"Michael's been awfully quiet after reports for his stock fall broke out on East star news last month"

Louis drawled after a sigh of pride left his mouth as he hit the cue with another shot. The smirk made it's way on his lips.

"He seems to plan his next step. He needs your help since you're been a good friends from from Dallas event" Louis said before passing on to Noel.

"Relations are just dumb to be placed in business, I hope he knows that" Noel extracted before hitting on the cue to its pocket.

"He can offer something in return" Louis stated. Noel's eyes twisted with a befuddled stare on Louis as he passed back on to Louis.

"What does he have to offer?"

"He said he can get you the history of Sadets. For the last decade" Louis emphasized on the word "last decade" with a flash of leer crossed his face. Noel's eyes flared in interest before a mischievous smile of satisfaction made it's way on his lips.

"Well the offer seems to be quite beneficiary but, I can get that on my own as well so no. That's not quite negotiable and interesting deal" Noel smiled.

"He needs your help in clearing his records from East star. He said he'll do anything" Louis stated before fixing his glasses. Noel's eyes showed a shimmer of heeds again.

"He might not be the most useful man in the world but his shares for sure are" Noel smirked with the newfound interest. Louis smiled.

"Consider it done"

They were on their way to finish the final sets of the game when Peter, Noel's PA knocked before entering inside. He greeted both Noel and Louis before proceeding on with Noel's tasks for the rest of the evening. 

"You had an invitation for Ivan Miller's sister's birthday last week. And today's the day."

"Ivan Miller" The name made it's way on Louis' lips before his eyes shifted on Noel.

It's the man Noel's after for a while. But why? Only Noel knows. Ivan Miller has something that Noel's been searching for since a while. Even though Ivan Miller is the least liked man of his interest he would like to have a partnership with, he has to continue for this for his search.

The rule in his business- to erase the competition, erase the competitor. Noel had always made sure of that but the one and only Ivan Miller. That man gets on his nerve. Noel was hell bound on never joining hands with Ivan. But for business, he has to do it. Even the man's presence irks him. But that doesn't change the fact that Ivan has something Noel was searching for so long.

He has to make strong business relations with him for at least that.

The only thing for which he would let his grudges down.

"Miller's planning on announcing his new project to the media. You presence is necessary for this to happen since you're the partner" Peter informed as he closed his iPad before putting it down on the table and settling on the couch.  Noel sighed. 

Business debauchery with competitors for sure are the worst.

But nonetheless, he has to attend because there's something He's been searching for.

~~

"Happy birthday, Ms Miller." Noel wished with a smile as he placed the kiss on the back of Eve's hand who smiled before a blush crept on her cheeks.

"Thank you, Mr Walker. Please make yourself comfortable here." Eve said with a smile before the man beside her cleared his throat.

The man who happens to be Ivan's friend named as Chris, gave an unsettling glare to Noel that he returned gladly before looking in between him and Eve. A twitch made it's way in the corner of Noel's lip to find an unexplainable tension between them but that was his last concern on the earth.

He wasn't here for this sh#t whatever was happening between those two.

After conversing with the other guests for a while and Ivan's wife, Noel receives an unexpected call from one of his men. His face formed a frown of confusion as he answered the call before leaving the crowd behind walking to a silent place.

"What happened, Vem?"

"Mr Walker, I think there's something important I can't keep from you." Vem informed.

"Tell me"

"There's a whole one million of transaction fraud in the finance history. I was preparing the reports for the last six month when this got revealed"

Noel's eyes flared open with newfound shock. His hand converted into tight fists. And the other one groped the phone tightly. The muscle in his jaw twitched with an angry clench.

"Whoever is behind all of this. Find out!" A deep snarl left his throat that was enough to send quivering feat to the company's finance manager, Vem. His sweaty palms rubbed against the pockets as he responded. 

"I'll, Mr Walker" He muttered.

"Call the damn securities to look into the matter. I want the transaction history for last six months by tomorrow on my table" Noel made himself clear as the manager responded with a yes.

"And call that damn Peter and tell him to visit me at sharp seven" Noel growled before hanging up the call.

The hold on his phone went iron gripped as his jaw clenched with the anger.

His mind was on an unsettling fire until he heard someone flinching. A soft gasp reached his ears that instantly grabbed his full attention. He turned around to follow whoever was there listening to him.  He can trust not a single soul in Miller's empire.

He followed the sound of faint noises until he couldn't anymore.

There it was

The force was too strong that his heartbeats almost accelerated. The sound of his heart pumping was so loud to his ears that he can listen to it clearly.

The sudden wetness on his chest pulled him back before he could register to more stranger emotions he felt for the very minute.

A f#cking drink on his shirt!

His jaw clenched even more tightly as the girl in front of him rubbed her forehead with pained expression plastered all over her face that Illuminated perfectly under the moonlight. 

Noel tried to take a closer look of her featured for a brief moment. He himself was so surprised of himself with the interest of exploring the girl who stood in front of him. He wanted to see her clearly. 

But nonetheless, she was looking perfect under the moonlight.  A beat skipped his heart that he was unaware of but the way the girls shivering lips caught his eyes, it tempted him.

His light brown honey eyes were busy searching for different details of hers. He was so engrossed that he just forget the loss happened to his suit shirt.

Before he could reach his hand out to touch Her, he felt a sudden push on his chest throwing him back to reality and he found the scarred girl running away from there.

Stumbling backwards by the sudden force made Noel hiss out of irritation but what irritated him more was her running away and he couldn't even see her face.

"Where the hell are you running, stop here you-" He growled before following her but something strong rubbed on his boot. He looked down to find a small metallic thing on the floor.

It shimmered beautifully under the moonlight.

Noel starred in the girl's direction who was already gone but it seems to him like the piece on the floor belonged to her.

He crouched down to grab the metallic thing in his hand that looked like a beautiful bracelet.  His eyes moved with sudden interest. 

"Oh God! Mr. Walker, are you fine?" The servant asked reaching towards his direction as Noel glared at him sucking the life out of his lungs.

"Do I look like?" He hissed as the servant gulped shaking his head.

"Come, let me guide towards the washroom you can clean your shirt there," The servant said guiding him inside the mansion. Noel clenched his jaw starring at the direction from where the girl left. His attention again goes towards the silver bracelet in his hands.

"Mr. Walker. Please come," The servant said gaining his attention. Nodding, he slid the bracelet into his pants' pocket before making his way inside to clean the juice stain off.

The rest of the debauchery was wrapped up with cutting of the cake, a quick speech of Ivan and Noel announcing their new project to the medias and a dinner with business talks before Noel finally left.

"Welcome back, Mr Walker" Denise, the caretaker of Noel's apartment wished as soon as he entered the living room. Noel nodded in response at the lady who in her late thirties.

"Would you like the dinner served at dining hall or your room?" Denise asked.

"Leave it, Denise. I already had it in a business event and I'm tired" Noel huffed before he made his way to the stairs.

"Oh okay then, have a good night" The lady wished.

"You too, Denise" Noel muttered exhausted before climbing the stairs lazily. Entering his bedroom, he tossed his coat on the couch before getting rid of his shirt.

Exhaling a tired sigh, he fell down on his bed starring at the ceiling of his bedroom with heavy eyes. He moved to side when something in his pocket irritated him. His reflex was quick to take it out before he starred at it for a brief one minute as if trying to imprint it in his mind.

The bracelet

The girl

Her sobs

Her quivering lips

His temptation

"Ughhh!! Get lost!" Noel groaned before shutting his eyes tightly, the bracelet in his palm clenched in the tight fists as he heaved a deep breath before the sleep consumed him.

****

This is the prologue for my new book FATED

I hope you guys enjoyed the it