Chapter 3 A Little Playdate

• Noah’s P.O.V.
• FLASHBACK: SEVEN YEARS AGO.
• I picked up the towel from the hanger, wiping off the beads of sweat that had formed on my face from the match we had just played. We had completely trashed our opponents’ asses—and all thanks to me.
• "Take."
• I heard a familiar voice and looked up to see who it was. It was him. His green eyes glinted, even though they held a certain coldness. A smile formed on my lips as I took the bottle of water he offered.
• "You play so well, Noah," he said, trying to keep his gaze on me. He continued, "You're one of the best basketball players I know. You're so fucking good—and not only that, you're..."
• He paused, his eyes lingering on my bare upper body.
• "You're hot."
• A smirk formed on my lips as I looked at him. I had always known—right from junior school—that he found me attractive. I couldn't blame him. If I were him, I would fall for me too, just like every other girl in school.
• "You think I'm hot?" I asked, the smirk deepening.
• "I think? Are you asking if I think so? No, I believe you are. I know you are. No one can beat you in that position in this school."
• My smile widened at his confession.
• The truth was, I had always been attracted to him too. No—it was more than just attraction. I liked him. His cool, calm nature, the way he spoke—every single thing about him. But I had never made a move because I wasn’t sure if he felt the same way about me. Even now, he had only said he was attracted to me.
• Maybe I should stop overthinking things and just ask him.
• "Uhm… so you said you have an attraction toward me, right? You find me attractive. Does that mean you like me?"
• My heart pounded as I waited for his response. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, and for a moment, it felt like my heart cracked. But then, I saw it—a glint of happiness.
• Just as he was about to speak, the door opened.
• Veronica.
• "There’s my hot boy," she said, walking toward me with a smirk on her lips. She finally stood beside me, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes, wondering what she was doing here.
• "Oh… I didn't know you had a girlfriend."
• Liam’s disappointed voice cut through the room.
• "Oh, no. He—I mean, she's not my girlfriend. She's my cousin. Isn't that right, Veronica?" I said, nudging her slightly.
• A small smile escaped her lips as she turned to Liam. "You don't have to worry. I'm just his cousin, so you have nothing to be concerned about."
• I let out the breath I had been holding when I noticed Liam's expression soften.
• "Why do I sense some chemistry between you and my cousin?" Veronica asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked directly at Liam.
• Before Liam could answer, I quickly cut in.
• "You sure love to come up with different ideas, huh, dear cousin? There's nothing like that here," I said, forcing a chuckle.
• I stole a quick glance at Liam. He didn't look convinced. I could see the hurt flash across his face before he quickly masked it.
• "I think I forgot my phone under my locker. I'll go grab it," Liam said abruptly, rushing out before I could say anything.
• As soon as he left, it was just me and Veronica.
• "What the hell are you doing here in the men's locker room? This is the men’s room, Veronica. For fuck’s sake."
• She folded her arms, tilting her head. "Hm. Why are you fidgeting? I just came to check on you."
• Then she smirked. "Meanwhile, you two are very bad at lying."
• ********
• PRESENT DAY.
• Veronica’s sharp voice yanked me from my thoughts like a slap to the face.
• “Oh, dear cousin, what a pleasant surprise. It’s so good to see you here,” she said, her tone dripping with insincerity.
• I clenched my fists, struggling to steady my breathing. The weight of the past slammed into me—memories of Liam, the way things used to be—colliding with the present reality unfolding before my eyes. My cousin. Kissing Liam’s cheek.
• My mind raced. When? How? Were they together now? Were they in a relationship? It didn’t make any sense. Not even a little.
• My jaw tightened as I forced out the only question I could manage. “What are you doing here?”
• Instead of answering, she smirked, folding her arms across her chest. Her expression was that of someone who had just won the lottery at my expense.
• “Oh my God! Can you believe what he’s asking me?” Veronica let out a high-pitched laugh, turning to Liam as if I were some ridiculous joke.
• Liam didn’t even flinch. “Noah, leave.”
• I scoffed, disbelief rippling through me. He couldn’t be serious.
• I opened my mouth to respond, but Veronica beat me to it.
• “No, darling, let me answer his question.” Her voice was sickeningly sweet, the word darling making my skin crawl.
• She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, elegant box. “I came here to show him this beautiful piece of jewelry,” she said, popping the lid open to reveal a necklace. It gleamed under the office lights, but all I could see was red.
• Veronica turned to Liam, tilting her head. “What do you think, babe? I think it would be perfect for our engagement, don’t you?”
• My breath hitched. The world around me tilted.
• "Engagement?" The word came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.
• Veronica giggled, basking in the moment. “Oh yes, we’re getting engaged soon! I’d love to tell you the date, but I’m not comfortable sharing that, dear cousin.” She flashed a saccharine smile before adding, “But out of the goodness of my heart, you could at least come check out the ring—it’s worth two million, after all.”
• Her voice faded into the background. I couldn’t hear anything beyond the deafening roar in my head. My legs felt weak, my balance unsteady. I needed to get out.
• I thought he loved me. Now he was with her? And not only that, but they were planning to get engaged?
• What kind of twisted cruelty was this?
• The rest of the day passed in a blur. I couldn’t focus. Couldn’t think. My mind kept circling back to Veronica and Liam. I had known her all my life—she had never liked him. Not once. And now, all of a sudden, she was with him? Enjoying my suffering?
• I refused to accept this.
• So I waited.
• I lingered by the exit door, watching, waiting for Veronica to leave. The moment she stepped outside, I moved. Careful not to let her see me, I waited until she got into her car and drove off.
• Then, without hesitation, I turned on my heel and marched straight to Liam’s office.
• I had to hear this from him.
• Inside, he was seated at his desk, completely unfazed, eyes scanning the files in front of him. The sight of his calm indifference ignited something inside me—a simmering fury I could no longer contain.
• I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.
• “What the hell is this?” My voice was steady, but barely. A storm churned beneath my skin.
• Liam didn’t even blink. He remained composed, detached—like none of this mattered. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet mine. His expression was unreadable, his tone flat.
• “What exactly are you asking?”
• I exhaled sharply. I knew this game. I had played it before. I had been the one hiding my feelings, pretending none of it meant anything.
• But now? Now he was the one in control.
• And I hated it.
• “You know what I’m talking about,” I bit out.
• Liam leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “If you have to ask,” he said coolly, “then maybe it wasn’t that important to you in the first place.”
• The words hit me like a gut punch.
• My throat tightened.
• I searched his face for something—anything. Anger. Resentment. Hurt. But all I found was indifference. A perfect, calculated mask.
• This is revenge.
• I realized it then.
• A slow, deliberate punishment. Designed to make me feel the rejection he had felt all those years ago.
• I couldn’t do this.
• Without another word, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the office, my hands trembling as I yanked open the door.
• ********
• The fresh air outside did nothing to calm the chaos inside me.
• I loosened my tie, trying to steady my breathing, but my heart refused to slow.
• Liam’s expression haunted me. That flicker of hesitation in his eyes—had I imagined it? Was it real? Had I been wrong all along?
• Has he ever cared? Or had this all just been some cruel form of retribution?
• My stomach twisted, nausea rolling through me.
• I couldn’t stay here.
• I needed to get out.
• Without a second thought, I grabbed my coat and pushed through the lobby doors, barely registering the murmurs of coworkers as I walked past.
• And then—
• “Noah?”
• I nearly walked straight into Alexander.
• His sharp gaze scanned my face instantly, taking in every detail. “What happened?”
• “Nothing.” The lie came too easily, slipping from my lips before I could stop it.
• Alex wasn’t buying it. He never did.
• “Noah—”
• “I said it’s nothing.” My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t deal with this right now. Not with Alex’s concern. Not with the suffocating weight of everything pressing down on me.
• Before he could press further, I turned away, my only goal to put as much distance between myself and all of this.
• Then my phone buzzed.
• I barely glanced at the screen—until I saw the name.
• Liam.
• My pulse spiked. I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I swiped open the notification. The message was short. Simple. But it sent my mind into a tailspin.
• “We need to talk. Tonight.”