Chapter Seventeen

They rerouted to the nearby Chanel store after receiving the phone call from Grandfather. He told Noah that they were invited to a late-night party in The Matrix lounge.

One of the organizers was his cousin, and he was excited to see his visiting family. Noah practically didn't care, but he had to make the appearance because of his grandfather. He never really socialized with his cousins from his father's side. They all irritated him very much.

He followed Ava as she selected some outfits. He watched as she came in with different gowns. But none of them caught his attention. She had to look different and stand out from the others in the room. Then she came out with a long black lace gown with an open back and a side slit. The outfit hugged her body perfectly. It was enough to make every man's head turn to her.

"I like this one," he answered, his first since they entered the store. "Pack it up along with the others," he concluded and stood up, staring at the lady.

When they got back to the hotel, Ava went to the makeup and dress salon and Noah was left alone in the hotel.

After two good hours, Ava entered the hotel room to meet Noah.

He watched as she completely transformed into another Ava as she walked into the hotel room.

They both matched in black. Noah stopped what he was doing and stared at the beautiful vixen that stood in front of him. And she gave her signature smile.

He walked towards her, and she linked her arms in his.

"You look like a moon goddess," he complimented her, and she blushed.

The club was very much like a ballroom, except it had the typical red and blue lights clubs had.

Noah could feel the nervousness in her grip as they walked into the clusters of half-naked women. And fully naked strippers that danced on their poles. He knew she wasn't much of a club person.

They headed to the VIP section, and the guard barred them from entering.

"Noah Faustino," he said, and the guard immediately apologized. His name made many people fear. It was a source of pride to him that his enemies cowered at his name.

They both entered the room, and it was filled with smoke, which made Ava cough very hard.

"You can stay outside if you can't take the smoke," he said to her, and she nodded her head as she rushed out.

He looked around the room, and he spotted the familiar black hair in the midst of ladies.

He walked towards his cousin, and the young lad also spotted his cousin coming towards him.

"Little Cousin," he said to Noah.

"Hello, Maxy," Noah returned the greeting. He looked around Noah in search of someone, but he stopped as he couldn't find what he sought.

"But Grandad told me you came here with a SPECIAL someone. Where is she?" he asked, eager to see who had caught the eyes of his little cousin.

"She's outside. She's not smoke tolerant," he said.

"So you went for the good girl, eh?" he asked rhetorically and then chuckled. "Seeing as you have found a girl, I suppose you will be getting married soon?" he asked, but Noah stayed silent.

Marriage was one of the last things in Noah's head. He had problems trusting girls, so marriage wasn't a good option.

"I heard about the explosion and the kidnapping of your girlfriend. That's the main reason my grandfather requested we meet. I have a feeling I can help you," he said as he lit a cigarette and puffed out smoke.

"I need the information you have generated in the past few days," he said as he took in another mouthful.

Then a blonde came in and walked towards us. She had a petite shape compared to Ava, and she had a sharp jawline. She kissed Maxy and whispered something in his ear. Noah watched the charade.

"I'm afraid I have to take my leave now, little cousin. But we shall talk more over the phone," he said before he stood up and followed the blonde. Noah watched as he left, and he gulped down the rest of his drink before he exited the room too.

He looked outside, but there was no sign of Ava. He tried to call her, but she wasn't picking up her calls.

He tried her number again, after many failed attempts, and she finally answered the call.

"I tried to call you, but you didn't answer."

"Erm, I'm sorry. I needed to use the bathroom. I'll be there with you soon. It's probably the connection."

"Hurry up. This place isn't safe," he said and hung up

He put his phone back into his pocket before he felt thin hands grab his chest.

He looked at the hand, then at the owner of the hand that dared to touch him, and he met those familiar gray orbs. Kendra Wilkinson.

The daughter of a late mafia lord, she was one of their childhood friends. She had always had a crush on Noah, but his eyes were only on Ava. She had tried to force him to sleep with her multiple times in their teenage years, but it always backfired. So she hated Ava a lot. Despite the fact that they used to be childhood best friends.

"Hello, pretty boy. You came to Paris and you didn't inform me? Ouch. Is our friendship broken?" she said in a fake hurt tone.

"Nice to see you, Kendra. I need to leave," he said as he removed her hands from his body.

"Wow, Noah, you've grown so muscular," she said as her fingers lingered on his arms.

She moved back and faked the motion of someone who was about to fall. Noah fell for her trick and grabbed her so she wouldn't fall. Then her eyes spotted Ava. She grabbed that opportunity and kissed Noah on the lips.

He pushed her away and then saw Ava too. But she walked away.

***

Ava stood outside the room as she waited for Noah to come out. She was very smoke intolerant. She leaned on the wall and watched the people dance and men shower dollars on the strippers.

The place was a messed up sex-filled matrix.

Then someone placed his hands on both sides of her face. She looked up and saw Louis.

Immediately she hugged him tightly as if she wanted to merge their bodies. "Oh my God, Louis, what are you doing here? I thought you were in China? And you never called me!"

"I just came to visit, that's all. And I couldn't reach you because I lost all my contacts. What about you?" he asked, his hands still placed on her sides.

"Oh, I came here with Noah. He came to visit his cousin," she said. She felt a little uncomfortable as he tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Oh, you guys are back together? What happened to all the curses that night?" he said, and she remembered how she swore that very day and how Louis kept on supporting her.

And she blushed in embarrassment. "It's kinda like a long story," she said.

"Oh, okay, that's nice," he said as he released her from the human cage he'd captured her in. "Enjoy your night," Hh said and winked before he left.

She suddenly realized how pressed she was, and she called after Louis. He was only a few meters away from her.

She approached him, and the other men he was talking to stopped and looked at her, feeding on her appearance.

"Beautiful," one of them said slowly as he sipped the contents in his glass.

"Don't let Faustino hear you unless you want to lose your head, "Louis said.

"He's always getting the prettiest of them all," another one added, and she glared at him.

"She's Ava, the famous model. Don't you recognize her from that lingerie advertisement?"

"Where is the bathroom?" she asked him close to his ear, ignoring the three men that stood with Louis.

"It's just on the left corner beyond the VIP room," he said as he pointed at the door.

"Thanks," she said before she hurried to the red door.

She rushed into the toilet and relieved herself of all the liquid she had drank from morning till now. She flushed the toilet and came out in front of the wide mirrors.

She had a full view of herself. The first thing she checked was her gown, but she was interrupted by Noah's phone call.

"I tried to call you, but you didn't answer."

"Erm, I'm sorry. I needed to use the bathroom. I'll be there soon. It's probably the connection."

"Hurry up. This place isn't safe," he said and hung up

The opening in her back fell dangerously low on her lower back, revealing a lot of skin. On top of that, the slit opened above her thigh. She bit her lip in excitement at the way the black gown hugged her body. She then realized she was a model. Everything ought to look good on her.

She exited the bathroom with much confidence and poise as she walked to find Noah.

But then she saw her worst enemy. The person she hated the most in the entire world.

Kendra Wilkinson, daughter of late William Wilkinson.

She looked at her and smiled before she pressed her lips onto Noah's. He pushed her away before they made eye contact, and she walked away.

Not away from Noah, but away from the fact that Kendra was in the same building and party with her.

She headed out to anywhere that was silent, and she found herself in a yard. It was silent and peaceful. Then she felt Noah's hands turn her around.

"What is she doing in Paris?!" she yelled, already frustrated, the moment she saw his face. "Why can't she just leave me alone for once in my life. I just wanted a vacation, and it's a big mess!" she yelled out again before moving closer to him and wiping off Kendra's kiss with her own lips.

"If she ever kisses you again, I'll pull out every strand of her hair with my bare hands. And I'll shave off her eyebrows. This goes for you too," she cautioned.

"A drink will do you some good," he said as he slid his arms around her waist.

They entered the club, and the loud music swarmed into her body and sent feelings throughout her. She only managed to take one glass, and Noah was probably on his fifteenth cup as his eyes watched her dance in the crowd of people. And he kept on going.

When she came closer to dance with him, the alcohol had already penetrated into his mind, and he started to feel the ecstasy as she slowly rubbed herself on him to the rhythm of the music. His breath became shaky as she increased her pace.

She felt as his hands held her waist and pressed her harder to himself. She felt the bulge in his trousers.

"Let's go back to the hotel," he whispered in her ear. And she nodded before she took his arm.

The alcohol in their system had already been washed off as she rested on his chest and he stroked her hair softly.

"I love you, Ava," he said, and she looked up at him, surprised.

"Say it again," she requested.

"I love you, Ava," he said again as he kissed her on the lips. She smiled.

"I love you too. I love you like crazy. I'll love you forever," she said, and he chuckled.

"Despite the fight and the breakup. You were still very close to my heart. Do you know that all the most important documents in my office are locked and secured with something I cherish a lot?" He paused. "And do you know what that is?" he questioned.

"No, I don't know what it is," she replied.

"You, Ava. It's your date of birth," he said, and she blushed.

"You're such an asshole, you know," she said as she drew invisible circles on his abs.

"You left me without telling me why you left me. I was really heartbroken, you know," she said in a sad tone.

"But I'm here for you now," he replied.

"Noah?"

"Hmm?"

"What is or was your greatest fear? I'm curious," she asked.

"The fear of being betrayed by someone I love the most."