Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 114: Chapter 114

Josie was all dolled up in a sleek blue dress, her arm linked with Noah's. Her waist-length hair gave her an aloof vibe. When she spoke, her eyes curved into crescents. She was the kind of girl guys fell for at first sight.
Elara didn't pay Josie much attention. Her eyes were glued to Noah instead. His face looked exactly the same as it did in those old videos and posters. She was surprised that Noah hadn't aged a bit. He could easily pass for a college student.
His skin was even fairer than Josie's, and his sharp nose sat above a pair of long, captivating eyes. When he looked at someone, it was like he had cast a spell.
Noah was dressed casually in gray, his thin lips curling into a slight smile. "Long time no see, everyone."
Adrian reached over and ruffled Elara's hair. "Stunned, huh?"
Elara blinked. "You didn't bring me here to meet him, did you?"
Adrian chuckled. "Just thought I'd let you meet your teenage crush so you can stop obsessing over him."
Elara grinned. "Thanks, boss."
Adrian snorted. "See? Not as amazing as you thought, huh?"
Elara shook her head. "No way, he's even more gorgeous than I imagined. He never ages. It's almost supernatural. I kinda want a hug from him."
Adrian was speechless. "Forget it. Josie would never let that happen. She's super possessive."
"Oh." Elara just said it for fun anyway.
"So, who's better looking, me or him, huh?" Adrian teased.
Now that was a trap question. Elara arched her brows, her red lips moving slightly. "Both of you look great."
Adrian could totally hear the brush-off in her tone. "Come on, there's gotta be a top pick," Adrian teased.
"You two aren't even the same type. How am I supposed to compare?" Elara shot back.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "We're both guys, aren't we? How are we not the same type?"
"You just wouldn't get it, even if I told you," she said.
"How am I supposed to get it if you don't tell me?" he countered.
Elara frowned. "Adrian, you're really hard to deal with tonight."
"Elara, how could you be so heartless?" he shot back.
Elara didn't reply. She glanced over at Josie and Noah, who were chatting enthusiastically with people by the door. "Josie's here. Don't you think you should keep your distance from me?"
"Why would I?" Adrian asked.
"Uh..." Elara hesitated. They were engaged, and yet here he was sticking so close to her. Elara was worried Josie would make a scene.
Noah and Josie walked over together. "What's everyone huddled up for? Don't tell me you're playing truth or dare again?" Josie sounded totally at ease with them.
Beeman, who was pretty close to Josie, chimed in, "Yeah, come join us!"
Josie clocked Elara standing next to Adrian, shot her a quick, subtle glance, and then looked away like nothing happened. "Adrian, who's this? Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Adrian's eyes were full of that doting look. "This is Elara, my girlfriend."
The whole room went dead silent, listening to these two, who were supposed to be engaged, each showing up with someone else. Nobody had a clue what kind of game they were playing. The whole thing just felt kinda cursed.
Elara pinched Adrian's arm. "What nonsense are you spouting? Are you trying to provoke your real fiancée? Do you want me dead or what?"
Adrian pulled Elara even closer, her stockings brushing against his suit pants. "Haven't you always minded the fact that I have a fiancée? Well, now you've met her, so next time, don't even think about using that as an excuse to turn me down."
Josie's expression paused for just a split second before she joked, "You've been single all these years. I was starting to think you took a vow of celibacy for me. Finally landed yourself a girlfriend at 28, huh? Congrats."
Adrian just smiled. "Thanks."
That brief pause in Josie's expression didn't slip past Elara. She'd studied psychology, after all, and could tell Josie wasn't nearly as unfazed as she pretended to be.
'So what's your deal? You bring Noah here to show off in front of Adrian, but the second you see him with me, you can't stand it?' Elara thought.
Elara had no intention of being a prop in their love drama. She pushed Adrian away. "Ms. Heaton, Mr. Hartley was just joking. I'm only his secretary."
Adrian's face darkened.
Josie's eyes curved with a teasing smile. "Oh, that makes sense. I was just wondering what made you suddenly see the light, Adrian. Seriously, aren't you being a bit childish, pulling this fake girlfriend stunt?
"Poor Elara already works hard enough during the day, and now you're making her pretend to be your girlfriend."
Adrian leaned back on the sofa, sounding impatient. "Victor, are we still playing or not?"
Victor, cigarette between his fingers, took a drag. "Yeah. Beeman, get us two more chairs."
Beeman dragged over two chairs and set them right across from Elara and Adrian. Josie crossed her arms, sat down looking all smug, and met Elara's gaze head-on.
"Elara, this is kind of a private get-together for us old classmates. Why don't you clock out early? I'll give Adrian a ride home later," Josie said, sounding casual.
Elara was more than happy to take the out. "Of course, Ms. Heaton. I'll head out now," she replied, already feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
But just as she started to get up, Adrian's grip tightened around her wrist. His eyes were cold, and his voice was laced with anger. "Did I say you could leave?"
"But Ms. Heaton just—" Elara protested, caught in the middle.
"Who's the boss here, me or her?" Adrian shot back.
Elara let out a helpless sigh, met Adrian's gaze, and her face went blank. She was getting mad, too.
The game started up again. But since Adrian was in a bad mood, the vibe just wasn't the same as before.
The bottle spun and landed on Noah. A girl grinned and asked, "So, what kind of girls do you like?"
Noah turned his head to look at Josie, a faint smile tugging at his lips, his eyes soft with amusement. "Someone like Josie," he said.
The room instantly filled with whistles and playful teasing. Adrian's gaze instantly snapped to Elara. When he caught her barely-there lip press, the annoyance in his eyes only grew stronger.
The bottle spun again and landed on Elara. Josie leaned in, "So, Elara, what kind of guy would you want to marry?"
Elara picked up on the real meaning behind the question, her face calm. "I'm not the marrying type," she replied.
Adrian, silent as ever, shot Elara a sideways glare, his eyes flashing with a furious chill.
Ruby gave her a look as well.
But Elara ignored their stares, reached out, and spun the bottle. It pointed at Josie.
Nina leaned in and asked, "Josie, are you really going to marry Adrian after you turn thirty?"
Josie's smile grew even deeper as she looked at Elara, who was calmly sipping her drink. "Yeah, that's what my parents want for me."
Noah, sitting nearby, looked a bit stunned for a second. Then he pulled out his lighter, flame flickering as he lit his cigarette, smoke curling up around his eyes, his face completely unreadable. But Adrian laughed.
The bottle spun again and landed on Adrian. Beeman leaned in and asked, "So Adrian, it's basically set. You'll be marrying Josie when you hit thirty. Does that make you happy?"
Adrian let out a low chuckle. "Did I say I was picking truth this round?"
Beeman looked surprised. "So you're going for dare then?"
Adrian took a drag of his cigarette, not saying a word.
Victor jumped in, "Alright then, how about this? Tonight, right in front of your fiancée, why don't you go hit on a girl and start a relationship?"