“This is Harrison Crawford and his husband Tristan Jones.”
Harrison fucking Crawford? I know who he is of course, though I wasn’t aware of what he looked like. The guy practically owns New York, most of it anyway.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I add the last for good measure, and my throat goes dry as he shakes my hand as well. He just nods at me, like a fucking monarch.
Tristan gives me a wide smile as he holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Noah.”
I blow out a breath and Tristan leans closer. He whispers but I’m sure it’s loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Don’t feel overwhelmed, they’re still humans.”
Yeah, right.
“I didn’t think I’d be in the same room as someone who probably has more money than the Royal Family,” I whisper loudly back, and Harrison snorts.
“Not quite, but I’m working on it.”
“Harry,” Gab says smoothly. “I don’t like the way Noah seems more in awe of you than me. I need to remedy that.” Her tone is light, it’s almost like banter, and I catch Chase rolling his eyes like there’s some long-standing rivalry between Harrison and Gab.
“Oh, I’m definitely in awe of you as well.” I nod emphatically towards Gab and she gives Harrison a sly smile. I look between them all. Friends, Chase had said, and they are clearlyall very comfortable with each other. Their net worth must be billions, hundreds of billions maybe, and here they are sitting and talking like it’s the most normal thing in the world. But it can’t be, because they are all incredibly powerful and important rich people. People like that aren’t friends. Surely?
“Why do I feel like I’ve stumbled on some super secret conference where you’re all deciding how the world should really be run. I just can’t decide if you’re plotting for good or evil.”
No one speaks and I fear my mouth may have gotten me in trouble. Not for the first time. Then Gab throws back her head and laughs. A rich, warm, genuine laugh.
“He’s funny, Chase. I can see why you like him so much.”
My eyes snap to Chase who looks straight back at me. He’s told them about me? I can see he’s seen I’ve noticed, and his eyes harden as if he’s annoyed with himself. Though there’s also a faint rose tint to his tanned skin. Did the all powerful and rich Chase Knightly blush? Over me? The thought makes my insides heat up. He gives Gab a glare, but she just smirks back at him, and when he turns his gaze back to me he’s smiling again.
“Forgive me, where are my manners? Noah, would you like a drink?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Chase
I would normally brushoff my blush, since there’s very little my friends don’t tease me about, but seeing Noah’s cheeks pinken has a new protective instinct rising in me.
The result is me sending Gab a new kind of glare and her tilting her head to one side slightly when she catches it, like she’s simply cataloging my reaction as information.
I’m probably going to regret doing that later, but for now, I at least have something to do when Noah nods my way.
“Please,” he replies, his face relaxing slightly after he lets out a huge sigh.
I can’t blame him for feeling out of sorts, even if I’m right there with him. I still love—maybe way too much—the fact that he’s here, that he took my words as an invitation. I didn’t intend them as such, but I still feel like this might be a sign that...
That what?
That he might be slightly attracted to me and eager to be my agent?
That’s not exactly comforting, but for now I’ll take what I can get.
So I pour him a whiskey and watch him sit in the armchair I was using when Lance told me there was someone at the gate. I sit on the couch next to Gab, facing Harrison and Tristan.
Before anyone can say another word, Noah takes a sip—a big one—and nods to himself.
“I want to apologize for interrupting your time away,” he says, each word carefully enunciated.
Gab waves him off.