Maya POV
I didn’t know what to feel anymore.
Noah Sterling confused me. Not just because he was moody and impossible to please, but because there were moments—fleeting, almost imperceptible—where I thought maybe… just maybe… he didn’t hate me.
And then he’d call me stupid again, and I’d remember where I stood.
So when he stepped into the office that Friday morning and announced his upcoming birthday party, I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary. Until he looked right at me.
“We’ll be hosting at my place,” he said, standing in the center of the floor like he owned the world. “Formal attire. Invitations will be sent. Except for Maya.”
I blinked. “Wait, what?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “Maya doesn’t need an invitation. She’s only allowed to come… if she agrees.”
I blinked harder. My brain short-circuited. Did he just—what?
“Why?” I asked, almost choking.
Noah’s mouth twitched. “Because I want you there.”
The office went silent. Every head turned. Every mouth hung open. Even Tim looked like he was about to scream.
Noah walked away like he didn’t just drop a bomb in front of everyone.
“Girl,” Tim whisper-screamed later that day, dragging me into the hallway like we were plotting an international crime. “This isn’t just a party. This is a move.”
“Tim, stop,” I groaned, slapping his arm lightly. “It’s just a party. He probably needs me to carry a laptop or fix a graph or something. You know how he is.”
Tim grabbed my shoulders. “No, babe. This is the Noah Sterling Party. People would sell their kidneys to be invited. He basically said he doesn’t want the party without you. You better show up looking like a goddess.”
“I don’t even know what to wear.”
Tim grinned. “Lucky for you, you’ve got a stylist.”
The night of the party, I stood in front of the mirror in Tim’s apartment, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me. The dress clung perfectly to my curves, a soft wine-red color that made my skin glow. My curls were pinned delicately, my lips painted a soft plum. Tim had truly worked magic.
“Damn,” he said, stepping back to admire me. “If Noah doesn’t pass out when he sees you, he’s blind.”
I rolled my eyes, but smiled. “Thanks, Tim.”
“No, really. You look… expensive.”
A sleek modern mansion lit up in soft golds and warm lights, surrounded by trees and parked luxury cars. There was laughter, music, the sound of champagne flutes clinking. People in designer dresses and sharp tuxedos drifted around like we were in a movie.
And there he was.
Noah Sterling, in a perfectly tailored black suit, talking to some board member. He looked… different. His face was relaxed. His lips curved slightly in a way that looked too much like a real smile. No tension in his shoulders. No harsh edges.
He saw me the second I stepped inside. And for a moment… everything else blurred. He excused himself, walking toward me slowly, each step precise, calculated. My heart thudded like an idiot in my chest.
He stopped right in front of me. We were inches apart.
“You look…” he paused, eyes tracing over my hair, my dress, my face. “You look… incredible, Maya.”
I froze.
It wasn’t like before—when he stared like he was annoyed or judging.
This… this was different. He said it softly, like it wasn’t meant for anyone else to hear. I couldn’t breathe.
“Oh,” I whispered. “Thanks.”
Noah leaned in just slightly, lowering his voice. “Don’t let them talk to you like they do at work tonight. You belong here.”
I blinked. “That’s the first time you’ve ever said anything like that to me.”
He gave a ghost of a smile. “First time I meant it out loud.”
Before I could even react, I heard the front door open again.
And that’s when I saw him.
Alex.
Looking sinfully good in a navy-blue suit with a loose tie and a bouquet in hand. His eyes scanned the room casually… until they landed on me.
And then they landed on Noah—standing too close to me, his hand resting lightly against my back.
Alex’s smile faltered.