Chapter 11 Why Is He Holding Your Hand?
Noah was still holding my hand.
Not loosely either.
His small fingers were wrapped around mine like this had always been the plan.
We walked into the living room together and I looked down at him.
"You know," I said, swinging our hands slightly, "most people usually ask before holding someone hostage."
Noah said nothing.
He just kept walking beside me.
Which I decided meant he was not letting go.
I smiled a little.
"Alright then."
We sat down on the floor with the block tower again.
Well.
Technically the tower from yesterday had been destroyed.
So this was tower number two.
Or maybe tower number ten.
Noah stacked one block carefully.
Then he handed another one to me.
I placed it on top.
Very carefully.
Because I had learned something about Noah.
He liked things neat.
And if the tower fell too quickly he would just stare at it quietly like he was judging gravity.
So I placed the block slowly.
"There we go."
Noah nodded slightly.
And for some reason that tiny nod made me feel ridiculously proud.
Like I had just passed a very serious architectural test.
We were halfway through rebuilding the tower when footsteps entered the room.
Dominic.
I noticed him immediately.
Mostly because his presence had this weird effect where the room suddenly felt quieter.
He stopped when he saw us sitting on the floor.
Then his eyes moved down.
To my hand.
Which Noah was still holding.
His expression did not change.
But I definitely noticed the pause.
"You are building another tower," he said.
"Yes," I replied cheerfully. "This one will be stronger emotionally."
Dominic said nothing to that.
His eyes moved to Noah again.
Then back to our hands.
"You are holding her hand."
I looked down.
"Oh."
Right.
We still were.
I glanced at Noah.
"Are you aware that you are holding my hand?"
Noah did not respond.
But he also did not let go.
Dominic watched the interaction carefully.
His gaze looked thoughtful now.
Like he was trying to understand something.
Noah grabbed another block and handed it to me.
Dominic noticed that too.
"He does not usually do that."
I placed the block carefully.
"Do what?"
"Stay close to people."
I looked at Noah again.
He was focused on the tower.
Very serious about his construction project.
"I think he just likes the tower team," I said.
Dominic's expression remained unreadable.
Then another voice entered the room.
"Well well."
Ryan walked in like he had been summoned by the universe to cause trouble.
Sebastian followed behind him quietly.
Ryan looked down at the scene.
Me sitting on the floor.
Noah beside me.
Our hands still linked together.
Ryan's eyebrows went up immediately.
"Oh wow."
Dominic sighed slightly.
Ryan pointed dramatically.
"He is holding her hand."
"Yes," Dominic said flatly.
Ryan crouched down beside us.
"Noah."
Noah ignored him.
Ryan pointed at me.
"So you just decided Amelia belongs to you now?"
Still nothing.
Sebastian leaned against the wall.
Watching.
Observing everything quietly.
Ryan looked back at Dominic with a grin.
"I told you hiring her would change things."
Dominic did not respond.
His eyes were still on Noah.
Ryan glanced back at me.
"So Amelia."
"Yes?"
"How did you achieve this level of influence in four days?"
I shrugged.
"Incredible personality."
Sebastian spoke quietly.
"He is comfortable."
Ryan nodded.
"That too."
Noah tugged my hand slightly.
I looked down.
"What?"
He pointed at the tower.
"Oh right."
Important business.
We added another block.
The tower wobbled dangerously.
Ryan leaned closer.
"This feels risky."
Sebastian watched calmly.
Dominic remained standing nearby.
The tower leaned.
Then collapsed.
Blocks scattered everywhere.
I gasped dramatically.
"No!"
Noah blinked at the pile.
Then he slowly pushed a block toward me.
I smiled.
"Rebuild?"
He nodded.
Ryan laughed.
"You two are very serious about this."
Sebastian's eyes moved briefly to Dominic.
Dominic was still watching.
But now his expression looked slightly different.
Not annoyed.
Not cold.
Just thoughtful.
Like he was realizing something he had not expected.
Meanwhile Noah was already stacking blocks again.
And still holding my hand.
Ryan noticed it again.
He looked at Dominic with a grin.
"You are definitely being replaced."
Dominic gave him a cold look.
Ryan raised his hands.
"What? I am just observing."
Sebastian stayed quiet.
But the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
Which was probably the closest thing to amusement he ever showed.
Noah placed another block carefully.
Then looked up at me.
"Amelia."
I blinked.
"Yes?"
He pointed at the tower.
Oh.
He wanted help.
I placed the next block.
"There we go."
Noah nodded again.
And for some reason that small moment made the entire room feel softer.
Even Dominic seemed to notice.
Because for the first time since he entered the room...
His expression wasn't quite as cold