2. Noah

Noah

Chapter two

(Two days till departure.)

My boss, Ella Gray, turns her brilliant smile toward me as she stands. "Thanks again for setting this up, Noah."

Ella pulls her long high ponytail over her shoulder, and somehow the move softens her appearance, despite her take charge attitude. I swear, Ella could make a man drop to his knees just based on her looks alone. But throw in her intimidating—what I like to call boss-lady look—and most people bend over backwards to impress her.

I grin, a sense of pride filling me at her praise. This is exactly why I love working with Ella. Not only is it a dream to work at Dee Rama Magazine, but it's times like this that make me appreciate my job even more. Ella just landed the interview of a lifetime, and even though she's the CEO, she thanks me before she thanks the huge rock stars in the room.

Ella beams at my brothers and shakes each of their hands. "Zayden, Olly, it was a pleasure. Noah, have fun on your cruise." She points between the three of us. "I'll give you two some time to catch up with my favorite employee."

Zayden stands, a charming smile in place. "Nonsense, Ella," he says in a flirty tone. "I see my brothers all the time. Why don't I take you out to lunch instead?"

As Ella and Zayden walk out of the conference room, I notice the way he hovers a hand over the small of Ella's back. There, but not quite touching.

Smart man. Ella would eat you alive, big bro.

"Seriously? How are we related?" Olly grumbles. Olly and Zayden are identical twins, but if you were solely basing things on personality, you would have sworn one of them was adopted.

We watch our brother and Ella through the floor to ceiling glass walls. Ella throws her head back and laughs, causing her high ponytail to cascade off her shoulder and down her back. She might be in her early fifties, but I swear Ella doesn't look a day over forty, and the lady really knows how to rock a pencil skirt.

Olly glances back my way. "Do you think the two of them are going to hook up?"

"There's no way," I say with a grin. "Ella has more class than that. Anyway, let's chat about something else. It's been a while since we caught up."

"True," Olly replies. "How are things going with Maximus? Maximilian? God, what is his name? It's something pompous."

I narrow my eyes.

"Yeah, let's not talk about Max. The fucker cheated on me at some party we attended together and we broke up. There isn't much left to talk about there."

"Wait, the asshole cheated on you while you were at a party together? Last time we talked, you mentioned Max thought things were really serious. He seemed really into you."

I wince. "Let's just say my ex was more into Arcade Lake than he was into me." Story of my life.

Olly's eyes grow wide. "Are you fucking kidding? Again? Noah, what happened?"

His anger softens the hurt and frustration warring inside of me. I stand, pointing at the door. "Yeah. I walked in on him naked with some other guy. Apparently, they just finished. Max couldn't even wait long enough to take him home, so instead, they snuck into a spare room. The only reason I even caught them was because I was looking for the bathroom. Their bedroom talk consisted of the two of them being die-hard fans of the band, while Max recited some lyrics to his new lover. The idiot didn't even realize that song was a breakup song."

"Fucker." Olly purses his lips in anger.

We make our way down the hallway and into my brand new office.

After moving back to Olivia Cove last fall, I started working as a paid marketing intern and receptionist for Dee Rama Magazine. After I started sharing my ideas with the marketing team and making sure no one took credit for my creative thinking, one of the team leaders asked Ella if I could be placed on their team permanently. That's when my boss started paying attention to what I brought to each meeting. Within a few short months, I worked my way into a permanent position.

I've studied really hard in school to get the best grades, all while holding down two jobs to support myself. My brothers might be millionaires, or whatever, but I've always wanted to make my mother proud and earn my own way. I still remember those times we used to struggle when I was a kid. Even though Zayden and Olly are older than me, I will never forget the day we made a pact to work hard enough that the three of us could support our mother before she turns fifty-five.

My brothers might have me beat, but it doesn't mean I need to give up on my life goals.

"I thought you said you weren't going to host or attend as many parties anymore."

"I know, I know," I groan, as I gather my things. "Max convinced me to go. He complained I wasn't as fun as I used to be before my promotion. God forbid, I have a real job."

"Well, I'm sorry he was such a tool. But hey, look at the good side: you get to go on a Kinky Pride cruise while single."

"Gah! Don't say the word kinky. My older brother doesn't need to know what I'm up to."

I lock up my office and walk toward reception with Olly.

"Bye, Noah! Have fun on your trip," my coworker, and one of my closest friends, Lawson, calls out from the front desk. "Take lots of photos."

"Will do, Law. Hold down the fort," I say with a smile.

After I say goodbye to Olly and my coworkers, I head back to my house and finish packing. Neatly folding a few of my favorite outfits, I also toss in some of my more colorful jockstraps, before hesitating as I eye my silky lingerie. My mind wanders off to a memory of my ex, Max.

He hated anything too feminine, too colorful, or anything that didn't fit his idea of normal. Dating him was a mistake. Usually, I can pick up on clues that the guys I date aren't actually into me. I'm used to people finding out I'm brothers with two famous rock stars, but Max was a sneaky fucker. He didn't even mention the band, Arcade Lake, until a month into our relationship. By then I'd already caught feelings.

I shake off thoughts of my ex, eyeing my bright pink hair in the mirror. Just to give Max a silent middle finger, I scoop up my silky lingerie and place them into my suitcase. If I'm lucky enough to find a Daddy in paradise, then I'm giving the lucky man a damn good show.