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I looked around at all the guests still watching us. The whispers and murmuring had returned and could be heard over the sound of the strings. Matthew was right; we’d had more than enough attention for one party. Besides, I had no idea what had just happened, and I wasn’t going to get an explanation with all these people looking on. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

We couldn’t get off the stage quickly enough, but as soon as we descended the steps, the crowd mobbed us. It seemed like every guest at the event wanted to speak with my father. They were all desperate to find out whether what Noah had said was true and what had prompted his takeover of Hastings Laboratories. They weren’t the only ones who were curious.

Matthew dodged their questions by simply raising his hand and quickly ushering my mom and I past them. But while it might have been easy for him to avoid people’s questions, it was much harder to ignore the whispers and pointed looks we received as we made our way through the ballroom.

I looked back and saw Noah had descended the steps just behind us, but he’d immediately been surrounded by guests. I didn’t know if he’d been following us or not, but I didn’t care. He’d completely blindsided me this evening, and I wasn’t sure I could handle being around him any more tonight.

It was a relief once we were finally outside, and we hurried down the steps to where Matthew’s limo was already waiting. Once we were in the vehicle, it felt like I was finally able to show my emotions.

“What the hell was that?” I asked Matthew. He was sitting across from me while my mom sat beside him. “First, you didn’t tell me we were going to Noah’s party? And then you steal his grandfather’s business?”

Matthew shook his head. “I’m sorry for ambushing you that way,” he said. “I only did so at Noah’s insistence that you would not come otherwise.”

"Of course, I wouldn’t have come.”

He nodded as though I’d just proved his point.

“You really bought the Hastings’ company?” I continued. “What’s this all about?”

Matthew rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes as he let out a sigh. He seemed exhausted by the whole thing, but I was still trying to process what had happened.

“Well?” I prompted.

He lifted his eyes to mine once more. “If you could just wait a moment, I’ll explain.”

“Wait? Why do you want me to wait?”

Matthew didn’t get a chance to answer because the limo door opened, and Noah climbed in. He calmly slid onto the bench seat beside me, not the least bit bothered that his wet suit was dripping on the leather or that he was interrupting a discussion I very much wanted to have with Matthew in private.

“What are you doing here?” I growled.

“We need to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Noah didn’t look like he was going anywhere though, so I turned to my father. "Does he need to be here?”

“The story behind what happened tonight is as much Noah’s as it is mine,” Matthew replied. “If you want to understand, then yes, he needs to be here.”

I shot Noah a glare, but my need for answers outweighed my need to be far away from him so I conceded.

“Fine.” I shuffled over in my seat, trying to create as much space from Noah as was possible in the limo. My dress was still drenched from the rain, and droplets of water trickled from my hair and down my back. It seemed like a lifetime ago when Noah and I had danced in the rain. I might not have believed it even happened if I couldn’t still feel my damp clothes against my body and the way his hands had branded themselves on my skin. I tried my best not to think about that and turned my focus on Matthew once more.

“Whatever this story is, it better be good.”

Matthew hesitated and shared a look with Noah.

“I should be the one to explain,” Noah said.

“I can do it,” Matthew replied.

“I don’t care who does it,” I demanded. “Just tell us what is going on.”

My voice was becoming more urgent. The limo pulled away from the curb, and a little of my anxiety lifted. I was resigned to the fact I’d be stuck with Noah for the car journey, but it was a relief to know we were leaving. I wanted to be as far away from William Hastings as possible. But even as the distance grew between us, I still struggled to forget the fury that had appeared in his eyes when he’d said we would pay for this. Why had it felt like he’d only been talking about me?

“Let’s all just take a deep breath,” my mom said. She looked at all three of us as she spoke, but I suspected her suggestion was mostly directed at me.

“Noah, why don’t you start.” My mom gave him an encouraging smile. “What happened tonight?”