Chapter[7]

CHAPTER 7

Selena.

"Steven?!" I exclaimed in shock, my heart racing wildly in my chest. The very sight of him sent my mind spiraling. I had known there was a chance I might run into him by coincidence, but not this soon! The last thing I wanted was to deal with his antics at a high-profile event like this, especially not when I was still trying to figure out my own feelings and what was happening with Noah.

Steven licked his lips, his gaze unapologetically shameless as he wrapped his arms around my waist possessively. "Yes, honey, did you miss me?" he asked with an infuriating smirk, as if I were supposed to be overjoyed by his sudden appearance. Miss him? For goodness' sake, I had kicked him out of my house countless times just to regain my sanity and peace of mind!

I opened my mouth in disbelief, struggling to process his audacity. "What the hell are you doing?" I glanced back at Noah, who had been watching us in silence until this very moment, his expression unreadable yet intense, like a predator sizing up its prey.

Steven merely smirked at my discomfort, clearly enjoying the chaos he was causing. "Huh?! I'm a businessman, and my father is an ambassador, remember? Undoubtedly, I am invited!" He glared at me for a long moment, as if daring me to challenge him. His eyes made me want to throw up. I don't know why I had ever allowed myself to be trapped by this superficial, egotistical man! I should slap myself for ever sleeping with him!

I raised an eyebrow, trying to free myself from his grip without causing a scene. "I'm not talking about this, Steven!" My voice was firm, but my heart raced with frustration.

"Then about what, my dear Selena?" Steven widened his eyes in feigned confusion, the very picture of insincerity. He was infuriating, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and anger.

I frowned, throwing him a death glare that I hoped would convey my irritation. "About kissing my cheeks, hugging me, and wrapping your grubby hands around my waist! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME NOW, STEVEN!" I hollered, pushing him away with all the strength I could muster, my anger bubbling over like a volcano ready to erupt.

Steven rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed by my outburst. "Huh? I am your boyfriend, Selena!" His tone dripped with condescension, making my blood boil even more.

"Her boyfriend?!" Noah uttered, his voice low and filled with deadly intensity as he stared at me with mysterious eyes that seemed to pierce right through me. The tension in the air thickened as I felt Noah's protective energy radiating off him, an unspoken promise that he wouldn’t let anyone disrespect me.

Steven crossed his arms over his chest, his arrogance palpable. "Yes, Mr. Noah! But how did you meet Selena? How do you know her?" He gazed at Noah, sizing him up as if assessing a rival. The atmosphere crackled with tension, each second stretching into an eternity.

Before I could even think, I blurted out, "Steven is not my boyfriend! Ex-boyfriend, actually." The words slipped out before I could stop them. I wanted to clear things up with Steven, but I also wanted to inform Noah at the same time. I liked Noah. I had never met someone like him before. Throughout my entire life, I had been searching for someone with the same personality as Noah, someone who could understand me without needing to pretend.

"YOU ARE MINE FOREVER, SELENA," Steven hollered, pulling me to his chest with an almost possessive grip that made me cringe. I felt trapped, suffocated by his need to assert control over me.

Noah reacted instantly, pulling me to his back and pushing Steven away with fierce determination. "WATCH YOUR MOUTH, STEVEN!" Noah warned, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glare that sent a chill down my spine. I could sense his anger bubbling just beneath the surface, his protective instincts kicking in.

"What? Did you fall for her too? Needless to say, she didn't waste any time at all!" Steven murmured, a smirk playing on his lips that made me want to slap him again. His arrogance was infuriating, and the way he dismissed my feelings was like a slap in the face.

In a moment of pure frustration, I raised my hands and slapped Steven's face without thinking twice. My bad temper was the worst of me. I didn't know how to repress my anger, and he was pushing all my buttons. This time, he had crossed the line. "Fuck you, Steven! Don't even start! I've warned you before, one more word and I will cut your throat!" I groaned, my voice low and dangerous, a warning that hung heavy in the air.

"Yes, in your country, not in my country! You have no connections here!" Steven retorted, raising an eyebrow as if he believed he had the upper hand in this ridiculous power struggle. The audacity of him was astounding.

"In fact, it's my country, and she is mine!" Noah blurted out boldly, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Steven trembled, his bravado faltering as he remained silent, eyeballing Noah with a mixture of fear and disbelief. I could see the realization dawning on Steven that he might have underestimated the situation.

I shouted, flabbergasted, "What?!" They think I'm a toy, something they could both decide over instead of me making my own choices! The frustration surged inside me, and I felt a mix of anger and disbelief. I was a person, not a possession to be fought over.

Noah, clearly irritated, dragged me away, his grip firm yet protective. "Come with me now, Selena!" he said firmly, trying to curb his anger, but his eyes betrayed just how much he was irritated! Did he fall in love? Or did the dangerous man inside him hate the idea of anyone else claiming what was his? I wondered about the turmoil brewing beneath his stoic facade, feeling both flattered and confused by his fierce protectiveness.

I halted and turned my head to him, my curiosity piqued. "Why did you say that? I am not yours! I am staying here with you just for a while, that's all." I narrowed my eyes at Noah, trying to assert my independence in the face of his overwhelming presence. I was not someone to be owned or controlled.

Noah rubbed his chin thoughtfully, turning his head slowly to meet my gaze. "You have to thank me for protecting you!" he smirked sheepishly, as if he wanted to imply I was a weak woman pretending to be strong. For goodness' sake! I should tell him my real identity, but I couldn't do it now; the moment was too chaotic, and I was too emotionally charged.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I laughed hysterically, looking him up and down. "Protecting me? I can handle this! You don't know me yet," I challenged, my bravado masking the uncertainty I felt inside. I had to prove I could stand my ground, even in the face of someone as intimidating as Noah.

Noah's patience clearly frayed; he slammed his fist against the wall angrily, making me flinch. "Then tell me now! How did you come to such conferences? Who invited you?" he loudly roared, pinning me to the wall as he leaned down, leaving no distance between our eyes, as if he was trying to invade my very soul. The intensity of his gaze left me breathless, and I felt my defenses wavering.

I cleared my throat, feeling the weight of his presence pressing down on me. "I can attend any..." I sighed and paused, sensing his affection was strong over me. He could easily pull the truth out of me, but I tried to control myself. Maybe the others feared him, but I found myself inexplicably drawn to him, his intensity both frightening and thrilling.

Noah moved his fingers to my cheeks gently, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, almost pleading for me to tell him my reality. "What, Selena?"

But just as I was about to respond, we were interrupted by one of the managers, who burst into the room, shouting, "Mr. Noah!"

Noah swung his head around, irritation flashing across his face. "What's wrong?" he demanded, his voice low but laced with urgency.

The manager panted, barely able to catch his breath. It was clear he had been running. "There's a bomb in the hotel!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with panic. The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.

The tension in the room shifted dramatically as the gravity of his words sank in. My heart raced, and I exchanged frantic glances with Noah and Steven, the earlier confrontation forgotten in the face of real danger. The laughter and flirting of the evening faded into a distant memory, replaced by the chilling reality of the threat that loomed over us. My mind raced, and I felt the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I braced myself for whatever was to come next.

Noah quickly assessed the situation, his expression shifting from anger to determination. "We need to get everyone out of here," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding us. He turned to the manager, his demeanor commanding. "How much time do we have?"

"Not long! We need to evacuate immediately!" the manager replied, urgency lacing his words.

Steven, who had been momentarily silent, suddenly looked pale. "What about the guests? We can’t just leave them behind!" His bravado had vanished, revealing the scared man beneath the facade.

I could hardly believe the situation we were in. This was not just about my personal drama with Steven or my complicated feelings for Noah; this was life or death. The thought sent a wave of nausea through me.

Noah grabbed my arm, his grip firm yet reassuring. "Stay close to me, Selena. We’ll get through this together," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As we moved toward the exit, the atmosphere buzzed with panic. People were rushing in all directions, some crying, others shouting for loved ones. The elegant ballroom I had entered just hours earlier felt like a different world, one that was now cloaked in fear and uncertainty.

"Is there a secure exit we can use?" Noah asked the manager, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Yes, there’s a service exit in the back. It leads to the parking lot," the manager replied, urgency propelling him forward.

"Let’s go, then!" Noah urged, pulling me along as we navigated through the throng of terrified guests. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the fear that gripped me.

As we reached the service exit, I could hear the distant sound of sirens wailing, a reminder that time was running out. The sight of the emergency lights flashing outside sent a chill down my spine.

Noah pushed the door open, and we stepped into the dimly lit hallway. The air was tense, heavy with the smell of smoke, and my instincts screamed at me to run.

"Stay together!" Noah ordered, his voice steady as he ushered us through the narrow passage. The adrenaline coursing through my veins heightened my senses, making me hyper-aware of every sound and movement around us.

Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the building, and the ground shook beneath our feet. I gasped, stumbling as the walls around us trembled. Noah quickly steadied me, his presence a comfort amidst the chaos.

"We have to move! Now!" he shouted, pushing us forward. With fear propelling me, I ran alongside him, my heart racing as we made our way toward the exit.

As we burst through the door into the parking lot, the sight before us was surreal. Emergency vehicles surrounded the entrance, their lights flashing in a chaotic symphony of red and blue. People were huddled together, some crying, others trying to make phone calls, their faces filled with terror and confusion.

"Is everyone out?" Noah shouted to the nearest emergency responder, his voice cutting through the noise.

"We’re still doing head counts! We need to secure the area!" the responder yelled back, urgency in every word.

Noah turned to me, his expression a mix of determination and concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"I…I think so," I stammered, still in shock from the events unfolding around us. I felt a surge of gratitude toward him for keeping me safe, and the moment felt surreal.

Just then, Steven stumbled out of the building, his face pale and terrified. "What the hell just happened?!" he shouted, his bravado completely shattered.

"Shut up, Steven! This is not the time!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over again. I didn’t have the energy to deal with him right now.

Noah looked between us, his jaw tense. "Focus, both of you! We need to help get people to safety."

As we moved through the chaos, I realized how true Noah’s words were. This was bigger than any of our personal dramas; lives were at stake.

"Over here! This way!" someone shouted, directing people toward a safe area. I followed Noah, my heart pounding, grateful for his presence at my side.

As we reached the designated area, I took a moment to breathe, my chest rising and falling rapidly. The reality of what had just happened began to sink in, and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.

Noah turned to me, concern etched on his face. "You need to sit down," he said, guiding me to a nearby bench.

"I'm fine, really," I protested weakly, but he wasn’t having any of it.

"Just for a moment," he insisted, his voice firm yet gentle.

I nodded, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on me. As I sat, I looked around at the chaos, the fear, and the uncertainty in everyone's eyes. The earlier confrontation with Steven felt distant, trivial even, compared to the reality of the situation we faced.

Noah crouched down beside me, his gaze steady. "We’re going to get through this. I promise," he said, his voice low and reassuring.

I met his gaze, and for a moment, the world around us faded away. In that instant, I felt a connection to him that transcended the chaos, a bond forged in the fires of danger and uncertainty.

"Thank you for being here," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

He smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. "Always," he replied softly, and in that moment, I knew I could trust him.

As the sounds of sirens and chaos filled the air, I realized that whatever happened next, I wouldn’t have to face it alone. With Noah by my side, I felt a sense of strength I hadn’t known before.

But the night was far from over, and as the reality of the situation loomed, I knew we would have to confront whatever came next together.