Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

41 Stay the Night

“Are you still up for a drink?” Noah asked Nick and a sleepy Michael that had been leaning on the side of his obsidian-colored ford ranger.

Michael shrugged his broad shoulders, and his long arms crossed over his chest. “I’m actually not that sure.” He yawned afterward. “I’m tired, and I think I need to nap or something.”

Nick edged closer, his right elbow landing a sharp blow on Michael’s left side, “Don’t be a sister, Mic. Come on! I haven’t drunk with you guys for ages.”

Come to think of it, Noah hadn’t had a proper drink with them ever since he had personally run his Stream Ranch. It’s not like he didn’t initiate in inviting them out, but his friends in America had their errands to run to. It’s not like they’re teens anymore that hadn’t figured out what they want in life yet. Noah knows Michael intends to pursue his professional career when it comes to paintings, and Nick wants to be a lawyer that speaks out for the accused. Brice had his own IT company going on—he wished them all the best in life, as much as possible.

Michael sighed. He glanced at the three grown-up men huddled in each other’s arms at the back seat of his car. “What about them?”

Noah stepped beside him as they went and checked how the three had been doing. “Look at them. They’re sound asleep.” He pointed out. “How about we drop ‘em off at a hotel or something?”

Nick peaked from behind them, “That actually sounds nicer than what I have planned in my mind.”

Noah wondered what it could’ve been. He couldn’t stop himself from asking, “What is it?” as Nick’s grin widened with malice.

“Leave them here,” he pointed toward the cobbled stoned floor on the cold, street below.

Michael had to suppress a laugh. If these people weren’t as invited to the auction he arranged, he thought he would’ve thrown them by now. He closed his eyes for a second as if he was thinking about something.

“Alright,” he said afterward. But only for an hour or so. We’d have to drop them off somewhere.” As he said that, he roamed his gaze all around them.

Nick pointed to a motel across from them, “How about that? Would that suffice?”

Michael placed a hand below his chin, his eyes scrutinizing the building in front of them.

“Looks expensive,” he commented. Maybe we can make do of it,”

Before he can even finish his sentence, Noah was already opening the door to Michael’s car and began shaking the three of them forcefully.

When William opened his red eyes, he shot a glare at Noah. “What the hell, man?”

“Stand-up. I’m getting you guys a good place to sleep at.”

Michael, Noah, and Nick entered the bar right across to where they left the sleeping trio.

“I left a note beside the bed stand. They’re not morons. They should be able to read that when they wake-up tomorrow.”

Nick laughed as he removed his coat. “You could’ve had sent them a text message instead! I’m sure we’re already in a modern age.”

Noah nodded his head, “You see, Michael here is a modern man.” He chuckled a bit. It’s been a year since they got together again like this. Brice is currently busy assembling his IT company, to which Noah sponsored some of the cost.

“Too bad Brice is not yet here to hang out with us,” Michael said as he picked a seat near the acoustic band. The elevated stage in front of them was very accessible for when they’d like to request songs to ease up the mood.

The bar had been empty for a Friday night. Noah didn’t mind it, though. There were a few people here and there, and the atmosphere was quite soothing than it initially is during the weekends.

“Is the spot good for the both of you?” asked Michael as he rummaged his coat’s inner pocket. 

Noah caught the box of cigarettes in Michael’s hand. He immediately reached for his palm as Nick called for a waiter to take their order.

“We’ll have beer and chicken, please.”

The waiter wrote down on the little stack of paper he had, “Would that be wings?”

Nick nodded, “Sure, uhm and then…”

“Flavors, sir?” the waiter asked in anticipation. “We have several ones written below on the menu.”

“What would you guys like?” Nick looked at his smoking friends.

Noah thought for a moment, “Spicy,” he said shortly after ticking the cigarette’s end on the ashtray near Michael.

“Yeah. The same with me,” Michael followed as he scanned through his phone, typing fast.

“We’ll have that.”

The waiter nodded and smiled, “that’ll be served after five minutes,” then, he quickly stowed away at the back kitchen.

“So,” Nick said as he snatched the cigarette box beside Michael. He tapped it once, and once stick of cigarette came out. Noah then tossed the lighter at him. Nick swiftly caught it without sparing him a glance. He ran a hand through his hair, the unlighted cigarette between his lips.

“About your offer earlier,” he began as Noah turned to have a good look at his face.

“Yeah? I’m actually serious. I haven’t gotten myself a personal lawyer, to be honest. I haven’t thought about it.”

Noah knows there was a lot to take into consideration. There are certain laws in America that he’s unfamiliar of. Furthermore, he was from a foreign country, and getting himself a lawyer for his business and his protection, would put a great deal on his back. That meant he’d have someone to rely on if he ever messed things up without being aware of it. 

“I am. If you’re up to it.” He had his head held high as he fixed a stare on an uneasy Nick.

When the food arrived, Michael was the first one to get a piece of the chicken and gabble it all up in a second.

“So good I could cry,” he licked each of his fingertips. “I never realized I’ve been that hungry.”

Noah glanced a still thinking Nick. When it came to legal matters, Noah hopes he’d have someone he can rely on, especially if he’s planning to go beyond what he’d usually handled—to enter the world of the upper-class society with the help of the mysterious wonders of the Magic Ball.

Nick drank from his wine before he opened his mouth, “Count me in, then.” A smile appeared on his lips.

Noah grinned as he reached his hand, “You won’t regret being my lawyer.” He shook Nick’s firm grip like they’re about to seal a pact between fraternity brothers.

“Well, I guess I’d start preparing for the documents,” Michael said as she stuffed his mouth with chicken.

Noah quickly stood as his eyes lingered on the bar counter. “I’m going to find a drink at the bar.”

Nick followed his stare and saw a woman sitting alone on the bar counter. When he returned his stare at Noah, the man immediately knew what he’s going to imply.

Noah shook his head, the smoke coming out from his cigarette wiggling with his movements, “Shut up,” he said softly.

“Sure,” Nick said without malice. “Go on.”

Noah gave out a sigh as he walked toward the bar counter.

When he arrived at his destination, he had to move away from the woman sitting alone on the far right. He felt uncomfortable about Nick snickering from behind him.

“Sunrise please,” he said to the bartender who brought his thumb up in response.

To other people, the bartender’s action might be rude, but to Noah, he might have been doing other things that he didn’t find the time to answer immediately through talking.

And so, he hopped on a stool and waited for a while, the cigarette stuck between his lips. He huffed a smoke as his mind went to his dogs and horses he hadn’t seen for a while. He practically misses them, and he hopes Thomas and the rest of his employees were able to do the task he specifically had them done before he comes back to check on them tomorrow.

The calming acoustic music behind him made his nerves relax. He needed this break—

The shuffling of heels began nearing to where he was. Noah stiffened as he felt Nick and Michael’s stare behind him.

The woman in a mini, black dress sat on the stool beside him casually. She carried her glass, her nails red against its translucent color.

“Hi,” she said.

It was rather rude if Noah wouldn’t respond. So, he angled his body and fixed her with his stare.

“Hi,” he said as he removed the cigarette stick from his mouth.

“How’s your night been going?” asked the woman while she ran a hand through her wavy, dark brown hair.

“Fine. It’s rather nice here.” The band’s keyboard began playing a soft melody. 

“I’m Joanna, by the way.” She angled her shoulders, and Noah caught her flowery scent—like the smell of her mother’s garden back home.

“Noah,” he said as he gave her half a smile.

“You have a bit of an accent on you,” Joanna eyed him, “are you American?” she blinked and tilted her head to the side, observing his face. The light above the counter illuminated her eyelashes, and it produced shadows on her pink-tinted cheeks.

“I’m Italian.” An ashtray was slid between the two of them, and Noah gladly ticked the cigarette stick to remove the accumulated ash on its tip.

Noah didn’t know what her motives are, so he almost choked on his smoke when she said, “I won’t go over in circles,” her hazel eyes ran between his face and body, “I’m interested in you.” Her eyes looked so damn serious Noah had to squint his own at her mouth. He couldn’t believe what she was saying.

He didn’t say anything for a second. The bartender slid his drink, and he caught it with his free hand.

“Really now…” it was the only thing he can say as he heard Nick’s yelp from behind.

That i***t, he thought. He’d have to think about the salary he’d give this man for being his lawyer.

“You don’t like that?” Joanna said as she sipped from her cocktail. “I’m serious.”

Noah inhaled the tip of the cigarette and began blowing its smoke opposite from where she sat, “Seems you are.”

Noah closed the door of Joanna’s apartment. He was against it at first, but Noah had liked how honest she had been with him when they met at the bar earlier. Michael had to drag Nick along with him. The lawyer was continuously teasing him until Michael had to shove his head inside the car’s window forcefully. And when he rounded a corner in a nearby alley, Joanna was leaning her bare back against the bricked wall. The post lamp’s dim, orange light shadowed half of her face, her hazel eyes shining from its illumination, and her stare had a feral aura to it, and Noah couldn’t deny the fact that it sent a slight tingle in his spine. Both of them decided to go back to her apartment to spend more time with each other.

The lights inside Joanna’s apartment remained closed, even though Noah had the urge to ask her if she had any plans on opening it because his vision isn’t that good at night, Noah remained quiet, his hands inserted in his side pockets. His stare was blank and fixed on the huge window that presented the overlooking view of the city ahead of them. The cloudless, black sky revealed the bright stars, and Noah reveled in its amazement.

Joanna threw her bag on the floor. She easily unstrapped her stilettos and proceeded to the refrigerator at her mini kitchen.

Noah watched how she pulled out a glass of water and drank fast in one gulp.

Had she been that…thirsty? Noah thought inwardly.

Joanna forcefully slammed the glass on the table as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Again, she ran a hand through her wavy, brown hair. Then, those sparkling hazel eyes caught his own—

In a matter of seconds, Joanna had already pulled the straps of her mini dress down until the silky material fell on her carpeted floor. She took her time walking to where Noah is. Her steps were unsure, but then Noah realized the determination in her eyes when her breath turned shallow to deep.

Noah didn’t know what to say or do. He just stood their motionless as a statue, his hand relaxed inside his pocket. It would be a lie that he didn’t find Joanna’s body attractive and tempting enough that he’d had the sudden urge to close their distance.

He ripped his eyes away from her and began sitting quietly on the sofa next to the big window. He made sure to keep his face blank as a paper when Joanna appeared in front of him, her eyes misty as if she longed for something more than staring games and compliments.

“You know,” she started, her irises longing and bright as she angled her almost bare body before Noah. “I knew you’re the type of person who fancied the luxuries of the world,” her breath felt ragged near his ears, her round breasts firmly laid on Noah’s broad chest. Noah supported her body by slowly placing her on his lap. “Maybe it’s your suit that made you attractive…”

Noah had no say to that because, in the first place, he wasn’t wearing a full suit, so he didn’t know what this woman was pertaining to.

Joanna ran a hand down his neck, caressing his muscles like he was some deity that offers imaginable powers, “And I think I’m not right when I thought you’re a rich man—” Noah silenced her with a kiss, his tongue exploring the inside of her mouth as she moaned softly from the way he pressed their head and mouth together, his hand sliding on the place she’d been aching to be touched. She sighed, and he didn’t waste any time.

From the start, Noah had been tempted to taste her plump lips, and so he didn’t wait to hear more of her talking when he angled his head to the side and kissed her deeper until they tumbled on the sofa, Joanna exhaling and asking him to stay the night.