PROVOCATION.

Two weeks had passed, and Hayami and Noah's relationship had been what you might call "peaceful": the occasional bad joke between the two, but nothing remarkable. At work, everything was going very well; the company was proceeding as it should according to the strategies Noah implemented with Hayami. He hated to admit it, but she was very good at her job.

That night, Noah and Isabel were going out to do some pending wedding things; although neither of them was excited about the event, it was something they had discussed beforehand.

"I'm in my room. Come up. I want to talk privately about something important."

Noah read the message on his cell phone. Just as he was arriving at Isabel's house, upon entering, the maid took him to Isabel's room. When he knocked, she opened the door. Noah entered, and Isabel closed the door...

After talking for a few minutes, Isabel got up from her vanity cushion, while he was still sitting on the bed, looking at her with his green eyes that caught the attention of almost every woman.

"Now that that's clear, we can continue."

Isabel said, a little serious.

"Yes, that's fine, Isabel."

"I'm sorry. I just needed to talk it over with you before we continue and sign the prenuptial agreement."

"No, don't worry, I understand. I'll modify it."

"Thank you."

She finally replied with a tender smile.

"I'll let you get dressed then, so we can go."

He got out of bed and opened the bedroom door.

"Okay, I'll be right down."

He said to Noah as he finished leaving his room. Noah left the room, walked a few steps, and went back down to the living room to wait for Isabel. He noticed the open door of one of the bedrooms. As he passed by, he glanced at Hayami, who was lying on the bed. He stopped immediately. He leaned against the door. He saw that she was wearing headphones. He approached her, but she had her eyes closed, apparently enjoying the music.

Hayami had showered, put on short shorts and a loose blouse, took her headphones from her dresser, put them on, and opened the door to her room; she hated the feeling of confinement. Then she lay down on the bed. Her head was pointed toward the foot of the bed. A few minutes had passed. She felt like a presence in front of her. When she opened one of her eyes, she saw that a tall man with jet-black hair was standing in front of her, watching her. She didn't flinch; she simply closed her eyes again.

"Serious question: What are you doing in my room?"

She asked, taking off her headphones to clearly hear her "brother-in-law's" answer.

He sat at the foot of the bed, his back to her.

"I'm waiting for your sister, who's finishing getting ready."

"And I mean, well, it's a suggestion. Isn't it better to wait for her in the living room? That's what it's for, right?"

She was still lying in bed.

"Yeah, maybe, I just wanted to bother you for a while."

"Bhaaaaa... The office isn't enough already, isn't it?"

There was silence for a couple of minutes, and Noah swallowed a little.

"Are you going out tonight?"

Noah asked without thinking; the words had practically come out of his mouth.

"I don't think so."

Hayami's tone of voice sounded bored.

"I thought you would."

"Oh! Don't tell me you'll be as intense as my sister?"

She replied, annoyed.

"Of course not!" I don't care what you do with your life. It was just a conversation question. You're too grown up to be told what to do and what not to do.

"That's right, brother-in-law."

She replied heavily.

"From that attitude, I guess no one has proposed to you at your age."

He blurted out the first words that came to mind without considering whether they sounded good or bad.

She started to laugh, but they both remained in the same position: he at the foot of the bed, she sitting reclining; neither of them looked at each other.

"That's my problem. I never wanted to marry perverts like you, who look for younger women, like you and my sister. She's barely 25 and you're... 50, right?"

"Uh-huh, and then?"

He replied, his tone already annoyed.

"No, I'm just saying, it's just to make conversation."

Hayami got up from the end of the bed, left her headphones on it, and walked to Noah's side. When she reached his small desk, she leaned over it. He looked at her legs, but quickly averted his gaze elsewhere.

Hayami played the song she had on her computer. The song was SIA-CHANDELIER.

Noah watched as Hayami began to dance; she moved very well, just as he remembered that night, despite the drinks she'd had.

"What are you doing?"

She asked him, her voice high due to the loud music she was playing.

"Dancing, what can't you see? I didn't know you were blind besides being perverted."

"I'm not perverted."

— Okay, whatever you say. Besides, I'm in my room, I can do whatever I want, that applies, dance.

She continued dancing and slowly approached him. She placed her hands on his side. He stared at her, could feel her hot breath, looked at her closely. Her lips had a light, natural red tint. He noticed small freckles on her cheeks; she leaned closer to him.

— Don't be nervous.

He gave a small smile.

— Who? Me? Not at all.

Hayami picked up the cell phone that was behind him, then stepped away and immediately made a call.

— Carolina? It's Hayami. Are we going out today? I know I said I wouldn't go out tonight, but out of nowhere I felt like it, are you coming with me? ...

There was a brief silence.

— Great, I'll get you now...

Hanging up, she looked back at Noah. He just smiled, got out of bed, and looked at her like she did.

"I'll wait for your sister downstairs."

"Perfect," she replied. As Noah left his room, she started getting ready to go out that night.

Noah was waiting for Isabel. He looked at his watch, saw it read 7:30 PM, and saw Isabel walking up to him in a red dress; she looked lovely.

"Sorry I'm late."

"Don't worry, let's go."

They walked toward the door where they found Hayami, who was already leaving.

"YAMI!"

Isabel called to her sister. Hayami looked at her and came toward them. She had put on a short black dress that reached above her knees. This time she was wearing white sneakers; her hair was tied back in a high ponytail. Noah noticed her bra strap sticking out of her dress because it was red, but it didn't look bad.

"Tell me?"

"Tomorrow, I want you to join me for my final dress fitting. It'll be at 9:00 a.m."

"Really? Tomorrow is Sunday, my only day off. Do you also work on Sundays?"

She watched as Isabel rolled her eyes and folded her hands. She knew her little sister was upset.

"Okay, I'll go."

She replied forcefully.

"Be very careful."

"Don't worry, I'll be back early."

Hayami smiled. Isabel kissed Hayami on the cheek. She turned her gaze to Noah, who immediately looked away. She just smiled at the amusement. Isabel watched this and hid a slight smile. She thought the pair were polar opposites.