Contract Marriage; Fated Love

Liam found his way back to the reception. He decided to go outside and take a stroll. It would help him to better admire the surroundings. He opened the door and stepped out without looking. He bumped into someone.

“I’m sorry,” he apologised immediately and respectfully.

This person had nice shoes that seemed quite expensive. Liam concluded the person would be rich. He raised his head to see the person who had almost walked past him and he smiled when he did.

“Mister Noah!”

Noah was taken aback. Who was it that dared to call him ‘mister?’ Whatever happened to his ‘President’ title?

When he collided with someone at the door, he didn’t react because it was such a small fellow. No sane adult would walk out of a door without looking. He didn’t care to see the little one who bumped into him. It wasn’t necessary, such things never were. He simply walked on but had to turn when he heard ‘mister Noah.’

He smiled warmly when he saw Liam. Liam ran to him and hugged him. The receptionist was amazed. She had never seen Noah smile or hug someone. It was known that he had no emotions and did nothing of that sort.

“How are you?”

“I am fine, thank you, and you?”

“I’m good.”

“What are you doing here?”

Before Liam could answer, Frank came into the reception.

“Hey! Blackwood, is that you? So, you made it!”

“Frank, don’t be an ass. I told you I will.”

“Good morning, sir.”

“Morning boy, how are you?”

“I’m fine sir.”

The receptionist was suddenly extra focused on her work. The CEO was here and she didn’t want to take chances.

“Let’s hit the road,” Frank said, putting his hands on Noah’s shoulders.

“I will see you later, alright?” Noah said calmly to Liam. He nodded and smiled. He waved at Noah as he went out and Noah waved back to the greatest amazement of Frank and the receptionist. Frank looked again to be sure he saw correctly.

“Blackwood, what’s happening?” he asked once they were out of earshot.

“Happening? I don’t understand.”

“You were holding a little boy when I entered. You even smiled and waved at him. When did you become cordial and jovial?”

“There’s something about that boy. He’s amazing.”

“Wow. For you to affirm that someone is amazing, it means that person is more than just amazing.”

Noah smiled. He rarely gave credit to people, he only said it in his mind but never aloud.

“I think I have seen that little amazing guy of yours somewhere. I’m just thinking of where I did.”

“Get into the car and stop thinking.”

“Yes! That is the boy in the portrait in your office, right?”

“Yes, right.”

“You haven’t told me about this boy. How come I have never met him?”

“To Jenn’s place,” Frank instructed the driver.

“Yes sir.”

“He isn’t American. He’s Chinese.”

“Chinese? Then how did…”

“Easy. One step at a time.”

Frank smiled and raised his hands in mock surrender.

“The last building block competition which was hosted last year gave him to me. We had a rough meeting before the competition and he proved to be a very impressive lad. You know how much I love intelligent people.”

“Yeah! I know that a lot.”

“Could you believe he asked me to take a picture with him after the competition?”

“What? He wasn’t scared to ask that?”

“That endeared him to me all the more. He’s simply an amazing kid. I agreed to take the picture, it wasn’t a bad idea though. He said he wanted to take it to his mum.”

“Huh? This is very funny. So, this is why that picture is in your office. I forgot to ask the last time I was there.”

“Because you were so engrossed in talking trash and drinking my coffee.”

“Ahhh! Nah! You can’t say that. You know it’s not true.”

The driver used his mirror to steal a look at these two young men. Their attitude when they were together was a clear contrast to when they were alone. Noah was worse although he rarely came in contact with him. They laughed and joked non stop whenever they were together but each looked like he seldom uttered a word or smiled when he was alone.

He always looked forward to driving both of them out but sadly, it happened a very few times. Almost once or twice in four months.

They returned about an hour later and Noah bade Frank goodbye.

“You are not saying goodbye to me here, are you?”

“Frank. You want me to go up?”

“Hell no! Who wants you in my office?”

“Crazy…”

“Follow me. Make sure I get into the office safely and leave after I have entered the elevator.”

“Oh my goodness. Why don’t I carry you in as well?”

Noah hugged him and stepped out of the car.

“President Noah! You forgot something, the flash,” Frank called out after Noah.

“You just want me to come in and you have succeeded. Let’s go.”

Noah came downstairs again after taking the flash and met Liam at the reception reading comics. He held the boy and led him to his car.

“What are you doing in the USA?”

“I came for a vacation. It’s dragon boat festival vacation in China so I came to spend it here.”

“Really? That’s great.”

“I would love to take a tour and see the city. Do you know some nice places so I can tell my mummy to take me there?”

“Yeah! There are a lot of nice places you will love.”

“Ehhh? Tell me!” Liam said, his eyes shining in excitement.

“We have the amusement park, gold bar, kiddies store and a lot more.”

“Thank you mister. I will tell my mummy to take me there. Bye!” Liam ran off excitedly to tell his mother of his latest findings.

Emily finally paused and she realised her son wasn’t there anymore. Before she could react, he opened the door and came running in.

“Mummy, I met my friend.”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“What friend? Have you made a friend already?”

“No mummy, it’s Mister Noah!”