Chapter 11 A moment

Elena's POV

He caught me staring.

I blinked, lips stretching into a smile...too late to look away now. Besides, if I wanted him to like me, why not let him see I liked him first?

Noah raised an eyebrow, his voice low with amusement. “Why are you staring at me?”

My smile widened. “Because you’re really handsome.”

Yup. I actually said that. Out loud. In front of him and not just in my head.

I was getting pretty bold.

But I wasn’t lying; he was breathtaking. Noah’s face flushed slightly with a light shade of pink, and he let out a cough, his gaze flicking back to the screen.

Fuck, was he...blushing?

I could have let out a high squeal in joy.

Noah Reynolds was blushing!

God. He looked even hotter blushing.

I propped my chin on my palm, still watching him. Was he even aware of how perfect his face was? People in my line of business spend hours, or even days to make their faces like this; perfect, to attract other rich people

But he just got it for free.

Good genes perhaps.

“Stop staring already,” he grumbled, coughing again.

I chuckled, still looking at him. “Then stop looking so handsome.”

He turned to me, a spark of challenge in his eyes. “Now that’s impossible.” he was enjoying his.

Of course, men loved being praised.

That smug grin. Ugh, narcissist much. “Then I guess looking away will be impossible too.”

My words brought out a throaty laugh from him.

His laugh was sudden, deep, and stupidly attractive. The kind that makes your heart stop for a second.

And mine did.

I froze, watching him. When he laughed like that, he didn’t look real...he looked like a damn dream. It wasn’t fair.

“You should laugh more,” I said quietly still watching him. “It brightens the room.”

His laughter slowly faded. He turned to me, and this time... there was no smirk. No teasing glint. Just quiet. Focus. I could feel the air around us shifting, but it wasn't suffocating.

I stared back, heart stuttering. We were having a moment. One of those moments.

Yes!

This is working!!!

I started to lean in for a kiss but...

“Hushhhhh!”Numerous people suddenly hushed us all at the same time.

Right. We were still in the movie theater.

Surrounded by people. People who did not care that I was about to kiss Mr. Hot CEO.

People who were so blind to not know how much this would mean for me... great, just great.

“Sorry,” I whispered, my face heating up in embarrassment.

God, why did I pick a theater?

I leaned harder on my seat, trying to make myself disappear, but Noah...well, he was just being himself. He leaned closer, whispering, “Why are you apologizing?”

I blinked once taking aback.

“We’re in a theater,” I whispered back. “We can’t just… talk freely. It’s annoying to others.”

“So my laugh was annoying?” he asked, genuinely confused.

I blinked again. Okay, wow. This man might be hot, and rich, but he was also blissfully unaware of basic public etiquette. I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could...

A theater manager appeared beside us.

I immediately looked away, eyes glued to the screen. Maybe if I pretended hard enough, I’d blend into the chair. Or better yet, he would just leave.

But Noah? Noah just ignored the guy like he didn’t exist.

“Hey…” he nudged me again. “What were you about to say?”

“Not now,” I hissed.  Couldn't see the man standing just right beside him?

Even if he could, Noah just didn't care.

“Layla…” he nudged me again and I cringed.

Oh God, let me just disappear. I almost cried.

The manager gave him a beat. Just one. And then: “Excuse me, sir, you’ll have to leave.”

Noah turned, completely unfazed. “Why?” his tone was cold; actually, that was quite normal.

Oh, no.

I could see it coming. That sentence. 'Do you know who I am?' The phrase that ruins lives.

And coming from someone like Noah Reynolds...before the manager would be able to 'figure out ' who he was, Noah would have bought this entire place.

Before he could finish, I jumped in. “We’re really sorry, sir,” I said to the manager, dragging Noah up by the hand. “We’ll leave now.”

And I didn’t wait for Noah to argue. If he said one more word, the man might G****e him and ban me from this place forever. And I liked their popcorn.

Or worse, I would never be able to come back here because anytime I do, they would be like...' Oh, isn't that the girl that came with Mr. Reynolds?'

And that would be terrible especially if my work was already done. If he looked hard enough for me, he would find me and then I'll be doomed.

I smiled awkwardly at every judgmental stare as we left, and they were a lot.

Once outside, Noah frowned. “Why did we have to leave?”

Huh?

I stopped, turning slowly to face him. “Did you seriously just ask me that?”

“What? Was I supposed to let him kick me? Us out?”

“Oh my God.” I facepalmed. “You were going to tell him who you were, weren’t you?”

“Well… if I had to.”

This man was going to be the death of me.

I took a deep breath. It was fine. The night wasn’t ruined yet.

“Layla,” he nudged me again, and I snapped.

“What? What? What?!”

He didn’t flinch. Just smiled, that damn half-smile that made my stomach flip. “Are you angry?”

No, of course not. I love getting kicked out of places with men who have no indoor voice.

“I’m fine,” I said, lying through my teeth.

“You sure? Because your face is all puffed up. It makes you look cute.”

I stared at him.

Cute?

My angry face was… cute?

This mad always had a way of making me tongue-tied, Just static in the brain.

I closed my eyes, breathed in, and opened them again.

“Alright,” I said calmly. “The night isn’t over yet.”

He wasn’t going home thinking I was just ‘cute.’

No. I was a goddess. A queen. Someone he is supposed to get married to!

Not cute!

Grabbing his hand, I turned to him with a grin.

“Ice cream?” I asked.

His eyes lit up like a kid offered candy.

“Only if you’re buying.”

Why was he acting so...so...I didn't even have the words for it.

But since he wasn't complaining, why should I?

With a sigh, I dragged him to the nearest ice cream parlor around and bought two cups.

"What now?" He asked as we returned from the parlor. We both still had our cups in hand filled with ice cream.

"How about we just...how about we just walk and talk?"

Instantly my brain registered that as a terrible plan.

Walk and talk?

What if he asked me questions? Questions that only the real Layla would have answers to.

I was yet to discover who the fuck that was, so if he did, I might just get caught.

"Or maybe we could.." I wanted to change my words, but Noah just shrugged.

"No," I froze. "let's talk."

Fuck.

Elena, what have you done to yourself?