Chapter 0189

Hannah

The second I entered the private restaurant, my eyes critically scanned the room. Everything had to be perfect for Drake and Zoe’s date—everything. Without a word to the hostess, I moved swiftly to the corner table, nervously smoothing the white tablecloth, rearranging the candles, and primping the flowers.

“Hannah?” Drake’s voice startled me. “You got here early.”

I didn’t look up, focusing on preening the pink rose petals. “Just making sure everything’s ready,” I replied. “You’re early, too.”

Drake nodded, stopping before me. I saw his eyes darting nervously despite his handsome appearance. “Yeah, I… I wanted to thank you again for setting this up. I know it wasn’t easy.”

Guilt twisted in my stomach. “So, um… About that,” I began, biting my lip. “I sort of had to tell Zoe I had a business proposition for her. It was the only way to get her here.”

Drake’s eyebrows shot up. “What? Why?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “She’s been looking for a job, I guess. I don’t know… it was the only thing I could think of that would guarantee she’d show up.” It was true; I’d considered everything. Unless Noah was involved—which he obviously couldn't be for something like this—I was certain Zoe would have refused a dinner invitation from me.

Drake groaned, rubbing his hand over his face. “That’s… that’s not good. She’s going to be furious.”

“I know, I know,” I said quickly. “I feel terrible about it. But I promised I’d help you, and… well, this was the best I could do in the time I had.”

Drake was quiet for a moment, then nodded, smoothing his suit. “Okay. Well, if she gets angry, I won’t let you take the blame. I’ll tell her it was all my idea.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, feeling no better. If one of us went down, we both surely would. I doubted Zoe would discriminate with her ire.

We waited in tense silence for Zoe. I kept busy unnecessarily rearranging things, while Drake paced, clutching a single rose and repeatedly smoothing his hair in the window’s reflection. He kept his back turned; whether to hide his terror or surprise Zoe, I couldn’t be sure.

Finally, the door opened, and Zoe entered. The hostess spoke to her and led her across the restaurant to us. Stopping a few feet away, Zoe looked confused, her eyes darting between Drake and me.

“Hannah? What’s going on?” she asked haltingly, clearly suspicious.

Before I could answer, Drake turned and stepped forward, offering Zoe the rose. “Zoe,” he said, his voice surprisingly steady. “I’m so glad you came.”

Chapter 0189

Zoe’s eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously. She looked from Drake to me, her face flushing bright red with anger.

“You,” she hissed, pointing at me. “You lied to me, didn’t you? There’s no job, is there?”

I swallowed, holding out my hands placatingly. “Zoe, Drake has been dying for a date with you,” I said gently, taking a step closer. “You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, and we’d understand. But this was the only way I could get you here.”

Zoe’s face twisted with fury. “You bitch,” she growled, making me flinch. “After all that talk of understanding my situation? After promising me you’d stay out of it? How long have you two been working together?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but no words came. Not that Zoe waited for an answer; she turned to Drake and snatched the rose.

“And you!” she spat, holding the rose between them. “I told you I’m not interested, time and time again. Who the hell do you think you are?” She paused, her teeth gritted, looking back and forth between us. “I’ll tell you what you are! You’re both dirty little schemers!”

With that, she threw the rose to the ground and stomped on it, grinding it beneath her heel. Drake flinched at the snapping stem.

“Zoe, please,” he started, but she was already storming out.

Drake and I exchanged a brief, panicked look before I nodded, and he bolted after her. “Zoe, wait!”

The door slammed, leaving me alone in the suddenly too-quiet restaurant. Nearby patrons paused their dining, their eyes on me. I sank into a chair, burying my face in my hands, hoping they’d return to their meals.

“Well, that went spectacularly,” I muttered under my breath.

I sat for a while, replaying the disaster. Eventually, I pulled myself together and left, climbing back into my waiting car and instructing the driver to take me home—home, where I could blissfully sink into a hot bath and shut myself off from the world, if only for a little while.

When I arrived, the house was dark and quiet. I kicked off my shoes with a sigh of relief, my feet aching from the heels I’d worn all day. What a pain; I’d been running around like a chicken with its head cut off since early morning, barely sleeping after helping Noah the night before and spending the day curating the perfect blind date for Drake and Zoe, only to have it explode in my face.

“Hello?” I called softly into the dark house, hoping for silence.

Silence greeted me—thank the Goddess. I made my way to the living room, flipping on the light switch.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Noah sitting in an armchair, his face partially hidden in shadow.

“Goddess, Noah,” I gasped, clutching my chest. “You scared me half to death. What are you doing sitting in the dark?”

Noah didn’t answer immediately. He leaned forward, his green eyes glinting in the lamplight.

Chapter 0189

Something in his expression made my stomach drop. I knew—he knew. But how much, exactly? I didn’t need to ask; he answered for me.

“I heard about your little scheme today,” he said, his voice low and controlled. A moment passed, and finally, he rose to his full height. It was times like this when I realized just how tall he was, just how much he could command a room. Despite myself, my posture shrank beneath his gaze, and I knew I’d really messed up.

Before I could speak, Noah gestured to the chair opposite him and clenched his jaw.

“Take a seat, Hannah. We need to talk.”