Checking In

Noelle was on her way to the restaurant when an unknown number called her.

She was driving down the bridge that doesn't have unnecessary traffic.

Noelle was curious who it was and so… she answered it without even thinking twice.

"Hello? Who is this?" Noelle asked.

"Hi. Um… I was wondering if this number is Noelle Iris…"

It was Joe. Noelle opened the car window to let the fresh air in. She felt suffocated knowing that Joe was trying to move his way in her life again. Noelle cleared her throat and wondered how long she had to stale the minute to even answer.

"Yeah, this is Noelle Iris. You have reached me with the number I gave, I believe?"

Joe responded quickly, "Yeah. It's nice hearing your voice. You must be driving?"

Noelle nodded quietly. Then, she realized she was on a phone call.

"Yeah, I am." She responded short because she doesn't want to talk to him further. If he's going to insult her, the conversation is over. And Noelle had the guts to block someone right now. She wouldn't hesitate to eradicate him again in her life.

"Where are you going?" His tone was being cautious. Noelle wondered if he's going to apologize. If he does, she's not rude to not accept it. Of course, Joe has been a good memory until it turned bad a long time ago. If she's going to go back, she'd rather be hurt over Blake than him.

He was the biggest heartbreak, and not the ones who followed suit.

"Umm… to a restaurant. I'm having a nice dinner there. Reserved, of course."

Joe trailed a silence first before saying, "Uh, yeah, you got a boyfriend, huh? I mean…"

Noelle felt uncomfortable saying yes. Of course, Joe hasn't gotten one. She believed that men had the hardest time to move on from the woman they really love. Noelle was the first love. And even though she believed it as a word from mouth, it shows.

No one can ever underestimate the power of first love.

"Yeah, I have. I believe you know him personally," Noelle commented. It was a praise to her but also a shove to Joe. She had a knack to push men away if she already had boundaries and lanes around her. Cole is a better man than Blake or even Joe.

Noelle had to admit Joe was a cowardice before. He doesn't take risks. Even their relationship was made out of a bulky box of matches, just stack up in every little thing, not even sturdy.

"Personally? Does he work at A&E, too?"

"Yeah." He doesn't just work there. He owns the company. Well, he's the second generation, and even so, Rodriguez family has been in the company for so long, and their website is growing larger as the daylight grows.

"Is it also a repairman or someone in the circle of filming porn?"

Noelle swallowed. It is insignificant to even answer it, because if she said that she's been hooking up with Cole Rodriguez, Joe wouldn't believe it. He's the CEO of the company, and who the hell an average porn star would hook up with the highest position and man of the corporation.

Maybe… she had done her terrible and black magic to make him fall in love with her.

"Ah. He works in the upper class of the company. I mean, he's… one of the heads."

Noelle had to certainly drop it. It's no use hiding for it somehow.

"Heads?! Are you talking about the CEO here?!" Joe exclaimed.

She widened her eyes. Did she tell her that Cole Rodriguez was a part of her life even before?

"Tell me. Do you have a relationship with the CEO?"

Noelle held the steering wheel tightly and wondered how long it'd take for her to answer. She'd be so lost in her game if she dropped it naturally, but she had to do it. What can she hide to Joe now that he asked? It can't be controlled. Truth would always prevail.

"I have. For a month now," Noelle revealed.

She turned the intersection where Joe and her got entangled with the accidental skid. Noelle noticed how silent Joe become after she said the truth. Joe questioned, "Cole Rodriguez? He is your lover?"

Noelle licked her lips. She pursed it before stating, "Yes."

Joe become enveloped with quiet surroundings again. But his call was still on, and he doesn't want to drop it. Noelle was barely reaching the restaurant. She was tempted to drop it, but Joe said another thing that will distract her for the duration of her date with Cole.

"Do you have a time for coffee later? I want to talk to you and catch up, you know."

Noelle stopped the car at the front of the classy restaurant. She retrieved the phone and put it in her ear. Noelle gritted her teeth. She wanted to say yes, but Cole would be shedding trust in every bit if he could. Noelle had to be cautious with her moves, too.

She might hurt someone with her recklessness.

"I can't tomorrow, Joe. Maybe the next day? I'll give you an hour or two. Would that be alright?"

Noelle climbed out of her Mercedes and gave the key to the chauffeur.

"Alright, that's a deal. Go on with the date with the CEO. He might get angry and fire me."

She fought the urge to laugh out loud at that remark. Noelle dropped the call after saying a quick goodbye. She walked in, and showed the invitation. One of the attendants opened one of the VIP rooms of the restaurant, and she was advised to slide out of her heels.

When the attendant opened the wooden door, Cole was already inside. He waved at her cheerfully. Noelle smiled widely, and hastily rushed out of her shoes. She wore the thin slippers and immediately hugged Cole.

"I miss you so much," Cole conveyed yearningly.

"I miss you, too!" Noelle hugged his neck firmly. Both of them snuggled in each other's warmth for a while before separating a little and kissing each other's lips. Cole gave her a tongue kiss, that she completely knew that it was a tease.

"I want to eat the dessert even if I am outrageously hungry now."

He gave her another tongue kiss, and she cackled out loud. Cole planted a kiss in her earlobe as they decided to eat along.

"Let's fill our stomachs in before we go to dessert," Cole smirked.

Settling down, their conversation would be as endless as the void.