CHAPTER TWO: SLY FOX.

With a slight gesture, he signals for her to sit, an unspoken command that feels foreign. “This is where you ended up?” he asks, his voice smooth but cutting. 

Sienna hesitates, the warmth of old memories clashing with the reality before her. “For now,” she says, forcing herself to hold his gaze. 

He studies her face as if reading her expression will answer unspoken questions. “A lot’s changed,” he finally says, the words carrying more weight than she can decipher. “But I’ll be around for a while.” His tone is somewhere between a warning and a promise, and then, without waiting for her reply, he’s gone, leaving her grasping at fragments of what just happened.

****

Two weeks pass, and Noah King’s presence in the city is everywhere. The name has the city buzzing, yet it’s not the public Noah that haunts Sienna—it’s the memories. Mia knows everything, especially with the occurrence of that ugly incident at the club two weeks ago.

Arden’s recent warning replays in her mind each time she enters the club. “Keep him happy,” he’d said, almost like a threat. If Noah isn’t pleased, she can kiss her job goodbye. Today, her phone buzzed at school with an urgent message from her boss: “Mr. Noah King has requested your presence. No questions.”

The name tightens a knot in her stomach. She’s done everything to avoid him, hoping the past would stay buried. But here she is, trapped again. 

Sienna sits on the sofa in Noah King’s high-rise office, growing increasingly uncomfortable as the minutes tick by.

The cold air of Noah King’s office and the sterile leather beneath her remind her how out of place she feels. She stares at the glossy floors, the joy of this morning feeling like it belongs to someone else. 

Shifting uncomfortably, her heart races in her chest. It’s not the first time she’s been summoned here, and despite all her best attempts to avoid his calls, today she has failed. Each time feels worse, like sinking deeper into quicksand. 

Her phone buzzes again—a fresh congratulatory message from the university. "Full scholarship." She should be celebrating, but instead, she’s waiting for a man who has made it clear that her life, her choices, aren’t hers anymore.

Noah King...

Just hearing his name sends a shiver down her spine. Everyone in the city knows who he is—billionaire, ruthless, feared. But for her, he’s something worse. He’s her captor, her nightmare wrapped in the guise of a savior.

He isn’t just any billionaire—he’s the billionaire. Tall, imposing, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes that seem to see right through her. He has it all: money, power, and a presence that makes people feel small in his shadow.

The door to his office is slightly open, enough for her to see his assistant moving about, but not enough for her to catch a glimpse of Noah. He looks ridiculously handsome, as usual. She’s been told he is still in a meeting. Of course. Making her wait is part of the game, a reminder of his control. She exhales, glancing nervously at the clock, willing herself to stay calm.

Her phone buzzes again, snapping her out of her thoughts. It’s Mia, as expected. She hesitates before answering.

“Where are you?” Mia’s voice is edged with concern.

Sienna hesitates, weighing the truth. “I’m at Noah’s office,” she murmurs.

Mia’s sharp intake of breath says it all. “Noah who?”

“Noah King.”

“Sienna, are you crazy?” Mia’s voice is almost frantic. 

“It’s not what you think. I had no choice.” Sienna tries to explain, her tone defensive. “Arden insisted.”

Mia scoffs. “You really believe he sent you there for ‘business’? There’s always a price with Noah.” Mia’s tone is filled with anger. “I saw you getting into a Bugatti earlier. Was that him?”

Sienna presses her lips together, unsure how to explain. “It wasn’t him directly... it was one of his guys. Mia, I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always say that,” Mia snaps. “When are you going to realize that there’s always a choice, Sienna?”

Sienna’s heart sinks. Mia doesn’t understand, can’t understand. Saying no to Noah isn’t an option. He owns too much—her job, her safety, maybe even her future if she’s not careful. “I’m stuck, Mia. You know what happens if I don’t go through with it.”

"And what's this $100,000 check? Did he give that to you? What do you need this much for?"

"How did you find that?"

"Does it matter? If it does, I found it in the trash. What’s it for?"

“I can’t explain right now.”

“Dp you even know what this means?” Mia asks, her voice tight with disbelief.

 Sienna whispers, running a hand through her hair. “He just... wanted to talk.”

“Talk? And he sent you that much? Sienna, wake up. Noah King doesn’t ‘just talk.’ He’s up to something. He wants something. You need to get away from him before it’s too late.”

Sienna’s stomach twists. Mia is right, of course. But how can she explain the impossible? That refusing Noah isn’t just hard—it’s dangerous. “You don’t understand, Mia,” she whispers. “If I refuse him, if I step out of line, our boss—everyone in this city fears him and his friend Ethan. If I try to leave, I don’t know what they’ll do to me... or to you.”

“Then we leave. We pack up and disappear. We’re smart; we can figure it out. Just... walk away from him before it’s too late.”

Sienna’s eyes sting. She wants to, God, how she wants to. But Noah isn’t someone you just walk away from. Neither is Ethan. After what happened two weeks ago, she had to make a tough decision. Give one of them her attention to shield Mia and herself from the consequences of ignoring the other. She chose Noah.

“You don’t get it, Mia. He’ll find us. And if he doesn’t, Ethan will.”

There’s a long silence on the other end of the line. “He’s going to destroy you, Sienna,” Mia whispers. “You know that, right?”

The words cut deep because they’re true. She does know. But knowing doesn’t make it easier to escape.

“I’ll figure it out,” Sienna says softly, her voice breaking. “I’ll find a way.”

Before Mia can respond, the door creaks open, and a figure looms in the doorway. Sienna’s breath catches in her throat. Noah.

Sienna stands frozen in his office, her breath shallow, her unease visible in the way her fingers tremble slightly at her sides. Noah calls out to her, breaking the silence. “Ms. Davis,” his voice is calm, controlled. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

Her lips part slightly as she hangs up the phone. Whoever was on the other end doesn’t matter anymore—she's his to deal with now. She looks at him with confusion, trying to piece together the man standing before her. He can see the wheels turning in her head, the mix of recognition and disbelief.

“No, not at all,” she replies softly, though her voice betrays her anxiety.

Noah allows a faint smile, but there’s no warmth in it. “Good. We have a lot to discuss.” He gestures for her to follow him into his office. She hesitates, then moves, her steps uncertain, though her body language tries to maintain composure.

Inside the office, Sienna stands, tense and alert. Her movements are deliberate now, not the carefree grace of the girl he once knew. She’s on edge, aware of the distance between them that isn’t just physical. Noah watches her for a moment before he speaks.

“Sit,” he commands, his voice slicing through the air.

“Thank you, Mr. King, but I’d prefer to stand,” she replies, defiant even though her nerves are on display.

His gaze hardens, locking onto hers. “Sienna, in my world, my words are law. Sit.”

Her shoulders tense at the order, and after a moment, she relents, sitting down as if recognizing that the old dynamic between them is long gone. The bond they once shared has been severed, and the man in front of her is no longer her friend.

“We have something to talk about,” Noah says, his tone softening slightly. “But not here. We’re having dinner. We leave in ten minutes.”