Chapter 7: Silent Schemes

Noah's phone buzzed on the nightstand, yanking her from the loop of thoughts that had replayed in her mind since she had arrived at the Anderson mansion. She reached for it and smiled as her best friend Mia's name flashed on the screen. Swiping to answer, she pressed the phone to her ear and let out a warm greeting in response to Mia's voice.

Girl, you have got to be kidding me!" Mia's voice came loud and clear, laced with a mix of disbelief and concern. "You're really living with him? Damien Anderson, Mr. Cold-and-Calm himself?

Noah let out a sigh, sinking back into the plush headboard of the bed that was too big. Everything in the room was high-end-every element a thoughtfully considered detail-and yet it didn't make it feel any less like a gilded cage than a home. "Yeah, it was part of the contract, I didn't even remember it was there until he stated it after we got here. I can't believe I have to live with him too.

I know, I know," Mia replied-her voice soft. "Still, it just cannot sink that you are actually doing this. How are you holding up? You said nothing in your text but just said you were at his house."

Noah was still for a moment, looking up to that elaborately designed ceiling above her. It was a suffocating mansion in size, but even more so in the tension it seemed to breathe into every corner. The walls themselves seemed to hold their breath, like they were all holding onto something waiting to happen. "Honestly, Mia? I'm starting to regret agreeing to all this. I thought, I don't know, I thought maybe we could at least work together without driving each other crazy but Damien-he's colder than I ever imagined, it's not really not my business but it really isn't helping.

What do you mean?" Mia asked. The concern was getting worse with each word passing her lips.

"Remember how he was at the wedding reception? How absent he seemed? " Noah went on, her voice dropping in recollection of the awkward tension that had lain between them like a brewing storm. "I thought it was nerves or maybe he wasn't so keen on the whole thing, but it's more than that. It's like. I don't know, like he's shut off.". There was this one moment in his office when we signed the contract-he was almost. warm, I don't know. I guess I took that for some sort of indication that at least we could work together with minimal friction.

But now…. ."

Now it's like you live with a stranger, Mia finished for her, her voice full of sympathy.

Precisely, he rarely speaks with me, and when he does, it is strictly professional and quite cold" Noah's voice went laced with frustration. She hadn't expected their marriage to be like some sort of fairytale, but she also hadn't expected it to feel so….empty.

Mia made a thoughtful hum. "I've seen him on TV, of course—interviews, business conferences. He's always so poised, so cool. But I never thought he'd be like that at home, especially not with you."

"Neither did I," Noah muttered. "I thought we could at least be civil, maybe even friendly. But he's making it really hard."

Mia didn't say anything else for a while, her silence seemingly used to choose her words. "Listen, Noah, I know this situation is far from ideal, but maybe you just need to give it at least some time. Focus on something else, like getting back to working at your father's company. Keep your mind busy and try to figure him out.

Noah nodded, though Mia couldn't see her. "You're right. Sitting around here isn't doing me any good. I need to get back to work. It's the only way I'm going to keep my sanity.

"Right," said Mia, her voice lightening, "and who knows? Maybe after you two get busy with work, things will feel a little more normal. Or as normal as they can get, considering the circumstances.”

Noah forced a small smile, still appreciative of her friend's ongoing support. "Thanks, Mia. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey, what are best friends for?" Mia replied warmly. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? And. well, I know this is probably the last thing on your mind, but NJ, you know I can't stop myself from asking, have you thought of the possibility of, maybe ……. this working out? Maybe this will be something more, you never know.

Noah's eyes grew wide, and she could almost hear Mia's mischievous grin right over the phone. "Mia!” she breathed, shocked with an undercurrent of amusement. "Absolutely not. My heart still belongs to Anthony, you know that, and that's not happening, we both have people in our lives that we obviously care about.

Mia chuckled softly. "I know, I know-just thought I'd ask. But seriously, Noah, not to shut yourself off completely. This is a new chapter in your life, and though it wasn't what you've expected, it can very well turn into something….unexpected, you never know NJ.

Noah sighed, his words awakening the pang of sorrow whenever Anthony was brought up. He had been her first love, her everything, and though he was gone, that part of her still clung to the love she had had for him. 

Reality, however, was far from that-she was married now to a man with whom she was barely acquainted and most certainly did not love. "I just need to get through this, Mia. One day at a time."

"That's all you can do," Mia agreed. "And remember, I'm always here if you need to talk-or just vent. Anytime."

"Thanks, Mia," Noah said softly. "I'll talk to you soon."

"Take care, Noah. And good luck girl." The last part sounding more like a tease than a just a statement 

Noah hung up, with a smile on her face, her heart a little lighter from speaking with Mia. As she looked around the room, though, the weight of her situation fell right back onto her shoulders.

 She needed out of this room, out of her head. Perhaps a stroll around this mansion would clear her mind, or at least serve to orient her better in this place now supposed to be her home.

She slipped on a pair of flats and headed out into the hall. The mansion was creepily silent, that kind of silence that weighed, like it was pushing in on her from all sides. As she walked, she couldn't but notice how big everything was: marble floors, crystal chandeliers, carved wood. All so. cold, so impersonal.

Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since the reception. Gratefully, the thought of food was a welcome distraction, so she walked in the general direction of the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. 

As she walked, though, she was becoming increasingly disoriented. The mansion was some kind of maze, with hallways that all looked identical and stretched on interminably.

Just as she was about to turn back, she heard a voice-a deep commanding voice that ran a shiver down her spine. It was Damien. She hesitated for a moment, then followed the sound of his voice-her curiosity now awakened.

The voice led her along the hall to a huge, imposing door at the far end. Without even thinking, she opened it and stepped inside.

He sat behind a huge desk, his attention fixed on the papers laid out before him. He didn't look up at her entrance, but his very presence seemed to fill the room-a crackle of energy in the air.

"Damien," Noah started, firmly, as she shut the door behind her. "I'd like to talk to you about something.

Finally, he lifted his head; his icy blue eyes met hers. "What is it?" he asked, his tone cold as always.

Noah took a deep breath, fortifying herself from the chill in his voice. "I want to assume a position at my father's company. I need to get back to work to help restore what we have lost.

For a moment, Damien said nothing. He just stared at her, his face unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he nodded. "Very well," he said calmly, almost indifferently. "You can start tomorrow."

Noah blinked, taken aback. She had anticipated some resistance, at the most level flat refusal, but he had agreed to it without a second thought it seemed. "That's. it?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise.

But Damien's eyes didn't leave hers, either. No sparkle there, no gleam to give away what he was thinking. "That's it," he confirmed. "You'll be working under my supervision. Report to my office at 8 AM tomorrow. I'll assign your duties then.

Noah nodded, his reply stuck somewhere in a web of thoughts. There was something unnerving with the ease with which he had agreed to this, how quick he'd been to accede to her request. It almost felt like he had expected it.

"Thank you," she said in a measured voice. She did want to ask more, press him on what compelled his accommodating nature, but knew better than to press her luck.

Damien turned back to the papers in front of him, as if dismissing her. "You may go now," he said, his tone dismissive.

Noah also remained there for a moment, her mind thronging with questions. But when at last it seemed that he wasn't going to say anything else, she turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

As she walked back down the hall, Noah couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Damien's acquiescence came too easily, too smoothly. He had seemed to be thinking of some other plan, one she wasn't privy to yet.

Whatever it was, she would figure it out. She had to. This was not a marriage of convenience; this was her life, her father's legacy, and she was not about to let anyone dictate what it would be like-not even Damien Anderson.

Noah squared her shoulders as she hit the kitchen, resolution solidifying in her chest.

She would play this game- whatever it was- and she would win. Because she had no other choice.