"Get up." I mumbled before hitting Claude's cheek. "Mmmm...." he groaned before rolling over to face me. "The hell do you want." he said in a grumpy voice. "Still not a morning person I see." He glared at me before shoving my face away. I fell back giggling and got back up watching him get up. "You work out way too much you know?" I said standing. "I only work out three hours a day-" "Exactly!" I said and he rolled his eyes, turning to go to the kitchen where Violet was. I rushed over, and jumped on his back. He chuckled and held me there before walking up behind Violet and resting his chin on her shoulder. "What're you cooking?" he asked her and she looked up at us smiling and rolling her eyes. "Pancakes for us, waffles for the picky eater. And eggs and sausage." "Ohhh yum! Can't wait." I said jumping down. "Mhm. Grab plates."

"Ah- I should be getting to work actually.." I started to say as I grabbed two plates. "Uh, no you shouldn't. And no you aren't. It's family time." Claude looked at her like she'd said something ironic. "Real family." "I have a-" he started to say. "Claude." She said, setting her hands on her hips. "Okay, okay!" he gave in smiling before pulling the two of us to him and hugging us. We both laughed and group-hugged.

* * *

"Okay, so, I actually do need to go now. My father will kill me when he sees me." I said getting up from the little hole the three of us had created in the couch after an hour. "Aww but I missed you!" Violet whined. "Ahh I actually should get going too." Claude said getting up. "Yeah, gotta makes sure your girlfriend doesn't find out you slept with two other women." I said tying up my hair and winking at him. He gave me a look and I laughed. "Besides, you two don't count as women. You two act all proper with your work and everything, but if everyone else knew the real you, they'd all know how crazy you two are." he said with a smirk. "Ah, hello? All the best people are!" Violet said, "True story." I agreed. He rolled his eyes and slipped on his shoes. "Alright, You got a ride?" he asked me. "Ah, no. Actually. Vio brought me here last night." I answered. "Okay, I'll drop you off."

* * *

It's times like this that I'm grateful for having two cars. I thought as I grabbed my other car keys. My other car being left at Carter's place. I was dressed in a gray skirt that reached to my knees anda long sleeved white flowy blouse. My dark hair was straightened flat reaching to the midst of my back. I never enjoyed wearing heels unless they were wedges, so I also wore white flats that I had professionally cleaned after each time I wore them. I grabbed my black purse for work and stuffed a water bottle inside before walking out the door.

When I got to the parking lot, my phone began to ring. There he is… I thought as I took the call. “Hello, father.” I said in my usual dull tone. “Where are you?” his gruff voice said. “I am in the parking lot. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” I answered. It wasn’t a lie. I am in a parking lot. Just not the work parking lot. And I will be there in a few minutes. Just not the building. The work parking lot. I opened my mouth to make another reply, but I then heard the signal from my phone that he’d hung up. I smirked and sat in my car.

When I finally got to work, he was standing in front of my office waiting for me. However, he wasn’t what caused me to take a hesitant step as I walked over. Carter stood there next to him. I didn’t show a hint of unease. I stayed steady, and confident as I stopped in front of my father. “Is there something you need?” I asked Alister. “In private.” He said in a low tone, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I didn’t falter, or look to Carter as I unlocked my office door and stepped in taking a seat at my desk. The other two sitting in front of me, the door closed. “Noelle, this is Carter Mendel. He is-” “Excuse me Mr. Calivanna, I know who he is sir.” I interrupted, causing my father to look at me with a frown. “Really now? Then I’m sure you know what I am going to say next?” He said. There was a moment of silence as I realized what he was about to say. “No…” I said, my voice hallow. “You don’t-” “His father and I got to talking, and he has agreed to take your hand in marriage. You-” he started saying. I stood up abruptly and looked from my father to Carter. I looked deep into his eyes, those brown eyes that had specks of violet. They used to look beautiful. I loved seeing them. But right now, they looked dark, and cold. “You said I got to choose.” I said calmly, trying to keep my composure. There were frosted glass walls to make up my office. I couldn’t let anyone see me react inappropriately. “You mother said you could chose. This has been going on for far too long though, so I am taking it into my own-” I started grabbing my things and walking out of my office. “Miss Calivanna, where do you think you’re- Noelle!” My father called out. I didn’t turn around, and my hand reached the doorknob. “I’ll let you go if you agree!” I froze. “If you say yes right now, I’ll let you go off and live how you wanted.” I hesitated. I heard behind me a rusle from one and the other moving their arm upwards. I knew what that sound was. I heard it so many times. It’s what my father did whenever he was keeping something out from me. “Liar.” I said before walking out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was it. The end of my date hopping. The end of putting off the whole thing. And to make things more difficult. It’s with the one person I left because I didn’t want to hurt him. How funny that now he’s about to do something he knows I didn’t want to do.