Chapter Eight

Ava eyed the retreating back of Noah and frowned. His posture seemed a little off and he gave out compliments like it was a norm.

"This is bad," she heard Chloe whisper.

"What is?" She asked, quivering a brow at her.

"Nothing," Chloe mumbled, lowering her eyes to her plate.

Ava frowned, "Something is off with Noah. What did you do, Chloe?"

"Chloe?" Faustino eyed her curiously.

"It was mom's idea!" She exclaimed.

Ava glanced at Natalie.

"Alright, so maybe I gave him antidepressant drugs," Natalie grudgingly admitted.

"But he's not suffering from depression!" Ava exclaimed.

"Nope but he's always sad," Natalie sighed.

"You realize that those drugs have side effects, right? Especially since he's not suffering from depression," Dante stated.

Ava groaned and left the table heading to the same room where Noah had entered a few minutes ago.

He complimented her the moment she entered the room and even though her heart did a little flip flop, she felt saddened by the fact that he wasn't complimenting her from his heart but out of a drug-induced state.

The moment he grasped her wrist, her breath caught in her throat, and she swallowed nervously. She wouldn't allow him to ruin her first kiss after four years like that.

She grabbed the jug of water on the nightstand and emptied it on his head.

With bated breath, she waited till he finally let go of her and let out a frustrated groan.

"What the fuck did you do that for?!"

"Are you back?" She asked, stifling a giggle.

Noah glared at her. "I never went anywhere."

Ava cocked a brow at him. "Are you certain? A while ago you were ready to kiss me, and you kept complimenting me."

Noah's glare intensified. "Fuck off, Ava. I'm already in a foul mood, don't worsen it."

She shot him a hard glare. "Don't ever talk to me like that."

"Don't forget you're talking to your boss!" He snapped at her.

"Take your job and shove it…"

You can't go back to modeling, her subconscious reminded her.

"You were saying?"

Ava gulped and realized how ugly she must have looked standing before Noah for a whole minute with her mouth gaping open.

"Ava?" Noah prompted again.

"Yes, sir," she responded immediately.

He gave her a satisfying smirk. "Adequate. Ask Pedro to come to see me."

She nodded and left the room. He may be so sweet and cute in his drug-induced state, but she missed his bossiness and hated his guts.

At least with him acting like an ass, she didn't need to be scared of loving him.

With that satisfying thought in her mind, she headed to find Pedro.

***

Noah massaged his temples after he was sure he wasn't inhaling the same air as Ava. It didn't help his throbbing headache, or his painful bulge hidden under the sheets.

He had finally gotten control of his words and thoughts, but there were still thoughts of Ava filtering into his mind, and he couldn't help it.

Whatever was wrong with him before either made him worse or this was entirely his doing.

Why won't she just go away?!

"Maybe because you've kept her long enough," Pedro's voice sounded in his bedroom.

He looked up, startled. "When did you get here? And did I say that out loud?"

"For someone who has a target on his back, you are distracted," Pedro commented.

Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not my fault. I think my drink was spiked by my sister."

"You've got to let her go, Noah."

Noah raised a perfectly arched brow at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"I'm talking about Ava!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"What about Ava?" Noah asked, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Listen, buddy, it's been the two of us for a while now. I don't know what happened between you and Ava in the past but it's time to bury the hatchet."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied.

"You have feelings for her," Pedro pointed out.

"I don't!"

"The earlier you realize this and stop lying to yourself, the better for you both. It's dangerous to be around you, Noah I'm sure you don't want that for Ava," Pedro said and left.

Noah heaved a small sigh as he ran his hands through his hair. Pedro's words kept ringing in his ears as his mind spun a blurry tale—a tale of why she should stay away from him.

His life was one hell of a complicated mess, and his family was making him feel more confused. He needed to get back to Italy so he could drown in his work once more.

His mind eye reflected a picture of Ava bloody and beaten.

That's how she will end up if you don't let her go, his subconscious whispered.

Noah shuddered. He couldn't let that happen especially since he has no idea who was after him. He stood up and headed to the sitting room, he was going to tell her off and have her leave him for good.

The entire house was eerie quiet and for a split second, he panicked. What if the person after him has gotten his hands on his family members?

He dismissed that thought the moment he saw the note posted on the fridge: A little family shopping, see you later :-).

He pulled out the liquor from the cabinet and sat down on the armchair. Maybe if he got drunk before Ava returned, he would have the balls to send her away.

After two glasses and they hadn't returned, he picked up his car keys to drive into town and looked for them only to remember he didn't have a car here yet.

After that bombing incident, he was yet to get a new car shipped down here so he settled for the old-fashioned way.

A trip into town with a bicycle.

***

Ava chuckled from her hiding spot as he peered Into her binoculars while munching her popcorn.

"What's so funny?" Chloe asked with a small pout.

Ava giggled again like a schoolgirl.

"You're getting on my nerves," she groaned again.

Ava finally looked away from binoculars with a small frown etched on her lips.

"Stop being a spoilsport, Chloe."

"Watching my brother is not a sport," she grumbled.

"Well, it is to me," Ava shrugged.

"Then shut up and continue drooling over him," she mumbled.

"I'm not drooling, and I can't focus when you're always grumbling!" Ava exclaimed.

"Bird watching is better than brother watching," Chloe snorted.

"Once I'm done with the task Nat gave me, the binoculars are all yours," Ava tried again.

Chloe seemed to consider it for a while then decided she liked the idea by keeping quiet.

"Good girl," Ava smiled then turned her attention back to Noah. He was now perched on the armchair drinking his whisky.

She had no idea how she knew but she knew he had a lot of things on his mind and her heart ached for him, but she knew now wasn't the time to console him. She would have time for that later.

Right now, she needed to call Nat and inform her that Noah was heading into town on a bicycle and that got her cracking up with laughter again before she handed Chloe the binoculars and left.

She had no idea how she had been roped into the birthday eve preparation but either way, Nat had roped her into hiding and stalking Noah In the house while they plotted ways on how to get him out.

Now that the plan was successful, all that was left was for someone to distract him long enough from coming back into the house on time.

She broke into a run when she saw he was already out of the gate.

"Noah! Wait up!!" She yelled.

Noah stilled on his bike before crashing into a pole.

"Fuck!" He swore picking up the bike and glaring at Ava.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized.

"Mm," he mumbled.

"So, you're on a bike going to town, eh?"

Lame Ava, her brain chided her.

"That's what it looks like. There's no car available now," he replied.

"I've been meaning to talk about work," she tried again.

Hopefully, he won't get bored and leave, her subconscious groaned.

"Work," His face displayed no emotion, "Is fine."

"Ok good to know everything is running smoothly without you," she beamed.

"Is there something you wanna say, Ava? Because I'm going out," he stated briskly.

Ava frowned. Why was he being too formal? She wondered.

"Well, have a lovely evening, Ava."

His words snapped her back to the present as she thought desperately of what she would say to make him stay and not ruin the surprise his family was planning for him.

"How's the search coming along?" She blurted out.

His eyebrow rose a fraction. "What search?"

"The person who's trying to harm you," she replied. Might as well finish what she's started, she gave a resigned sigh.

"That's not your concern!" He snapped through clenched teeth then whirled away.

Ava had to think quickly since the talk about whoever tried to kill him didn't make him stay. She could think of only one thing she could say that would make him stay, one discussion he couldn't run away from because they hadn’t had it in the last four years.

And against her better judgment, against the warning bells going off in her head, against the ache gradually growing in her heart, she blurted out the dreaded question because deep down she always wanted an answer, and maybe now was the time to get it.

Noah's heart skipped a bit at her next question, and he stood frozen to a spot.

How could she…

Why would she…

All these questions and more went through his mind as he stared at her. Maybe now would be the time to provoke her so she would leave, he thought.

Why did you leave me alone for four years, Noah? The question resounded in his ears.

"Noah?" she prompted.

"Because I had to!" he yelled.

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and a glimmer of hope. "Someone forced you to stay away from me?"

He chuckled darkly. "No one did, Ava. I just got tired of you."

The tears gathered in her eyes, and she shook her head, vehemently refusing to acknowledge what he just said. He hated that he was hurting her, but it was for the best.

"That isn't true. You promised me, Noah," she cried.

"I was a kid then. Now I'm grown up and I've realized that you aren't my typical kind of girl. You're too shallow and too gullible for my liking," he continued.

The tears spilled down her cheeks soaking her shirt. "Liar!"

"How many times do you want to be rejected before you understand that I don't want you, Ava. I never did. Stop pushing yourself on me like a fucking whore!"

He was cut off by a resounding slap and she walked back to the house. He massaged his cheeks while following her closely behind.

At least, you've accomplished this mission, his subconscious sighed.

The moment he pulled the front door open, he almost got a heart attack.

"Surprise!"

He saw a lot of people and his family members holding the banner of his birthday eve and Natalie rushed towards him.

"What's all this?" He asked.

"Happy birthday in advance, baby bro. Ava did pretty well in keeping you away from the house for long," she replied.

Ava?

His heart gave a painful tug and he looked up to see her rushing out of the house with a tear-stained face. He should have probably run after her and tried to stop her but once again, he watched her walk out on him, again.