Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

68 Joanna The Savior

“She’s from an entrapment operation led by the MDP.”

Noah felt as if he was listening to a whole new language that he cannot comprehend. Furrowing his brows, he leaned his back on the room’s door. With a sigh, he rubbed his temples. The stress would surely take a toll for the following days.

“I’m sorry…” he trailed off, his voice dejected and low. Noah couldn’t find the words to say. Everything is just too much to take in. Then, he closed his eyes for what seemed to be a millennium’s worth of rest.

Joanna didn’t say anything, her eyes cast all over Noah as if he was a puzzle piece. She c****d her head to the side, staring intently as if she was figuring out the person whom she almost loved—almost. It ends with that word.

When Noah was able to remove the fog in his head, he stood straight. His gaze found Joanna’s. He remembered those glowing orbs the night they succumb to pleasure, and he found it still intoxicating up to this day.

“Just as Nick had said,” the words were out of his mouth the moment he thought of staying the night in this wretched space. The irony of it was that this place, with its four concrete walls, didn’t even make him feel safe at all. It was supposed to assure the people inside that they are not within the grasp of incapable hands, but Noah disagreed.

“Nick figured it out, huh?” What Joanna said wasn’t really a question; it was a confirmation.

“What do I do now? Why did Karol try and had me put in jail?” Noah’s question was a genuine dilemma.

Joanna looked at the ceiling, as if to find answers engraved on its dark walls, “I don’t know that woman very well. But it seems to me that she must have gotten to the conclusion that both of you are the perpetrators she had been looking for.”

Turning, he had his hands on the door’s knob, “We’ll never know why she did it… unless we ask.”

A straight answer that easily rolls through someone’s tongue than preceded by an action.

He halted, his head spinning fast toward Joanna, “Do you also work for the MDP?”

The gloss that made her eyes stand out was visible despite the iridescent light on this place's ceiling. Breathing, Joanna strode toward Noah. Just like when they were together, Noah’s heartbeat quickened in an uncanny phase. He shouldn’t feel this way. The answer was clamoring to get out, but he couldn’t bring himself to free it.

Joanna lifted her gaze and immediately found Noah’s, “I am.”

The silence that followed her answer was deafening.

“The night we met… perhaps that was what you were doing inside the bar?”

Slowly, Joanna shrugged her shoulders, her expression unfaltering, “Perhaps.”

Noah didn’t consider it a direct confirmation.

“Come inside?” he invited her inside as his hand wrapped on the doorknob. 

“I don’t think I can,” her reply was quick but undoubtedly truthful.

Noah wondered her next endeavors, “I see.”

Before he turned the knob, Noah looked at her one more time.

Unexpectedly, Joanna was doing the same.

“Can I mention this to Nick?”

Blinking her eyes, Joanna had a tight smile, “If you would like, I can attest so that they can be convinced not to file a case?”

At the end of the tunnel, they were always that while light that awaits. The moment Joanna offered to be of help, Noah knew that she was the said white light.

He felt his chest constricting, his muscles relaxing, and he couldn’t stop the small smile appearing on his dry lips, “Are you certain about this?”

“I am,” Joanna replied faster than Noah expected her to.

“Then, I would not beat around the bush. If I owe you a favor, tell me what I can do so that you can help me.”

Joanna hummed, “Let’s see…” she tapped her heels on the floor several times before she let out a low chuckle. “I’m kidding. I won’t ask for anything.” She walked next to Noah, her smile still visible.

Turning the door’s knob, Noah nodded his head, “If you may,” he gestured his hands inside.

Taking a step forward, Joanna entered the dimly lit room, her head held high just like the night they first saw each other. Her hips swayed with every tap of her red stiletto heels.

There was a gasp loud enough that the officers outside had to poke their heads on what was happening inside.

“Joana?”

Noah can’t wait to see the shock on Karol’s face.

Piling her hair on the side, Joanna walked straight toward Karol as Noah completely closes the door behind him.

“It’s been a while, Karol,” Joanna greeted her with a refreshing smile. She pulled down her corporate coat, her gaze lingering on the Nick once he looked up from what he was writing.

Arching his eyebrows, the lawyer seemed intrigued on the scene in front of him, “You two,” he pointed his fingers back and forth at Joanna and Karol, “you know each other, huh?” the tone of his voice was all-knowing and sure.

Before him, Karol’s face was unreadable. Her jaw looked tight, but her eyes held no emotion Noah can read.

“Why are you here?” questioned Karol, the tone of her voice got Cora tilting her head to the side.

“What’s the matter?” Cora tapped Karol’s shoulder, “did she do something?”

“We’re acquainted… in a way,” Joanna spoke as she inspected her nails and her surroundings. 

Karol looked as if she was holding onto something she can’t let out, “We are?”

Noah gestured his hand on the chair he sat earlier, “Why don’t you take a seat, Joanna?”

Nick raised his eyebrows, and Noah chose to ignore its implication.

The score between Noah and Joanne was no secret among his friends. They knew that it didn’t end the way everyone expected it to. And now, she’s here again, trying to save him for an impending imprisonment.

Joanna obliged on Noah’s suggestion.

When she was settled down on the chair, Cora, the police officer, began her questioning.

“I see that you’re acquainted with Karol here,” she didn’t look amused as she gave Karol a side-eye, “what relevance would that be?”

“That depends on the case that you’re planning to file on Mr. Martin here,” Joanna answered immediately.

Cora had her mouth shut, her palm flat on the wooden table between them, “Could you tell us? Consider this conducting an investigation.”

“Do we really need to know?” Karol pitched in, “Is it even legal to let her come in here?”

“Since you’re still not charging cases, I would say as long as miss here has to do with your involvement the incident, that meant we can conduct an investigation on both sides on the spot,” Nick explained. He directed his gaze at Cora, seeking her approval on what he had stated.

Cora caught Fitch staring at her, also waiting for her reaction.

Sighing, “You’re right. Surely, we can fix this without any charges being filed at the court,” she gazed at Noah, “but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t going to conduct a thorough investigation. Prostitution is a grave crime, Mr. Martin. And knowing that you’re rising as a top rancher, we can’t just let this pass.”

“That’s why I’m here, cooperating and would most likely spend the night cooped up in one of your cells,” Noah’s tone wasn’t leaning to amusement any time.

“Shall we hear your thoughts?” Cora urged Joanna.

The brunette nodded her head ever so slowly. Then, she caught Koral taking a deep breath. Joanna offered her a tight smile.

“First of all, I would like to inform everyone inside this room that I’m part of an entrapment operation led by the MDP,” she went straight ahead, not bothering if it exposed a lot about who she is and what she does in her daily life.

Meanwhile, Karol sucked in a breath she held the entire time Cora slowly turned her way.

“I see,” the disappointment coated Cora’s tone, “so, the lawyer here is telling the truth.” Cora’s bony fingers ran on her head like a comb. Her blond highlights became more evident when she does that.

“It was a hunch,” Nick corrected without taking his eyes off of his notes.

“I figured there was something uncanny about you,” Fitch commented. He had his hand on his chin, “Right. The entrapment plan was something you might have done by mistake.”

Karol bit her cheeks, “I don’t know what you’re saying.” She was quick to deny the fact that she was part of the said entrapment team.

Joanna crossed her hands on her chest, “I beg to differ,” she interjected when Cora was about to speak, “I’m part of the entrapment team—far longer than you have, and I know you’re lying.”

“Hold on. You’re far longer in the job?” Cora asked, her expression in disbelief.

With a faint nod, Joanna answered, “yes, I am. I haven’t seen Karol in our headquarters that much. She’s the newly recruited member if anyone is interested in knowing.”

Noah gripped the back of the chair, the veins popping on his veins, his knuckles flexed.

It made sense when Joanna said that. Karol must have been unfamiliar with the said job, and Noah and Fitch had been the first mission she attempted, and immediately failed in doing so.

“The local police are part of the team, but we don’t answer to them. We answer to—”

“We know who,” she interjected, “and if you’re ever right about this woman,” Cora pertained to Karol, who now had sweat lining on her forehead, “then, that meant you’re about to lose your job.” She made a clicking sound with her tongue afterward.

“We’re basically the mistaken culprit,” Fitch nodded, a whole new light passing through his brain.

Noah widened his eyes at Karol, “Do you realize that if it is ever proven that we’re innocent and that you’ve made a mistake in making the bad guy, that I can turn this case around you?”

“No, please,” Karol suddenly stood and walked toward Noah. She dropped her knees on the floor, “please, please! It was an honest mistake, and I couldn’t bring back what I said when we were already at the police station. I was so scared I would be jailed in no time.” The tear rolled down her sharp cheeks, but Noah felt no hint of remorse.