+++

"Come on... say something... anything... please..."

She pleaded. I knew she wanted me to say something... something else other than what Stephanie said but I couldn't bring myself to say something. Seconds ticked and I simply found myself feeling frustrated. I wanted her yet Stephanie kept running at the back of my mind,

"You want me to say something then listen. I don't have to justify my actions. I know where I stand. I didn't even tell you to come in, in the first place! And good, don't bring it up. Even if we go back to ignoring each other, I know that I won't miss you. You were just a one time thing"

My words were harsh and cold. My eyebrows scrunched up as the words left my mouth. By the time all the words left my mouth, I regretted it. Massive time. She took a step back as she shook her head softly, like she wasn't expecting that answer,

"You don't mean that..."

She merely whispered loud enough for me to pick up her words. I felt something change within me but I didn't let it stay for long. I closed my eyes and turned away from her. Reopening my eyes, I looked out at the baby blue sky before hearing her delicately speak to herself,

"Maybe it was never meant to be cause you know... I mean... come on, who are we kidding; both Lake and Ed wanted this all"

I felt my heart hammer at her words. I wanted to turn back and face her, but I couldn't. I was glued away from her. Facing away from her, like something didn't want us together... she continued,

"I hope everything goes well for you both. If that's the fact and I was just in-between then I won't miss you. You said it yourself, you won't miss me... I think... I think it's best we stop here before it comes a heartache."

I felt my heart hammer even louder, tap tap tapping away. I closed my eyes as I found myself conflicted. I wanted to hold her close. I wanted to cup her face in my hands and wipe away the tears that escaped but... I couldn't. Instead, I'm ignoring her... like I didn't give a damn,

"The only reason why I came was to tell you that your restaurant meeting with Mr Pete is still on board, I never wanted this to happen but I guess fate has something else planned for us..."

Fuck. Shit. Now I wanted to turn and hold her and tell her how much I messed up but I couldn't! Why couldn't I move?! Feeling helpless, I heard her heels become a little distance, right until she spoke two words that almost had me tripping,

"Goodbye Noah"

I hear the sound of the door opening and that's when it finally kicked in. I finally felt the lump in my throat. Her words repeating in my head that slowly and finally made me go crazy. It made me mad at how calm and hurt filled her voice filled up my mind as minutes pasted.

Still spell-bounded, I heard a fall and concern shout from Daisy. I wanted to move but still couldn't. WHY COULD'T I MOVE DAMMIT. Something clicked inside me, the walls that I had wrapped around my heart finally broke and unlocked. Right there and then. From Lily herself.

At last, I finally managed to take a step back from the overwhelmed feeling that was built up in minutes. At instant, the elevator chimed and that's when my body moved, heart racing.

What fucking timing.

I ran crazily until I grabbed onto the door frame, coming face-to-face with elevator doors shut and Daisy's back facing me. My lips are parted as shocked gasps leave my mouth, my heart finally aching.

"NO!"

I screamed. I ran out of my office causing Daisy to look at me with fear,

"TELL HER TO COME BACK!"

I scream as I run towards the elevator, my hands slamming onto the metal doors. The impact left a massive sting, but it was nothing compared to what my heart was feeling. The pain alone was too much.

Frantically, I look up to the numbers above the door... she was heading for the ground floor. I look to the side and constantly pressed the button for the doors to open but I knew it was impossible. I knew I was too late. I knew it was impossible to get her back.

Annoyed. Pissed. Angry. So many emotions yet I couldn't do anything. I hastily combed a hand through my hair, but even that didn't help. I fisted my hand and punched the elevator doors making Daisy gasp behind me. I placed my head on the doors as I seethed,

"DAMMIT DAISY!"

I screamed,

"WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HER? FUCK SAKES. GET EVERYONE TO MAKE HER STOP"

"S- sir"

Daisy stumbled over her words behind me. I wasn't having it. I spun on my heel and took slow and steady steps towards her as she reiterated by cowering away. My eyes hardened as I continued walking towards her. My hands clenching and unclenching,

"Don't you dare sir me now. Do what you are told to do otherwise, pack your things and leave"

"Y- yes s- sir"

She replied timidly as she ran back to her desk. I faced back to the elevator and saw the numbers flash on top '0'. I comb a hand through my hair as I look to the side seeing the emergency exit. I swallowed the lump as I whispered quietly to myself,

"Don't leave me kitten"

It was a hard time for Noah. He hadn't felt this before out of all his time with women. He never went through breakups unless it was with Stephanie but even then it was nothing compared to how it felt with Lily.

His mind was blurry and fuzzy. He couldn't do anything apart from think about her and her words alone. He thought that he had gone crazy. He thought that she would come back. Come back and forgive him for not trying to fix it... but she never came.

Noah became rigid. He wasn't thinking straight. Every meeting he went to, his eyes would wonder for her yet and instead he would fire who he felt like. He would fire staff who even made the littlest mistake.

Two weeks in and Noah was now stumbling into the company. Tanya would hold him by his shoulder and waist and carry him up to his office as he spoke sweet nonsense about Lily making Tanya's heart shatter as she, herself realised how love-struck he was for her.

Noah's pain had gotten to the point where his brother, Joshua, who happened to be at the scene when Lily left; had to step in. Joshua had stopped his own CEO work at his company rushed over multiple days and called Mark to take him Noah.

It got to a point that Joshua ha to temporarily become CEO of King Enterprise since Noah could not. Whilst Joshua was busy running King Enterprise, Noah was drinking away his pain. Noah found himself at bars, drinking until Mark drove him home.

Being drunk didn't help. He still found himself sober and wide awake at night. He couldn't sleep a wink as Lily's words repeating over and over again. He would sit against his headboard and watch faint imagines that moved around the room...

Them making love... teasing... touching... kissing...

He felt half of him missing as he stared at nothing. Benjamin and Lauren were constantly in his house, making sure that he was okay. Making sure that he was eating, bathing and sleeping. They even tried to help cheer him up, but even they both failed.

Another two weeks later, Noah felt completely numb. He had rebuilt his walls around his heart and this time, no-one was able to pass it, not even Stephanie. In the back of his mind, he knew that only Lily would be able to unlock and break down his walls.

One chilly Thursday morning, he woke up and got ready in his black suit. He stared at his reflection in the mirror and saw his emotionless self as he did his tie. He was done with moping around. As much as it ached him, he knew that Joshua couldn't balance two companies at once.

He knew that had to go back. He did up his laces to his designer shoes as he heard someone walk in,

"Noah... how are you feeling?"

Noah looked up and saw Lauren walk in with a tray of juice and two slices of toast. He doesn't say anything other than let out a heavy sigh. Lauren takes careful steps towards him and sits down on the edge of the bed,

"Noah, I don't want to sound like your mother but please... please take it easy. I know it isn't easy especially without Li-"

"I'm fine Lauren"

Noah interrupted. He didn't want to hear her name. He didn't want her running his mind again. It was draining since that's all he had been doing over the last three weeks. Lauren only sighed as she spoke defeated,

"I know it hurts Noah. I've been there. Ben has. It happens in relationships."

Noah moved his head so that he gave her a stern look. He wanted the conversation to end. Lauren took the sign and shook her head,

"Fine. But let me tell you something, the more you avoid it, the more heartache you'll be facing yourself alone"

Noah stands from the unmade bed and walks towards the door as he speaks loud and clear,

"Like I said, I'm fine"

He walked out the room whilst Lauren just shook her head as she muttered to herself,

"Lily sweetheart, you need to come back and fix this man. He's a grown, lost puppy without you."

Leaving his place, Noah sat down in his car as Mark drove off to the company. Noah took out his phone as he skimmed through his emails. He spoke, his words directing at Mark,

"I want everyone in the ground cafeteria for a quick brief, can you let Tanya know so that she can inform all the staff"

Noah looked up briefly to see Mark nod once as he was already making a phone call to Tanya about Noah's request. At the company, Tanya became frantic as she quickly gathered everyone into the cafeteria.

Everyone sat down anxiously as they either fiddled with their fingers or bit their nails. Tanya, who gathered everyone, was also terrified. She didn't know what was going to happen, her heart hammered before she felt a shiver run down her spine,

"Miss Stone,"

A cold and emotionless voice called from behind her. She spun on her heels, coming face-to-face with Noah. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they all gasped with eyes wide. Tanya stumbled over her own feet before balancing herself,

"M- Mr King welcome back"

"Let me cut to the ch-"

Someone walked in. Noah eyed them as they stood frozen, mouth hung open. Noah didn't say anything but instead looked down at his watch, watching seconds tick by. The staff stutters over their words but Noah cuts them with one word. His voice holding power, authority and status,

"Fired"