Noah didn’t immediately rebuke my question. Instead, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. As if he had been intellectually tickled and couldn’t be more eager to explain why. In one simple move, he pulled himself out of the water and sat at the edge of the pool. Water dribbled down his sculpted body, and his swimming trunks clung to his majestic thighs. I tried not to stare. 

“Come here.” Noah patted the space between the ladder and him.

I raised my eyebrows, and he motioned again. Biting my lip, I hopped out of the pool. My one-piece swimsuit stuck to my skin, but I didn’t shy away from him. There was nothing much to see, anyway. Years of swimming and poor diet only left me with a slim body and tanned dusky skin. It was a wonder that the chlorine hadn’t damaged my hair yet. 

My shoulders brushed against his as I sat down. The heat of his skin sent goosebumps down mine. I sighed. Was I so touch-starved that even this tickled me? Still, I couldn’t blame my body. I’d just been trying to survive all these years. Dating hadn’t even crossed my mind.

I expected Noah to shift away, but he stayed put. Somehow, the fact that we were all alone in this swimming pool resurfaced inside my head. My already inflamed cheeks turned hotter.

I took in a few calming breaths and chanted a reminder. Noah might look like an angel, but he is the devil holding both my jobs at stake!

“Let me ask you a question,” Noah murmured. 

I turned towards him. My breath hitched when I realized his face was inches away from mine. I croaked out, “Yeah?”

“Suppose you have a choice,” he began, unfazed by our closeness. “You can choose to merge with a fancy company with unknown credibility or a small company with 100% known credibility. What would you do?”

I blinked and snapped my gaze away from him. I hadn’t expected him to ask a business question. Hoping that he wasn’t using me as his business advisor—that would be a grave mistake—I thought over it. 

A fancy company might look attractive, but it didn’t guarantee anything. Whereas a small company might not attract many customers, but it could deliver on its promise. I licked my lips and said, “The second option. That would be the safest route.”

Noah’s eyes twinkled in delight. “Exactly! That’s what I did.”

“Huh?”

“I trust you to save me again.” He pointed between us. “Because you already did once, Ms. Rose. 100% guarantee.”

I was speechless for a moment. I smiled when I thought that he trusted me with his life, but then I was irked that he was comparing me to a business model. Though his way of explaining raised some doubts, I concluded it was a very… Noah-like thing to say.

“So, you trust me, right?” I asked. “Then how about we take a dip, sir?”

It was his turn to be in the spot. Expecting him to say no, I was in for a surprise when Noah nodded. I grinned and jumped back into the pool. I held out my hands, and he clutched them tightly as he stepped in as well.

“Take a deep breath, sir,” I said. “Just a small dip, okay?”

Still holding my hands, Noah nodded. The look of sheer willpower on his face took my breath away. I didn’t know what demons he was fighting to do this, but whatever they were, it touched me that he trusted me to keep him safe. Noah dunked his head underwater. He submerged for a fraction of a second before he flitted back up and gasped. 

I immediately moved in closer and patted his back. There was a slight tremble in his body, and it somehow pained me to see him like this. His fear was even worse than I expected. Noah slowly calmed under my touch as I continued to murmur, “You did great.”

Noah nodded and took a few deep breaths. As if to remind himself he was safe. It was weird. I came here thinking that teaching him would be a chore. Something I had to do because of the contract. But right now, looking at his determination, I yearned to teach him. I wanted to be the one to free him from his demons.

I didn’t push him to go back into the water again. We got out of the pool. Noah was about to say something when my stomach growled. Loudly. He paused mid-sentence and looked at me. I coughed and tried to look anywhere but at him. How was it my fault that I couldn’t eat the entire day because I was so tense?!

Noah started in a concerned tone, “Ms. Rose…”

I quickly shook my head and said, “I’m totally fine, sir. Ignore me.” Oh, how I wish I could jump back in the pool and swim far, far away!

“But—”

“We don’t need to have dinner,” I babbled, “No need for such courtesy. I know you’re busy. We don’t have to go out or anything. Besides, I’m totally not hungry!”

I paused for a breather. Once it looked like I was done, Noah said, “I expect you to be on time tomorrow, Ms. Rose. That’s all.”

I froze. Is that what he wanted to say? Blood rushed to my face, and I winced. Without a word, I turned on my heels and ran towards the changing room. As I rounded the corner, I could swear I heard Noah laugh. 

But that wasn’t possible, was it?

Under the shower, I let the stream of hot water scald me as I scolded myself. He was my CEO! Why would he care if I had eaten or not? I slapped my big mouth and cried out miserably. All the fleeting touches and looks… of course they meant nothing to him. And even if he was interested—which he certainly wasn’t—I couldn’t get involved with my boss.

I took a deep breath and strategized. I could only survive this by teaching him how to swim as soon as possible. Because if I didn’t control myself… I was going to be devoured by the devil himself!

Still mortified, I stepped out from the changing room and glanced around. I sighed when I noticed Noah had already left. I made a mental note of stuffing my stomach before our lessons so it couldn’t steal the show again. 

Just about to leave, I paused when I spotted something on the floor.

I frowned and picked it up. It was an energy bar. Right where we had sat, Noah had left me a snack. My heart betrayed me and thudded faster again. I swallowed as a terrifying possibility crossed my mind.

At this rate, I might end up walking into the devil’s lair myself!