[This chapter is dedicated to Imago_Dei. Thank you for bestowing your power stones to our story.]

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Noah drove his Audi R8 V10 sports car out of the basement parking of ANAT. He hasn't driven this sports car for a while now because he usually uses the black one.

He fixed the earpiece of his phone and redialed Luke's number again. He was quite sure that Jess was avoiding him because her phone was no longer ringing.

She most probably already turned off her phone. Hence, he was calling Luke to ask him if he knew where Jess was.

He remembered Jess told him before that Luke has a new apartment near ANAT but he doesn't know where his new address was. He dropped the call to Luke and dialed Antonio's number.

"Antonio, find out if Mr. Ravenport updated his home address in the HR file. Send them to me when you get them. Do it ASAP!"

He didn't let Antonio answer and just dropped the call and tried to call Jess's number again. And just like before, her number was still unreachable.

It is now quarter to three, he pushed the accelerator of the sports car to return to their apartment building. He already called their apartment building and asked the concierge if Jess was at home but he was informed that Jess changed her protocol.

The building management was no longer allowed to say anything about her. No one could approach her door except for the floor and building security. All of the deliveries would pass through the concierge and the building security was given a special request to check every delivery she has.

He wondered why Jess gave stricter rules for her security. She was acting as though she was some kind of famous actress hounded by paparazzi. He found it odd, but right now, he has a bigger problem. And that is to find her.

He should have sent her a message, telling her he would be quiet for a few days. He could have --. He just focused his attention on driving. He knew he could have but he didn't. And things are now in the lam. And there is no one to blame but himself.

He just now hoped that Jess won't be too difficult. He was especially worried because he knew Jess could shut him out of her life. And it wasn't easy to gain her trust and then when things were doing better, he just had to ruin it.

If Jess was truly mad, they could go back to square one. And he doesn't want that. It would be impossible for him if they would go back to being strangers again, just a neighbor, just a boss. He would be lucky if he'd be just a friend.

He couldn't take if he can't have her in his arms, kiss her, and…

He sighed and pushed the accelerator of the sports car.

***

Luke was admiring the lights that danced at the huge diamond in his ring finger. He couldn't help but giggle with the heaviness of the sparkly stone that would be now in his finger forever.

The ring has a different style but the diamond was the same as the one that Jess was wearing on her middle finger. She refused to put the ring that Noah paid on her ring finger. She thought the ring would look better on her middle finger because Noah deserved to be given a middle finger which he totally agreed!

When Jess heard the note and the given instruction on picking her own jewelry. Jess picked up two of the most expensive engagement rings that were available in the store.

Thus, they came out of the store with an expensive engagement ring on their fingers. Thanks to Noah's generosity.

"Can you stop already?"

"Jess, I think the reason why girls who got engaged couldn't stop taking pictures and basically showing off their engagement rings was not that they were in love with their boyfriends, but -- because, this damn stone was just so pretty!!" He gushed again at the sight of his $6.2 million clear-cut diamond engagement ring.

"Well, a girl doesn't need a man if she has a diamond. Since diamonds have better uses than jerks! That-- ugh!"

She tapped the oak bar counter with a finger and the bartender stepped forward to refill her glass.

They were in a rooftop lounge bar. The bar was still closed since it was still too early. She just called in some favor so they gained access to the bar. If her father wasn't home, she would prefer to drink there.

"Oh, look how pretty those lights dance when it hits your crystal glass," Luke still wasn't done gushing with the diamond ring. "Wait! I have an idea. Put the ring on your ring finger…" he grabbed Jess's hand to pull the ring off from her middle finger.

"Stop it!" she swatted Luke's hand.

"Come now, Jess! I know Noah deserved a middle finger with his jerk moves, but right now, let's take a photo for my Instagram." he pouted.

They had been drinking since they arrived here in this bar. The alcohol and the sparkly diamond were deathly combinations to get drunk. In two different senses of being drunk.

Intoxicated by alcohol and by the beauty of one of the most expensive stones on the planet.

Jess knew that Luke wouldn't stop with his idea, so she let him pull the ring off her middle finger to be transferred to her ring finger.

"Oh, how pretty! Whoever said, diamond is a girl's best friend knew what she was talking about," he said as he slowly slid the ring in her ring finger.

"Do you want me to take a photo?"

Luke grinned at what he heard from the bartender.

"Oh, yes, please!" he wiggled his eyebrows and started giggling.

The bartender took photos of them as Luke put a ring on her finger, then Luke took another photo of her hand while she was holding a flute of champagne.

They have to ask the bartender to crack open a new bottle of champagne for their photoshoot.

He was busy posting the photos he took when his phone rang in his hand, he glanced at Jess hesitantly, and said, "Uhm, Jess, Noah is calling me."