Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

69 Finally Out

“It was out of her mouth before we knew it,” Joanna commented while her eyes search Koral’s face, “you should have just told them the truth that you f****d-up the entire operation. And you even got as far as accusing two people who aren’t supposed to be here?”

“I said it was an honest mistake!” Karol cried out. “I lack experience—no,” she shook her head, “  need more experience in my field.”

“You knew you needed experience, but you didn’t do well with this mission,” Joanna sighed after saying it. But she wasn’t done. “You could have asked for the senior’s help. This had pestered a lot of lives, Karol. Now, how are you able to use it next time? Or would be stripped of the privilege to do so.

Cora fake a cough, “Now that we have kind of had evidence that Joanna and Karol are part of the MDP, we can now move on and decide if you would like to file a case or not.”

Karol’s determination made Noah nauseous, “I’m dropping the case. I’m sorry,” the snout slipped out of her nostrils. She had been crying non-stop when Joann revealed their identity.

“Well, then. That meant Noah and Fitch can now go home, am I right?” Nick inquired with Cora, who seemed to have never-ending questions about his declaration, shook her head.

“We won’t file a case yet. But if it’s the situation at hand, we would have to call upon Joanna and Karol’s superior to confirm their employment and the said operation.”

“Sound good to me,” Noah remarked. Somehow, his chest relaxed, and all the stress that accumulated on his temples lightened a bit. He felt the sleepiness embracing him as Joanna looked up from her seat and gave him a smile he couldn’t resist when they were still together.

“It’s settled then,” Nick replied with a smile, “now, all we need to do is process the papers.”

The morning sun went out of its way behind the mountains. It peaked between two mounts like it was telling them that the storm had finally ended, and the night perished with Noah’s success. Fitch squinted his eyes at the sight, his hand covering his furrowed brows.

“Now, that is a view I would like to engrave in my mind,” he sighed afterward, his free hand on his hips.

As he stepped out of the police station’s door, Fitch took one last glance at Cora. With her blond highlights tied in a ponytail, the police officer had her back hunched like she was caring for the entire world. Fitch saw how she took a deep breath before the door closed in on his face.

“Fitch?” Nick called. He had a curious expression as Fitch beheld his face.

Fitch ambled to the foot of the stairs.

Nick elbowed him lightly, “Something the matter?” he asked politely.

Shaking his head, Fitch hid the ache he feels in his chest. The image of Cora’s exhaustion was engraved in his mind. The sting that surged his chest won’t just leave him be. He started wondering if it was because he lacked sleep in doing so. But then again, Cora resurfaced in his mind. Her ponytail, her slouched back and all—it was a cycle in his mind he just couldn’t put aside.

His eyes held Nick’s as he said, “Nothing…”

“You looked dejected,” Nick commented, the worry evident in his face. 

“Really?” Fitch replied. He wondered why he felt it, too. Why was he so unwilling to leave Cora? The woman didn’t mind if they are out of her site or not. So, why would Fitch feel the way he does?

Meanwhile, Joanna and Noah walked in a slow phase. They took all the time in the world as they basked themselves underneath the sun’s golden ray.

The unexpected happened, and Joanna was that silver lining he crossed over.

Noah blinked as Joanna tucked in a loose strand of her hair. The feelings he had for her when they woke up entangled in bed were in line with satisfaction. He never took the time to take a good look at her face. I struck him like an arrow piercing his chest—he realized she was gorgeous in the morning. She wasn’t bare, but her sure movements and gentle demeanor made him admire and respect her even more.

When she stood up for him inside the police station, that was a whole kind of discovery he had unveiled. And he was thankful that fate decided to make them cross their paths again.

Joanna caught his stare, “What is it?” she faintly asked.

“Not much,” Noah replied with a stupid grin on his face.

Laughing, Joanna’s shoulder grazed his, “You have that funny look on your face.”

Noah took it as a compliment, “Why is it funny?”

“I never saw you smiling that wide before,” Joanna then pointed at his dimples, “and that you have those.”

“My dimples?” Noah touched one side of his face. “You like it?”

Most of his view, the sun hid, but he saw how Joanna’s ear reddened a bit, “I never said I didn’t.”

“I never get to thank you,” Noah stopped walking and faced her this time around, “I was moved by what you did—for Fitch and for me.”

“I just happen to be passing by,” Joanna replied curtly, “and if I hadn’t had a mission with some of the police officers there, I wouldn’t even know you were caught,” she giggled by how Noah’s rolled his eyes.

“Please, stop.”

“What? Stop teasing you how you fell for such tricks?” she laughed a little as she walked ahead of Noah. “Next time, don’t go lending a girl a hand when you are in the middle of the mall.”

Noah furrowed his brows as he approached Joanna. Soon, their steps were in sync, “That’s rude, don’t you think? What if the woman tripped in front of you? Should I opted to laugh instead?”

Halting, Noah hit Joanna’s forehead. She winced but laughed at the same time. Her hand calming her forehead, “Oh, that hurt, huh?”

“Sorry,” Noah reached his palm and had it placed on her head, “where does it hurt?”

At that moment, Joanna shrieked, and it was too shrill for Noah’s liking.

Joann’s palms found Noah’s chest, and she accidentally pressed it on his pectorals. The blush spread on her face like a bridge.

Noah looked down on her hands, the amusement twinkling in his gray eyes, “Joanna.”

He uttered her name like a prayer, but Joanna quickly pulled her hands. She hid them behind her as the redness on her face deepened, “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch you.”

Noah gently squeezed her shoulders, “I’m kidding. I think I hit you instead. Your face slammed pretty hard on my back.”

“Then, I should be the one checking on you if you are hurt,” she remarked as her face upturned into a smile.

“Probably not,” chuckling, Noah strode in his car. He took out his keys and opened his car. 

“Can I take you home?”

“Are we not over that?” Joanna asked with a fake gasped.

Noah groaned out of embarrassment, “Ah, can we forget about that? How about I treat you to a nice restaurant next time?”

“I want that has the most lavish design one,” Joanna replied with her arms crossed over her chest.

Noah thought she sounded demanding, but it was probably another joke of hers that they would talk about once they get on a nice dinner by sea.

“Then, it’s settled. Just contact me when you’re free,” Noah pulled the handle of his car’s door, “are you sure you don’t need a ride home?”

Joanna held both his shoulders and pushed him inside, “I don’t need a ride home, you stubborn man. I’m taking the station downtown.”

“The station’s not always safe,” Noah argued as Joanna looked at him intently.

“So does the person you thought was harmless earlier,” she replied, the tone of her voice void of any emotion.

Noah gets the feeling that she was someone who used to mask all of the emotions she feels. That, and that she was making a point at this moment.

“My bad. I hope it doesn’t happen to me again,” Noah stated as he swung his long legs inside. “Have you seen Nick and Fitch?” he roams his head around the place.

“They were behind—ah, there!” Joanna pointed at two men walking leisurely on the garage like some middle schoolers strolling at the park.

Joanna waved her hands when they greeted her with a smile.

“You remember her, do you?” he didn’t ask anyone in particular, but Nick was the first to answer.

“Of course we do,” Nick remembered the day Noah announced that he now has an official girlfriend,  but then that didn’t last long because of their busy schedules. And now, Joanna’s in front of him again. If it wasn’t a sign that this girl deserved a second time in his life, then Noah would surely regret not accepting it in the end.

“Thank you for testifying,” Fitch held out his hand, “my name’s Fitch. Noah’s high school friend from Knox, Italy.”

Joanna took his hand and gripped it like how a man does, “Don’t worry, I get to spend some time with Noah because of this heroic act of mine.”

Noah pressed the window button down as his face revealed Fitch and Nick chatting away with a laughing Joanna.

“I’m guessing everyone’s ready to head home?” he smiled at them, the dimples visible again.

“See you around,” Fitch called, his eyes glued on the police station's blue door. 

Nick tossed his bag on the back seat as he settled beside Noah. He tilted his head down to wave at a standing Joanna near Noah’s car, “I hope to see you again sometime, Joanna. Maybe the four of us can hang out soon.”

Joanna giggled like a giddy child, “Oh, don’t worry. We would surely see each other again. Right, Noah?”

Noah nodded, “Of course.”