Gritting his teeth, he nearly snapped at Arthur to leave when Teresa opened the door and said that he was needed on the second floor immediately.
Arthur excused himself, asking Skye to stay in his place.
Before she could speak, they were alone. Noah didn’t let go of her wrist.
“Did you know I was buying this company?” he asked.
“I was aware of several companies interested. Arthur gave me the details of what was on offer, and he took the one I advised him to make.” She looked at him. “I didn’t know it was you.”
“Fifteen years, Skye.”
“I know, and you really shouldn’t be holding my wrist. It’s not right. Let me go.”
He didn’t let her go. In fact, he held her wrist a little tighter, refusing to.
“Noah.”
“Skye.”
“I didn’t know you were the one buying this place.”
“You were married?”
“What?”
“Ms. Banks. That’s what he called you.”
“I was married for a short time.”
“Have dinner with me, Skye.”
“Noah, this is not a good thing.”
“Why not? We’re older. We’re no longer children.”
“Nothing good can come from this. You’re going to go through those books, and you’re not going to like the decision you’re going to have to make.” She looked so incredibly sad.
He liked it on her. He wanted to be the one responsible for her emotions, though. This sadness wasn’t controlled by him.
In the years since he’d been stolen, he’d come to realize he relished control, demanded it, exerted it, and no one was allowed to stand in his way.
“Have dinner with me.”
“No.”
“Skye.”
“Noah, we’re not kids anymore. This is not happening. I’m not trying to be a bitch.”
“You’re succeeding without trying.” Still with his hand on her wrist, he stood so she had no choice but to tilt her head back to look at him. She’d grown into a beautiful, curvy woman. “I’m asking for dinner to catch up with an old friend.”
“Noah, we were never friends.”
“We were. We survived together.”
“Then you left with your father’s promotion. You had to leave. I really just want to close that door to the past. I don’t want to keep remembering it.”
“You think I do?”