Chapter 2007 - A Short Walk Home

Chloe was in a rush to get away from the Chaos nightclub. She wanted to get to her apartment and to her peace. Being in that club made her nervous and uncomfortable in many ways and she berated herself for going there on her own. What was she thinking?

OK. It was not all that bad. She tasted a new drink and she felt relatively safe when Noah was with her, but she can't rely on him to keep her safe. She learned a long time ago that she can't rely on anyone other than herself.

"Chloe!"

Chloe's steps halted when she heard someone call her name from behind. She turned to see Noah jogging toward her.

"I will walk with you back home.", Noah said when he reached her.

Chloe was confused. Why was he here? "Uhm… aren't you busy?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Actually, I have a night off."

"Oh…", a sound escaped Chloe's lips. "Shouldn't you go somewhere and enjoy your night off?"

Noah was confused by her rejections. Weren't they talking nicely so far? "If you don't want my company, you can say so."

"No, that's not it."

"Then, what is it?" He really wanted to know.

"Why are you here?", she asked suspiciously. "Is it because of what I've said? Thanks to you I've got a job and an apartment, and you already did a lot. There is no need for you to concern yourself with me. I can manage."

Noah tilted his head a little. Does she think of herself as a burden? "You are a single girl and streets at night are not safe. You never know who might be lurking. I only want to make sure you arrive home in one piece. We can walk together, or I can be five steps behind you, like a stalker."

After a second of thinking, Chloe nodded and continued walking. He seemed determined and it's not like she can stop him, anyway. Noah walked next to her.

"When you say it like that, you almost sound like a nice guy."

Noah chuckled. "Am I not a nice guy?"

"I don't know. Are you?"

"It depends on whom you ask.", Noah responded.

"Makes sense."

They walked in silence for some time before Noah asked: "Can I ask you a question."

"Sure."

"I remember that you said to Sarah that you are one month away from graduation, and I instructed the HR to make sure you can join at a later time. How come you didn't wait for after graduation to start working? It sounded like that break was important to you."

Chloe understood that he wants to know why she joined right away, instead of after graduation. It's normal for students to take some time off and enjoy freedom before they start working. Especially youngsters who come from families like Long but that does not apply to Chloe. She was touched that he remembered that detail.

"I am done with courses and exams. Graduation is just a small ceremony and it's not a problem if I miss it because of work.", Chloe said and added in a small voice: "And also, my seniors were setting me up for a marriage."

Noah didn't understand. "You don't want to get married?"

"Not to a man I've never met."

Noah realized that his question was personal and probably insensitive. "I'm sorry for asking."

"Don't be. It's fine."

"Is that what you always say?", Noah asked.

Chloe looked at him with confusion obvious on her face. "What?"

"You have a habit of saying that things are great and fine… even when they are not."

"Is there a point in complaining? You can't fix my problems.", Chloe said dismissively. 

"You don't know that. Even if I can't help, I can listen."

Chloe bit her lower lip and thought about his words. From her experience, people who have time to listen, don't have the power to help. And people who can help, don't have time to listen. In either case, she can rely only on herself.

Her parents listened, but in the end, they couldn't do anything other than provide her moral support which didn't count for anything when she had to face the seniors who pressured her in various ways.

The seniors of the Long family filtered Chloe's friends and picked her boyfriends. They told her how a lady should act… Even Chloe's education in business administration was forced on her, and she forgot when the last time was that she played piano. Luckily, she was good with numbers, so school was not hard on her, but there was a time when she dreamed about becoming a musician. Her high school teacher praised her voice and Chloe personally composed songs for the plays her class performed. However, the seniors of the Long family didn't approve, and she had to obey even though things like business administration and finances were never part of her dreams. But on the other side, that degree was probably only to attract eligible bachelors who would be interested in marrying into the Long family.

In the Long family, Chloe was not treated like a person, but more like an asset, an investment.

Chloe wondered how those seniors will react when they realize that the same education they forced on her is what allowed her to escape.

All that was Chloe's burden, and she didn't see the point in sharing it with Noah. Or with anyone else.

Chloe halted her steps and turned to Noah. "This is my building. Thank you for ensuring my safety."

Noah glanced at the building and he realized that they reached their destination. Somehow, he wished for that walk to be longer because just walking next to Chloe in silence was comfortable which was a strange new feeling and he wished to experience it more so that he can analyze it.

"Chloe… I was serious. If you have something weighing on your mind, you can talk to me."

She smiled a little. "I will keep that in mind. Good night."

"Good night…", Noah responded, and he had a strong feeling that Chloe will not reach out to him for help, no matter what it is.

He stood on the street and watched the entry door of Chloe's building while wondering what kind of a woman she is. He saw her being bullied and he helped her, for what she thanked him. When he offered his help or showed good faith, she doubted him. Why is she so cynical?

Another question on Noah's mind was, why is Chloe here? With her family's connections, she could have an easy life. Even without relying on the Long family, Chloe access to people like Jeff and Sarah, and Charlie, yet she never asked them for help.

Chloe is determined to do things on her own, and she is quite good at hiding her emotional turmoil. Thanks to Eve-lens, Noah noticed at Emma's baby shower, and earlier in the nightclub, that Chloe was anxious, but her façade was solid and if he didn't have Eve-lens he would never know how much she was concealing.

Noah remembered when he saw Chloe the first time. She was bullied by the seniors from her own family. Those are people who are supposed to protect her and offer her guidance, yet they are the ones causing her harm. He heard them putting the blame on Chloe for Samantha's behavior, and now Chloe said that they were trying to get her married to a stranger.

With her family like that, no wonder Chloe does not trust others. For some reason, this bothered Noah.

…

Chloe entered her apartment and went straight to the bedroom. She changed into pajama, too tired to shower, and plopped on the bed after washing her face and brushing teeth. 

Chloe hugged a pillow and thought about the evening.

"Stupid…", she mumbled when she realized that she can't get Noah's face out of her mind.

She wondered why he came to the bar and why he walked her home, and why he offered to help and listen. He was nice and friendly, a bit teasing, but nothing inappropriate. And he complimented her looks when he said that it's understandable why men will approach her and not give up easily.

Chloe forced any thoughts about Noah away.

She believed that it was ironic. When she met him the first time, she thought of him as a simple security guy. By end of their short interaction, she realized that he is more like Sarah's assistant, and now… he is a director, a powerful individual, someone outside of her reach. Who is Chloe? Compared to Noah, nobody. A junior accountant.

She exhaled a long breath, hoping that she will forget about Noah and everything related to him. He helped her out and she said thanks. Even if she wanted to return his kindness, there was nothing she had that he would want.

Chloe made her peace with the fact that she will not see Noah any time soon because she will not attend any parties as young miss of the Long family where she might see him as Sarah's security; Chloe will NOT go to the Chaos nightclub again, and for the possibility of seeing him at work, Matilda already told Chloe that Noah does not show up in their building, so there is that.

Chloe tossed and turned in bed and it took her a long time to sleep off.

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