Chapter 9
The man’s voice was coolly distant. “Don’t worry about it.”
Noelia didn’t push further, watching him disappear into the night before heading out herself.
Without her phone, she had to flag down a cab the old–fashioned way, planning to pay the driver once she got home.
In the stream of traffic nearby.
Miles peered through the windshield at Noelia standing alone on the road. “Mr. Montclair, isn’t that the woman from the bar? should we offer her a ride?”
He glanced nervously in the rearview mirror.
Honestly, he was hoping his boss would interact with more women–the family pressure about marriage was getting intense.
Are you bored?”
Christopher’s icy stare could have frozen hell over.
Miles shrank back but couldn’t help adding, “It’s just… this area’s crawling with drunk assholes, and rush hour traffic means he’ll be waiting forever. If something happened to her…”
Christopher frowned, glancing up to see-
Sure enough, some creep was already approaching Noelia, clearly drawn by her outfit.
He sighed, setting aside his tablet. “Go ask where she’s headed. If it’s on our way, we’ll give her a ride.”
Noelia was starting to panic when a sleek Maybach pulled up beside her.
The window rolled down, revealing Miles’s face. “Hey, we met at the bar earlier. Rush hour’s brutal–you’ll be waiting all night. Where are you headed? If it’s on our route, we’d be happy to give you a lift.”
Noelia remembered him.
She could see the imposing figure in the backseat, absorbed in his emails.
After already owing him money, she felt awful imposing further. “That’s really kind, but I’ll manage.”
“This neighborhood gets pretty sketchy after dark. We’re heading toward Riverside Drive anyway–no trouble at all.”
Riverside Drive was indeed on her route.
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Chapter 9
And he was right about the area being unsafe at night.
But still…
“Get in,” Christopher said suddenly. “It’s fine.”
Noelia glanced around at the increasingly rowdy crowd spilling out of bars.
At this rate, she’d be here until dawn.
“Thank you so much,” she said gratefully, sliding into the backseat.
She didn’t notice the photographer capturing her getting into a stranger’s car.
The Maybach glided through traffic.
Noelia hugged the far corner of the seat, trying to make herself invisible. But that intoxicating scent–something woody and expensive–had her nerves on edge.
Like he was close enough to touch.
As they neared the residential district, a suit jacket landed across her lap.
Cover yourself,” came his slightly hoarse voice.
Noelia blinked in confusion, then shifted position and felt her stomach drop.
fer period had started.
Had he noticed immediately?
eat…
get it.”
as she grabbed tissues from her purse, frantically trying to clean the upholstery,
stammered. “I’ll have your jacket cleaned, or if you give me your contact info, I can reimburse you for
In the dim light, his expression was unreadable, his voice low and rough.
Noelia wanted to disappear completely.
They’d probably never see each other again anyway, and he clearly didn’t care about one suit.
Seeing her still scrubbing frantically, he turned toward her.
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Chapter 9
“Stop. It’s fine.”
If there was a hole nearby, Noelia would have crawled into it and died.
Has my luck really gotten this bad?
The car pulled over near her building.
Noelia thanked him again, keeping the jacket wrapped around her waist as she dabbed uselessly at the seat, her face burning
with mortification.
Miles felt bad for her.
But since Christopher seemed completely uninterested–they hadn’t even exchanged numbers–there wasn’t much he could do.
Nobody noticed that Christopher hadn’t read a single line of the five–line email open on his laptop the entire ride.
Joelia dragged herself home, exhausted and embarrassed, the borrowed jacket a constant reminder of her humiliation.
he only knew people called him “Mr. Montclair“-no first name, no way to track him down and properly thank him.
ighing heavily, she walked through the front door.
‘he thick smell of cigarette smoke hit her immediately.
eister sat slumped on the sofa, smoking and looking morose.
When he saw her come in wearing a man’s suit jacket, his face darkened.
le stubbed out his cigarette and stalked over.
Whose jacket is that? Who were you with tonight? Why are you so late?”
The rapid–fire interrogation was rich coming from him.
Noelia almost laughed.
What right does he have to question me?
she met his eyes steadily. “Weren’t you having a blast at the club with your boys? Why can’t I go out too?”
Leister’s face flashed with panic before he forced a sheepish grin.
“Come on, babe, don’t be like that. Zane and the guys wouldn’t let me leave–you know how they get. You trust me, right?”
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Chapter 9
His grip tightened on her shoulders.
“But what about you? Where were you so late? Who drove you home? And whose jacket is this?”
His tone turned accusatory.
Compared to his obvious anxiety, Noelia felt only bitter amusement.
Typical man–screwing around while demanding his wife stay pure at home.
She looked at him with something close to pity.
“You took my phone, Leister. I couldn’t call an Uber.”
That single sentence shut him up completely, panic flashing across his features.
‘Your phone…”
Noelia smiled coldly, too tired for games and unwilling to start a fight.
‘m leaving soon anyway.
he brushed off his hands with a casual lie. “The jacket’s Tyler’s. I had a period accident and he lent it to me. He gave me a ride
lome too.”
yler was her childhood friend–even if Leister interrogated him, he’d cover for her.
ure enough, Leister visibly relaxed.
He pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Baby, I swear I didn’t know about your phone. You must have left it on the club sofa. I found it after you’d already gone. I hought you were home safe–I had no idea this would happen. I’m so sorry.”
le gazed at her with those soulful eyes.
f Noelia hadn’t seen him making out with Anita, hadn’t witnessed their disgusting foreplay…
he might have actually believed him.
She pulled away gently. “It’s fine. I need a shower now. Don’t come in.”
she headed for the bedroom, leaving him standing there.
Leister scrubbed his face with his hands, filled with regret.
The easier she forgives me, the more terrified I am.
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Chapter 9
In the bathroom, Noelia carefully washed the suit jacket and sealed it in a bag for safekeeping.
When she emerged, she found the bedside table set with ginger tea and wonton soup.
The lighting had been dimmed to the warm setting she preferred.
Obviously Leister’s peace offerings.
Her hands stilled on the towel as bitter emotion welled up inside her.
Throughout their relationship, he’d always been incredibly attentive.
In the past, one home–cooked meal or box of tiramisu would earn his forgiveness after any fight.
But this time was different.
This time he’d cheated.
Some lines couldn’t be uncrossed.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring hollowly at his offerings.
Her charging phone buzzed insistently.
Worried about missing work messages, she wiped her eyes and checked the screen.
What she saw made her heart stop.
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