59

NOAH :

"I just want to remind you that I'll slit your bloody throat if you rip any of my..."

"Can you be nice too? Do you really think I'm like this? That I tell everyone everything directly? I don't know what your sex objects, as you like to call them, have been until now, but I'm loyal even if you don't believe me. I would never do anything that could harm anyone. I don't know what you dreamed of, but I promise you..."

"My parents." I interrupt her. She really doesn't seem like the kind of person to spread the word.

"Your parents?" she asks confused and starts brushing her teeth.

Yes... my parents.

“My dad was a very aggressive person and was a case of his own. It hurt my mother and I a lot. He hit me a lot, caused me all sorts of injuries. Mentally ruined me. I was gone a long time every day so as not to have to be at home for so long. We used to have a pool in the garden. I liked sitting in the pool at night and watching the stars when you could hear the crickets. At some point during the night he came to me and held me under water for several minutes until I lost consciousness. Back then, my mom stopped him and saved my life. Since then I have never entered the pool again. He did a lot of bad things to me. He used my body as his personal ashtray and always stubbed out his cigarettes on my body. Once he even wanted to cut off my tongue, but my mom intervened there too. At some point it started with my mom. He has... He controlled my mother and followed her everywhere. Eventually she got fed up with him. She cheated on him and when he found out he completely freaked out. He got an ax and hit her in the face with it. Back then I was sitting in front of the TV watching an animated series and he just walked in and did it. Of course she died instantly. Luckily he died of alcohol poisoning a few months later. I didn't even go to his funeral... and I'll never go to the cemetery either.

My life sucked and it always will be, but at least now I can say that I've achieved something. I'm proud of myself because I never gave up.

"Is that why you are the way you are?" she asks quietly. How am I then?

"Heartless." She replies to my confused look.

"Cold and... and mean?" she adds quietly.

"I don't know if you know it, but you treat people like your father treated you. You treat me like shit... while I'm trying to be nice to you. I'm trying to trust between us..."

"We have a contract. When you sign a contract, you don't trust each other." I interrupt her.

I don't want to trust anyone. I slowly walk towards her and look into her eyes. Is she crying ?

"You don't have to cry about it, Mirella. Its not because of you. I treat everyone like this." I gently grab her arm and pull her into a hug. She immediately snuggles into me and starts to cry.

is she crying for me

"I just want you to have someone you know you can talk to about anything. You can trust me, I swear to Noah. It all stays with me Nobody will ever know of anything. Eating everything in yourself will destroy you in the long run."

Is she really crying for me?

"Mirella!" I give a demand and push her away from me. Crying, she looks at the floor and bites her lower lip.

She is sweet. Smiling, I take her face in my hands and lift it slightly. I want her to look me in the eye when I talk to her.

Her gaze slowly wanders to me and when she looks into my eyes, I suddenly feel really weird.

The green in her eyes... it's so beautiful. She must have inherited her eyes from her mother. Her father has brown eyes, nothing special, just like mine.

Swallowing, I lean closer to her and feel our noses touch. She slowly closes her eyes and hugs me.

Does she want me to kiss her?

"Boss, a little faster please. You have your appointment in your office in twenty minutes." one of my people yells and bangs loudly on the bathroom door.

Shit. I totally forgot about that. I thought I didn't have anything today.

"We'll catch up." I whisper softly in her ear and walk past her to grab my toothbrush.

What was that ? That weird feeling. I never had anything like that. I felt totally nauseous, my stomach contracted and I got very hot.

Seconds later I hear the bathroom door opening and closing again.

She could have stayed here. I wouldn't have had a problem with that.

20 MINUTES LATER... MIRELLA :

"But why do I have to be there? I can't even use a gun. You should have people around who can protect you." I snap at Noah, who pulls my hand towards the office.

Luckily I put on a sweater and jogging pants. I'm sure he would have dragged me into the office in my underwear too. I might have been embarrassed.

"You're there to distract him. Santino likes pretty women. I can manipulate him more easily when he's distracted. I have an advantage."

So I'm not distracting him?

"And I'm not distracting you?" I ask and quickly regret it because he starts laughing and stops.

Of course I don't distract him. I am his... sex object.

"I can have you any second, baby. No matter when, no matter where, no matter how... I don't have to use my imagination to see you naked. I can always do it."

Fuck, that might be hot.

"And now, finally come with me without complaining." He whispers with a smile and slaps my bottom.

This...

***

"And I say it doesn't work that way. Do you think you can fool me? You seriously think I'll give you the money? I want my goods and only then will you get your money."

I would never pay someone like Santino money if I didn't get my goods first. Over my corpse.

"You get your goods too, but there are delays in the delivery..."

"Then I don't know what you're doing here! No goods, no money and now get the fuck out of here."

idiot !

"Come on, Noah. It's not my fault either!"

I do not care. It's not my fault either and I told him at the beginning that he'll get his damn money if I get my goods. He can beg as much as he wants.

For a moment, my gaze wanders to Mirella, who is standing uncertainly next to me and looking at the floor.

What does she have ?

"Everything okay?" I ask softly and grab her hand. She immediately grabs my arm and puts her head on my shoulder.

"Are you not well?"

If she's not feeling well, then she should tell me. I can immediately call a doctor to take care of her.

"It's all ok. I'm just a little dizzy." She replies just as quietly and gives me a small smile.

dizzy ?

"Give me a minute." I pass on to Santino and pull Mirella out of the room.

"Just dizzy or do you have something else?" I asked her worried in front of the door and take her face in my hands.

She doesn't look very good either. She is pale, her eyes are red and it looks like she also has a fever.

"You should lie down. I'll take you to the room."

She should have told me she wasn't feeling well, then I never would have taken her on the deal.

"It's fine...I don't have to..."

"Yes you have to. You have to lie down and rest!" I interrupt and grab her hand.

Why am I even worrying about her? She can also go into the room alone and why am I even interested in how she is doing?

"Are you worried about them?"

No ! Well, maybe a little.

"I'm not worried. I just don't want you throwing up or fainting in the middle of a negotiation." I answer coldly and let her go.

Stop being so nice to her. She's here to pay off debts, nothing more.

"Mhmm... but I can find my way into the room by myself. I don't need you for that."

Ouch.... that hurt....? She doesn't want me to bring her into the room? She could tip over on the way and no one would notice.

noah ! Stop doing that !

"Fine, see you later then." I only give as an answer and walk back into the negotiation room.

"Your girlfriend?" asks Santino with a grin as I sit back down.

Is the guy stuck in any way?

"When have you ever seen me with a girlfriend? The little one is here to pay off debts, nothing more."

Lie...

"For real ? Considering she's only here to pay off some debts, you really care about her... don't you? I mean... you grab her hand, ask if everything's okay and..."

"Stay out of my private stuff, Santino. Mirella... is nothing more than my toy and... toys need to be taken care of or they will eventually stop working properly."

I feel kinda bad. It's not correct to say that, but I'm Noah Lee. It's my job to say that. I'm not allowed to treat women well. I can't be... romantic and like someone. That's not possible!

"Of course... I'm sorry. She's just... a toy. So if she's just a toy, can I play with her too?"

This...

"MY toy." I say briefly and stand up.

He looks up at me in surprise and leans back.

He hit a sore spot, even though I hate to admit it. Mirella.... may not be JUST a toy. She entertains me... I'm in a good mood when she's around, even if I don't show it that way. In the next five years we could become good friends. She could join my gang full-time and make her own money. She could really become something, but she has to do something for that.

"Now it's getting interesting..." he mumbles with a grin and stares at me.

I'm definitely going to smack him again today.

"Santino, shut your fucking face, got it? You understood me. I get my goods and then you get your money and now get the hell out of my hall with your monkeys, which you call the gang." I hiss annoyed and leave the room.

What a crap.

Annoyed by Santino's behavior, I run towards it, but Shadow stops me halfway.

"Boss, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asks uncertainly.

What's up now ?

"What then ?"

"Not here... I mean alone. It's important!" Well, if it has to be.

I nod, gesturing for him to follow me. I walk into my office and ask him to close the door.

"So ? What is so important that you have to discuss it with me alone?" I ask him interested.

Why is he so... insecure anyway? I don't even know that about him.

"You should stop that!" he says in a firm voice.

What does he mean ?

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "What me..."

"She's only been here two days and you're completely focused on her. Santino thinks she's your girl. You know what that means."

What ? is he stupid

"Shadow, I have no idea what your problem is, but you should live with the fact that Mirella is in the gang now." Also, I don't focus on her. She's just someone who wants to pay off a debt.

"You let her sleep in your bed."

So what ?

"When have you ever let someone pay a debt like that?" he asks.

Never. But that doesn't mean I have feelings for her and use the debt as an excuse.

“Shadow, I want you to stay out of my stuff. Is that clear ?"

How dare he say such a thing. He is nothing more than my employee and has no right to talk to me about such things.

"But..."

"Get out of here and if that happens again, there will be consequences. Got it?" I raise my voice this time and grab his collar.

"Yes boss."

That's rubbish. He didn't give a damn about my private life either, so he should kindly shut up.