Page 54 of Lust & Lies

“Yeah. I know. I can’t wait to see how those fuckers react to the bodies in their office. I’ll have my girl plant a bug so we can listen in on those idiots.”

“Good idea,” I told him, glad that we were no longer discussing our grandfather. “That’ll help us know what they’re planning next. I’ve got to call Tristan and discuss the Clarks with him. Call me if you run into any hiccups on your end.”

“I will. Tell Noe I said hi.”

“Okay.”

“Take care of her, Aiden. Don’t make me come get my sister.”

This guy! “Take care of your own woman and I’ll take care of mine.”

I clicked out of the video chat and stared at the security screen again. Noe hadn’t moved. I wanted to go to her, to hold her, to apologize over and over again until she accepted it. But she wanted to be alone.

And I wanted to respect her wishes. However, I was about to lose my damn mind worrying about her, about us. Fuck it. We had to talk now. I had to explain things to her before her overactive imagination and her memories had her thinking things that weren’t true.

I stood, just as my phone rang. Fuck. I checked it. It was Tristan returning my call to discuss Louis, how we planned to make him disappear, and how we’d compensate his family. I knew we had to talk, but did he have to call right this minute?

It was like the world was conspiring against me, trying to keep me and Noe apart. Trying to keep us from discussing the past. I had to take the call, but I also wanted to go to her. I glanced back at the security screen. She was still resting. The doctor said she needed her rest. I sighed.

Rest well, love. I’ll bring you food later.

I sat back down and answered the call. I spent the rest of the day working with our special PR team and Tristan on how we’d handle Louis and how we’d take care of this mess with the Clarks if it somehow blew back on us.

It was two hours into our planning when I took a break from work and headed downstairs to greet Dolores and get the food she’d prepared. I'd asked her to cook everything at her place and drop it off to keep from disturbing Noe.

That was the excuse I gave her, but the truth was that I didn’t want to risk Noe going downstairs and trying to convince Dolores to take her with her. Though Dolores was on my side, I think... I knew if Noe asked sweetly, Dolores would take her away.

Or, at least try to. I couldn’t have that. So, I had her cook the food at home and bring it over while Noe was resting. She brought us enough food to last us three days. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner all stacked in labeled containers.

After Dolores left, I prepared a plate for Noe and carried it upstairs to her along with a bottle of water. I knocked once before entering. She was sitting up already, back against the headboard, blanket bunched around her waist.

The foolish me, the one who thought she still believed in me, still wanted me, waited for her to gift me with one of her bright smiles that always made me feel like I was twelve feet tall. Her eyes dropped to the plate in my hand.

“Is Dolores still here?” she asked, sounding hopeful as she glanced past me.

The way she ignored me had me feeling like I was two feet tall.

“No. She dropped the food off and left,” I told her.

It hurt to watch her face fall. Just two days ago, she was happy to eat the food I cooked. Had even complimented me on how good it was. Now, she only wanted Dolores’ food.

If Dolores wasn’t careful, she’d be fired soon. Damn, I’d really sunk low. I couldn’t believe I was jealous of our cook. Noe reached for the plate.

“Thanks,” she told me.

“You’re welcome.”

I placed the water bottle on the end table, right next to the blooming tea that she hadn’t touched. She saw me looking at it.

“Sorry. I wasn’t thirsty earlier,” she explained.

“It’s okay. I’ll take it away for you.” I grabbed the saucer that the mug was sitting on. “How are you feeling?” I asked.

“I’m fine. I’ll eat, then go back to sleep.”

“Leave the plate on the end table. I’ll pick it up before I come to bed. I’ve got some more work to finish,” I told her.

Her only response was a nod. I stepped back, preparing to leave so she could eat in peace, but her voice stopped me at the door.

“Aiden,” she said without looking up. “My head has been hurting a little. So, when I’m done eating, I’ll take the plate down myself.

And then I’ll go to sleep. But I don’t want to be disturbed once I finally fall asleep.

So...” She paused. “I’d appreciate it if you slept in the guest room tonight.

You toss and turn too much. It wakes me up.

And with the way my head is hurting, I don’t want to be jostled. ”

“You want us to sleep apart?” I asked, shocked, barely believing what I was hearing.

“Just for a few nights. Okay?”

Only she could break my heart. Only she could hurt me like this.

“Okay?” she asked again.

“Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.”

“For a few nights,” she clarified.

“Two nights,” I told her. “I’ll sleep in the guest room for two nights. I should be done handling the Clarks' mess by then. And then we’ll have a long conversation about our past. Deal?”

“Deal,” she told me, still not looking up from her plate.

I stood there for a moment, holding the saucer, staring at her. If she could see my heart, see how battered and bruised it was, see how much it missed her, how much it was fighting for her, she wouldn’t treat me this way.

“I love you, Noe,” I told her, hearing the desperation in my voice and knowing she had to hear it also.

She shoved a bite of food into her mouth to keep from replying. I gritted my teeth.

“Whether you respond or not, I still love you. Nothing will ever change that.”

She forked more food into her mouth.

“I’m going to leave to keep you from stuffing food into your mouth until you choke. But know this, Noe. I will never let you go. Never.”

Gripping the saucer tightly, I turned and stormed from the room, pulling the door shut behind me. I leaned against it and closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. Noe didn’t even want to sleep with me now.

I was losing her. Again. Not happening. I would do whatever it took to keep her by my side. Even if it meant never allowing her to leave this house again. Even if it meant neither of us ever leaving the estate again. We would be together. Forever. No matter what.

I’m sorry, Noe. But I can’t let you leave me. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.