Page 59 of Billion Dollar Baby Deal

Wasn’t this what he wanted? To be friends? To be married in name only?

So if Sophie thought that they were moving towards a real relationship, and Noah wanted to go back to that, did that mean that Noah wanted a relationship with Sophie?

Noah leaned back in his chair, his mind spinning.

He stayed late that night, trying to finish the work he had procrastinated over all day.

What was happening to him?Work has always been easy. The only thing that was ever on his mind.

And lately, that had changed; the only thing on his mind had been Sophie and the baby.

Maybe this was all for the best. They had become too comfortable and it was taking him away from his work, the only thing that was important to him. The entire reason he had offered this arrangement in the first place. Focusing back on work would be a good thing for him.

When he finally returned home it was eight p.m. Sophie had left some food for him in the fridge.

He was halfway through eating it when he heard a clattering sound, followed by another one. Noah followed it into the hallway and saw that the light in the nursery was on. He stood in the hallway frozen, unsure if he should check on her. After the last time they were in that room together, he wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

But concern for her grew when he heard another clatter. It was the sound of wood against wood. He heard her grunt in frustration.

Noah approached the door carefully. “Is everything all right in here?”

Sophie looked up at him from the floor. He could tell she was angry but she forced a smile, trying to pretend that everything was fine. “Yeah, everything’s good.”

The crib lay on the floor, slightly more put together than the last time he had seen it. It looked like she was trying to align all of the individual sides sticking out of the bottom into the top frame piece. Clearly she was having some trouble doing it by herself.

Reluctantly, Noah offered to lend a hand.

“No,” Sophie said. “Thank you, though.”

Again, he froze, unsure of whether to push her or to leave her be.

Sophie’s fake smile grew bigger. “I got it, don’t worry.”

Noah left without another word.

* * *

After another week, Noah was finally beginning to find his groove again. He arrived at the office early and stayed late.

Thankfully, his father made no comment on the increase in his hours. Most likely he wasn’t even checking, was probably off on some tropical island without cell reception. Perhaps that was the reason he hadn’t responded to the wedding RSVP.

Despite the lack of formal confirmation, Noah knew he would be there. Richard knew how much his presence would mean, not to Noah, but to Birch Industries.

Work became his life again and he was able to fall back into his normal routine of discipline and corporate responsibilities. Everything seemed to be coming together and Noah told himself he couldn’t be happier. His focus was directed solely on the future and the things he would accomplish as official CEO.

Though, he had to admit that the nights and days off were harder. He couldn’t remember how he used to entertain himself before Sophie. Usually it involved drinking and women. Not only would it tear down the image he was beginning to create, but Noah no longer had interest in it. And because Sophie no longer wanted his help, he didn’t know what to do with himself.

Things between them were slowly improving, at least at work. They began to talk more casually about their days and even shared a smile or two. But there was always a sense of distance, of holding back. Like having a wall between them. It reminded Noah of the time before the arrangement. When they were just coworkers.

It was better this way, he told himself. The more time they spent apart, the easier it was to forget the old dynamic of their relationship.

But there was one thing. One thing, that no matter how hard he tried to ignore, it continued staring him right in the face. At work, at home, in his mind, and even in his dreams.

Noah was deeply and unavoidably attracted to her.

He did his best not to notice the fullness of her curves in her tight dresses or the smoothest of her legs when she wore an oversized T-shirt at home, but they had become programmed attractions of his gaze. Seizing his attention.

And he could not control the feelings that arose when she looked up at him through her dark lashes in conversation, or when he smelled the fresh scent of her shampoo lingering in the hallway. Or the feelings that took over when she appeared in his fantasies.

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