Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

91 The Magic Books

That night, Noah kissed Jennifer one more time. She snaked her hands over his shoulder, and before things began to heat, Noah drove through the busy streets of New York City. Finally, when they have reached Jennifer’s place, the actress hinted he wanted Noah to stay the night. Her hand slid through his thigh, eyes blinking slowly.

“Won’t you stay the night?” Jennifer flashed her charming smile.

Of course, Noah was delighted. A shiver trailed down his spine, and he felt the excitement occupy his brain. But then the amount of paperwork placed on his table made him sigh in distress.

He reached his hand and scooped Jennifer’s face, “I can’t,” he said as he leaned, their lips grazing for a second.

Jennifer blushed, “Paperwork?” she asked breathlessly.

Noah traced his fingers on her figure and buried his head on the crook of her neck, “Bingo,” he responded as his lips traced the outline of her shoulders.

The actress’s slim hands pulled Noah’s face to hers. And once more, their lips met. Noah didn’t mind the sticky feeling of her lipstick or the lingering feeling behind his mind when he strokes her curls. Noah shut his eyes. The black box rattled—an image of another woman appearing like she was the ghost from the past. She was hunting him even though he was with another woman better than her in every aspect.

Noah broke away from her embrace. He stared at Jennifer’s face, his eyes clouded in guilt. “I must go,” he smiled, “I will see you.”

“Soon, I hope?” Jennifer didn’t let him finish. Noah sensed the longing in her voice. So, he opted for a slow nod in response.

“Soon,” the grin flashing on his face.

Jennifer gathered her hair on one side, “Then, I will be going now,” she reached her hand on the door and stepped on the heel on the cement outside. Noah noticed the hesitation in her movements. She craned her neck, her eyes drifting toward Noah. Jennifer’s lips were pressed together, her face void of anything.

“What is it?” Noah asked, his hand turning clammy—he didn’t know the reason why.

“Are you certain about this?” Jennifer asked, the doubt crossing her lush eyes.

“I am,” Noah answered before he could even begin to question what he’s feeling. “I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.”

Jennifer took his hand, her thumb brushing over his knuckles, “I’m glad,” she whispered, her head bowed down. Her heels tapping on the concrete floor echoed in the entire parking lot.

Noah honked his car when she entered the building’s entrance. He was somehow overwhelmed, and at the same time, happy that he’s able to build a relationship with Jennifer. The charming, gorgeous, and cheerful Jennifer that perhaps many men would want to be with. He wouldn’t blame them. The woman’s one in a million. She was, in a sense, beyond reach. Somehow, Noah was able to grasp her hand.

At one point in his life, Noah knew he wanted to hold another person’s hand. That time, he let everything slip away. But now, he’s glad he found Jennifer. The woman who made him feel comfortable.

The drive home had him thinking if comfort was why he chose to be with Jennifer instead.

* * *

Noah parked his car in front of the farmhouse. Wynn was rubbing his eyes when he opened the gates for Noah.

“Hey,” he said sleepily. “How’s the date?”

The grin Noah flashed made Wynn’s eyes wide, “The best.”

Wynn ruffled his hair, “I’m assuming it had a good ending?” he asked as Noah jogged toward the end of the stairway.

“Sure!” he called as he rounded the hallway. His office room’s door was within view, and with haste, Noah pried it open.

He collapsed on the sofa nearby; his choice still dangling from his feet. He had his arm cover his face as he sighed. The mattress of the sofa fell a bit as it huddled his figure. Noah couldn’t believe that he was in a proper relationship with a rising actress. He worries that it might affect Jennifer’s career, but he often prays for his girlfriend’s well being.

His mind relaxed, and with heavy eyelids, Noah completely closed his eyes, surrendering to the temptation of sleep. With a smile on his face, he looked forward to the that he’s able to tell Jennifer that she means so much to him. 

* * *

Noah pried his eyes open. He mumbled a curse—he has fallen asleep on the sofa again! He must have just wanted to face the reality that there are still tons of papers he needs to sign and review.

His sleepy eyes roamed around and found a stack of papers on his desk. Noah quickly went to look at it as if the paper themselves were speaking to him to check their contents. Noah checked outside his window, then to the watch above the door: 1:16 AM.

It was surprisingly earlier than he expected. The sun hasn’t risen out, and the crickets were singing through the night. The peace radiated among his farmworkers, and Noah’s glad everyone can get ample rest.

The chair’s cushion plopped when he sat. There were three ancient books on Noah’s table. He accidentally found them inside the cabinet, where he discovered the renaissance paintings a few years ago. The dogs kept scratching at the cabinet at that time, and Noah thought something inside would pique their attention. And so, he held the handle of the cabinet’s opening and had pried it open. There revealed the three books he had forgotten to take with him the day he found the renaissance paintings behind the cabinet.

When he got back from inside the Magic Ball, Noah put gloves on and began scanning the book's inside. He couldn’t understand the words written on the brown-colored pages. At the same time, he’s afraid the pages would begin ripping if he turns them further.

Noah couldn’t believe that it had been years since he left them inside. Now, the books were shelved on his desk. He doesn’t have a clue as to what he would do to them. He leaned his back on the chair’s headboard, his arms relaxed on the armrest.

“What to do with them…”

He wrecked his head for ways. If he had them brought to one of Michael's affiliated museums, he’s afraid of what they would decode inside of it. A book holds narratives. Every word can either articulate realism or fiction. Both of them contain the hidden meanings of various symbols.

An idea grappled his mind. He opened the desk lamp and carefully pried open the drawer below him. Then, he took out his gloves, wearing them quickly. His phone was dangling inside his pocket. He took it out the same time he scanned the pages once more.

On different sides, Noah took photos of the Magic Ball’s ancient books. The leader cover was ripping out in various corners, but the book had still been preserved well—well enough for Noah to see the printed alphabet on each page.

After taking pictures, Noah removed the gloves and tossed them aside. He pulled his laptop and began typing on its browser.

Forums. He pressed search, and several sites appeared.

“Something about archeology and scripts,” he mumbled as he scrolled down through his browser.

Noah didn’t precisely know what forum he should confide to, so he randomly clicked one and began typing whatever was on his mind. 

He started with: ‘Hi. I am new to this page, and I don’t know much about how forums work, so I’m risking my luck to anyone who would help me with a particular artifact that I have found in my backyard.’

Noah, of course, left out the part about the Magic Ball. He didn’t want anyone on the Internet to have an impression of him being out of this world or losing his mind.

Regardless, Noah continued typing.

‘The pages looked old, and I am afraid that they would rip into pieces if I turn further. What a waste that would be. These books are perhaps ancient, but I am particularly not sure how old it is. The same era from where this book had come from is unknown. So, I am asking anyone familiar with the texts written inside to contact me about it. I would appreciate any help offered. To have an idea of how the books look like, I will upload images in this thread. I have scanned some pages, and there wasn’t enough information on the Internet about it. I want to know the contents of the pages. In advance, I would like to thank anyone that would help me with this.’

 Noah ended it there. He scanned the entire entry he had typed. It was reasonably alright for someone who’s known to participate in forum discussions. He just hoped that someone would come and help him decode the scripts on the books’ pages.  Come to think of it. He found one article with a series of ancient books that were still not decoded until today. What was written inside was left to the unknown, and Noah didn’t want that for the books he had found in the Magic Ball.

The only mystery he would accept was how the Magic Ball had come to be. However, given the opportunity to know how Noah would grab it and never let it go.

His clicked enter and his long entry were finally published. All he would have to do now is wait for any response.