The Present The flashback ended as abruptly as it had begun.Noah blinked, and suddenly he was back in his kitchen, the glass of water still in his hand, his heart pounding in his chest. The memory had been so vivid, so real, that for a moment he had forgotten where he was. He had been there, in that apartment, watching Nicole walk away from him for the first time.The glass slipped from his fingers.It hit the floor with a sharp crack, shattering into a dozen glittering pieces. Water splashed across the tile, spreading in a slow, dark stain. Noah stared down at the mess, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps.He covered his eyes with his hand, the heel of his palm pressing against his brow. The memory was still fresh, still raw, and he felt the sting of tears behind his closed lids.He hadn't remembered this. Not when Nicole had come to him with the divorce papers, not when she had stood in that parking lot and told him he wasn't good enough. He had been so focused on the bet

Noah felt the breath he had been holding release."Thank fuck." He signed and Evelyn snorted."How romantic, really Noah." Her voice was dry, almost sarcastic. "Although I have to say, Noah, I was hoping you'd call me because you missed my sparkling conversation, not because you needed a buffer at your ex-wife's celebration.""I do miss your sparkling conversation," Noah replied, his voice playful and deadpan akm at the same time. "It's just a bonus that you also make a good shield." He finished with a cheeky grin."Ugh." Evelyn made a small sound of mock offense. "So I'm a shield now. Not a date! Not even a companion. A bloody shield.""A very beautiful shield.""Flattery will get you nowhere Mister." She paused, and he could hear the smile in her voice. "But regardless of your lack of wooing skills, I'll still come. But you will oww me, Noah. This is kind of a big ask.” She mused, "I'm literally going to be parading myself in front of your ex-wife and my ugly cousin, and I don't ev

Finally after what felt like a small eternity, Evelyn ducked her head closer and met his eyes, her own gaze very soft, encouragement chiseled into the sharp lines of her face, "Tell me more," she said gently. "About your marriage. About what it was like. Get it off your chest."Noah's chest throbbed at the gentle words and he felt the familiar hesitation, the instinct to deflect, to retreat behind the walls he had spent years building. But he pushed past it, forcing himself to open up. He was embracing change now. He had to try."It wasn't always…. Bad. It was….good in the beginning," he admitted slowly, his eyes fixed on the champagne glass in his hand. The bubbles rose and burst, a small, hypnotic dance that gave him something to focus on besides the weight of his own memories. "Nicole was the first person after her father that was kind me to me after I woke up in that hospital. Her father had some sympathy for my condition so he had taken me home with him…. And then introduced

Evelyn's hand found his under the table, her fingers warm and steady against his own."Michael has a way of making everything sound so grand," Evelyn murmured, her voice low enough that only Noah could hear. "Like he's delivering a sermon rather than a business update."Noah's lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile. "He's always been like that. Every speech is a performance."Michael continued, his voice rising and falling with practiced cadence as he spoke of the challenges they had faced, the obstacles they had overcome, the bright future that lay ahead. He praised the active parties in making the merger possible, naming names, giving credit where he felt it was due. It was a polished speech, designed to inspire confidence and cement his position as a leader.But Noah heard the subtext beneath the words. Michael was clearly claiming this victory, positioning himself as the architect of this success. He was reminding everyone in the room who held the real power."And so," Micha

Noah grimaced, unable to answer her pointed questions and was about to open his mouth to argue, but Evelyn was already pulling him toward the dance floor, her grip surprisingly strong. He stumbled after her, his protest dying in his throat as she positioned them in the center of the crowd."Evelyn-""Shh." She placed a finger on his lips, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Just dance with me, Noah. Forget about all of it. Just for one song."The music had shifted, the upbeat tempo replaced by something slower, more intimate. The lights had dimmed, casting the dance floor in a soft, golden glow. Couples swayed around them, their bodies moving in perfect sync.Noah's protest died in his throat. He looked down at Evelyn, at the warmth in her eyes, the gentle curve of her smile. She looked so beautiful as she stepped closer, her hand resting on his shoulder, her body swaying gently to the music and Noah's hand automatically found her waist.Evelyn practically beamed and Noah couldn't he