Presentation

Chapter Eight

Noah drives us to the hotel where the party is going to be, and the city lights sparkle like diamonds. I sit in the passenger seat, outwardly calm, but my stomach does flips of anticipation and apprehension. Noah has been off, distant a lot lately, and mentioning Isabella Stone—his old partner—made me uneasy.

I look sideways at him, registering the way his jaw clenches as he fixes his gaze on the road. There's a thread of an intensity to his mood that I just can't read. It's almost as if he's practicing for something, bracing himself for an encounter that means more than he's letting on.

"Are you okay?" I ask, breaking the silence that stretches between us like pulled wire.

He nods, but the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes says otherwise. "Yeah, just thinking about the presentation tonight."

"Is that all?" I probe, trying to read his expression. "You seem. tense."

He looks over at me, surprise flickering in his eyes. "It's just Isabella. I haven't seen her in years. I'm not sure how this is going to go.

Isabella, right," I repeat, trying to keep my tone light, but the name feels like a weight in the air. "What's she like?"

"Smart, driven," he replies, his voice far away. "We worked well together.

His words fire up a surge of jealousy in the pit of my stomach, one I try to dampen. Why should I feel intimidated by a woman he hasn't mentioned in years? But there's an undercurrent of something unsettled in his tone, something that quickens my heartbeat for all the wrong reasons.

We finally reach the hotel, and as soon as we step inside, there's this buzz of excitement in the air. People mill around in their finest attire, the sound of laughter spilling from each and every corner, yet a sense within me denotes how out of place I am. Noah walks beside me, but there feels like a chasm between us, one filled with words unspoken and histories hidden.

"Let's find her," Noah says, his eyes circling the room. His eyes jump from group to group, and I cannot help but notice how bright his face goes when he spots Isabella across the room.

She stands by the door, this tall figure draped in a sleek black dress, perfectly molded to her body. Her hair cascades in shining waves framing the face that is so strikingly beautiful, yet intimidating at the same time. Confident, an aura of control that makes me feel small and unsure.

"Is that her?" I ask, barely louder than a whisper.

Noah nods, and I watch him take a step forward, a small smile breaking across his face. It's one I haven't seen aimed at me in weeks.

"Isabella," he calls, and I feel a spark of jealousy twist in my gut. She turns, and the instant their eyes meet, it's as if a spark has been lit. The way he looks at her is different, more animated somehow, as though years apart have rekindled some connection I didn't know existed.

I retreat behind a veil of invisibility as they exchange greetings with a heat that cuts deep. "Rachel, come meet her," Noah calls, the gesture of welcome fuzzy but unmistakable in my mind's eye.

I force myself to walk towards them; each step feels heavy, weighted with dread. Isabella's gaze turns to me as I approach, and she measures me up with an assessing look that runs a chill down my spine.

"Rachel," Noah introduces, his voice uncommonly enthusiastic. "This is Isabella Stone, my former partner."

"It's nice to finally meet you," she says, her smile slick and chilly. "Noah has told me so much about you."

"Oh yeah?" I say with a neutrality that doesn't quite reflect the swirl of unease in my chest.

"Oh, just everything great," she says, eyes fixed on Noah and I feel superfluous-a third wheel intruding into their reunion.

Laughter and anecdotes are shared between them, the substance of which eludes my understanding completely. I stand there, smiling to myself, feeling increasingly like an outsider inside. They reflect on the past, and I know that there is something hidden beneath, something to which I am not privy.

Remember how we were staying late at work to finish that project?" Isabella says, her laughter musical even in the still air. "You nearly fell asleep on the conference table.

Noah chuckles, and for a moment, I am reminded of that boy who once was-the dreamer whose future had shone so bright, unencumbered by the burden our marriage placed upon his shoulders. I can only speculate whether Noah ever misses that version of himself, free of the drudgery of our life together, unsullied by the duty.

"Yeah, I had a lot on my plate back then," Noah says, his tone light. "But we made it work."

"Yes, we did," Isabella adds, and I get the feeling that her words are filled with more subtext than they ought to be.

I step back, my gaze working the room with the hope of sweeping my growing tension away. I find myself at the edge of this reunion of souls, people mingling, laughing, enjoying the evening.

Just as I think I've managed to calm the storm inside me, I hear Isabella's voice cut through the crowded room: "So, Noah, does Rachel know about us?"

The question just hangs there, and my heart suddenly drops. I swirl around, and my eyes fall into Noah's pale face, the warmth sucked off his expression as he stares after Isabella in shock.

"Us?" he repeats after her, low and laced with confusion.

I hold my breath. I stop thinking. Everything around me fades, and all that's left is them. There's a crack in his facade, and suddenly I feel exposed, as if Isabella has taken the layers of my composure down with one sentence.

Isabella's laugh is light, but it's forced. "You know, your past, our partnership. I didn't mean to stir things up, but I can't help but wonder how much you've told her."