6 - On The Hunt

“Olivia? Relax, it’s me. Noah.”

“Noah?” I blinked up at the familiar face peering down at me. Tension seeped out of me as I realized myself. “Noah,” I said again, relieved.

He was standing before me in a white shirt and jeans, a bunch of clothes over his shoulder. It looked like he was about to go into the men’s changing rooms.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Shopping?” he said, looking amused. This was the first time I’d seen him in anything other than a suit, which was strange, to say the least. He looked so relaxed, it was almost like I was with a whole other person.

“Right. Me too,” I said, gesturing at the dress I’d just tried on.

“Looks nice,” he commented, smiling. He paused, then looked around. “Are you with someone?”

“Huh? Uh...no. It’s just me. What about you?”

“I’m on my own too.” He let out a sigh. “To be honest, this is long overdue. I hate shopping.”

“Why?”

“I have trouble finding clothes that fit. I’m pretty big.”

Yes, you are. I coughed, thinking to myself that it was thanks to all that beautifully toned muscle.

“I get my suits tailored, but casual clothes are my Kryptonite.”

“I could help, if you want,” the words were out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying.

A hopeful look entered Noah’s gray eyes. “Really? Are you good at this sort of thing? I mean, I’m sure you are. I’m sure you’re better than me.”

“I can show you how to dress for your frame.” I went over, taking the clothes from him and inspecting each piece. *Whoa. When did I get so bold?* He doesn’t seem to mind though. “No, this cut isn’t good for your shoulders. Nope...not this, no...this is ok, but I’d really like to see you in something with a bit of color.”

“I’m in your good hands, Olivia,” he said, smiling. “I trust you.”

‘I trust you.’ Levi had said the same words to me not long ago. But so what?? I was with Noah right now, not Levi! Noah, who was flesh-and-blood human and not some asshole demon intent on making my life a living hell.

“Come on,” I stated, leading Noah over to the men’s section.

We spent ages trying on clothes - practically a dream come true for me. There were moments when I got to brush off Noah’s shoulder or arm, on the pretext of seeing how the clothes looked on him. I had to resist the urge to go any further than that.

“You’re a lifesaver, Olivia,” he said to me afterwards, as we lined up to pay.

“Well, I try.”

“Can I get that for you?”

“What?”

He grabbed the dress I was going to buy, adding it to his pile.

“Wait, no! You don’t have to do that!”

“It’s OK. It’s just my way of saying thank you for today.” He beamed at me, and I flushed. I stared at the dress clutched in his hand, and my face began to grow even hotter for some reason.

After we were done, we stepped outside, lingering on the sidewalk. By then, it was dark, the city lit up all around us. “So...thanks again,” he said to me.

“It was fun.”

“I’m tempted to hire you as my personal stylist.”

“And I’d be tempted to say yes!” I laughed.

“Sounds like a plan.” He paused, glancing towards his Lexus parked nearby. “Care to talk about it over dinner?”

I did a jolt. “Dinner?”

“I just hogged your whole afternoon. I feel like buying you one dress doesn’t even begin to repay you for that.”

“It’s OK. I wanted to do it, Noah.”

He stepped closer, eyeing me curiously. “Is that a ‘no’, Olivia?”

“N-not at all! Dinner sounds great.” *Take that, Mom.*

“Great, because I know a killer Italian place.” He put a hand on the small of my back, ushering me over to his car.

A short drive later, we were making our way into a place called Basilico - the kind of restaurant that left me feeling underdressed.

“Nice to see you again, Mr Paul,” the hostess greeted. “Your usual table?”

“That’s right.”

We were ushered over a table upstairs by the window, giving us a delicious view of our surroundings.

“Do you mind if I order for us?” Noah asked me. “I know what’s good here.”

“Sure. This time, I’m the one in your good hands.”

He smiled at that, putting in our orders. I was so caught up staring at his handsome profile, I barely even registered what he’d said.

I took a moment to study the restaurant, noticing that many of the customers were couples. Together with the setting and the music, it made for a distinctively romantic atmosphere.

*Was that on purpose? No...no way. He probably just chose this place because the food is good, like he said.*

“Hey, thanks again for helping with the Grifton report,” he said, eyes meeting mine across the table.

“It’s OK. I just hope Mr Gleeson wasn't too mean to you."

Noah laughed gently. "It was nothing I couldn't handle. But seriously, you came through for me. That’s not something that can be said for everyone.” His eyes clouded over as peered at me. “You’ve been with us how long now, Olivia?”

“Going on two years now.”

“Wow. Time flies, doesn't it? I know it’s not the most exciting job in the world but I hope you’re happy with where you are, for now?”

“I guess so. No plans to go anywhere just yet.”

“That’s good to hear. And I’m sorry if I haven’t exactly been the most attentive boss so far. It’s just...well, you know how it is.”

I nodded, not quite sure what to say. Quiet stretched between us until the waitress returned to pour us some wine. This is so weird.

As we waited for our appetisers, Noah asked me a bunch of questions - the safe kind like about my family situation, college days and stuff like that. It almost felt like I was interviewing for the job all over again.

I missed that light, playful thing we had going on earlier in the store. The idea of this feeling so much like a date made me nervous. I just couldn’t get past it - to a point where I found it hard to concentrate on just enjoying Noah’s company. A part of me relieved when dinner was over.

“Do you need a ride somewhere?” Noah asked me as we stood together on the sidewalk.

“No, I’m good. I, um, should probably get home.”

He smiled. “Do you have a dog waiting for you or something?”

“What??” I said a little loudly. “Uh...no, no, nothing like that.”

“OK, then. I guess this is where we say goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” I called, thinking to myself that I’d been wrong. There was no way he liked me. This dinner thing had just been his way of being polite.

Then, I felt him land a hand on my arm, giving a brief, gentle squeeze. I looked up in surprise, but he had already turned away to head to his car. Was that…a flirty touch?

I couldn’t be sure. I tore my eyes away from him, sticking my hands in my pockets and heading towards the nearest bus stop. God, I was so confused. Not to mention I already had my hands full dealing with Levi.

When I got back, I found him coming out of the apartment just as I was about to go in. “Where are you going?” I asked.

“Where have you been?” he lobbed back at me.

“I asked you first.”

“I’m just going for a walk.” But there was a glint in Levi's eye that had me worried. I trailed after him as he moved down the hallway towards the elevators. “Levi, please tell me you’re not going to do what I think you are.”

“Which is what exactly?”

“You know what?”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“Damn it, Levi!”

“I’m waiting,” he said nonchalantly, hitting the elevator button.

“I don’t want you going after anyone.”

“And what makes you think you’re in any position to make demands of me?”

“I…”

“What should it matter to you, so long as I’m keeping my hands off you, right?”

I reddened at his words. There was a loud *ping* as the elevator reached our floor and the doors opened in welcome. But I leapt in front of him before he could enter. “Please don’t.”

“Get out of my way, Olivia.”

“Look…” I stopped for a moment, sucking in a breath. “If this is what you need, then fine. I’ll do it.”

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t have to hurt someone else. I’m...I’m offering myself.”

The edge of his lip curled up slightly. “You would do that? You would surrender your body to me?”

“To keep someone else safe? Yes, of course.”

“And it doesn’t bother you that your virginity would be mine?”

“Of course it bothers me! But what choice do I have?”

“There’s always a choice.”

“Just get back in the apartment.”

“One minute, you want me out, the next you want me in…”

“Do you accept or not, Levi?” I asked in exasperation.

He looked down at me for a moment, then answered curtly, “No.”

“What?”

“Your offer is rejected.”

“What??” I was stunned as he pushed past me into the elevator. “B-but…”

“Don’t wait up for me,” he said to me, his cool smirk the last thing I saw just before the elevator doors closed.