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Matt’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Ah, nice to meet you, Noah. So, what do you do?”

“Freelance consultant,” Noah replied smoothly, his tone neutral but his posture unyielding. “And you must be Matt Brandt. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Matt’s grin widened, his ego clearly stroked. “All good things, I’m sure.” His gaze flicked back to Ruth, lingering. “So, Ruthie, I’m glad to see you here. Wasn’t sure you’d make it after... you know... all the late nights at the office.”

Noah’s jaw visibly clenched. “Long hours build character,” he said lightly.

Matt chuckled, his laugh oily. “True, true. And Ruthie here is full of character. One of the best lawyers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. You’re a lucky guy.”

Before Noah could respond, Ruth asked, “Who are you bringing tonight, Matt?”

Matt smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. “Oh, just Jenna Shaw. You know, the anchor from Channel 6. She’s a... close friend.”

Ruth raised an eyebrow. “Impressive,” she said coolly.

The bus driver’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Folks, just a reminder to stay seated while we’re moving.”

Matt took that as his cue. “Well, I’ll leave you two to it. See you at the party, Ruthie. Save a dance for me.” He winked at her before sauntering back to his seat, his arrogance practically oozing into the aisle.

“Like hell,” Noah said under his breath. As soon as Matt was gone, he sat back down, his expression unreadable. He reached over and grabbed Ruth’s hand, his fingers lacing through hers. “You okay?”

She nodded, but her hand trembled slightly in his.

“You don’t have to be brave for me,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ve got you.”

Something about the way he said it, the quiet conviction in his tone, made her feel safer than she had in days. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Noah gave her hand another reassuring squeeze, his gaze never leaving hers. “Just stick with me tonight, Ruth. We’ll get through this together and maybe have some fun.”

Ten

The buses rolled up a long, winding driveway flanked by towering pines and frost-tipped hedges, their needles sparkling faintly under the soft iridescence of dusk. The estate came into view, a sprawling masterpiece of rustic elegance. Its stone façade seemed to glow in the fading light, every window blazing with golden warmth. Snow-dusted rooftops sloped gracefully, while twinkling string lights lined the pathways leading to the grand entrance. It felt like stepping into a winter postcard—timeless, opulent, and utterly captivating.

The buses stopped at the circular driveway, where a fountain, now frozen in an icy tableau, stood as a centerpiece. Guests began to file out, murmuring with excitement as they took in the grandeur. Noah grabbed their garment bags from the cargo hold and carried them inside, holding the door open for Ruth as they stepped into the estate.

The entrance hall was breathtaking—vaulted ceilings with dark wooden beams loomed overhead, chandeliers dripping with crystal casting a glittering glow. To their left, a wide staircase swept upward, leading to the suites arranged for the guests to change. To their right, a cavernous meeting area awaited, dominated by a roaring stone fireplace. It cast a flickering warmth across the room, and the scent of burning cedar mingled with the faintest hint of mulled wine.

Ruth glanced around, her nerves evident in the way she clutched her garment bag. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

“It is,” Noah agreed, his gaze remaining not on the room but on her face.

They made their way upstairs to their respective suites to change. When Noah emerged fifteen minutes later, he was a vision of understated sophistication. His tuxedo was impeccably tailored, the crisp black lapels contrasting sharply against the pure white of his dress shirt. He adjusted his cufflinks—a subtle but elegant silver—and made his way back downstairs, finding solace by the fireplace with a club soda in hand.

He didn’t expect his immediate boss to find him so quickly.

“Well, Noah,” Deputy U.S. Attorney Evan Shipley said with a bemused grin. “Didn’t think I’d see you here tonight.”

I wish I could say the same.He expected both his bosses to be there. The room was filled with the elite from Pierre. Maxim Fairchild would be there too if he wasn’t in Disney World.

Noah gave Shipley a tight smile and leaned in slightly, speaking in a low tone. “I’m here incognito. Let’s just say I’m keeping an eye on a personal situation.”

Evan raised an eyebrow but nodded, clearly understanding there was more to the story than Noah was willing to share in public. “You’ll have to fill me in later.”

“Big boss here?” Noah asked.

Shipley looked over his shoulder. “Tommy is here somewhere, likely crawling up Ellison or Grant’s ass.”

Before Noah could respond, a soft murmur from the crowd caught his attention. He turned just in time to see Ruth descending the staircase, and for a moment, the air seemed to leave his lungs.