"What is so funny that you are laughing this loudly? Tell me I'll join you too." Noah stated as he removed his suit jacket.
"Umm, just remembering something that happened back at home."
"Yeah, I wanted to ask about it yesterday itself. What happened between you and Ivy? Did you reject her?" Noah hanged his coat on the hanger stand and released his sleeve buttons before he folded them until his elbows. He then took his seat in front of Joshua and stared at him intently.
"No." Joshua just gave a one-word answer and went back to work on Noah's laptop.
"What do you mean by no? Did you accept her?" Noah's question and his tone changed on listening to his words. There was a hint of excitement on his face.
"I decided to take this risk and yes I accepted her."
"That means are you both in a relationship and you are dating her right now?"
Joshua gave him a look that spoke that he had gone dumb after Aria left him. But Noah did not mind. His excitement level was too high to even think about his friend's scrutinizing gaze. He was genuinely happy for him and Ivy, of course. His friend had finally decided to move forward and forget his painful past. Who would not be happy about it? Moreover, the girl he was interested in was an awesome woman. So, he was jubilant and over the moon.
"How did this happen? I thought that after my call, you would reject her. I never knew you would take huge steps and now you are even dating her. That's unbelievably amazing."
"I know this might come out as a shock. But yeah we have started dating." Joshua then recapped all that had happened since the time Ivy had come down to tell him to forget about the kiss until he himself took the first step towards their relationship.
"Hmm. So, to make you come out of your misery, you needed a headstrong and stubborn woman like Ivy. I have no words to express how happy I am for you too. I hope you are serious about this and not doing is just for time pass. If you are, then I am not going to spare you." Though Noah was threatening him, he had unconditional trust towards his friend. Joshua knew that he was just joking. So, he did not take his words to heart.
"What do you take me for? Do you think I am such a man?"
"No. But since Ivy had a bad past once, it would be better to confirm about it from you."
"What do you mean by bad past? What happened to her?" Joshua stared at him confusion. Ivy had not said a word regarding this and now he was worried about her.
"Did she not tell you anything about it?"
Joshua shook his head and Noah sighed lightly. "Guess, I'll have to tell you about it. Given her character, I don't think she would tell you anything about it."
"Noah, tell me what happened to her. You are scaring me."
"Relax. It's nothing serious. When Ivy was in college, she had a boyfriend. But later she found out that he was with her as he had made a bet with his friends. He had to get into her pants before the span of their bet ended. Since then, Ivy is a little careful about relationships."
"Why did she not tell me about this?"
"Maybe because she trusts you. So, it is my request. If you are not serious about her, please retrieve your footsteps back. I don't want her hurt."
"No way. I am never going to hurt her. I promise. By the way, who told you about this?"
"Aria." A smile made up on his face as soon as Noah took her name. "I hope she was here, she would be ecstatic on hearing this news. She too wanted you two to get together."
Joshua smiled, thanking the heavens for giving him such cooperative friends. "By the way, why did you call me here? What did you want to talk about?"
"Yeah. Jo, my hotel's inauguration and your video game release date fall in the same week. So I was thinking that we could merge the two and decide on a single date. You could release your game in my hotel. What do you say?"
"That would be great actually. We could attract a lot of people and also we can cut some costs. I like this idea very much."
"Me too. I'll send you a detailed plan later. Just tell what all equipment you would need on the release day. I'll arrange for it."
"Sure. I'll get my secretary to be in touch with yours. They can decide about it."
"Very well. Also, don't forget to give me your plan. This event must be the most magnificent event of the year."
"I like the idea. But I have a doubt though."
Noah nodded for Joshua to continue.
"What is your hotel's name by the way? I am yet to find out about it. Have you thought about it or is it still in the process?"
"I have a name in mind."
"What is it?" Joshua asked, his eyes wide in anticipation. "Are you going to tell me or are you going to keep it a secret?"
Noah gave him a mysterious smile before he replied, "Arvy."
"Arvy?" Joshua asked a little flabbergasted. "Ain't it short for Aria and Ivy?"
"Yes." Noah chuckled when something came to his mind before he relaxed again.
"Wow, that's quite an innovative name. How did you come up with it?"
"Just like that. I wanted a name that would bind the sisters together forever and then I came up with this. I did not know there was a meaning to it until one of my employees told me."
"It has a meaning?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Arvy means friends."
"Wow. Though the name had been made on a whim, it has quite a meaning. It's amazing, symbolizing our friendship. Great."
"Yes."Noah then remembered about the diary and his face became serious at once. "And, before I forget, I have a request. Could you please look through Ivy's belongings in your house to see if she had a diary. It has contacts of people."
"Why do you need it?"
"I don't need it. But Mr. West does."