Is this destiny?

When Chloe returned to the living room, she saw that the red carnation which was in Noah's teeth when he arrived, was now in a tall narrow glass filled with water.

"You got that for me?", Chloe asked making Noah turn toward her.

He saw her gesturing toward the flower, and he responded with a small nod, pleased to see that Chloe calmed down.

Noah noticed that Chloe was less anxious than usually. It should be a sign that she came to terms with something, and he was not sure if that was a good thing.

Chloe approached the red flower, and she was touched. It's not the first time for her to get flowers but considering her identity as a young Miss of the Long family, whenever someone brought her flowers, that included an extravagant bouquet which was designed to impress. One red carnation… it was simple, yet heartwarming. It was like a silent message, 'I was thinking about you, but I'm not trying to win you over by flashing my power and financial prowess'.

Chloe's smile reached her eyes as she bent over the flower to inhale its sweet fragrance. "Thank you, Noah. It's wonderful."

Noah was happy with her reaction.

Every time Eve-lens confirms that Chloe is speaking the truth, Noah is pleased that Chloe does not feel the need to conceal things from him. It's not that he is using the Eve-lens in order to spy on Chloe in a malicious way, but Noah noticed that Chloe keeps many things bottled up and he wishes that she opens up to him because no matter what is on her mind, he will not judge her. Actually, he wants to know the real Chloe, the one hiding behind the aloof façade.

Noah has the unfair advantage Eve-lens is providing him, and he has every intention to use it to its fullest.

"What do you feel like having for dinner?", Noah asked.

"What about the…", Chloe started talking and paused. "I guess we are late for that one. I apologize."

"Don't.", Noah interrupted her. "Don't worry about it because it was not important." He didn't want Chloe to dwell on that missed dinner because it was just for the two of them, and as much as Noah wanted to impress Chloe, what matters is that they will spend the evening together. "Focus on the fact that neither of us ate in a long time. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry and I will appreciate it if you pick a place quickly."

Chloe gave up on mentioning missed dinner, even though she felt guilty about it. "If you are hungry, we should have something close by. I would offer to make you something, but I don't have any ingredients, so our only option is to eat out. I don't know the area, so I will rely on you to suggest some."

Noah would like Chloe to cook for him. Maybe in the future but now there are other things… "Do you have any food preferences?"

"Not really. Wherever we go, I will find something to eat, so don't worry about me.", Chloe said, and she thought how this might be a good chance to find out more about Noah. "Let's go to your favorite place. Where do you usually have dinner on Fridays?"

Noah agreed. "We can leave in a few minutes."

Chloe was about to ask what happens in few minutes, but then the doorbell of her apartment rang.

"That will be for me.", Noah said and before he stood up from the sofa, Chloe dashed toward the door.

"I will get it…"

She didn't want to risk Noah opening the door and then Matilda or some other neighbor misunderstands the situation because Noah is acting like he owns the place.

A tall man in a black uniform was standing straight and holding a garment bag. "This is for the sergeant."

Chloe understood that it's for Noah. "I will make sure he gets it."

Chloe looked after the man who walked away in steady steps and she glanced around the empty hallway before closing the door.

She froze at the sight of Noah removing his shirt. He was unbuttoning it and as his hands moved lower, his toned pecs were revealed, and she got a glimpse of his firm abs.

"Why are you undressing here?", Chloe asked weakly.

Noah's eyebrow arched and he gestured toward the garment bag in her hand. "I have a fresh shirt in there." His movements halted and his lips lifted into a smile when he noticed how flustered she was. He didn't need readings from Eve-lens for this one because Chloe's flushed face was a giveaway as her eyes darted between his face and exposed parts of his torso.

"Should I undress somewhere else?", he asked cheekily, pulling Chloe out of her trance.

She gave him the garment bag robotically and he chuckled.

"Don't tell me that you've never seen a man's body.", he teased.

"I've seen plenty."

Noah frowned at her response. What does that mean, she saw plenty? The idea of Chloe seeing other guys with that adorable blush on her face didn't sit well with him.

He didn't want her to see him sulking, so Noah turned his back to her as he removed the shirt and reached to unzip the garment bag.

Chloe's eyes widened at the sight of his V-shaped back and the muscles that rippled as he moved.

Chloe was not an inexperienced teenage girl. She saw many handsome guys, and she dated a few, but for some unknown reason, this was too stimulating, and she was unable to stop gaping at Noah.

By the time he finished buttoning up his fresh shirt, Noah calmed down and turned to face Chloe. Her still pink cheeks made the last bits of his grumpiness dissipate and he smiled.

"Come, allow me to introduce you to the best food in the Boyle Heights neighborhood."

Chloe got a start. "Should I change, or is this good?"

Noah hummed in approval. "You are perfect."

…

Chloe was surprised that Noah brought her to a restaurant called 'Diner House' that looked like it time-traveled from 1950-ies.

Big glass windows revealed that the interior of the restaurant was decorated with bright colors and neon signs while metallic and red dominated the space. Booths were lined along the walls, and the middle was filled with round tables and chairs.

Many people were inside eating and chatting, and the place seemed to be packed with no chair or booth free.

At the far end was a bar, and every barstool had a patron seated. 

Chloe remembered that Noah said how this is the best food in the neighborhood, and the full restaurant and the line of people waiting to get seated told her that this place is popular. Well, it was not exactly a line; they were sitting in the narrow hallway that had leather seats on each side.

Noah opened the door for Chloe and rock'n'roll music drifted into her ears.

Of course, Noah's appearance made people end their chatter, and the standing few in the entry hallway moved to make way for Noah and Chloe.

Without waiting for the server to show them to their seats, Noah placed his palm at Chloe's back and guided her through the diner.

"Aren't we skipping the line?", Chloe asked in a whisper while glancing toward the hallway where they left more than dozen people.

"There is no line for this booth…", Noah said with a small smile dancing at the corner of his lips, and he nodded at some of the diners who were looking their way.

He was entertained that Chloe mentioned the line. It told him that she never used her identity as the young Miss of the Long family for her own benefits. Somehow, it made him appreciate her more.

Chloe noticed that the clamor in the restaurant died down as they made their way through it, and she observed that everyone's attention was on them.

She was happy to see that he is taking her to the booth at the far back. It was isolated from others and Chloe guessed that just how there is a massive office in the Blanc administrative building waiting for Noah, that is how this booth is waiting for him as well.

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