[This chapter is dedicated to the current top three fans of this book; Lani_Carlile, Amandam357, and Amber17. Thank you!]

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"What will I tell Noah?"

"Tell him to ask me if he has any question, and make sure to say, I said so." She chugged down her cocktail like it was a glass of beer. It irritated her that Noah was watching her as if she were his property.

"Who is this Noah?" Ellise came out of the room. She has already changed into a Bohemian dress printed in white and blue. The maxi dress was breezy with a hint of sexiness due to the plunging neckline.

"The guy I asked you to do to a background check."

"Oh, the grandson of the Old Tiefenbacher." she picked up the drink that Luke made for her - she mouthed "Thank you" at him, before returning her attention to the sulky Jess. "He does look hot."

"Do you know him personally?"

"I never had a chance to meet him, but I know his grandfather. I met that cunning Tiefenbacher on few occasions in the past."

Hearing Ellise says the name Tiefenbacher, but referring to Noah's grandfather, she remembered Noah's request to stop calling him Tiefenbacher because both his grandfather and father were called Tiefenbacher.

She giggled at the memory.

Ellise watched her giggling with a crooked eyebrow. She wondered how the world with its billions of people became such a small place when unexpected people crossed paths.

"How do you know Noah?"

"He was in the uni handpicking intern for ANAT Pharma and Co."

"Him? The man went there himself? Why would he do that?"

"I don't know."

"You are not yet into that level of relationship to know why?"

"We are not in a relationship!" she pursed her lips in frustration, 'Why is she being interrogated about Noah again. Before it was Jace and Siena. Now Ellise! She pushed her empty glass to Luke for a refill.

"He even hid that fact that he was the big boss when he came to our laboratory. He introduced himself as part of the HR of ANAT."

Ellise gave her a look before bursting into laughter. When she recovered from laughing like crazy she said, "He is as obnoxious as his grandfather. If you involve yourself in Noah, you are in for a roller coaster ride."

A sarcastic smile tugged the corner of her lips with her warning. 'As if I would involve myself too much with Noah - he was just someone fun.'

"Are we just going to hang around this villa or should we go out and have some fun?" she turned to Jess, "Why don't you change your clothes so we could go out to the beach?"

Seeing that the two of them were already dressed to go out, she put down her drinks and went to her room to change.

Luke is wearing another Hawaiin shirt in blue. And it happened that Ellise was also wearing something blue that she decided to pick an outfit in the same color. She took out a light blue summer dress with V-neckline - it wasn't as plunging as Ellise's dress. It just has enough plunge to show a bit of skin, it has three-fourth sleeves that would make it a bit conservative if not for the length of the dress.

The dress barely reached her mid-thigh. If she stretched her arms above her head, the dress would not have enough cloth to cover her ass. She wore a pair of white bikini and put on the dress.

She slattered enough sunscreen on her face and body for the sun was still high in the sky to give sunburn. She grabbed her straw beach tote bag where she shoved her phone, sunscreen, lip balm, a microfiber beach towel, and her sunglasses.

She was about to get out of the room when her phone rang. She fished it out of the straw beach tote bag and checked her caller. Noah's name registered on the screen. 'Did Luke already send him a message that's why he was calling her?'

She wanted to ignore his call but she has a feeling that Noah would continue calling her if she doesn't answer his call. With a sigh, she pressed the answered button.

"Hey Babe, are you having a good time?"

"Yeah, I was. Until you call." She doesn't know why she was in a pissy mood with Noah. Could be with the fact that before she left for this vacation she saw his ex-wife and she was asked to identify her as someone that Noah knows.

"Did I catch you in a bad time?" Noah's voice dropped low like a boy who got scolded.

Jess felt a bit guilty. Recently, realized that she had become increasingly unreasonable when it comes to Noah. It was like finding a different persona within herself that she was unaware existed.

"Sorry." she dropped her pride and apologized.

"You don't have to say sorry. I was out of the line." he chuckled softly, "Have fun!"

"I was…" she sighed. "I don't know what I feel, Noah."

"What do you mean?" his voice was suddenly laced with worry when he asked.

"It's difficult to explain. Anyway, we are going out now, so I'll just message you later?"

She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. If she is going to be honest, she knew what was the reason for her being irritated with Noah, but she can't tell him that. If she does tell him, it is basically confessing her feelings for him. And that would be so pathetic.

She dropped her phone back to her straw beach tote bag and strode out of the room to have fun with her friends. She has a life to live. She refused to spend her last summer vacation from the university, brooding over her feelings towards a guy - even if it is Noah.

"What took you so long?" she asked, watching her face.

"I had to make a call," she didn't meet her eyes, "Shall we go now?"

They all went down to the beach to find something interesting to do. They decided against going to the lounge bar this early for they were still tired from the flight, even if it was just a short haul. Thinking that they have enough time to get drunk in the next few days to come. Besides, Ellise will be staying for just two days. She would like to spend the time catching up with her since they were both so busy with their respective lives, she knew that she had already missed a lot of things.

They were not the type of friends who like to talk online or talk in general since their personalities always clashed with each other. Thus, being in a situation where they could declare a ceasefire of throwing sarcasm towards each other, she wanted to use the opportunity to sit down with her, chill and just catch up.

She told them her idea and Ellise suggested that they should visit the owner of the hotel.

"How did you know the hotel owner?"

"Hmm, in some business deal that I had a few years back. He wasn't the original owner of this hotel. The first owner had no idea what he was doing with the business that he drove this hotel to the brink of bankruptcy within the first year of operation. And businesses in tight spots are the best to acquire. Especially like this place that has huge potential.

"Don't tell me that you don't just know the owner of this resort but you are one of the owners?"

"Well, you don't expect me to let go of a good business opportunity, do you?" she asked, grinning.

She shook her head in silence. Ellise has always been the type to jump in any sign of trouble. The more complex the problem is the more excited she is to be part of it. She sought challenge like she breathes air.

"Since you own the place, Luke and I would go out all!"

"I don't own the place. I have some money in it but not enough to call this place mine."

"Whatever. Too late. I'm going to use the knowledge that you have money in this place to have the best summer vacation ever!"

"Suit yourself." she chuckled lightly. She stopped the golf cart at a conspicuous garden in front of a small brick cottage. The house looks charming. The brick walls and the double-hung window painted in white give off a welcoming vibe to the house.

Ellise sauntered into the main door like she has been in this house before. She knocked three times on the door, and a few minutes later they heard hurried footsteps, and a woman with the most beautiful chocolate skin Jess had seen, wearing a white floor-length flowy dress, opened the door for them.

"Elizabeth!" She opened her arms and Ellise went in for a tight embrace.

"It's been a long time, Samara."