It was a thirty minute ride, given that it was rush hour. She would still arrive earlier than nine. The sooner she could be done with the delivery the better.
She watched the streets silently, though her heart was unsteady. She was about to visit his house. No! She wouldn't enter even if she was invited. Why was she that anxious?
Probably because she was feeling guilty because she wanted to peek into his personal space. No matter what a scumbag he was, deep down inside she was still attracted to him. She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame - exactly like the song says. Her reason was strong, but there was something, possibly stronger, that was pulling her to him.
The moment she saw him crying, the moment his armour was gone and something sensitive appeared beneath, her own resolve felt crumbling. She wanted to know everything about his pain, to find ways to make him feel better.
Noelle was so afraid of her reaction the moment he would open the door.
Well, his reaction would also be a surprise. Lexi refused to let him know that Noelle would be carrying the costume. There was a chance that he would say no and she didn't want to risk facing his stubborness. Lexi had reasoned that the best solution was to knock on his door and he would just open assuming it was Lexi. She advised Noelle to cover her head in order for him not to recognise her through the doorbell camera. She hated hiding, but she would just play along.
At least she gained a free ride on a taxi around the city. And a glimpse of what Luca wears at home. And maybe catch a whiff of the scent of his place. And perhaps she would distinguish the colour on his walls. All these assumptions made her feel weird. She was not supposed to be curious about him. She shouldn't be excited about seeing him. Everything seemed wrong.
The taxi parked under a huge, luxurious apartment building, around twenty stories tall. She asked the driver to wait for her and lifted the costume, heading for the entrance.
It was exactly as Lexi had described. Everything was covered in marble. Beautiful trees and flowers decorated the pathway leading to the street. She reached the door and scanned the QR code Lexi had sent her against the sleek glass panel. The door opened by itself and closed behind her as she walked through.
Impressive…
The lobby was spacious and dim lighting was creating a sense of serenity. She could hear the relaxing sound of a fountain that was on her right, surrounded by beautifully arranged plants. What an awesome building... So this is where all his money was spent? He could definitely afford it.
She walked to the elevator and she pressed number eleven. It started ascending, under the sounds of relaxing jazz music. Being so close to his apartment made her feel more and more agitated. She had to finish quickly and run away.
Lexi told her that she had to walk to her right when exiting the elevator. Apartment 11-E was in that direction. But as Noelle stepped out, she was surprised with the decoration of the corridor.
Luxury was everywhere. She wanted to take a look at the modern paintings hanging on the walls, so she went the other way first. They didn't seem like prints, but like actual paintings. She could distinguish the strokes of the brush.
Just before 11-C she saw a beautiful abstract painting with pastel colours that drew her attention and stopped to examine. She wasn't a fan of art, she couldn't tell if it was a good or a mediocre painting, but she knew she would enjoy having this one in her living room.
Suddenly she heard some noise across the hallway. A door was opening, someone would walk out in any second. Would it be weird to be spotted examining a painting? Was she looking like a burglar, wearing a cheap pair of jeans and an old T-shirt? She moved away in a heartbeat.
"Bye, bye! Good night!" she heard a sweet, female voice saying. From the door that had opened, a beautiful, tall and elegant woman had just come through. She was smiling and looking at someone inside the apartment. The woman started walking towards the elevator.
Noelle slowly walked down the corridor in the opposite direction. Every step was leading her closer to that woman. The way she walked down that hall was undeniably impressive.
Their paths met in front of the elevator. She couldn't resist taking a better look at the beautiful woman. She was wrapped inside a light, black trench coat, holding a small hand bag and pacing lightly on an expensive pair of high heels. Noelle realised that she wasn't much older than her, although so much more feminine and elegant.
Their eyes met just for a second. Hers were beautiful but distant, devoid of warmth or intimacy. She didn't pay the slightest attention to Noelle and pressed the elevator button. She just left behind an intense and seductive scent. The elevator door opened and she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. So, that was what Luca's neighbours looked like...
It was time to complete her mission before coming across any other residents. Where was apartment 11-E? She passed 11-D, so 11-E was somewhere... She had seen the small sign with 11-E engraved on it.
Noelle paused suddenly, realising something.
Is it? Yes, it sure is…
That door was the door from where that beautiful, young lady had exited. Was she in Luca's apartment? Who was she? What was she doing there? She was processing everything for a bit, forgetting to breathe. No, all possible answers were wrong. No, she was exaggerating.
She just had to ring the bell and end her suffering. Nevertheless she thought that it was better to wait a couple of minutes. If Luca was to realize that she had seen the girl, he would definitely go mental.
She stood opposite the door. Noelle realised that she was shaking. She shouldn't be here, just outside his apartment. In just a few days she unwillingly intruded his privacy twice.
After three or four minutes, she summoned all the strength left in her body, walked across the hallway and rang the bell. Then she hid her face behind the huge bag. Moments appeared too long. Her heart was beating fast.
After what seemed like a century, she heard the door opening. Thank God, he hadn't noticed that she wasn't Lexi. She stayed still waiting for the door to open.
And it opened. The sound of Luca's voice was heard before she could fully see him.
"Back already? What did you forget this time?" he said.
Now she could see him. He had a luring smile on his face that could easily tempt anyone standing in front of him. What seemed even more tempting was his unbuttoned shirt. He was standing there barefoot, half naked, as if he had just stepped out of the bed.
Noelle swallowed hard, her mouth going dry. The air left her lungs in a sharp rush. She stood there frozen, unable to tear her gaze away from him. He was taking her breath away.
But, the moment he realised who was standing on the other side of his door, he instantly dropped the smile. And he started panicking.
"What are you doing here?" Luca said, his voice cold, his features like stone.
Now she had to gather her wits just to answer. "I... am dropping by... the costume... For tomorrow's shooting..."
Luca didn't look her straight in the eyes. He was looking up and down the hallway. "Where is Lexi?"
"She had something... urgent."
"I told her at nine o'clock. It's not nine o'clock." Luca complained, covering up his naked chest. "When did you get here? How long were you standing out of the door?"
"I just got here. I just got out of the elevator..." Noelle said. It was a small lie but she felt that she had to conceal that she saw that woman.
For a few painful moments Luca pinned her with a razor-sharp gaze, assessing the truth behind her eyes.
He didn't just take the bag. He snatched it violently, almost making her lose her balance.
He took a menacing step forward, forcing Noelle to arch backwards. He loomed over her, his chest bare again without a hand to hold the shirt closed, just inches away. His tension was tangible. His face awfully close. She could feel him, smell him.
"Are you sure? You just came?" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous.
"Yes…" she stammered, terrified.
He stared at her for one last moment, searching, investigating. Then, he scoffed.
He stepped back and slammed the heavy door in her face. The sound echoed in the empty hallway like a gunshot.
Oh yeah! That was fast. She could now go home. But before getting out of there Noelle had to make her feet move.
She stayed there frozen. Her heart wouldn't calm. And her eyes seemed watery.
After taking some deep breaths, she dragged her feet to the elevator. Its door opened and she entered taking a look at her face. Her makeup had worn off, her hair was dragged into a tall ponytail with certain strands sticking out, her cheeks red from a mixture of feelings and concerns.
Exactly like that girl. I'm so elegant!
The taxi driver was waiting for her downstairs and she quickly entered the car. She sent Lexi a message: 'Successfully delivered,' and she put her phone away.
One thing was certain. A woman came out of his apartment. Luca opened the door half naked and smiling, freezing the moment he realised who was standing there. And he smelled the same perfume that that girl left behind as she walked down the hallway. Everything pointed in one direction.
Luca was cheating on Isabella.
Her stomach became a knot. Noelle should feel disgusted by his behaviour. He seemed to be unfaithful. She should feel at least sympathy for Isabella.
But no. That other incomprehensible feeling took over her.
She felt something that shouldn't be there at all.
Stupid, primal attraction!
Noelle never denied deep inside that he was attractive. A fact that she thought had nothing to do with her.
She had seen him over the years with his girlfriends, their happy posts on social media and the gossips. It always felt distant. A bright celebrity with his conquests.
But being close to him, seemed to change that balance. Seeing things she wasn't supposed to see, made it even worse.
And now she had seen a girl that made him smile. Truly smile. That girl was so impressive, so stylish, so perfect. Nothing like Noelle.
Comparing herself to that girl made no sense. She was just... plain. Ordinary. While that woman was a masterpiece.
Right there and then she decided to forever bury this attraction. She would convince herself that Luca West was just her subject, as when they first met.
In any case, she was not his type.
She would never change into something that wasn't her for anyone, not even him. The girl Abby had transformed her into the night before was long gone. That version wasn't Noelle.
Silently in the car, she pushed every jealous feeling away. She had no right for such, no reason. But she had no control over her heart. That last one was too wild. And it was going to hurt.