No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Cedric's voice lost some of its usual calm. "About last night="

"You don't need to explain it to me." Noelle cut him off before he could finish. She already knew where the conversation was going.

She remembered sitting in that cab after leaving L Bistro, catching a glimpse of Laura walking up behind Cedric. She had forced herself not to think about what they talked about after that.noveldrama

Cedric's gaze dimmed. He had spent all night planning how he would explain everything to her today. However, every inch of her was covered in thorns. He could not argue with her, nor could he push, so he could only coax her.

One wrong word, and she would say those two words-break up again. And right now, that was something Cedric could not even bear to hear.

He asked quietly, "Are you still mad?"

"What would I be mad about? I wasn't the one who got humiliated," Noelle said. She stared straight at him, her voice steady and emotionless, acting like nothing mattered.

"Really? Not at all?" Cedric stepped closer.

Noelle backed away a little and reminded him, "We're still in an office."

But before she could take another step, Cedric walked over and shut the door behind her, locking it. The sound of the lock clicking made her heart skip a beat. What was he trying to do now?

Cedric came back over and stood in front of her, lowering his head to meet her eyes. She used to be easy to read, with every emotion worn on her sleeve. But now, he could not even tell what she was thinking.

He lowered his voice. "I told Laura myself last night that there was no engagement between us. I made it clear."

They stood close-close enough that the air between them felt heavy with tension.

Noelle turned her head away and replied lightly, "Oh."

Cedric froze for a beat, clearly not expecting that kind of lukewarm reaction. It felt like his effort was futile. Frustration flickered across his face. "Noelle, what will it take to get you to stop being mad?"

None of what he said or did was working.

Noelle flashed a bright smile and replied, "I don't know."

For Cedric, that smile felt like a knife to the chest. Then, she stepped around him

and started walking toward the other side of the office.

Cedric's eyes dropped to her long

legs. In a moment of impulse, heet

reached out and pulled her back. "Leaving so fast? We're not done talking."

Noelle's hands pressed against his chest, lowering her gaze. "Let me go first." Cedric muttered under his breath, "Stop wearing skirts that are too short to work."

Seriously? This man was too much. Feeling rebellious now, Noelle lifted her chin and asked on purpose, "Does it look good?"

He nodded honestly. "It does."

But he did not want anyone else looking.

She replied, "Exactly. I'll wear whatever I want. Don't need your approval."

Cedric looked away slightly and

cursed himself in silence. He

questioned how he ended up sel

hopelessly hung up on this girl and why he liked it.

Finally, he gave in with a sigh. "There's an industry mixer this afternoon. Donovan

will be there. He's been a little too flashy lately."

"People with real skills don't need to show off," Noelle said confidently.

Cedric chuckled lowly. "I'll go with you this afternoon."

Noelle was caught off guard. "But won't people recognize you?"

It hit her then that Cedric had never attended public industry events with her before. He had always stayed in the background to keep his identity a secret.

His gaze locked on hers. "They might."

"You're not worried Donovan will find out who you are?"

Cedric's voice was cool and arrogant. "He should be the one worried. Not me."