Naya stood up from the plush cushions of the couch, her face flushed with a mixture of disbelief and absolute indignation.
"What?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "The guy actually made you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement? Who on earth does this man think he is? Is he completely out of his mind? If he knew that he didn't want anyone to know about him sleeping with you, then why did he choose to sleep with you in the first place? Honestly, Noah, I want to skin that man alive right now."
When Noah saw how fiercely Naya was reacting on his behalf, a warm sense of comfort washed over him. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of happiness knowing that his best friend saw the situation exactly the same way he did.
He also found it validating that she thought the NDA was a ridiculous move. In his own mind, Noah felt that Adam and his stiff-necked secretary, Caleb, were truly unhinged for forcing a legal document on him after such a traumatic night.
However, he had already put his signature on the paper. He knew there was no sense in crying over spilled milk. He needed to look forward, not backward.
Noah reached out and took Naya's hand, gently leading her back to her seat beside him on the sofa. He looked into her eyes with a soft, tired smile. "I just want to put this entire chapter behind me," he said quietly.
"Let's just forget about that man, okay? It was a one-time thing, a terrible mistake, and there is absolutely no reason for me to keep harping on what happened in the past. I just want to focus on the future now. I want to study hard, pay my fees, and finally achieve my dreams."
Naya nodded in agreement, though her expression remained somewhat grim. Deep down, she was still fuming.
She couldn't stop thinking about the man and how she would love to give him a piece of her mind for what he had put Noah through.
The idea that a powerful Alpha could treat her friend like that and then try to silence him with a legal document made her blood boil.
It was no wonder Noah had looked so incredibly drained and defeated that morning.
But like Noah said, they had to look forward. She didn't have any way to find out the man's true identity anyway, so she eventually forced herself to let the matter go for the sake of Noah's peace of mind.
To cheer him up, Naya started talking about everything and anything. They spent the next few hours gossiping about people they knew, talking about their favorite movies, and sharing stories about their childhood.
Noah laughed and smiled so much that he almost forgot everything that happened to him in the past two days.
They only stopped talking when the clock crept toward midnight and they both started yawning uncontrollably.
They bid each other a sleepy goodnight and retreated to their respective rooms. Noah collapsed onto his bed, and within seconds, he was lost in a deep, dreamless sleep.
Noah didn't wake up until nearly ten o'clock the next morning. As he slowly blinked his eyes open, he felt a profound sense of relaxation.
His muscles weren't as tense as they had been the day before, and his mind felt unusually clear. He had truly needed that uninterrupted rest.
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and headed into the bathroom to start his morning routine. He brushed his teeth and took a long, hot shower, even though his stomach was grumbling loudly and persistently throughout the entire session.
As he changed into fresh clothes, Noah silently prayed that Naya had already started on breakfast. If she was still asleep, he feared his stomach might actually start to cramp from the sheer intensity of his hunger.
He walked out of his room and into the living area, and his ears caught the comforting sound of clattering dishes coming from the kitchen.
He walked toward the doorway and saw Naya wearing a bright, cheerful sunflower dress. She was busy plating various dishes, getting everything ready to move to the dining table.
Noah's face broke into a brilliant smile. His prayers had been answered; breakfast was not only ready, but it smelled delicious. He quickly walked over to help her carry the plates.
Naya heard his footsteps and turned around with a smile. "Good morning, Noah. I hope you slept well."
Noah took two of the plates from her and nodded enthusiastically. "I slept perfectly. Honestly, I haven't had that good of a sleep in a very long time. I feel like a new person."
Naya beamed at him as she picked up the remaining dishes. "I'm so glad to hear that. You definitely deserved the rest."
They walked to the dining table and sat down to eat. For a while, the only sounds were the clicking of cutlery against plates. It was a comfortable, easy silence that spoke to the depth of their friendship.
After they finished their breakfast, Noah moved back to the sitting area to relax. Naya followed him out a moment later. "Let me go grab the first aid box," she said. "I need to clean those wounds on your hands and change the bandages."
Noah nodded his consent, but he couldn't resist the urge to tease her a bit. "You know, with the way you're taking such good care of me, what if I decide to ignore the community rules? What if I decide that an Omega can indeed marry an Omega, and I end up falling for you and wanting to marry you?"
Naya rolled her eyes at his antics, though she was clearly amused. "Well, I'm very sorry to disappoint you, Noah, but I've already had dreams about what my future husband is going to look like. And let me tell you, you are far, far different from the man in my dreams."
Noah clutched his chest in an exaggerated display of heartbreak. "Wow. You broke my heart, Naya. You've shattered it into a million pieces. Now I'm going to need a kiss to repair the damage."
He stood up and playfully walked toward her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Come on, give me a kiss. Don't be shy, it's just one little kiss for your poor, broken friend."
Naya started backing away, laughing so hard she could barely speak. "I'm telling you now, if you dare kiss me, once I find a man, I will report you to him immediately! And he will definitely punish you for it."
Noah rolled his eyes and let out a laugh of his own. "Wow, you're already threatening me with your imaginary man? Fine then. I won't kiss you. I certainly don't want to get beaten up by some jealous Alpha."
Naya decided to keep the teasing going. "Oh? You're giving up that easily? Come on then, kiss me! I'm waiting. My future man is probably only going to punch you once or twice, so it's a fair trade. I'm sure you can take a couple of punches for a kiss from me."
Noah became momentarily speechless, then looked at her with a mock-hurt expression. "Are you even my friend? You're actually encouraging me to get punched?"
Naya smiled happily, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Of course I am! Now, stay right there. I'm going to get the first aid box."
She walked away, leaving Noah alone in the sitting room. He wanted to use his phone to watch a movie, but he realized he had left it in his bedroom again.
Too lazy to go back for it, he picked up the television remote instead. He started flipping through the channels in boredom, searching for anything interesting to pass the time until Naya returned.
He eventually stopped on a news channel just as he heard Naya's footsteps returning to the room. Normally, Noah had no interest in the news, finding it mostly depressing or irrelevant to his life.
He dropped the remote on the coffee table and turned to give Naya a bright smile as she walked back into the room with the medical supplies.
Behind him, the news reporter's voice rang out clearly from the television speakers.
"The President of WESNOT country reportedly seduced and forced himself on a young Omega for an entire night. This shocking allegation raises the question: Does he think that because he is the President, he can force himself on a barely legal Omega and get away with it?"
Noah didn't pay much attention to the words at first. He didn't think for a second that a national news report would have anything to do with him.
He was focused on Naya, who had suddenly frozen in the middle of the room. He watched as her eyes slowly narrowed and her expression darkened into something cold and terrifying.
"Noah," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Is that... is that you on the TV?"
Noah had never whipped his head around so fast in his entire life. He stared at the screen, and his heart felt like it stopped beating.
On one side of the television screen, there was a loop of clear footage. It showed a young man walking out of a luxury presidential suite. The young man looked furious, his face was pale, and he was visibly limping as he moved toward the elevators.
It was him.
The footage was undeniable. It was the Tuniforce Hotel. It was the morning he left Adam. Noah felt something snap in his brain. Something that's supposed to be his secret was now being broadcast to the entire country.
A sharp, panicked scream tore its way out of Noah's throat as the reality of the situation crashed down upon him.