Is this destiny?

Noah understood that Chloe is reluctant because of his position.

"If I quit my position of a director at Blanc, will you allow me to escort you for weekend shopping?" Noah thought that he could do this easily as he was not there much anyway. In the last few days, he was lingering in that office only because of Chloe. He will be able to stay away from the office with no problems, but would he be able to stay away from Chloe? That was another question. Seeing that she was not responding, Noah spoke again: "What about me is preventing you to accept my company? Tell me, what should I change?"

"I don't want you to quit or change anything because of me."

"What do you want, Chloe?", Noah persisted.

"I want to live my life in peace, without gossip.", Chloe admitted, and her heart ached when she said those words because she knew that she was pushing him away.

"Do you think that anyone would dare to gossip about us?"

"Maybe they won't dare to gossip about you, but about me… that's a different story.", Chloe said in a small voice.

"Do you think I will allow them to gossip about you?"

Chloe froze and stared at Noah. She could not believe that she was pushing him away a few seconds ago, yet he was still offering her his protection. "Why are you doing this?"

"What?"

"Being nice to me."

Noah shrugged. "Who knows? There are many possibilities, and you won't find your answers if you continue avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you.", Chloe lied. She didn't want to avoid him, but she felt that staying close to him will only bring trouble.

"Prove it.", Noah challenged her.

"How do I prove it?", Chloe asked reluctantly.

"Spend your weekend with me and don't hide if someone sees us."

Chloe's chin trembled. Why did he say that she would hide? How did he know those things? Did Sarah tell him what they spoke about yesterday? It didn't seem like it, but somehow Noah knew that Chloe was avoiding being seen with him. Was he able to read her mind? More than once Noah knew things that she was trying desperately to conceal, and it made her vulnerable.

Chloe asked herself, would she avoid him if not for his status? Of course, not. Can she look beyond the fact that he is her boss? What about his position in the Chaos nightclub and in this community overall?

She felt guilt eat her up from the inside. Her whole life Chloe was facing prejudice because of her background. People would judge her, like her, or hate her because her last name is Long without looking at who she is as a person and she despised it, yet now she was doing the same hateful thing to Noah. He was kind and considerate, he treated her well, and she could see that he wanted to support her with sincerity. He wanted her to succeed and what did she do? She was pushing him away only because of his status without looking at who he really is underneath his titles.

Chloe realized that Noah knew she was discriminating against him, and he was still here, waiting for her to look at him as a person, trying to prove to her that labels don't matter… or maybe he was waiting for Chloe to break out of the confinements that her upbringing put on her. Isn't that what she wanted? To leave outdated practices of the Long family and to be her own person with her own set of rules? The only thing she should ask herself was if she wanted to spend more time with him.

Chloe took a deep breath and steeled her resolve before responding. "Fine."

Noah's lips lifted into a smile. "Do you have a formal dress for tonight or should I arrange one for you?"

Chloe's face fell. "What?"

"Do you have…"

"I heard you.", Chloe interrupted him. "But why would I need a dress for tonight?" She was confident that spending the weekend thing included her shopping and the flea market he mentioned and maybe lunch.

"It's Friday. After work hours, the weekend starts.", Noah said matter-of-factly. "You agreed to spend your weekend with me, and I have dinner plans for tonight. You will accompany me."

Chloe's mind was spinning. What did she get herself into?

"I have a dress.", Chloe responded eventually. Before he could come up with more twists and turns, Chloe stood up. "I should get ready for work. Will you wait for me here?"

Noah confirmed. "Unless you need help washing your back."

Chloe's face exploded with a blush. She asked if he would wait or go to work ahead of her, not if he will help her in the bathroom!

"I will manage."

Noah chuckled and watched Chloe as she stumbled into the bedroom. Ah, he scored the weekend with Chloe and he will take advantage of every minute.

Chloe rushed through the bedroom, entered the bathroom, and locked the door behind her. Noah is unpredictable and she didn't want to risk him coming in to wash her back. It's not that she thought he will assault her or peep, but he was taking the assistant thing too far and she didn't want to see him come in the shower with a loofah only to help her wash. Not that she would mind.

She nearly screamed when she saw herself in the mirror. Her hair was a pile of bedhead, a complete mess. Oh, God! Noah saw her like that! How embarrassing!

Chloe rushed in the shower, eager to get ready as soon as possible because this whole thing of just her and Noah in the apartment was too intimate and her mind was coming up with all kinds of naughty scenarios.

She got ready in record time. Her dark blue pencil skirt was on and she was taking a light blue blouse from the hanger when she heard the doorbell.

Noah was responding to his email on the phone while waiting for Chloe to get ready and he glanced at the closed door of the bedroom. Is she going to answer that? After the third doorbell, Noah didn't hear any movement, so he stood up to open the door.

"Can I help you?", Noah said to Matilda who stared at him.

Matilda's stupor was broken when the bedroom door opened behind Noah and Chloe walked out in a rush while buttoning up her blouse.

Chloe saw Matilda's knowing smile and she froze. Ah! How is she going to explain the scene of Noah in her apartment this early in the morning, opening the door like he owns the place?

"I came to get you for work, but it seems you have company so I will go ahead without you.", Matilda said to Chloe, and then she glanced at Noah. "Director Bennet…", she gave a small bow and walked away.

Chloe exhaled heavily and narrowed her eyes at Noah. "Why did you open the door?"

Noah closed the door and turned to Chloe. Her top three buttons were still undone, and he could see her collarbones and a good portion of her cleavage. Goodness, even the top edge of her blue lacy bra was visible, and she stood in front of him, oblivious to how tempting she was. He let out a breath slowly while counting to five silently. Chloe was testing his control big time!

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