Page 43 of White Wings of Desire

Thump.

Thump.

I'm sure Noah can feel and hear it as well. I can't even hear my own thoughts over my heartbeat and the boisterous chatter of the countless people gathered around us. "Are you okay?" Noah asks. His voice breaks through to me, and I turn to look at him, offering me a glass of champagne he snatched from one of the trays the waiters are carrying around.

"Yeah, just my nerves." I accept the glass and take a sip of the bubbly alcohol. Closing my eyes, I let out a soft sigh as the alcohol begins to work its way into my system.

Pulling his arm out of my grasp, he wraps it around me, placing his hand securely on my hip. "I'm here. Let me do the talking for now, and just as we discussed, you play the role of my escort, okay?"

"Do you really think he won't notice?" I ask, taking another sip of champagne.

"No, this man has only seen a few pictures of you, and you look different in each one I have received; most of them are blurry. It takes someone with trained eyes to know it’s you." His hand runs up and down my hip in a soothing pattern, as if trying to brush away the tension in my body.

"Okay, then let's go." I shoot him a determined smile.

I follow Noah into the ballroom of the hotel. The strides of his long legs are slow to match my pace. My steps are a little slower in high heels, and he doesn't rush me. He stays by my side and keeps me safe. Every now and then, someone stops him to chat with him; people call him by a number of different names. Sometimes his real one, sometimes others that I suppose are his other identities. He tries to keep me out of the conversation as much as possible. The men who have women with them don't seem too interested in me to begin with. Although I get one or two curious looks from some of them.

I'm on my second glass of champagne, sipping at the bubbly drink. We are standing on the outer edge of the crowd now. Noah's arm is still wrapped around me while his gaze darts around the room, studying the crowd. His head bobs from side to side, reminding me of one of his doves turning its head.

"Mr. Holman." A cheerful, raspy male voice calls to him. "So glad you could make it."

Noah's grip on me tightens, and he turns to face the source of the voice. His expression hardens, and all emotion vanishes from his face, replaced by a serious and commanding stance. The familiar face of an old man–Mr. Williams, to be specific–is heading our way.

"Mr. Williams," Noah says, extending his right arm to shake the old man’s hand. “Thank you for the invitation.”

“My pleasure, we have a reason to be celebrating together after all,” Mr. Williams says, extending his hand to Noah and shaking his for longer than is necessary. “I do hope we can put our previous difficulties behind us and continue to do business with each other in the future.”

“Of course. I mean, mistakes can happen to the best of people.” Noah flashes a brief smile before his face returns to that blank state. His fingers drum rhythmically against my hipbone, trying to keep his cool. I noticed it is something he does when he gets upset. I guess to keep his hands occupied so they can’t reach for his pistol.

"They do, and even men like us are no exception," Mr. Williams says, and Noah's arm twitches around me. That was definitely the absolute worst possible thing anyone could say to a man like Noah. The atmosphere shifts, and I’m sure Noah is about to snap when the old man trails off.

"Now, Mr. Holman," Mr.Williams’ eyes land on me. The old man and I are about the same height. Thank God. I think I would throw up if he looked down at me. "Are you going to introduce me to your lovely companion for tonight?"

"This is Lily Bennett," Noah says, introducing me. I steal a quick glance at him. We hadn't discussed fake names before, but I'm grateful that he came up with one for me on the spot. But did it have to be my best friend's first name? With his hand on the small of my back, he guides me to take a small step forward.

"It's an honor to meet you," I say in a friendly voice, playing along and flashing Mr. Williams one of my sweetest smiles.

"The pleasure is all mine, my dear." Mr. Williams grins and reaches for my hand, which he brings to his mouth to place a kiss on my knuckles before he turns his attention back to Noah. "Where on God's green earth were you able to find such beauty?" My stomach turns in disgust at his compliment, and nausea crawls up my throat. I can't believe he really doesn't recognize me. On the other hand, I applied my makeup differently on purpose, and my hair isn’t the same as it was the night I killed his son.

"I just happen to know the right people." Noah lets out an arrogant, almost mocking laugh and gently squeezes my hip. His laughter vibrates through me. My chest tightens, and it becomes hard to breathe. I don't like that side of him. Sure, he's a notorious hitman who tried to kill me, but he has manners and is, generally speaking, respectful with women. But right now, it seems like all that respect is gone.

"So this is a business arrangement?" Mr. Williams asks, looking back and forth between me and Noah. His eyes linger on me, traveling up and down my body before flicking back to Noah.

"Sure it is," Noah says without hesitation. He looks down at me and I offer him a soft smile while leaning into his embrace.

The conversation between the two men drifts into simple small talk, with both Noah and Mr. Williams making sure to engage with me. As Noah had instructed, I flirt with both of them, complimenting them and occasionally brushing my hands over their arms, trying to make Mr. Williams, in particular, feel desirable. Every part of my being screams for me to stop, repulsed by the way his eyes roam over my body with an intensity that betrays his intentions. But even though I feel absolute disgust for this man, I carry out my task to perfection. I can tell by the death glare that Noah shoots me from time to time when I get a little too touchy with the old man.

"So, Mr. Holman, what does a man have to do for you to cancel your little arrangement tonight?" Mr. Williams asks with a sly grin on his face. Noah looks from Mr. Williams to me and then back to the man.

"Well, I already put in a down payment. A reimbursement would be a start, maybe some extra cash since I will have to go home alone tonight," Noah says with a grin.

"Nothing easier than that," Mr. Williams says and grants me a smirk, biting his lower lip in what I assume is meant to be seductive, but it's anything but; it's nauseating. "Just tell me how much you want."

With sweaty palms, I hold onto Noah's suit jacket, crumpling the perfectly pressed fabric and leaving wrinkles. A pit opens in my stomach and the nausea becomes worse. If I had any less control over my body, I would throw up right there and then. I force the smile on my face while I watch the two men discuss the price. Noah is determined to squeeze the most absurd amount out of Mr. Williams. I didn't expect it to be that easy, but I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

"My dear, if I may give you some advice, I think it would be best for you to stay away from men like Mr. Holman," Mr. Williams says, sitting next to me on the sofa in his hotel room, leaning back in the cushions with one arm propped up on the back of the sofa behind me.

"Why? He seems very kind," I ask in a sweet and naive voice. It is best to play the role of the dumb damsel with him, just as I did with his son.

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