The No-show Novels & Stories

I have a message from Ethan. eltan: hi, 10 more minutes before the show starts. are you still not going? would it still not fit on ur sked? Yesterday, I told her I can't come today because I will be stuck at work. Especially since I will be moving departments again next week. So I told him that I will not be allowed to be absent even for one day. When I told him that, he only answered with a nod and a curmudgeon. And he said it's fine, they have another event so I should be present at the next one.

Before the birthday party starts, my boyfriend, Edward Parker, casts his phone onto the large screen in the private room. He starts an anonymous poll in the group chat we share with our friends. The question is, "Tonight, should I stay and cut the cake with my girlfriend, or go to the premiere with my childhood friend?" A 30-second countdown begins as the votes keep climbing. His childhood friend, Renee Lane, gets 17 votes while I get just one. Everyone thinks I'm the one who has voted for myself. Edward leans back against the couch and smiles. "The minority yields to the majority." Renee hands him the movie ticket. "Guess everyone agrees that I need you more." Meanwhile, I'm standing

Noah cut her off immediately, his voice distracted. Veronica’s chest tightened, a cold wave of frustration washing over her. "Riyadh?" she repeated, forcing a breathy, disappointed pout into her tone. "But Noah, you promised you’d think about it. I’ve already told everyone you’d be here. Jaime, Liam, Andy even Nathaniel Goldman will be making a rare appearance. Not to mention it’ll look strange hosting alone, come on Nono,” she whined, using the childhood nickname that usually softened his heart.

Niamh's voice was loud. She was so loud that every guest in the surrounding area turned to look. "Elara!" she shouted, making a scene. "How could you use a fake invitation to sneak in? You're humiliating the Jones family!" The man beside her, the one she had called Don, stepped forward, holding a tablet in his hands. "This lady's name is not on the guest list," he announced firmly. "I need you to leave. Immediately." A ripple of whispers spread through the onlookers.

Wendy's tears would not stop as her face turned a deep shade of purple from crying so hard. "I didn't do anything. Liam, what's happening to you? "Please don't freak me out. I can't bear to lose you." Liam's hands fell to his sides, his eyes empty. His lips quivered as he whispered over and over. "She's not here. She's really not... "They can't find Sabrina at the records office... "No one remembers her. It's just me! I'm the only one!" Wendy slumped to the floor, clinging to his legs. "Liam, please, take a deep breath!"

He placed the folder back on the desk with deliberate care. “To them, tomorrow isn’t an engagement party. It’s a statement to the world that nothing can shake this family.” “And what happens if you don’t show up?” Noah let out a slow breath. “The company’s stock will fall. Investors will panic. Every headline will say the Volkov empire is falling apart.” “And if you do show up?” His eyes met hers. “I lose something that matters far more than any company I’ve ever built.” The room fell silent again. Ava understood that Noah wasn’t standing between two women.

“Actually, I came to apologize.” He looked up, confused. “Apologise? For what?” “For the announcement. I should’ve told you before going public. I know you've probably been drowning in DMs, rejecting fakes, answering calls—” He blinked. “What DMs?” I frowned. “What do you mean what DMs? The announcement. The show. Didn't anyone message?” He turned his monitor toward me. “Not a single one. No DMs. No emails. No hashtag spikes. It’s...weirdly quiet, actually.”

The arrivals board showed that the flight from the capital had already landed. But the so-called "Grant family members" were nowhere to be seen. The audience grew impatient. [So? Where are they? The richest family in the capital moves that slow?] [Are you kidding me? We've been waiting forever. This is a circus.] Claire's smug smile began to crack. She nudged Noah and whispered, "Where are they? Call them." Noah forced himself to stay calm. He pulled out his phone, ready to dial. Then the screen lit up on its own.

Noah had used five different ways to harshly refuse my request and in the end, we had to reschedule our meeting for Sunday evening. It hurt me deeply that I can’t visit the Moore residence since they were having a very private event. “I will draft my own terms and conditions. Don’t forget to draft yours otherwise we will be working on my own terms. And ‘No’ it’s not an option,” Noah warned. “See you on Sunday!” I said sharply and directed ended the call.

“Not now. Not ever.” Then he walked out. No theatre. No speech. No dramatic pause. Just a door closing behind him. And a room full of people realizing they’d lost the ability to move him like paper. I found out because Luca didn’t text first. Legal did. Two lines, clean and brutal: “He stepped down.” “He refused the distance protocol.” My stomach dropped like the world had moved under my feet. Noah watched my face and went still. “What?” he asked, voice small. I forced air into my lungs. In for four. Out for six.