Chapter 49: Noah's Help

-Molly's POV-

I stared at the clock, listening to it tick as I waited with my phone in my hand. It had been a week since Scott left, and each day seemed to have dragged on more than the last.
Breakfast that morning had been a short, tense affair. Thankfully, my mother had dominated the conversation, babbling on about a new boutique she had found and all its one-of-a-kind wares.
I'd kept my eyes on the table and picked at my food while pretending to listen. Scott had been pressing Paul for more information on the "business crisis" that required them both to be there. But Paul had been snippy and very closed-lipped. Seconds before I was sure it would come to an all-out screaming match, Paul had jerked away from the table and murmured something about packing. My mother had frowned and quickly excused herself to find out what was wrong.
Scott and I had been left alone, but we had been unable to be open. I knew that keeping a sordid affair was fun and sexy, but to me, it was nerve-wracking and frustrating. I hated how it took a tense situation and made it seem filthy. All and all, it just seemed wrong. So, why was I doing this? Was I ashamed of Scott and I's relationship?
A part of me felt as if I was going against society's moral compasses. But after a while, I didn't really care about that.
Deep down, the one thing that held me back was the stigma it would put on my family. I knew, without a doubt, that my mother loved me dearly and would always be there for me. However, the life my mother led would surely be over. She would be ostracized, and nothing would ever be the same.
I couldn't do that to my mother. It would be stupid and selfish of me.
But I still hoped that one day, Scott and I would have some sort of future together. Even if that hope was buried deep down where only my most hidden and least acknowledged thoughts were.
Any desire for a future was insane and unrealistic and would have to wait.
Waiting wasn't my strong suit. Which was how I got to this moment, sitting on the couch, giving the clock a death glare as it ticked minutes away.
I was waiting for Scott to get a moment free so he could call me. Besides email, I hadn't actually spoken to him since the day he left.
We'd had to say a quick goodbye in private before our "official" goodbye with our parents. I had been extremely uncomfortable then, feeling Paul's stare at us as we'd given a quick hug before they headed out the door. His attitude made me extremely worried about his business. That was the only time he had ever seen him that grouchy, whenever he'd had a huge catastrophe. I could tell by the look on my mother's face that she was just as worried.
I had hoped to ask Scott if all was well when he called. I had tried to ask him over email, but he had never truly answered. All I'd heard was "all was well" and "tell you about it later."
I was getting tired of those responses.
When the doorbell chimed, I was so deep in thought that I jumped out of my skin. I took a few deep breaths, trying to get my pounding heart to stop hitting my chest so hard. The bell chimed again, and I looked around to see if I could spot our housekeeper heading towards the door. After the third chime, I realized she was either busy or not around.
I pushed myself off the couch and skulked to the door. I didn't feel up to company today, preferring to continue moping on the couch and watch the clock tick away the seconds until Scott called me.
I hadn't realized I would miss Scott as much as I did until he was gone. Every day had turned into an agony of hours waiting for his next letter. Scott seemed to be feeling the same way... at least, I hoped he was. He said he missed me in his arms. But did that mean he missed ME? Or the hot, amazing sex? Was I overthinking it?
Suddenly feeling miserable, I jerked the door open ready to tell whoever it was to hit the road.
But the words died on my lips when I saw Noah standing on the front stoop. His lips were turned up in a cocky grin when he saw me.
"Hey, sweetie, how ya doing?" he asked jovially.
"Oh! Hi... ummm... What are you doing here?" I asked, wincing immediately at how rude it sounded.
"Needed to talk to Scott. Is he around?" Noah replied with no indication that my question had bothered him.
My face fell slightly, having to admit that Scott was absent. "No, I'm sorry. Scott's back in Connecticut helping his dad with work."
Noah looked at me with an extremely perceptive glance, then nodded. "That explains why I hadn't seen either of you at the club. Eric got back a few days ago, and I figured Scott would have been there. Now I understand why he wasn't." He looked me up and down again. "And that also explains why you look like someone took away your best friend."
My eyes drifted to the ground at his observation. I knew I had felt awful since Scott left; I just hadn't realized the feeling was so well written on my face.
"I'm fine," I tried to brush it off immediately. "Just didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
Or any of the other nights since Scott left. However, Noah's penetrating gaze told me quickly that he could see right through my partial lie.
He reached out and took my hand gently. "Molly, I'm going to give you a piece of advice. Don't bother lying to a Dom. We can easily see through them. We may not always call you out on it, but we know."
I sighed and rubbed my tired eyes. "Look, Noah. I appreciate that. But I'm not one to whine about my feelings. I don't want to get into it. I'm alright."
Noah pressed his lips together in disapproval and shook his head.
"Alright, Molly. But if you need anything, let me know. Scott is a good friend, which means you are a part of a big circle. We're here if you need us," Noah offered earnestly.
"Thank you, Noah," I replied, finally giving him a weak smile.
He squeezed my hand one last time and turned to leave.
"Oh!" I called, stopping him. "What did you come to talk to Scott about? He is supposed to call here shortly. I can let him know that you need to talk to him."
Noah paused and seemed to think about my offer for a moment. Then he turned back to me with a nasty smile on his lips.
"Just let him know that Jean-Pierre won't be a problem anymore."