Until Love Finds Us

Episode Two: The Dinner

Late Evening – The Apartment.

The smell of garlic butter pasta and grilled chicken filled the apartment. Dave stood by the kitchen counter, plating the food with the precision of a man used to perfection. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he knew his way around a kitchen well enough to not starve.

And after a long, exhausting day of work, all he wanted was to have a quiet dinner. With his wife. Not that she cared. Because just as he placed the dishes on the dining table, Noelle strutted into the living room in a short, body-hugging dress, heels clicking against the floor. She grabbed her purse and checked her reflection in the mirror, fixing her lipstick. “Alright, I’m heading out. Don’t wait up,” she said casually.

Dave raised an eyebrow.

“Where are you going?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Out,” she replied vaguely, not bothering to look at him.

Dave sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “At least have dinner first.”

Noelle waved him off. “Not hungry.”

Dave’s jaw ticked. He had spent the past hour cooking, and she wasn’t even going to take a single bite?

Without another word, he strode across the room, grabbed her by the waist, and before she could react, he lifted her effortlessly and carried her toward the dining table.

“Dave! Put me down, you psycho!” she shrieked, kicking her legs, but he didn’t budge.

He pulled out a chair, set her down firmly, and planted both hands on the table, caging her in with a hard stare.

“Eat,” he ordered.

Noelle glared up at him. “I told you, I’m not hungry.”

Dave leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Either you eat, or I tie you to this chair until you do.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t—”

“Try me.”

Noelle crossed her arms, annoyed beyond belief.

This man had some serious nerve.

She narrowed her eyes, but when she saw the determined look on his face, she knew he wasn’t joking.

“…Ugh, fine,” she huffed, grabbing the fork dramatically. “But if I get a stomachache, I’m blaming you.”

Dave smirked slightly, victorious, as he took the seat across from her. Noelle stabbed a piece of chicken with unnecessary aggression. The first bite hit her tongue, and damn it she hated that it actually tasted good. Dave noticed her chewing slower and smirked knowingly.

“Not bad, huh?”

She scowled. “Shut up.”

He chuckled.

And for the first time since their chaotic marriage started, they actually sat down and had a meal together.

Even if one of them was secretly plotting revenge.

At the Club – Leo’s Search.

The club was buzzing with energy. Neon lights flashing, bass thumping through the speakers, and bodies moving in rhythm to the music. At the bar, Nelly sipped on her cocktail, her eyes darting toward Leo, who had been pacing back and forth for the past ten minutes, looking frustrated.

“Where is she?” Leo muttered under his breath, running a hand through his dark hair.

Nelly shrugged casually, stirring the straw in her drink. “No idea.”

Leo narrowed his eyes. “Don’t lie to me, Nelly. You’re her best friend. You always know where she is.”

Nelly gave him an innocent look. “Maybe she just doesn’t want to see you?”

Leo let out a humorless chuckle. “You’re joking, right? We were fine before she disappeared on me. Then, suddenly, she stops answering my calls?”

Nelly forced a nervous laugh, her fingers tightly gripping her glass.

Yeah. No way she was telling him the truth. That Noelle was married now. To someone else. Because if Leo found out? Oh, he’d lose it. Leo sighed and rubbed his temples. “Just tell me, Nelly. If she’s mad at me, I’ll fix it. If she wants space, I’ll give it to her. But I need to know...”

Nelly quickly covered her mouth with her hand, realizing she had almost blurted out something.

Leo’s gaze sharpened. “What?”

Nelly immediately shook her head, forcing a smile. “Nothing! I just—uh—almost choked on my drink.”

Leo squinted at her, clearly suspicious, but after a moment, he exhaled and ran a hand down his face.

“…Fine. If you see her, tell her I’m looking for her.”

Nelly nodded quickly, pretending to take another sip of her drink.

Yeah, sure. Like hell I’m doing that.

At the Apartment – After Dinner.

Noelle pushed back her chair, stretching lazily as she stood up. She grabbed her purse and checked her reflection in the window’s glass, smoothing out the fabric of her dress.

“Alright, I’m going,” she said casually, already walking toward the door.

Dave, still sitting at the table, raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

She turned to look at him. “What?”

“You’re just… leaving? Right after dinner?”

Noelle rolled her eyes. “You forced me to eat, remember? I ate. Now, I’m free to do whatever I want.”

Dave let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “You know, normal married couples actually spend time together. Maybe watch a movie, talk...”

“Good thing we’re not a normal married couple,” she cut him off with a smirk.

Dave shook his head, standing up and gathering the dishes. “Whatever, do what you want,” he muttered as he carried their plates to the sink. Noelle grinned, enjoying the fact that she could still get under his skin. She strutted toward the door, slipping on her heels. “Don’t wait up, hubby.”

Dave didn’t even bother looking at her. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

With that, she left, closing the door behind her. Dave turned on the faucet, letting the water run over his hands as he started washing the dishes. The silence in the apartment felt too heavy now. It was funny before she came into his life, his apartment was always this quiet. He liked it. Preferred it. Now? Now, it just felt… empty. He sighed, scrubbing the plate a little harder than necessary. This whole marriage was ridiculous. But whether he liked it or not, Noelle was his wife now. And she was the most infuriating woman he’d ever met.

At the Club – Noelle’s Complaints

The club was alive with energy flashing neon lights, booming bass, and people dancing like they had no worries in the world. At the VIP lounge, Noelle sat with Nelly, stirring her cocktail lazily while pouting like a spoiled princess.

“I swear, Nelly, he is the most annoying man on the planet,” Noelle huffed, taking a sip of her drink.

Nelly smirked, crossing her arms. “Which part exactly? The part where he’s rich, handsome, and responsible?”

Noelle scowled. “The part where he acts like he’s my dad instead of my husband.”

Nelly laughed, leaning forward. “Oh, come on. What did he do now?”

Noelle dramatically threw her hands in the air. “First, he forced me to eat dinner with him. He literally carried me to the table like I was some kind of kidnap victim. Then, after dinner, he had the audacity to act all offended because I wanted to go out.”

Nelly raised an eyebrow. “You mean because you wanted to party instead of, I don’t know, spend time with your husband?”

Noelle made a face. “We’re not a real couple, Nelly. We’re just married because of our parents’ stupid business deal. Why should I pretend to be the perfect wife?”

Nelly chuckled, sipping her drink. “Okay, fair point. But… I don’t know, Noelle. He doesn’t sound that bad.”

Noelle scoffed. “Oh, please. You didn’t see the way he looked at me when I left. Like I was some rebellious teenager sneaking out past curfew.”

Nelly smirked. “Well… you are acting like one.”

Noelle gasped, offended. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying,” Nelly teased, “maybe he wouldn’t be so annoying if you actually tried to get along with him.”

Noelle made a gagging sound. “Ugh. No thanks. The day I ‘get along’ with Dave Carter is the day I...”

Before she could finish, her eyes widened as she spotted a familiar face entering the club.

Leo.

Her ex.

And worse? He was heading straight for them.Noelle froze, her fingers tightening around her drink as Leo stood in front of their table, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked onto her.

“Nelly,” he greeted, giving her a nod before his focus returned to Noelle. “We need to talk.”

Nelly, sensing the tension, awkwardly sipped her drink. “Uh… I’ll just go check on the DJ,” she mumbled, quickly getting up and disappearing into the crowd. Noelle clicked her tongue. Traitor. Now, she was alone with Leo. And he did not look happy.

She sighed, placing her drink down. “Leo, what do you want?”

Leo frowned, studying her carefully. “I should be asking you that.”

Noelle blinked. “Huh?”

Leo leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. “You’ve been acting weird lately,” he said, his voice low but firm. “You disappeared, ignored my calls, and now you’re avoiding me? What the hell is going on?”

Noelle quickly looked away, her fingers tapping on the table. “I’ve just been… busy.”

“Busy?” Leo repeated, clearly not buying it.

“Yes.” She forced a casual smile. “You know me. Always on the go, always partying, living my best life.”

Leo’s jaw tightened. “Cut the crap, Noelle. Something’s off. And I want to know what it is.”

Noelle swallowed hard. No way in hell was she telling him the truth. That she was married. That her parents had forced her into an arranged marriage with Dave Carter, the responsible, hardworking complete opposite of her. Leo wouldn’t just be mad. He’d be furious. So, she plastered on her best carefree smile, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Leo, seriously, you’re overthinking this.”

He stared at her, unconvinced. “Am I?”

She let out a nervous laugh. “Obviously. Now, can we just enjoy the night? Have a drink? Dance?”

Leo narrowed his eyes. “Are you hiding something from me?”

Noelle felt a sharp pang of guilt, but she quickly shoved it down. She forced a playful smirk. “Leo, babe, since when do I ever hide things from you?”

Leo didn’t reply immediately. He just watched her. Like he was trying to read between the lines. After a long pause, he finally sighed, leaning back. “Fine. But if you are hiding something, Noelle…” He tilted his head slightly, his voice darkening. “I’ll find out eventually.”

Noelle’s heart skipped a beat. She let out a light chuckle, pretending not to care. “Sure, sure. Whatever you say.”

But deep down?

She knew it was only a matter of time before he discovered the truth.

Late Night Return – The Unexpected Confrontation.

It was nearly 2 AM when Noelle pushed open the apartment door, slipping off her heels as quietly as possible. She expected the place to be dark and silent, with Dave fast asleep like always. But instead… She was met with the glow of the living room lamp and the sight of Dave, sitting on the couch, scrolling through his tablet.

Noelle blinked in surprise. “You’re still up?”

Dave didn’t even look at her. “Well, someone has to keep the apartment from turning into a hotel lobby,” he muttered, casually flipping to the next page on his screen.

Noelle frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dave finally glanced up, his eyebrows raised. “It means you come and go like this isn’t your home. But hey, who am I to stop a party girl from living her best life?” He flashed a fake smile before looking back at his tablet.

Noelle crossed her arms. “You’re being dramatic.”

Dave snorted. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I interrupt your amazing night? Must’ve been nice, huh? Drinking, dancing, forgetting you have a husband waiting at home?”

Noelle’s eye twitched. “Excuse me?”

Dave leaned back against the couch, looking at her with mock concern. “I mean, you did forget, right? That you’re married? Because I could’ve sworn I heard wedding bells a few days ago.”

Noelle groaned, throwing her purse onto the table. “Ugh! You’re so annoying!”

He smirked. “And you’re so predictable.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped.

“It means,” he said, sitting up, “I knew you’d come back this late, this tipsy, and this mad at me for calling you out.”

Noelle’s jaw dropped. “I am NOT tipsy!”

Dave gestured at her wobbly stance. “Right. And I’m a ballerina.”

She huffed, stomping toward the bedroom. “Whatever. I don’t have time for this.”

As she disappeared inside, Dave shook his head, letting out a tired sigh.

“Welcome home, wifey,” he muttered sarcastically before returning to his tablet.

After a long shower, Noelle felt refreshed, dressed in her oversized T-shirt and silk shorts. Her hair was still damp as she padded over to the bed, sighing in relief as she pulled back the covers. Finally, some peace. But just as she was about to settle in, Dave flopped onto the bed right next to her. Noelle’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me?”

Dave stretched his arms behind his head, completely relaxed, as if he belonged there. “What?”

Noelle immediately sat up, glaring. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Sleeping?"

“No,” she snapped, pointing at the floor. “You sleep there.”

Dave let out a mock laugh. “Oh, wow. I didn’t know you owned this bed.”

Noelle huffed. “It’s my bed now. You’ve been sleeping on the floor since day one, so let’s keep it that way.”

Dave rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. “Correction, it’s my apartment. My bed. My rules.”

Noelle narrowed her eyes. “I’m your wife. I have the right to tell you to sleep on the floor.”

Dave smirked. “And I’m your husband, which means I have the right to sleep beside you.”

Noelle let out a frustrated groan, grabbing a pillow and whacking him with it. “Ugh! You’re so infuriating!”

Dave didn’t even flinch. He just closed his eyes, looking completely unbothered. “Goodnight, Noelle.”

Noelle gawked at him, fuming. “I hate you.”

A small chuckle escaped Dave’s lips. “Sweet dreams, wifey.”

Noelle clenched her jaw, tempted to kick him off the bed. But after an exhausting night, she finally let out a deep sigh, turned her back to him, and pulled the covers over herself. Dave, with a small victorious smirk, got comfortable and fell asleep within minutes.

Meanwhile, Noelle lay there, wide awake, glaring at the ceiling. This marriage is going to kill me.

The sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow inside the room. Noelle stirred, slowly waking up. She felt… warm. Comfortable. Too comfortable. Something was off. Her eyes fluttered open, and that’s when she froze. Her arms were wrapped around something solid and warm. Her head was resting on a broad chest. And worst of all she was hugging Dave. Her eyes widened in horror.

No. No. NO!

With a sharp gasp, she let out a scream, jerking away so fast that she nearly fell off the bed.

Dave, startled by the scream, immediately shot up from his sleep. “What the—?!”

Before he could even process what was happening, Noelle kicked him off the bed.

With a loud THUD, he hit the floor. A beat of silence. Then...

“WHAT THE HELL, NOELLE?!” Dave groaned, rubbing his back as he sat up from the floor.

Noelle, still flustered and furious, pointed at him. “WHY WERE YOU IN MY PERSONAL SPACE?!”

Dave blinked at her in disbelief. “Excuse me?! YOU were the one hugging ME!”

Noelle gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “LIES!”

Dave ran a hand through his messy hair, still half-asleep and very annoyed. “Are you serious right now?”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “You must’ve rolled over and trapped me in your sleep!”

Dave let out a dry laugh. “Oh, right. Because I definitely wanted to wake up to you clinging onto me like a damn koala.”

Noelle’s cheeks burned. “I WAS NOT CLINGING!”

Dave mocked her tone, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? Then what do you call this?” He dramatically threw his arms around an imaginary figure. “Mmm, Dave, you’re so warm~” he teased in a high-pitched voice.

Noelle grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face. “SHUT UP!”

Dave caught the pillow, laughing. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You’re ANNOYING!” she snapped.

He smirked, tossing the pillow back onto the bed. “And yet, you still hugged me in your sleep.”

Noelle let out a frustrated scream, grabbing another pillow to throw at him.

Dave dodged it easily, grinning as he stood up. “Alright, alright. I’m starving. I need coffee.”

“Well, GO,” Noelle huffed, grabbing the blanket and wrapping herself in it like a burrito, still trying to recover from the humiliation.

Dave chuckled as he stretched. “Try not to miss me while I’m gone.”

Noelle grabbed another pillow. He was out of the room before she could throw it at him.

Dave stood in the kitchen, sipping his much-needed coffee, letting the warmth wake him up properly. After the chaos Noelle caused earlier, he needed this. Once he finished his cup, he set it in the sink and headed back to the bedroom to get ready for work. Noelle was still in bed, wrapped in the blanket, lazily scrolling through her phone. She didn’t even glance up when he walked in. Dave grabbed a crisp white shirt from the wardrobe and began buttoning it up, rolling his sleeves up slightly. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, fixing his collar, before reaching for his wristwatch. That’s when Noelle absentmindedly looked up from her phone and froze for a split second. Her husband was standing near the mirror, shirt half-buttoned, sleeves rolled up just enough to show off his strong forearms. His toned physique was impossible to ignore. The way his broad shoulders filled out the shirt… the sharp jawline… the effortless way he styled his hair…

Okay. Fine. He’s kinda hot.

But she would rather die than admit that. She quickly shook off the thought, scoffing to herself and returning to her phone.

Dave, oblivious to her silent realization, finished getting dressed and grabbed his phone and keys.

“I’m heading out,” he said casually.

Noelle didn’t even look up. “Mhm.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Try not to destroy the apartment while I’m gone.”

She rolled her eyes, still staring at her phone. “Try not to bore your employees to death with your CEO attitude.”

Dave smirked. “I’ll be sure to remind them that my lovely wife is the real pain in the ass.”

She threw a pillow at him without hesitation. He laughed, dodging it easily before walking toward the door.

“See you later, wifey,” he teased.

“Ugh, just GO,” she groaned, waving him off.

Dave chuckled, shaking his head as he left for work. As soon as the door closed, Noelle finally exhaled, staring at the ceiling.

Her heart was beating just a little faster than usual. She scowled.

“Noelle, get a grip,” she muttered to herself.

And with that, she went back to scrolling her phone pretending that the sight of her husband getting dressed did not affect her.

Dave was sitting in his office, deeply focused on his laptop, reviewing reports while sipping his second coffee of the morning. The meeting earlier had gone well, but the stress of handling his father’s company never truly disappeared. Just as he leaned back in his chair, stretching his stiff shoulders, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” he called out without looking up.

The door swung open, and a familiar, cheerful voice filled the room.

“Well, well, look who’s all serious and important now.”

Dave’s head snapped up. His eyes widened slightly in surprise before breaking into a genuine smile.

“Megan?”

Standing at the doorway was Megan Carter his childhood best friend. She still had that same bright smile, dressed in a sleek business suit, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Before he could even say anything else, she walked straight up to him.

“Long time no see, Mr. CEO,” she teased.

Dave chuckled and stood up, immediately pulling her into a warm hug.

“It’s been way too long,” he said, genuinely happy to see her. “What are you doing here?”

Megan pulled away, grinning. “I had a business meeting in the city, so I thought, why not stop by and see my favorite childhood friend?”

He shook his head, amused. “Good timing. I needed a break from all these numbers.”

She glanced at the desk, raising an eyebrow at the stacks of files. “Wow. You really did become the workaholic we always joked about.”

Dave smirked. “And you? Still the same bossy Megan?”

“Obviously.” She flipped her hair dramatically. “Now, are you going to offer me coffee or what?”

Dave laughed. “Of course. Let’s go.”

At the Coffee Lounge.

The two of them sat across from each other, steaming cups of coffee in hand.

“So,” Dave leaned back, taking a sip. “Still single?”

Megan sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately, yes. Turns out running my dad’s business makes men run away.”

He chuckled. “Guess they can’t handle you.”

“Exactly.” She smirked. “And you? Still living the bachelor life?”

Dave paused for a brief second. He suddenly remembered Noelle, his not-so-cooperative wife who had probably trashed his apartment with snack crumbs by now.

“Actually…” He cleared his throat. “I got married.”

Megan’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait, WHAT?!”

Dave scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. “Yeah… kinda sudden, huh?”

Megan leaned forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Very sudden! Who’s the lucky girl? Do I know her?”

Dave hesitated, debating how much to say. “It’s… complicated.”

Megan’s eyes narrowed. “Complicated how?”

Dave exhaled, shaking his head with a chuckle. “It’s a long story.”

Megan smirked. “Oh, I definitely need to hear this.”

Dave just sipped his coffee, smirking back.

He had a feeling Megan wasn’t going to let this topic go easily.