Noah flashed her a fake, intrigued smile. “I suppose I better not miss the parlor then.”
“Marvelous,” she purred with contentment, the sound so close to Noah’s ear, it raised goosebumps all over his neck. Fortunately, someone called her over and after a squeeze of his thigh, she let go. “I’ll leave you to enjoy dinner, then. Good night, dear.”
As if he could stomach food after this sort of attention from her.
Grimacing at his dessert plate, Noah asked one of the waiters to pack it for him and excused himself, buzzing with the need for a long shower. The entire way home, he was a bit out of it and only snapped back to reality once his damp skin started crawling with shivers. He found himself on his bed, sitting with his back plastered against the wall and his knees tucked into his chest. He’d left the window open as usual and it let in the cool evening breeze that was at fault for sending those chills racing across his naked body. The gust of air wafting in carried the smell of the ocean even this high up and Noah let that wash over him, engulf him, until the last remnants of Teresa’s disgusting touch and overly sweet scent vacated his body.
Noah rested his head on his knees and stared at his desk, trying but failing to conjure up his visitor. It seemed his dejected state was going to rob him of an audience tonight, but perhaps that was fine, since he didn’t exactly feel like putting on a show. Clothes, on the other hand, he could definitely use.
Pajamas donned, Noah pulled out the portrait he’d finished last night and placed it on the easel. He ran hisfingers over the uneven surface of the canvas, enjoying the sensation of the oil paints he’d used while his eyes took in the otherworldly beauty of his fixation. Hisobsession. He’d created it, piece by piece starting from an impression in a window, then willingly allowed it to fester inside of him, to grow, to take on its human-like form, which was so perfect—so alluring—evoking in Noah the kinds of sensations, thoughts and urges he couldn’t resist. Didn’t want to resist. Still, Noah was the one with the reins, always had been, guiding and designing his delusions while biding his time and waiting for the day he could leave this wretched country.
There were certain things though, certain aspects, about the red-skinned demon Noah couldn’t grasp despite his very capable imagination. How his touch would feel for one, how his voice sounded, for another. No matter what Noah tried, he couldn’t coerce his made-up companion to do more than observe from afar. The other night… he had come close to breaking past that, yet he hadn’t managed, like there was some blocker still preventing him from unleashing that fantasy to its full extent.
But hewouldsucceed—Noah rubbed his thumb along the curve of the demon’s lips—he was sure of it.
Sooner or later.
Noah woke up at three in the afternoon on the next day, his compulsion to sketch his next piece keeping him up until the early hours of the morning. He grabbed a quick bite after he rinsed the sleep off his face, plugged in his earphones, then left his apartment, foregoing any of the Peace Week festivities once he’d swung by the nearestcheckpoint and registered his attendance. Before he got dragged into whatever activity was about to take place, he slipped out, trading the noisy commotion for the solitude of the coastal trails that Lisbon offered.
The one he picked today wound through the ruins of the city’s western outskirts, taking him past the old horse-riding schools that now comprised only charred remains and overgrowth. He contemplated going to the crater a missile had left, but that was in the opposite direction of the beach and he felt like water and sand more so than forest and grass.
Noah picked up speed now that he had a destination and didn’t drop it until the blue of the sky morphed into hues of twilight. He took it as his cue to turn back, not wishing to be in the woods when darkness descended, because having to rely on the flashlight of his phone as the only source of illumination made it hard to keep up his pace.
Just as he cleared the dense canopy and emerged onto the dirt path that led back into the city, a call from Teresa reminded him he was yet to give her an excuse for why he would not show up to the special matchmaking event she’d invited him to. He contemplated not picking up, but he was sure it would only make things worse, so after a deep inhale, he leaned his back against the nearest lamppost and answered his phone.
“Good evening, Noah, dear,” Teresa greeted him in her overly honeyed voice.
“Ah, Teresa, I was just about to call you, actually,” he lied, making his tone light and friendly.
She giggled. “Oh?”
“My friends and I stopped by the workshop about an hour ago, but you weren’t there.” He knew that for a fact,because he had checked the timings when he was working on his alibi. “We were going to wait, but Terrance’s sister showed up with a bunch of her girlfriends and invited us to join them. We are at a bar downtown, currently.” He paused, but not for too long since it was way too suspiciously quiet around him. “I… don’t think I can make it to the after-session.”
“Ah, are you sure you can’t slip away, dear?” she insisted.
“I… don’t think so. They want us all to participate in the date auction and I really don’t want to miss that,” he said, regretting his words the moment they left him.What if Teresa called him out on insisting that he wanted to sort his career out first, when here he was convincing her he didn’t want to miss the date auction?Then again, everyone was expected to attend at least a few of the events happening during Peace Week, not that he ever did, so maybe it was fine. “Sorry, I should’ve called earlier.”
She hummed at the other end of the call. “It would be a lie to say I’m not a little disappointed,” she emphasized, sounding much more than a little disappointed. “I was looking forward to spending time with you today.”
Noah shuddered at her confession. “I’m really sorry. I was very excited about the special event too, but… the auction is about to start and I don’t want to bail at the last minute. But I’ll make it up to you some other time?” He really didn’t want to offer her that, but he didn’t think she was going to let this go unless he gave her something.
A chuckle dripping with satisfaction told him it had been the right move. “Very well.” She hummed thoughtfully for a few moments and then added, “Actually, I just so happen to be looking for a companion for a dinner tomorrow at six with theAsian Federation’s visiting diplomatic representatives. Are you free, dear?”
Okay, well, that was quick. And also a golden opportunity he couldn’t pass on, because a fancy dinner with Asian diplomats meant no alone time with Teresa. Fancy food, too, and that Noah could definitely get behind.
“A dinner with the Federation’s representatives?” he echoed back, needing a bit more information before he agreed.
“Yes, dear. They will be arriving straight from a conference in Florence and staying for two days before heading back home. I’ve been tasked with being their host while their visit here in Lisbon lasts.”
Interesting. This sounded like the type of ‘menial’ task someone of Teresa’s standing wouldn’t normally take on unless these Asian diplomats were important. If that was the case—and it most likely was—Noah’s curiosity was definitely piqued.
“How many of them will be visiting?” he asked, wondering if he could figure out who they were that way.
“Eight. Most of them are around your age too, so I’m sure you’ll find some common topics for conversation.”
Noah felt his lips curl up on one side. Important foreign diplomats and a posh dinner definitely ensured she would be on her best behavior, so, really, it was a no-brainer and the best way for him to get out of ‘owing’ her. Although… did he even have anything remotely appropriate to wear?
“Should I take your interest so far as a yes, then?” she sang complacently.
