Chapter 100: Does Aria Steal Noah in Front of Luna?
Luna answered immediately upon hearing Aria’s order.
"She can’t."
Aria smiled.
"Why not?"
"He’s working."
"Exactly."
Aria pointed to the chair in front of her.
"I’m requesting service."
"Service doesn’t mean sitting with you."
"My family’s contribution could cover several hours of his wages."
Luna narrowed her eyes, but Aria kept a polite expression, at which Noah decided to intervene.
"Five minutes."
Luna turned toward him.
"Noah."
"If there are no other tables waiting, it’s fine."
Luna looked around the floor and there were no new orders, which did not make her feel any better.
Noah sat down across from Aria, but Luna remained standing, at which Aria looked at her.
"Aren’t you going to bring my order?"
Luna did not answer.
"The tea."
Aria added.
"And the cake."
Luna looked at Noah and then at Aria.
"Right away."
She walked away and Aria waited until she was far enough before smiling.
"I don’t think she likes me."
"Does that surprise you?"
"No."
Aria rested an arm on the table.
"I think she’s jealous."
Noah sighed.
"Don’t start."
"I’m just observing."
"You’re provoking her."
"Yes, a little."
Noah looked at her and Aria seemed completely satisfied.
"Did you come just to bother Luna?"
"No."
"Then?"
"To court you."
Noah went still.
"Could you say those things with less naturalness?"
"I don’t see why."
"I already rejected your proposal."
"You rejected the first version."
"There is no second version."
"With money there is always a second version."
Aria opened the small bag she had brought, took out a box, and set it on the table.
Noah looked at it.
"What is that?"
"Open it."
"I don’t want to."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because it probably comes with some trap."
"There’s no trap."
"You sure?"
"Yes, you have my word."
Noah carefully opened the box and inside was an elegant watch, so Noah closed it immediately.
"No."
Aria looked confused.
"You didn’t even see the model."
"It doesn’t matter."
"It’s waterproof."
"It’s too much."
"It has a tracking system."
"That sounds even worse."
"You can turn it off."
"I won’t accept expensive gifts."
Aria leaned toward him.
"Then give me one yourself."
Noah immediately remembered the magic star.
’Now.’
It was an opportunity, so he slipped a hand into his inner pocket.
"Actually..."
Aria watched the movement and Noah felt the object between his fingers.
"There’s something I need to give you."
Aria’s expression changed, but Noah did not notice, so he pulled his hand out, still keeping the object closed in his fist.
"It’s important."
Aria set the watch aside.
"I understand."
"I don’t think so, first listen to me."
"You can give me whatever you want."
Noah opened his hand slightly.
"It’s not exactly..."
Aria moved a little closer.
"Do you want it to be private?"
Noah frowned.
"What?"
"It would be better."
"Why?"
Aria lowered her voice.
"Because Luna is watching."
Noah turned.
Luna was behind the counter preparing the tea and was indeed watching.
Noah returned his attention to Aria.
"This has nothing to do with Luna."
"Then we can look for a hotel."
Noah stopped moving.
"...What!?"
Aria smiled.
"One with a good bed."
Noah took two seconds to understand.
"No, wait!"
Several female customers looked over, at which Noah lowered his voice.
"I wasn’t talking about that."
Aria looked truly surprised.
"No?"
"No!"
"When you said you wanted to give me something and that it was important..."
"I was talking about an object."
Aria fell silent.
"Ah."
Noah opened his hand a little more.
"This..."
Luna appeared beside the table, set the tea in front of Aria with a bit more force than necessary and then the cake.
"Your order."
Aria raised her gaze.
"Thank you."
Luna observed the distance between Noah and Aria and then looked at Noah’s closed hand.
"What’s going on?"
Noah spoke quickly.
"Nothing."
Aria answered at the same time.
"Noah wanted to give me something."
Luna went still upon hearing those words.
"What thing?"
Noah opened his mouth and Aria smiled.
"Something private."
"Luna."
Noah said before Aria could continue.
"We were going to look for a hotel."
Luna stopped breathing for an instant and Noah’s eyes widened.
"It’s not that!"
Several customers looked again while Luna remained completely motionless and Noah stood up.
"That was a misunderstanding."
Aria took her tea as she said.
"We already cleared it up."
Luna looked at Noah, who knew that expression, which was far too calm.
"Luna."
"I’m fine."
"It doesn’t seem that way."
"I’m working."
Aria took a small sip.
"Your professionalism is admirable."
Luna looked at her and with effort replied.
"Thank you."
Aria smiled.
"Maybe someday you could work at our house."
"No."
"The salary would be better."
"No."
"You could keep seeing Noah."
"No."
Noah brought a hand to his forehead, while Aria was enjoying it far too much and, before Luna could answer, Aria’s phone began to ring.
Aria looked at the screen and her expression changed.
"I have to take this."
She stood up.
Noah looked at his hand, since he still had the magic object hidden.
’My chance is slipping away.’
Aria answered.
"Yes?"
She listened.
"I understand."
Another pause.
"I’ll be there in twenty minutes."
She ended the call, at which Noah took a step toward her.
"Wait."
Aria picked up her bag.
"What?"
"I still have to give you..."
Aria smiled.
"Keep it."
"But..."
"You can give it to me when we’re alone."
Noah closed his eyes.
"It wasn’t..."
Aria came too close, at which Noah stepped back slightly and Luna reacted.
"Stay away."
Aria ignored the warning.
"Noah."
"What?"
"I’ll consider this visit progress."
"But there was no progress."
"You wanted to give me a gift."
"That’s different."
Aria smiled.
"We’ll see each other soon."
Before Noah could reply, she gently held his face and kissed him on the lips.
It was quick, but clear enough.
Noah remained motionless and Aria pulled away.
"Thank you for serving me."
Then she looked at Luna.
"The tea was fine."
Luna did not answer and Aria left accompanied by her staff.
The door closed, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Noah looked toward Luna, who remained completely still.
"Luna."
"No."
"No what?"
"Don’t talk to me."
Noah stayed silent, so Luna took the cup Aria had used, carried it to the counter and set it next to the sink.
Noah followed her.
"It was without my consent."
"I saw."
"I couldn’t..."
"I saw."
Noah closed his mouth and, for the rest of the shift, Luna did not argue with him, which was worse.