Chapter Two

‘Nothing good was ever learned from eavesdropping, so mind you business and let others mind theirs.’ Quote by Maryrose Wood.

Noah grappled with his emotions as he made his way towards April. He made an effort to erase any trace of annoyance from his face following his meeting with her father. He didn’t want to weigh her down with the truth about her father’s ultimatum. As he got closer to her, he put on a smile and warmly greeted her.

“Hey April, how’s it going?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

April looked up, her plump face changing into a small smile, but he saw something was missing. The smile wasn’t genuine. The light that would sparkle in her sea-green eyes was absent. Normally, she didn’t hide her braces from him like she was doing now. Noah wondered if someone had said something to her to make her so aware of them. “Hey Noah! Just doing a little gardening. It’s therapeutic, you know?” She said before looking back down and away from him.

Noah nodded, trying to hide his inner turmoil. “Yeah, I can see why. It’s peaceful out here.” Noah looked around the garden. She really had a green thumb. The garden was lush.

They chatted for a while, discussing trivial matters. Noah couldn’t help but notice the innocence in April’s eyes, her genuine passion for the simple things in life. He wondered if marrying her would be such a terrible fate, after all.

The more Noah thought about it, the more he realized that perhaps this arrangement could be a blessing in disguise. He had been so consumed by work and staying afloat. Maybe April would be a breath of fresh air. She needed him. She was so innocent. If her father died, every sleazy gold-digger would knock at her door.

They needed each other. In a totally platonic way. He could act as her older brother and look after her. She needed him to save her from men after her money, and he needed her to save his business.

Noah made up his mind. He would accept William’s proposal, not out of obligation or fear, but because he saw an opportunity to protect April. He would marry April, not just for his debt and stop her father from bankrupting him, but to provide her with stability. If not love, he would look after her.

As he got into his car, he dialed Willow’s number. Unconcerned about what time zone she was in. He needed to do this now. She answered after only two rings.

“Baby, I’m so glad you called. I was laying in my lonely bed thinking of you.” Came Willow’s breathy voice over the line.

“Willow. It’s over.” Noah didn’t beat around the bush, just got straight to the matter at hand. Ending things with her. The instant screaming down the phone made him pull the mobile away from his ear. Fuck! That hurt. Rubbing his ear.

Every time he ended things with women, he never knew how they would take it. Each time was different, often not how he would expect. Because from the very beginning he would let his bed partners know he wasn’t looking for marriage or happily ever after. Not now, maybe not ever.

Noah arrived the next night for dinner. William took him straight into the study. “Well?” The older man said as soon as the door closed behind them.

“Well what? You leave me little choice in the matter, William.” Noah replied, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

William nodded, a stern look on his face. “I’m glad you understand, Noah. This arrangement isn’t to benefit me, it will provide stability and protection for April. Should I not make it? I trust you will fulfill your duties as her husband.”

Noah took a deep breath, trying to hide his mixed emotions. “I will do my best, William. I can’t promise love, but I will take care of her and ensure her well-being.”

William’s expression softened slightly. “That’s all I ask for, Noah. April is my only child, and I want nothing but the best for her. I believe you can provide that. Once the marriage has taken place, I will wipe your debts.” Opening the door to the office so they could leave.

As Noah followed William into the dining room, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of duty and responsibility. He knew that marrying April was not what he had initially envisioned for his life, but he was willing to make sacrifices for the sake of his staff. The one thing she had going for her was she wasn’t anything like Ashley.

April was sitting by the window with a book in her lap, looking out the window, deep in thought. It was often how he saw her, lost in her own internal thoughts.

“April.” William called out to his daughter.

April turned her head with a smile on her face, but it dimmed a little when she saw Noah was with her father. Noah frowned. It wasn’t something he expected when April looked at him. He had thought she had a little crush on him, one he didn’t encourage at all. She was a kid. It was normal for kids her age to have innocent crushes on someone older. Noah himself had felt that way about his English teacher at high school.

April looked away to put her book aside. She got to her feet, needing the few seconds to clear the look of shock of seeing Noah again so soon off her face. So when she turned back to them she said as normal as possible, “Noah it’s so nice for you to join us for dinner.” April lied.

She was still upset by his words to her father yesterday. He didn’t think she was woman enough. She was surprised he hadn’t commented on the extra weight she was carrying or her braces. She consciously brushed her hand down the front of her blue shift dress.

“I could not turn down the offer to a well cook meal and interesting company for the night.” Noah stepped forward to kiss her cheek. It took everything inside of her not to pull away. His lips were warm against her skin and she felt the heat spread through her body at the innocent little kiss. He didn’t want her, so why was her body torturing her like this?

“Yes well, Can I get you a drink Noah? Dad?” April asked because it was her job to ask. She was always playing hostess for her father.

“We might as well go through to dinner and have something with the meal.” At her father’s answer, April nodded. She moved to her father’s side, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow, and they walked together to the dining room. Noah followed closely behind them. She would not let his presence get the best of her. This was her home.

Once they were seated, the first course arrived almost straight away. “How is school going, April? Don’t you have exams soon or is that already past?” Noah thought to ask.

April looked up from her plate, staring at him as if she was inspecting something under a microscope and wasn’t sure she was happy with what she saw. What the hell was going on?

Noah couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled by April’s intense gaze. He had never seen her look at him like that before, and it made him question what might be going on in her mind. He cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.

April blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. She quickly composed herself and forced a smile. “Oh, yes, I had two exams this week and two more next week. My last exams are maths and English which are the week after.” They would think something was wrong if she didn’t answer. She hadn’t been shy around Noah for sometime now.

As the dinner progressed, Noah couldn’t help but steal glances at April. There was something different about her tonight. She seemed distant, guarded, and it bothered him. He had always seen her as a sweet, innocent girl.

After dessert, Noah couldn’t hold his curiosity any longer. “April, I noticed you’ve been a bit quiet tonight. Is there something on your mind?”

April looked up, surprised by his direct question. She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “I...I.. No, I’m just focused on school right now.”

Noah didn’t believe her. There was something in the way she looked at him. As if he had hurt her in some way. “Do you still plan to hold your eighteenth birthday party here?”

April looked down at her plate, her fingers nervously tracing the rim. “Um, yeah, I think so,” she replied softly. “But it’s still a few weeks away, so... I haven’t really thought about it much yet. I don’t have that many people to ask.”

Noah’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing her hesitation. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had done something to upset her. But surely William hadn’t said anything to her. It would be up to him to ask her to marry him. With her little crush on him, Noah was sure she would say yes. He had one month to convince her.

The girl was hungry for any type of affection. It wasn’t like she didn’t get it from her father, but Noah had seen that most people just ignored her. “Are you sure? I mean, I know it’s a big milestone and all.” Did she not have many friends at school? Maybe April, being shy, played a big part in that, so it just didn’t affect her life around her father’s circle but her life away at school as well.

April forced a smile, her eyes avoiding his gaze. “Yeah, well, things change, you know? Plans change. I’m not really into parties. I would just rather have a nice dinner with family.”

William, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. “April, your eighteenth birthday is a special occasion. I think it should be celebrated properly, with all your friends and family. Don’t you agree, Noah?”

Noah nodded, his expression serious. “Absolutely. I think it’s important to mark such a significant milestone in your life.” Noah thought it could be the best night to ask her to marry him. At least then she would be eighteen and it would not make him feel like a dog.

April’s heart sank a little at her father’s words. She had hoped that he would understand her need for a more low-key celebration. But it seemed the men agreed with each other and she would be given a little choice in the matter.

Most of the people that would be invited would be Dad’s friends and their children. The party really wouldn’t be about her. Because she didn’t have close friends. She was too focused on doing well at school. She knew her father wasn’t well and she wouldn’t want to go away to university anytime soon. But she wanted good grades, so one day maybe.

As the evening wore on, April’s mind was filled with conflicting emotions. She couldn’t deny the flutter in her stomach whenever she caught Noah’s gaze, but she also couldn’t ignore the hurtful words he had said to her father. It was becoming increasingly difficult to navigate her feelings for him.

After dinner, as they all sat in the living room, April couldn’t help but steal glances at Noah. His presence filled the room, and she found herself drawn to him despite her reservations.

Noah, sensing her gaze, turned to meet her eyes. April quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Eventually, it was time for Noah to leave. He stood up, thanking William for the meal and bidding April farewell with a friendly smile. But as he walked towards the door, April couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. Even though she was upset with him, she always wanted him around. As the door closed behind him, April slumped back onto the couch, her mind swirling with unanswered questions. Why was Noah here again, and why was he paying so much attention to her?