The Joy of Revenge by Sheila
Chapter 101

CHAPTER 101 Intervention

Joy

After checking if I had bad breath, I opened the door just a bit and peeked through the small opening with one eye showing through the tiny slit.

I inhaled deeply and caught a whiff of Noah's cologne. It was a familiar scent, Acqua Di Gio, obviously bought during his shopping spree. His hair was still damp from his shower and he was wearing a new long-sleeved dark blue shirt with its sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows. He was grinning at me through the small crack, his chocolate brown eyes twinkling. As the sun's rays came shining from behind him, his wheat colored hair glistened like gold, something I used to stare at in awe when I was just a little girl.

Now is not the time to reminisce, Joy.

Lopened the door just a bit wider showing him wasn't dressed to entertain guests. He coughed, quickly averting his eyes as he caught a glimpse of my silk pajamas.

I had to hand it to him. Noah was quick to redeem himself. Although he appeared to act like

man, I did see a flash of admiration and desire in his eyes as he looked at my

lad body.

sk, tsk... Naughty, naughty....

The corners of my lips curled up into a small smile, noticing his red cheeks. As much as he wanted to portray that he was not all affected by my appearance, his body said it all.

He moved, shifting his weight while placing one hand on his waist. His eyes focused on my face, expertly ignoring my body from the neck down. He cleared his throat and grinned again, even waving awkwardly with his free hand.

"Good morning, Virtue," he said. "I'm sorry to barge in on you so early in the morning, but I noticed Chip's car in the driveway and thought since you were awake, I'd stop by before I go to work. There's just something really important I need to talk to you

about."

"Do

you want to come in?" I asked. "You can have a cup of coffee while I clean up the dining table. Chip's in the den getting some rest. There's still time before the ribbon cutting ceremony, so he asked if he could take a nap," I said, opening the door even wider and stepping out a bit from behind the door to show off more of myself. I heard his sharp intake of breath as he quickly surveyed my body before his eyes rested on my face like a gentleman

CHAPTER 101 Intervention

I fought the urge to smirk.

Noah was nothing like a gentleman.

"No, this is fine. Uhm, I don't want to wake Chip up," he said. He looked away towards the hushes of my yard, his brow furrowed thinking of what he had to say. He took a deep breath, then focused his attention on me with a determination in his eyes. "Virtue, I guess you'll see this as an intervention of sorts, but remember what I told you about Liam and the two scandals he was implicated in?" I nodded my head. "Well, whatever happens, I just need you. to trust me when I say Liam isn't what you believe him to be."

"What do you mean, Noah?" I asked, puzzled. "And why are you talking about Liam?" My tone didn't hide my distaste. We looked at each other confused. His brow furrowed further while he stuck his thumb out

and pointed to Cristos' car.

I'm sorry. Chip hasn't said anything yet?" He asked.

"Has said anything about what, Noah?" I asked impatiently. "Chip just told me how fun it was to bump into you and Nicole in Chicago yesterday and that all of you got to do some shopping." My voice sounded envious.

He shook his head and hands, denying his involvement with Nicole. I knew Noah would

notice how I added an emphasis on Nicole's name and that he would mistake my tone as jealousy.

"About me and Nicole, we're just friends, Virtue, he said, stating their relationship status.

"We've been friends since high school, so we're really close. I mean, close friends can travel

out of town, can't they?"

"Of course, friends can travel together, but your relationship with Nicole doesn't seem that way to me, Noah. I'm a woman. I sense these things," I said. "And what's wrong in admitting you and Nicole have a relationship deeper than friendship? I don't think Liam would mind. That is why you're here... Right, Noah? You're afraid Liam might not like you dating Nicole?" He shook his head frantically, knowing we were going off-topic.

"No, no, no," he exclaimed. "I mean, yes, I'm here about Liam, but not because of Nicole and no, Nicole and I aren't dating." "Then, why are you here? Is there something I should know?" I stared at him waiting for 845

CHAPTER 101 Intervention

to give me a straightforward answer. Noah, I saw, took a moment, mustering enough courage. to speak.

*1-1, uhm, y-you s-see," Noah stuttered nervously, struggling to replace the words to say while he blinked rapidly just like when we were kids.

Suddenly, I saw Noah as the little boy who I used to go around town with. Like Wherever he was, I was right there beside him, not caring if he stuttered.

e peas in a pod.

I reached over and placed my hand on his arm, rubbing my thumb gently on his skin. I used to do that when we were children. It would calm him down and he would take a deep breath

and start over... slowly.

And that's what he did. He paused and took a deep breath. His eyes suddenly met mine and time stood still... bringing us back to when we were kids...

But I knew it wasn't like that for Noah. I could see it in those chocolate brown eyes of his. He was gazing at me as if he had won the lottery... as if he had finally found the woman of his dreams... as if he was head over heels in love with me...

12 me

I've seen that look before. I've seen it from Xavier, Cristos and Sebastian... the three men I

felt a slight tug in my heart.

still have feelings for Noah?

I pulled my hand away from his arm as I was flooded with a myriad of emotions, spiraling

again from a time from way back when.

out ag

I found myself going back in time, remembering how I longed for Noah to look at me the same way before I was raped. However, I also remembered the days I spent in the hospital hoping Noah would come and visit me, hold my hand and tell me he was there for me... that everything would be okay.

Yet, Noah never came. When his mother came to visit, I heard he was busy finishing at chemistry project and had no time to come and visit. It was then and there that I knew I was

all alone.

Noah had abandoned me. This a sshole, who I had thought was my friend, abandoned me.

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CHAPTER 101 Intervention

No, I didn't have feelings for this bastard.

My hands instinctively balled up in fists. I quickly hid my hands behind my back and tried to calm the anger that was beginning to surface, hoping he wouldn't notice anything.

The comer of my lips moved to form a small hopeful smile. "Yes? And you were saying?" To my surprise, he chuckled softly. "It's like I have my bestfriend back," he whispered low, his voice thick with emotion. He reached up and brushed my hair from my face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't hear you," I said, acting coy. He coughed and smiled, but this time he let his feelings shine through his eyes. "Virtue, Liam isn't the only man out there for you," Noah said. "You deserve much more. Just open yourself to the possibility." may have I am open to every possibility, Noah," I said. "Liam and I have only dated once and seen each other on occasion, but for now, Liam and I are friends. Good friends. He has not shown me anything that may ruin the trust I've given him." "For now he hasn't, but trust me, Virtue, he has skeletons in his closet. All the Cohens do. If you could do some research into the Taylors and Cohens, you will replace out that the Cohens have done everything in their power to ruin the Taylors. It was no different for Joy. Joy trusted Liam with all her heart. He was even her date during the Spring Formal when the rape happened."

"I can hear the regret in your voice again, Noah, I pointed out. "I know she was your bestfriend. If you could do anything differently, what would you change?"

I saw the surprise in his face. He wasn't prepared to answer that simple question.

"Honestly, I can't answer that with just one answer. Maybe if I could change who she was and who I am, maybe things wouldn't have ended the way it did," he said.

What? Change who he was? He was speaking in riddles.

"Maybe it's time to move on," I urged. "I need to give Liam the benefit of the doubt like I've given you and everyone else in this small town. Unless I replace something concrete, Liam will remain my friend. Just like you, Noah. We're friends, right?"

I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. He grinned at me.

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CHAPTER 101 Intervention

"Yes, we're friends, but I-I am hoping we could be more than just friends," Noah answered.

"You're sweet, but there seems to be a long line of women who would like to be more than just friends with you. Nicole is my friend too and I don't want to step on her toes."

"I assure you, Nicole and I, we are just friends," Noah said, clearly frustrated. "And there isn't a long line of women who want to be more than just friends with me. Please, Virtue, just open yourself up to the possibility. In time, I'll prove myself worthy." "Okay. But just because you said so," I murmured, winking at him. "Anyway, I need to get ready. I hope you can come by for the ribbon-cutting. It'll be at ten."

"Sure, Virtue," he replied, grinning at me. "I promise I'll be there." He kissed me on the cheek, waved goodbye and left..

I quickly closed the door behind him. If he had said all of that ten years ago, I would have

agreed to what he wanted in a heartbeat.

The smile I had plastered on my face changed into an angry scowl. Men. All they wanted was

a pretty face.

"That was a long talk. Did he tell you not to marry Liam?" Cristos asked, emerging from the den. He was probably watching from

the CCTV cameras.

"No. But he said he wants to be more than just friends," I answered exasperated.

"And what did you say?"

"I told him Nicole and many other women would like to be more than just friends with him,"

I replied, rolling my eyes. "Let's get ready. We need to dress to impress."

"Oh? Why?"

"Because once I accept Liam's proposal, it's going to be front page news!"

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The Joy of Revenge