CHAPTER TWO: SLY FOX.

Sienna hesitates, weighing the pros and cons of confiding in Mia. Their friendship is built on trust and honesty, but this situation is a tangled complication of emotions and secrets. She worries that Mia, with her black-and-white perspective, will struggle to grasp the nuances. The fear of being judged or misunderstood keeps Sienna's lips sealed

"Does it matter? If it does, I found it in the trash. What’s it for?"

“I can’t explain right now.”

“You even know what that means?” Mia asks, her voice tight with disbelief.

“Mia, it’s not what you think,” Sienna whispers, running a hand through her hair. “He just... wanted to talk.”

“Talk? And he sent you that much? Sienna, wake up. Noah King doesn’t ‘just talk.’ He’s up to something. He wants something. You need to get away from him before it’s too late.”

Sienna’s stomach twists. Mia is right, of course. But how can she explain the impossible? That refusing Noah isn’t just hard—it’s dangerous. “You don’t understand, Mia,” she whispers. “If I refuse him, if I step out of line, our boss—everyone in this city fears him and his friend Ethan. If I try to leave, I don’t know what they’ll do to me... or to you.”

“Then we leave. We pack up and disappear. We’re smart; we can figure it out. Just... walk away from him before it’s too late.”

Sienna’s eyes sting. She wants to, God, how she wants to. But Noah isn’t someone you just walk away from. Neither is Ethan. After what happened two weeks ago, she had to make a tough decision. Give one of them her attention to shield Mia and herself from the consequences of ignoring the other. She chose Noah.

“You don’t get it, Mia. He’ll find us. And if he doesn’t, Ethan will.”

There’s a long silence on the other end of the line. “He’s going to destroy you, Sienna,” Mia whispers. “You know that, right?”

The words cut deep because they’re true. She does know. But knowing doesn’t make it easier to escape.

“I’ll figure it out,” Sienna says softly, her voice breaking. “I’ll find a way.”

Before Mia can respond, the door creaks open, and a figure looms in the doorway. Sienna’s breath catches in her throat. Noah.

Noah watches Sienna like a predator, cataloging every detail of her appearance. The once carefree girl he knew now stands before him in a garish dress that clings to her curves in ways that stir up memories he'd rather bury. Her legs, longer than he remembers, draw his attention briefly before he forces himself to focus on her face—on those sharp, defiant eyes that haven't softened in the slightest. Once, they looked at him with trust; now, they flicker with fear.

She’s changed since they last saw each other, yet some things remain familiar. Her hair is different now, shifting between blonde and dark hues, but the fierce determination in her expression hasn’t faded. Noah has spent weeks observing her from the shadows, learning everything he could about the life she now leads—balancing college and late shifts at KAYOL nightclub, trying to survive in a rundown apartment. She has no idea how close he’s been, how much he knows. But the boy she remembers is gone, replaced by a man with one singular goal: revenge.

Sienna stands frozen in his office, her breath shallow, her unease visible in the way her fingers tremble slightly at her sides. Noah calls out to her, breaking the silence. “Ms. Davis,” his voice is calm, controlled. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

Her lips part slightly as she hangs up the phone. Whoever was on the other end doesn’t matter anymore—she's his to deal with now. She looks at him with confusion, trying to piece together the man standing before her. He can see the wheels turning in her head, the mix of recognition and disbelief.

“No, not at all,” she replies softly, though her voice betrays her anxiety.

Noah allows a faint smile, but there’s no warmth in it. “Good. We have a lot to discuss.” He gestures for her to follow him into his office. She hesitates, then moves, her steps uncertain, though her body language tries to maintain composure.

Inside the office, Sienna stands, tense and alert. Her movements are deliberate now, not the carefree grace of the girl he once knew. She’s on edge, aware of the distance between them that isn’t just physical. Noah watches her for a moment before he speaks.

“Sit,” he commands, his voice slicing through the air.

“Thank you, Mr. King, but I’d prefer to stand,” she replies, defiant even though her nerves are on display.

His gaze hardens, locking onto hers. In Noah’s world, His words are the law. "Sit," he orders through gritted teeth.

Her shoulders tense at the order, and after a moment, she relents, sitting down as if recognizing that the old dynamic between them is long gone. The bond they once shared has been severed, and the man in front of her is no longer her friend.

“I want to see you,” Noah says, his tone softening slightly. “But not here. We’re having dinner. We leave in ten minutes.”

She opens her mouth to protest but stops herself, biting her lip. She’s trying to understand him, trying to figure out why he’s come back into her life after all this time. Noah can see the frustration in her eyes, the struggle to reconcile the boy she once knew with the man now issuing commands.

“Mr. King, why do we keep doing this?” she asks quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “People will talk.”

Noah’s expression doesn’t change. “Let them. I don’t care.”

“I do,” she replies, her discomfort evident. “I don’t want to be part of rumors or scandals.”

“You’ll get used to it,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “Because you’re about to be at the center of it.”

Sienna’s gaze narrows as she presses, “What do you actually want?”

Noah stands, moving closer, his presence overwhelming as he invades her personal space. Their faces are inches apart, and for a moment, Sienna can't breath as it feels like Noah is sucking all the air in the room. “You’ll find out in time,” he says, his voice low, as he steps back and buttons his suit jacket, the soft click punctuating the end of their conversation.

“Let’s go,” he orders, holding the door open for her, knowing full well that the game has only just begun.