wasn’t sure if the English sea and summer weather would suit him, but he’d taken bigger risks in his life.

As it turned out, he was able to rent a villa for the rest of the summer. It had everything he needed, and it was close to the beach if he got tired of the indoor and outdoor pools. The realtor even offered him a cook and a cleaner for an extra fee, which he was willing to pay.

Ever since he’d left his company three years ago, he hadn’t splurged much on luxuries. He wanted to experience the world differently. He’d even taken jobs he’d never imagined doing just to cover his expenses.

Not that he really needed the money. Before he’d left his old life, he’d sold everything he owned and saved the money for a rainy day. He’d barely spent a dime.

But this summer, he decided to live a little. His carefree days were coming to an end soon. He hadn’t figured out how it would end, or what he’d do after the summer, but he knew he had to make a decision.

It was better to make up his mind on his own terms before everyone else started pressuring him to get serious.