Chapter 10 Welcome to the real world

Elena's POV

We sat across from each other in the fancy restaurant, he just arrived there so the waiter had yet to attend to us, only the customary wine...which looked really expensive by the way, was on the table, but I felt uncomfortable.

Seriously, something in me told me not to dress like this. It was too...well, too opened. But no, my pride refused to let me be.

Noah had diminished my looks not just once, but twice! The first time in Diamonds when he even went as far as using a handkerchief to clean his hands after I held on to them, while the second was at the club.

I just had to change the impression I made on the guy to something much, much different, and I was sure with this dressing that I did, but it turns out I didn't only change his impression of me.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, the lady's eyes went to Noah while the men, well, me.

Normally I would bask in the attention they were giving me, but not today. Instead, I felt nervous... Like me, Elena... Nervous!

Maybe it was the fact that I was in such a huge 5-star rated restaurant. It was rare for targets to take me out on dates in restaurants, especially really good ones like this.

Thankfully, Noah had reserved a different section in the restaurant for us...he reserved the entire section.

Which should have made things better, but it didn't because I was seated right in front of the hottest guy I had ever seen who was not on a magazine cover; how was I sure he wasn't? But, it was just us.

"Why do you look so uncomfortable?" Noah asked taking a sip of the wine.

Maybe because I was?

I shrugged also picking up my glass. "I don't know. Maybe because I didn't think you were going to bring me to a restaurant."

Noah raised a brow at me as he dropped his glass. "Where else did you think I was going to bring you on a first date?"

I shrugged again. "I don't know, to the movies or something."

What did I just say? I had forgotten that rich people didn't do movies.

"Movies?" Noah raised a brow at me.

I blinked rolling my eyes. "Yeah you know, something different."

What was I even saying?

But Noah didn't seem to have a problem with it, he even encouraged me.

Leaning in the guy whispered. "How about we do this after we're done here... You take the lead. We'll go wherever you want to go, and you pay."

What?

I moved back.

I'll pay? But I didn't have money on me.

But then again, I wanted him to fall for me, doing this could make that happen.

"Alright then." I nodded, picking up my glass, which I had dropped at a time.

Where would I take him? Where would we go? I had no idea. All I knew was that wherever we were going had to be memorable, if not for me for him.

I did a bit more research about Noah Reynolds after his call yesterday. Not only was he a cold billionaire who so happens to have OCD and dislikes women...he had also never had a real girlfriend...ever.

He only dated random models but it was for just the sex. If I wanted to really win this, I had to make him fall for me.

My lips stretched into another smile; thankfully, a waiter appeared at our table, blocking Noah's eyes from mine.

I wasn't even worried about falling for him; it was impossible. I was a professional.

There was never a time when u weren't; there also wasn't a person who didn't fall for me when I wanted them to...okay, maybe except one. But that person was a detective and I made a great mistake of targeting him.

Thankfully, he never found me. Because just as how I was good at barging into people's lives, I was also pretty good at disappearing from them when I wanted.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs as the waiter handed us the menus. Noah barely acknowledged him, flipping through the options with an air of boredom. Meanwhile, I kept sneaking glances at him, trying to figure out if my plan was working.

"So," I started, tapping my fingers against my glass. "Do you always take your dates to fancy restaurants like this?"

Noah barely looked up. He had picked up his phone and was now scrolling through it. "I don't take women on dates."

I nearly choked on my wine. "Excuse me?" I said with a cough.

What?

What about those models?

So it was just straight to the hotel room?

Wow.

"I don't do dates," Noah said simply, looking at me for a brief second."This is a favor."

A favor?

Who was he favoring? Me? Layla's family? Who?

I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, so you're doing me a favor now?"

He shrugged, leaning back, completely putting his phone aside now to face me. "Your family needs this...well this 'arrangement' more than mine. Although they are wealthy, no offenses but your family still can't match mine."

"This is only happening because your grandfather happens to know mine...so this a favor for your family."

What?

I clenched my jaw, forcing a sweet smile. "Wow, how romantic."

Why would a person even want to date such a narcissistic person? I groaned inwardly.

'Well, for starters, he's handsome, then he is dangerously rich...what are you thinking, Elena? He is your type of man.' my subconscious scolded me.

He was exactly the type of guy I would date.

I sighed, setting my menu down. "Well, this favor of yours is far from over. You agreed to let me choose what we do next, remember?"

He arched a brow. "You were serious about that?"

"Dead serious," I said, matching his smirk.

I was bound to make him fall for me.

The waiter returned, and we ordered our food; though I barely tasted any of mine. The entire dinner felt like a game of silent challenges. Noah was cold, blunt, and effortlessly arrogant, but that only made me more determined.

Finally, as we finished up, I wiped my lips with the napkin and pushed my chair back. "Alright, rich boy. Time to step out of your comfort zone."

Yes...I was supposed to be pretending to be a rich heiress of some sort, but...I needed Noah's attention, his full attention.

What better way to make a guy fall for you than to make him try something he has never done before?

And what I had in mind was indeed something he had never done before.

Noah sighed but stood anyway. "This should be interesting."

....

At the Movie Theater

The moment we stepped inside, I knew this was a mistake.

Noah looked entirely out of place, standing stiffly in his expensive suit while the scent of buttered popcorn and artificial cheese filled the air. The place was packed, teenagers laughing too loudly, couples whispering in hushed voices, and one guy arguing with the ticket seller over a discount.

Noah took one look around and exhaled sharply. "This is chaos."

I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned.

I thought it was going to be more romantic.

Whatever, we were already here...why not just make the most of it.

I forced a grin to my lips as I looked at Noah. "Welcome to the real world."

He gave me an unimpressed look. "And this is supposed to impress me how?"

"You're not supposed to be impressed," I said, dragging him toward the concession stand. "You're supposed to experience something normal for once."

Noah eyed the candy display like it was a health hazard. "What exactly do people even eat here?"

I rolled my eyes, ordering a large popcorn and a soda. "Here, rich boy. Try some."

"Why do you keep calling me rich boy? I could equally call you rich girl, too." Noah said taking his gaze off the snacks and looking at me.

No, you can't.

He couldn't call me a rich girl because I wasn't.

"Sorry, habit I guess." I chuckled nervously. I somehow felt a little under his gaze, and I hated it.  "Have some," I said pushing the popcorn towards him.

Noah looked down at the popcorn and then at me.

He hesitated before plucking a single piece of popcorn from the tub. He studied it, then, with the same level of caution as someone handling an explosive, popped it into his mouth.

I watched, waiting for his reaction.

He chewed slowly. Then swallowed.

"Not terrible," he admitted.

I gasped dramatically. "High praise from the great Noah Reynolds."

He shot me a dry look. "Don’t get used to it."

He was funny.

Better than I expected.

With snacks in hand, we made our way into the theater. Of course, I picked the most cliché movie I could find; a rom-com with over-the-top dramatic scenes. Noah didn’t even bother hiding his disapproval.

"You brought me to watch this?"

I smirked, taking my seat. "Yep. Now sit down and enjoy."

I needed a lovey-dovey movie that was going to stick in his head for a very long time.

He sighed, but sat next to me, long legs stretching out as he crossed his arms.

The movie started, and I could already tell he was uncomfortable. Every time a ridiculous romantic moment happened, he stiffened. At one point, when the main couple got caught in the rain and dramatically confessed their love, I heard him mutter under his breath, "Unbelievable."

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.

The funniest part?

Despite all his complaining, Noah never once got up to leave.

I turned my gaze towards him.

He seemed engrossed in the movie; they were at a part where both main leads separated due to a misunderstanding.

I couldn't stop myself from looking at his face.

His eyebrows were perfectly carved, down to his flawless pointed nose, to his lips... Everything about him was perfect. I felt as if time stopped as I stared at his face.

Wasn't this supposed to be the other way around?

Suddenly he turned to face me.

I wasn't fast enough, he caught me staring.