Noah: in your eyes

01 — Noah Foster

“I forgot myself

Somewhere along the way

Hoping to come back

To meet me someday”

Let me be myself — 3 Doors Down

— Noah, later we need to review some issues about the new contract that Rowedder is proposing. I don't feel trust in that man.

I look up, putting the newspaper aside, to look at my father. He's not exactly the type to get involved in company matters, at least not since I took his place as CEO of Foster Enterprise.

However, I know that deep down, he may be right, in fact he always is. His career as one of the best SEALs in the American elite further sharpened the intuition that Jack Foster already possessed, information he highlights whenever possible, as he does not go into many details about his past.

— What makes you think about that first thing in the morning?

— I've been watching him for some time, at the request of a friend. — he comments, calmly.

— Something to worry about? — I ask, with a calm air, but filled with immense curiosity.

I feel like something is wrong, I need to find out what terrain I'm about to enter, especially knowing that something is worrying him.

— Maybe yes, maybe not — he ponders, rubbing his chin. — I want you to take some time with this negotiation, we don't have urgency with this new project, so it can wait, but I need you on a mission, so to speak — he says enigmatically, something that surprises me.

Since leaving the army, he spends much of his time sailing and enjoying his free time, which has increased since he has announced his retirement, at least that's what I know about him.

Believe me, my father's love life is something indisputable at home.

— You know I'll do whatever you ask of me. — I take a deep breath and continue: — I will always be grateful for having taken me out of an uncertain future, when I could have destroyed myself if I had continued in that situation.

— Noah, we already talked about this, I don't want thanks, I just want you to live your life being a good man and increase our family. Surely, you won't like being as lonely as I was until I found you.

— Oh, no, this subject again? — I look directly at him. — Are you going to say now that you're dying, that you want grandchildren and I'm going to come and fulfill your last wish? — I reply, in a playful tone.

I know that the old man would never force me to do this, however, he always reinforces that I should give it a chance when love comes my way, all so that I don't make the same mistakes as him. I never knew what happened in his love life, but something tells me that he had lost a great love or even suffered a huge disappointment.

While I wait for his response, he calmly drinks his coffee, I believe analyzing my words, forming a response that I probably won't want to hear.

— It wouldn't be a bad idea to meet someone and fill the house with children, at least I'd have company for sailing, since you've been too busy lately — he says so seriously, almost making me believe his words and if I didn't know him so well, I'd swear that's true.

— I'm glad I already know your jokes — I say, testing my theory.

— It might not be, Noah! — Sigh. — When you find the right girl, you'll know, but we men have a certain knack for doing stupid things, so I'll give you some free advice now. — gives an enigmatic look. — Before making any mistake that makes your chance slip through your fingers, breathe and think with your head above your head and the main thing, don't run away from your feelings, but believe that you are going to do something wrong, male instinct. — I can feel the regret emanating from his eyes, in the last sentence.

— Tell me more about this mission you're planning, I'm curious. — I cross my hands, changing my expression and the subject.

I'm not afraid of relationships or having my family, it's not that, I just don't feel prepared. Some events still linger in my mind and the main thing is: no one moved me to the point of awakening this feeling of love, passion and eternity.

— Okay, let's get to the point. — Take a long breath. — I've been observing the man in question for a few years now, as a favor to Thomaz.

—Thomaz Cooper? — I question.

— Yes, his company took care of the security of the Rowedder family, but when Ant?nio passed away, in very suspicious circumstances, I must emphasize, he decided to continue working in the house as an undercover out of consideration for the family and, mainly, for the girl, the couple's daughter. — he explains. — From what I understand, your suspicions revolve around the accident not really being accidental, that the reports were purchased, I don't know much more than that, for now. — He takes a sip of coffee before continuing, but I can tell that the subject goes much further and that he won't tell me everything now. — As soon as I talk to him, I'll let you know what path this will take, for now, suspend any negotiations that Otávio insists on presenting to us.

I stayed for a while, imagining and trying to understand what the family's problem was. Despite what many people think, I don't have a heart of ice, I just built an armor to protect myself, something I learned, sooner than I should have, and I couldn't leave it behind, but behind it there is still a boy who dreams every day in experiencing every emotion that life can give me, that you need to feel every feeling that exists and that you would never repeat your childhood with your own children.

Unfortunately, I know what it's like to grow up in a place where bad things happen and it makes my mind race, imagining different situations this girl could be going through and none of them are good.

Anyway, the only way to find out is to get more information, but at the moment, I won't be able to. Right now, all I can do is go to Foster Enterprise and focus on the stacks and stacks of papers that the assistant has probably already left on my desk awaiting my release.

— Dad, I'm going to the company, something, call me and... — I purposely make a dramatic pause. — See if you can do something useful, besides being the old man on the boat.

One of the things I like most about our relationship is playing with him, because we have our own harmony.

The old man looks at me mockingly, as if I were still a child who had just messed up.

— Go find something to do, kid! — Slap me on the arm. — See if I can do this... Old man from the boat... — He gets up and before he walks away, I hug him tightly, as I have done every morning since we met.

I take the keys to my beauty and head towards James or J. as he prefers, head of my personal security team.

— Good morning, J., I'm going with the 720 today — I say, referring to my McLaren 720S convertible. — You can dismiss the driver.

— Right, sir, but I will follow you as usual — he replies.

He's a closed but competent guy, someone I admire. I learned from an early age not to judge and if this is his way, I will respect it.

I nod and get in the car. I have always been an unconditional fan of cars and motorcycles, I already admired them when I was little, even though I didn't believe that, one day, I would have a financial situation like the one I have today.

I’m part of the small percentage of children who are lucky enough to receive a second chance in life, and being taken out of the hell I lived in helped me a lot, but in addition to taking care of companies, I learned to invest in this investment “game”, I achieved my small fortune and I can proudly say that I achieved this cumulatively, through merit and effort.

Jack Foster, my example didn't ease me at all, when the time came for me to join the company, he had the objective of making me ready to take his place. And with a lot of determination, willpower and mainly with the feeling of not wanting to disappoint him in any way, my career was built, going step by step, until I reached the presidency of Foster.

I push that thought aside and speed towards the exit of the mansion. I love driving, just like I love speed because it makes me feel free from that feeling that I haven't completely overcome yet. On days like this, when memories come flooding back, it's like I become a child again.

“It's already night and I'm panicking about the dark, the screams that accompany it scare me a lot. He always arrives home strangely, as if he were the devil himself, breaking everything in sight and she remains thrown at his feet, as always, seeming to wait for his next order....”

The sound of a horn echoing behind me brings me back to reality. I look up and notice the traffic light running, realizing that I'm jamming the highway while lost in painful memories that should be locked away in my mind.

I push these memories aside and focus on the way to the company, trying to occupy my head with her problems, in addition to the last minute meeting that Gael requested. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel, a clear sign of concern for not understanding why he requested this, even though he is responsible for the company's legal documents, he rarely schedules a meeting with such urgency.

Some shit happened, I'm sure.

Gael Novak and I met in an unusual situation, at John's bar, House Beer, I would even say comical. I smile when I remember.

I'm not a person who easily socializes or talks about my life, however he is one of the few people who really know who Noah Foster is, as well as Beni, Erik and Dom, but they don't know my past.

We are a group of five guys, free and unencumbered, with a common sense: no relationships to get in the way of our lives.

Not that relationships require work, after all I can't give an opinion on something I haven't experienced, but I'm convinced that I won't get involved with a woman unless a miracle happens. The miracle of finding that blue again, which remains vivid in my mind, surrendering me more each day to the unknown, as many years have passed, yet it continues to torment me for the simple fact of not knowing who it belongs to.

Inferno! — I grumble, gripping the steering wheel tightly, before getting out into the company's parking lot.

Damn childhood that won't erase from my mind.

? — Good morning, Mr. Foster. Mr. Novak has just gone up to the presidency floor — Natália, the receptionist, speaks with some nervousness knowing that I don't like being disturbed, but that idiot friend of mine has free access here.

— Ok — I respond succinctly, heading to the private elevator.

Apparently, either my appointment was early, or for the first time in my life, I was late. — I think as the large metal box arrives on your floor.

The doors barely open and I see my assistant with rosy cheeks, something that always happens when one of my friends shows up here. They make fun of her all the time and I confess, I have a lot of fun with it.

I get closer without being noticed, just to hear the pearl of the moment.

— Norah, my beauty, tell me: what color are your panties? — He smiles mischievously, leaning on her table. — Go on, tell me, tell me... — he passes his hand over his chin, while she just analyzes him. — It should be red, just like your cheeks are now.

I start to do the mental count: Gael will get hit in three, two, one…

— You naughty brat! Your mother didn't give you an education, did she? — responds elegantly — Where have you seen each other?! Go find something to do and let me work in peace. — Raise your hands in the air — Ah! — She turns to him with an air of someone about to do something wrong. — I'm going to prepare a very sweet coffee, to see if you get back to normal.

I can't stand it and I burst out laughing, she's the only one to make me laugh at this time of the morning, in fact, this woman is someone I have immense affection for. Norah is more than my assistant, she is a mother, she reads me with just one look, she knows almost everything about me and what she doesn't know, I'm sure she suspects, after all there are moments of my childhood that she doesn't need to know because they are Too painful, both to remember and to share with anyone else.

— Gael, stop hitting on my sweetness. I pay you to work and not to sing as my assistant. — I scold him, slapping his shoulder.

— You mean the female version of yourself, right? — Arches his eyebrow.

With that, I realize that the problem is big, because when he takes the day off to act funny it's because the bomb is going to explode and, apparently, it started early.

— Let's go to my room, and Norah... — I cast a knowing look toward her. — Don't forget this kid here's coffee.

— Are you crazy, Noah? Kid?! If you don't remember, we're only two years apart — he grumbles, but I decide to ignore it, following him by my side to my room.

— So, Gael, what's the problem with scheduling a meeting so urgently so early in the morning and still arriving before me? — I question my friend, as soon as I sit down in my armchair. — Apparently, it didn't come out yesterday, I know you and I know that that mood hides problems.

— You're right my friend, the case is really complicated. — He occupies the chair in front of me, taking a deep sigh. — I received a call last night, which left me scratching my head. — I mentally complain about his damn habit of instigating me, instead of getting straight to the point. — The point is that Otávio may be involved with tough people, illicit business and from what I understand, the death of the president of Rowedder was possibly not accidental as reported, if my suspicions are correct.

Holy shit!

Fucking day!

The construction company had been with us for many years, especially on the biggest projects signed by Foster. From the reports I read, they met our main rule very well, which was nothing but absolute quality. And this was something that caught our attention, as they were with us precisely because they had the same vision as ours.

When I took over the family business, my father, who until then took care of everything, didn't go into detail as to why we hadn't renewed the contract with them, but Jack Foster just ordered and we complied. However, adding what he told me at breakfast, along with this information from my lawyer, I am completely sure that there is more behind what my father wanted to tell me.

The contracts expired a few months after the death of the then owner and president, Ant?nio Rowedder. From the recent research I did, I discovered that the current president has always been his right—hand man, so the only line of reasoning I came up with was that the widow wanted to leave someone she trusted in charge and as I found nothing more than that, I left this topic aside, but something tells me that there are many pieces missing in this puzzle and I need more than I have at the moment.

I was taught to be like a predator in business and not the hunt. There are totally honest people, even though they are the minority, who win by playing fair, but there is also the rotten part, those who are always willing to pull the rug out from under anyone, to try to reach the top, or to be among the highest society. New Yorker.

Flock of vultures, surrounding the carrion.

— Excuse me — Norah says, standing in the doorway, holding the tray with our coffee cups.

— You can come in — I reply.

— Here it is — he says, leaving it on the table. And, boys, be sensible. — We both looked directly at her. — I see in your expressions that the situation is serious. Just be careful — he adds.

She is an extremely loving woman, since the day I met her.

— You can leave it, sweetie, we know how to take care of ourselves — Gael responds, emphasizing the candy , he doesn't miss the opportunity to be quiet.

— Enjoy your delicious coffee, sweetheart — Norah responds ironically and leaves the room.

A few seconds later, I admire the scene in front of me and think about how vengeful this woman is.

My friend is just spitting out all his coffee. The shirt that used to be white now has a brown stain the size of the world and his insults seem ironic, compared to his previous joke.

Gael, clearly didn't remember her old trick, something that all my friends and even my father have had this disgust, yes disgust, because there is no trace of the taste even reminiscent of coffee. Norah has already used this trick when we all play pranks on her, the only one who has gotten away with it lately is Mr. Jack Foster and, until then, I don't understand why, but one day I will find out.

When he notices me watching him, calmly, with my coffee in hand, he opens his eyes wide and mumbles uneasily:

— What a soulless woman! This capiroto's sister, Lucifer's relative, put anything but sugar in my coffee. Look at my condition! — Pulls the shirt, showing the damage. — She won't hear any more compliments from me, she's lost all her points with me!

— What a drama! You sound like a spoiled child… — I joke.

— Your ass, Noah! In a past life I could only have gotten in front of the cross, spat on it and even thrown some gum! [1]

— Only you still fall for her scam. There's no point in regretting or looking at me like that. — He widens his eyes. — I'm not going to lend you any shirts, they never come back. Now, go clean yourself up and let's see what we can work out regarding this construction company.

— This will happen again… — he mumbles, entering the bathroom.

For God! If it weren't impossible, I'd say that in some past incarnation Norah and Gael were mother and son. — I smile at the thought.