Chapter 15 No Appointment
1316 Words
The Vale Global headquarters rose in front of Noel like something out of a different world. Glass, steel, and money. The kind of building that didn’t just exist in a city—it dominated it. Noel stood there for a moment, jaw tight, taking it in. He exhaled a breath and clenched his fists at his side.
How did Luna manage to get involved with someone like Adrian Vale?
The thought infuriated Noel.
“Stupid cow, she will see soon enough that she is making a huge mistake.” He muttered under his breath as he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked inside the building.
The moment the doors slid open, he felt it. The shift. Everything inside was polished. People moved with purpose, voices low, eyes focused. No chaos. No hesitation.
It irritated him immediately. Did Luna think that she was too good for Noel and the life that they had? The type of people that they were, and now she was suddenly around people like this? Posh, stuck-up snobs that had more money than he could think of.
Walking straight up to reception, Noel ignored the way a few heads turned in his direction. He knew that he looked out of place here, not all dressed up or anything.
The woman behind the desk looked up at him with a calm, professional expression. Perfectly put together. Completely unfazed.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“I need to see Adrian Vale,” Noel said, not bothering with anything resembling politeness.
Her expression didn’t change. “Do you have an appointment, sir?”
“No,” he said shortly. “Just tell him Noel is here. He’ll want to see me.”
There was a brief pause as she typed something into her computer, her movements precise and unhurried.
“I’m afraid Mr Vale is unavailable without a scheduled appointment,” she replied smoothly.
Noel let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Unavailable?”
“Yes.”
“Right.” He leaned forward slightly, irritation sharpening his voice. “Then go and tell him it’s about Luna.”
That got her attention—but only just. A flicker of something in her eyes before it disappeared again.
“Mr Vale’s schedule is not something I can interrupt without prior arrangement.”
Noel’s jaw clenched. “You don’t understand. He’ll want to hear this. He'd better get here at once.”
“I understand perfectly,” she said calmly. “And my answer is still no.”
The dismissal in her tone hit harder than he expected.
“No,” he repeated, his voice rising slightly. “No, I don’t think you do understand. Go and tell him. Now.” He pointed a finger at the receptionist's face.
A couple of people nearby slowed and glanced over.
The receptionist didn’t react. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t raise her voice.
“Sir, if you do not have an appointment, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Something in him snapped.
“I’m not leaving until I see him.”
His voice cut through the quiet space, drawing more attention now. A few conversations stopped completely.
“Then I am afraid that you will have a security escort you out.”
Noel let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. “Unbelievable. Do you even know who you work for? Tell Adrian Vale to come down here and face me himself, the coward.”
The words echoed louder than he intended.
Silence fell heavier around him.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then two big, burly security guards appeared at his side.
Efficient. Calm. Already in control.
“Sir,” one of them said, his tone firm but measured, “we’re going to need you to leave the building.”
Noel turned on them, frustration boiling over. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, you are.” A firm, strong hand closed around his arm.
That was it.
“Get your hands off me,” Noel snapped, jerking away. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
Neither of them reacted.
They simply took hold of him again—stronger this time—and began guiding him towards the exit.
“No—no, don’t touch me,” he said, struggling now, his voice rising again. “This is ridiculous. I just want a conversation—”
But his words meant nothing here.
No raised voices in response. No argument.
Just action.
The glass doors slid open automatically as they pushed him forward, his protests swallowed by the controlled silence behind him.
And then he was outside.
The grip on his arms loosened as he was released onto the pavement, the doors closing firmly behind him as if he had never been there at all.
For a second, he just stood there, breathing hard, anger burning through him.
Humiliated.
Thrown out like he was nothing.
“Are you done?”
The voice cut cleanly through his thoughts.
Noel froze.
Slowly, he turned.
Luna stood a few feet away.
For a moment, his brain struggled to catch up with what he was seeing.
She looked… different.
Not just the dress—though that alone would have been enough. Sleek. Elegant. Expensive in a way he didn’t even want to think about. Her hair fell perfectly around her shoulders, her posture straight, her expression calm.
Too calm.
Like none of what had just happened had surprised her at all.
Like she belonged here.
His chest tightened.
“Luna,” he said, stepping towards her instinctively. “I’ve been trying to call you—”
“I know,” she cut in, her voice steady.
No emotion. No warmth.
Just an acknowledgement.
He stopped.
Something about that alone threw him off balance more than the security guards had.
“You’ve been ignoring me,” he said, frustration creeping back in. “We need to talk.”
Her gaze flicked briefly towards the building behind him before returning to his face.
“No, we do not,” she said quietly.
“No,” he snapped, shaking his head. “No, we’re talking now. What is this?” He gestured towards the building, towards everything. “Why are you here? With him?”
Her expression didn’t change.
“It’s not your concern.”
The words hit harder than he expected.
“Not my—” He let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Luna, you don’t just walk out and then show up in the papers with someone like Adrian Vale and expect me to just—what—ignore it?”
She held his gaze, completely unmoved.
“You should leave.”
That was it.
No explanation. No defence. No apology.
Just distance.
“No,” he said again, more quietly this time, but no less firm. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to shut me out like I didn’t matter.”
Luna turned to him and tightened her grip on her bag. “You think you get to tell me what I can or can’t do after you were caught in our home, in our bed with my so-called best friend? I suggest you leave and go to hell.”
After she walked away, Noel watched her go, and then he saw it.
A man standing by the window. He was tall and still. Their eyes met for a brief second, and Noel knew instantly.
Adrian Vale.
He stared back at Noel, unbothered and calm, like he was not worth acknowledging.
Then Adrian turned his attention to Luna as she reached him, his hand settling at the small of her back as it belonged there.
Like she belonged there.
The doors closed.
Noel stared at the glass, his reflection staring back at him. Smaller. Out of place. Shut out.
His jaw tightened, something darker settling in his chest.
This wasn’t finished.
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