Outside the villa…
Aaron and Maksim arrived together.
Since Noah was with Chloe, Aaron and Maksim bonded and turned into friendly rivals over Sarah. The fact that both of them are in Eastern Europe, only one time zone away, made their communication easier.
Both Aaron and Maksim looked sharp in well-fitted suits and they were dressed to impress.
"Look who we have here…", Maksim said in a singing voice while looking at the car behind them where Noah and Chloe were.
Noah parked the car, and Maksim rushed to open the door for Chloe before Noah could.
"Miss Long, it's always a pleasure to see you.", Maksim said to Chloe with a charming smile on his face. He offered her his hand, palm up. "You are lovely. That gown fits you beautifully and purple goes well with your eyes…"
"It's Mrs. Bennet!", Noah hissed while pushing Maksim out of the way. There is no way he will let Maksim touch his wife!
Chloe stifled a laugh. At first, she was awkward with Maksim and Aaron acting ambiguously, but then she realized that it's just a friendly banter between guys and she decided not to overthink it.
Even over the video conference, Maksim made her fearful, as her super-sharp intuition detected the bloodlust that was ingrained into Maksim's persona by the numerous murders he committed. Maksim was a willful (and ruthless) young master of the Voronin family, but with Hong's guidance and Sarah's influence, Maksim's personality is undergoing changes.
Chloe got out of the car and Noah held her close while eyeing Aaron and Maksim who shook hands with Chloe. The hand-to-hand contact was obviously longer than necessary, and Noah had to say something.
"Are the two of you dateless, or did you finally decide to date each other?", Noah asked mockingly.
Aaron straightened the lapels of his dark blue suit, and responded to Noah's jab, "How much I remember, you were part of the single club until recently. Don't act like you are above us."
Noah lifted his free hand defensively. "Sorry, sorry. I know that you are not associated with any lady in particular, but I thought that at least Maksim will show up with a woman."
Maksim raised his eyebrow questionably at Noah. "What does that mean?"
A malicious grin bloomed on Noah's face. He was waiting for this. "I hear that a woman named Ksenia is after you…"
Maksim groaned. "Please, don't mention her."
"Eh? An ex is giving you trouble?", Chloe chimed in.
"I don't want to talk about it.", Maksim mumbled and gestured toward the villa. "Shouldn't we hurry? The party started and if we linger, we will be late for dinner."
Aaron, Noah, and Chloe exchanged knowing glances as they started walking to the main entrance. Something happened between Maksim and Ksenia, and it seems that Ksenia wants it to happen again… but Maksim doesn't want to talk about it.
Noah noticed a colorful box in Maksim's hand. "I thought we agreed, no presents."
Maksim smiled smugly. "This is something from me for Sarah. It has nothing to do with you."
Maksim didn't forget that Sarah told him to bring an outfit for her baby, and that is exactly what he got. He was confident Sarah will be impressed that he remembered. In a way, it's a present for Aiden as well, but Maksim will not admit to it.
Aaron snickered and pulled a palm-sized box from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. "I got her a present also…"
Noah glanced at Chloe who smiled at him. Their presents for Sarah, Aiden, and the rest of the kids from the Cliffside Villa arrived under the Christmas tree in the event hall earlier that day.
"You are the best…", Noah murmured and gave Chloe a smacking kiss on the lips.
If Aaron and Maksim thought that they will outperform Noah, they were gravely mistaken because now Noah is together with Chloe, and the two of them are unbeatable.
Noah thought of getting a present only for Sarah, but Chloe said that they should get presents for Aiden and the others also. Noah agreed. He was confident that getting presents for everyone will score him extra points with his mistress.
Noah is smitten with Chloe, but Sarah will always be his mistress, with the difference that he is not asking Sarah to punish him since he got together with Chloe.
Noah and Chloe got married six weeks ago. They had a massive luxurious wedding that was completely paid for by the Long family. Aaron was the best man, and Sarah was the maid-of-honor. Maksim was not neglected, as he was one of the groomsmen.
Since Noah disclosed the existence of the Army of Chaos and his role in it, Chloe took the initiative to learn about it. She suggested several changes where they can optimize their expenses without compromising on quality. Chloe was always good with numbers.
Chloe visits the Boyle Heights Youth Center regularly, helping kids with their studies and giving individual piano lessons.
Draco is still looking at Chloe with hearts in his eyes, and Noah never got used to it. He warned Draco more than once to stay away from Chloe, but the hot-blooded youth is still smiling foolishly whenever Chloe is nearby.
Noah wondered if Draco fawning over Chloe is Noah's karma for eyeing Sarah and frustrating Aiden. Probably.
To Noah's displeasure, Chloe spends several hours a day in the recording studio that is above the music store she owns (it was part of her dowry from the Long family and engagement present from Sarah and Aiden). Noah helped Chloe hire employees to manage the store so that she can focus on her music, but he doesn't like that they are not together during that time.
Noah wanted to work from her studio, but Chloe refused by saying that she needs to focus, and with Noah around, she is only thinking about him and they end up making love (and no music).
"Your moans are music to my ears…", Noah would say mischievously, earning him a slap on the shoulder from Chloe (with no strength behind it). She loves him to pieces, but the man is shameless, and she has no idea how to deal with him.
They didn't decide on their permanent residence and are staying between Chloe's apartment and his office suite at the main base of the Army of Chaos. Neither of them wants to move into a bigger space because cramming close together is exactly what they want. Ah, newlyweds.
Chloe and Noah are not in rush to have kids, but it will happen eventually.
They discussed that when the time comes, they will get a plot of land and build a house to suit their needs. With that, Chloe can be confident that no other woman was there before her.
Chloe wants a clean start with Noah, to be untainted by his previous relationships, but it's difficult because since they got together, Chloe had to shoo four ladies who were brazen enough to call Noah in the middle of the night. One of those calls she received during their honeymoon!
She understood how that is why no one saw Noah with women before. He would agree on a meeting spot late in the night, and they would part ways before morning.
Chloe is aware that was before her, and Noah is faithful, but those calls are muddling her happiness, even though she enjoys Noah cajoling her for days after each of those calls.
---
If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l .. c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.