Page 7 of Love Unexpected

“Thank you, and you look fantastic as well. Yes, I’m ready.”

He leads the way to the sleek car parked outside, and holds the door open for me to slide in. We settle in our seats and I can’t help but notice the distance between us, sitting at opposite ends of the spacious car. An uncomfortable silence falls over us as we pull away from the curb.

I stare out the window, completely mesmerized. The sights blur by in a kaleidoscope of colors—neon signs, vibrant lights, bustling crowds of people, and the elegant architecture. Itry to take in as much of it as I can, who knows if I’ll ever get a chance to come back here.

Every so often, I steal glances in Noah’s direction. But each time I look over at him, he’s absorbed in his phone, his thumb swiping over the screen. I’m sure he has seen Japan before.

Without speaking a single word to each other, we arrive at yet another impressive hotel. My jaw nearly drops. I had thought our hotel was peak luxury, but that was nothing compared to this one. Finally, Noah tucks his phone away and our eyes meet.

“Ready?” he asks.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of anticipation hovering in the air. We are here for the grand opening of Japan’s largest five-star hotel, an event buzzing with excitement and prestige. Noah’s mission tonight is significant, he needs to secure Mr. Adachi as an investor for a massive fifteen billion dollar project aimed at expanding hotel chains around the globe.

I read Mr. Adachi’s file from front to back and conducted my own research on the guy. The man is in his sixties, and from all accounts, he seems to be more of a devoted family man rather than a ruthless businessman. The internet revealed countless photos of him beaming next to his grandchildren. I plan to use that piece of information to my advantage tonight.

Noah places his hand gently on my lower back, leading me through the elegant grand ballroom. A chill runs up my spine, sending an unexpected shiver through me. If he noticedmy reaction, he doesn’t show it, his face is focused. I have to remind myself he’s only touching me so we don’t get separated in this large sea of people. But my heart speeds up anyway.

As we weave through the room, Noah introduces me to several men that I will likely never remember the names of. I’m impressed with how easily he recalls their names. I vaguely recognize a few men from the extensive files I had read earlier on the plane, but I can’t remember a thing about them, especially when Noah is this close to me.

We finally reach our table, a prime spot located at the front of the room, perfectly positioned near the stage and dance floor. I draw in another deep breath, attempting to calm my racing heart and enjoy the impressive event. It's nearly impossible to focus on anything other than how close Noah is standing next to me and the fact that his large hand is still spread across my lower back.

In the distance, a man stands out among the crowd, carrying an air of authority. “That’s Youta Adachi,” Noah nods in his direction. I follow his gaze, watching the man climb up the steps to the stage.

Mr. Adachi approaches the microphone stand, immediately commanding the attention of the entire room, and he effortlessly delivers a welcome speech. As he closes by announcing that dinner is about to be served, the room buzzes with waiters serving plates and pouring drinks. When Mr. Adachi leaves the stage, he heads straight in our direction. Noah and I stand up simultaneously to greet him.

“Noah, it’s great to see you,” Mr. Adachi says, extending his hand toward Noah. “I truly appreciate you making the journey all this way. I know you’re a busy man.”

"You know I wouldn’t miss this for the world," Noah replies, showing his charm as he returns the handshake. He gestures toward me, his hand finding its way back to my lower back. "This is my new assistant, Ms. Sterling.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Adachi. Mr. Lawson has told me all about you and your remarkable success,” I say, reaching out to shake his hand next. His grip is soft and comforting.

“The pleasure is all mine. Please, call me Youta,” he smiles genuinely, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Then please call me Emma,” I say, returning his smile with sincerity.

“Let’s all sit and enjoy this lovely dinner, shall we? You must try this steak." Youta takes his place at the table, sitting directly across from Noah.

Noah gracefully holds the chair out for me, and I sink into my seat. As he takes his place to my left, his knee lightly brushes mine, sending a bolt of electricity through me. I wonder if he felt that too. I bite my lip to hold back my smile. Noah keeps his distance from me one minute, and then the next, he doesn't stop touching me. He amuses me and makes me feel like a giddy school girl. I can feel the warmth radiating from his body,keeping me warm and comfortable. Although we're not alone, this moment feels oddly intimate.

Noah and Youta dig into their steaks, engaging in small talk and light banter in between bites. I find myself struggling to focus on the conversation. The queasy sensation in my stomach returns.

This is my personal nightmare—sitting with two powerful men while holding back the strong urge to vomit, all while pretending I'm having the best meal of my life. But to my surprise Youta wasn't exaggerating about the meal. This steak is without a doubt, the best I've ever tasted. I take small bites of the juicy, tender meat and try to focus on breathing steadily. I sip on the cold water, letting it coat my throat and hoping it settles my stomach. Each bite is a small victory. I’m so focused on keeping the nausea at bay that I'm forced to remind myself of the reason we're here: Mr. Adachi.

“Tell me about yourself, Emma. How long have you been working for Noah?” Youta asks before taking a drink from his wine glass. I watch the deep crimson red wine swirl around his glass as he speaks. I can't help but envy the way he enjoys his wine while I sit here longing for a glass to calm my nerves.

“Well, actually, this is my first week working for Mr. Lawson," I manage to respond, willing my voice to remain steady. "I just relocated from a small town in North Texas to pursue this opportunity.” I take another small bite of the steak to occupy my mouth before I say something stupid. I'm an expert at putting my foot in my mouth; small talk has never been my strong suit.

What’s there to say about myself? I’m broke, trying to navigate a new city where I don’t know a soul. I have no furniture in my home, I don’t even have the basic necessities like heat. Then there's my inappropriate crush on my boss, the very man sitting beside me. And on top of everything else, I’m hiding a huge secret from him, and it’s gnawing at me.

“Wow, you’ve had quite the week. Traveling this far during your first few days on the job? Noah, you should really go easy on your employees. A happy assistant makes for a happy life,” Youta playfully scolds Noah. I wince internally, realizing that I've painted Noah in a less-than-ideal light.

“What was the reason you relocated, if you don’t mind me asking?” he continues.

The question hangs in the air, and I freeze briefly. Noah’s knee bumps against mine under the table, a subtle way of telling me to answer the question. Why did I even mention my move? I don’t want to get into that story. I’m not good at impromptu lying on the spot and it shows in the way I stutter.

“Umm, I-I just wanted a fresh start, I guess," I manage to say, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "S-so how about you, Mr. Adachi? I hear you have the most adorable grandchildren!” With that, I wipe my clammy palms on my lap, silently praying the subject stays off of me.

Mr. Adachi's face lights up at the mention of his grandchildren. "Oh, they are my absolute pride and joy! My grandchildren are simply wonderful. You wouldn't believe the trouble they get into..." he begins, his voice rich with affection.I feel a wave of relief wash over me as he dives into stories and pulls out his phone to show us pictures of them.

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