Noel's lips curved into a slight smile. "Did you think you'd get through this without shedding a drop? Your firm's bid is the highest, but we haven't reached the pricing discussion yet."
It was the first time Whitney had seen him smile. Even though she only caught it out of the corners of her eyes, her heart gave a small jolt.
Helena looked slightly distressed and was just about to say something else when she suddenly received a work call.
"Something urgent came up. I need to go handle it."
As Helena got up to leave, Whitney started to rise as well.
"Sorry, Whitney. We'll have to check out the banquet hall tomorrow. And I can't take you home." Helena glanced at Noel. "Noel, could I trouble you by giving Whitney a ride?"
And with that, Helena gathered her things and hurried out of the café like a whirlwind.
Whitney sighed, frustrated. She wanted to call after Helena, but she was already gone. Turning to Noel, she said, "Um, you don't need to drive me. I know you're busy. You don't have to worry about me."
She moved to stand, indicating that she needed him to slide out of the booth.
Since she was seated on the inside, she couldn't leave unless Noel stood up or she awkwardly climbed over him.
But Noel didn't move.
As for climbing over him? Absolutely not.
"Noel, could you please let me out?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Still, Noel didn't budge.
Whitney's irritation flared, and she used his full name. "Noel Howard, let me out. I want to go home."
At last, he looked up, his gaze cool and intense. His well-shaped but not overly thin lips parted slightly as he asked, "Didn't you say you didn't want to see me?"
"You misunderstood. I didn't know Helena was meeting you to drop off documents," Whitney replied, her tone clipped. She was clearly irritated.
"But you saw me as soon as you walked in, so why didn't you leave?"
Whitney had no answer for that.
He was right. If she truly hadn't wanted to see him, she could have turned around and walked out when she spotted him.
"That would've made Helena suspicious," she said finally.
"Suspicious of what?" Noel's gaze held steady as if he were trying to read every flicker of emotion on her face.
Whitney looked away for a moment, then met his eyes again. A trace of frustration was visible in her expression.
Was he really going to pretend he didn't know?
In the eyes of the Howards, her relationship with Noel was supposed to be distant and formal, strictly respectful. Any hint of unusual behavior would only invite unwanted attention.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: When Love Is a Lie (Whitney and Damian)
Really now?...
She should have asked noel for help. Why does she think she always have everything under control?...
I agree with noel....
That’s what you get for trusting him stupid...
Weakass...
Wow, she still wants to be with a disgusting cheater. How low is her self worth?...
Stupid 999999x...
She never learn. IQ of a room temperature....
Stupid....
Damn i hate this main lead....