Bondage and Marriage - 80

After Ian left for work, Noah diligently memorized the contact numbers. It wasn’t that hard. After all, they were just four lines of numbers. After memorizing them, Noah spent his time happily imagining what Ian might do for him at the cinema. All the outdoor activities they had done together were to Noah’s liking. The ones at the office were good, and so were those at the restaurant… or even in the garden…

Recently, if Noah could meet his past self, he would shower him with compliments for making the right choice in marriage. There were some incidents in between, but no matter how he thought about it, Ian was the best person for him to marry. Sure, his personality wasn’t great, but he wasn’t a bad person, and Noah himself wasn’t perfect either. Plus, Ian could torment him in the way he wanted, and during play, it wasn’t one-sided; both could enjoy it.

So, all that’s left is, as Ian said yesterday, if only he could come to like Ian, then everyone would be happy. It’s a given that married couples should like each other, but in the case of an arranged marriage like theirs, it was quite different.

So, if he could come to like Ian… Thinking about it for a while, Noah remembered when Ian had said “I love you” to him, and he shrank a bit. Just the memory of that moment made him feel uneasy, complicating his thoughts, so he shook his head. Ah, forget it. Let’s think about it later, not now… And he would have to be more careful with his words in front of Ian.

With an excited heart, Noah waited for Ian to contact him. Finally, when the call came, Ian’s voice sounded very grumpy for some reason. With people chattering noisily in the background, Ian told Noah to take the car that would be sent to him and then yelled at someone before hanging up.

Did something happen? Puzzled, Noah got into the limousine waiting in the mansion’s front yard. The car drove down familiar roads and stopped in front of Ian’s company. When Noah got out, the secretary was waiting for him, bowing respectfully.

“Hello, Mr. Noah.”

“Hello.”

Although they had seen each other a few times, Noah felt a bit awkward greeting the unfamiliar secretary. Usually, it was Daniel’s job to pick him up. Something must have definitely happened at the company.

Following the secretary to the CEO’s office, the atmosphere felt like a beast had been unleashed as soon as they got off the elevator. In this case, the beast would be Ian. The secretary led Noah into the empty office, telling him to wait there, and then hurried off somewhere. Noah looked around the office in confusion. He glanced at the piles of documents on the desk and sat in the very comfortable chair…

Come to think of it, though he often saw Ian working, he had never come close or sat in this spot. This is where Ian spends more than half of his day, probably. Leaning back in the chair, Noah fiddled with a slightly worn-looking fountain pen before noticing the neatly placed movie tickets off to one side.

Looking at the two tickets made Noah feel odd, so he touched them. Did Ian book these himself? The idea of Ian personally choosing and booking a movie didn’t seem to fit. Well, it must have been Daniel who booked them. While Noah was lounging in the chair, looking around, Ian came in with a very irritated expression. Spotting Noah in his seat, Ian frowned as he entered.

“Come here.”

At Ian’s beckoning, Noah got up and approached Ian, who had slumped onto the sofa. Today, the cufflink on Ian’s sleeve kept catching Noah’s eye. Did he like it that much…? …Should I buy him another one?

“Damn, how come everyone below me is so stupid?”

As soon as Noah got close, Ian pulled him down onto the sofa, immediately putting his hands under Noah’s shirt, grumbling. Thinking they might do something here, Noah blinked, but Ian only gently caressed his skin a few times before pulling him into a tight hug, letting out a few rough breaths before calming down. With his face buried in Noah’s neck, breathing ticklishly, Ian finally looked up.

“There’s an issue at the company, so we won’t be able to watch the movie. But let’s still have dinner together.”

Can’t go out for it, though, Ian muttered. If something comes up, there’s nothing to be done about it. Noah was used to family members not coming home and working due to urgent matters at the company; Tanner would often say he needed to see the youngest to get some energy, so staying at the office to boost morale (?) was something Noah could handle. If buying coffee or snacks could cheer someone up, he was more than willing to do that.

So, without much thought, Noah patted Ian’s shoulder to show he was okay, and Ian looked at him with a strange expression before standing up.

Since Ian was very busy, they had an early dinner. As soon as dinner was suggested, Daniel brought in food from outside that was hot as if it had just been cooked at a restaurant. Now that he thought about it, the person who served the dinner seemed to be wearing a waiter’s outfit… It looked like they didn’t just bring food from a restaurant but had someone come to make it.

“I’ll be late getting home tonight, so you go ahead. Or if you’re out, take a walk around here before going back.”

As soon as they finished eating, Ian accepted some documents from the very busy Daniel and suggested. He then scanned through the papers, not waiting for Noah’s response, got up, and left, cursing “That idiot Joseph!” with a look clearly meant to scold someone.

Well, since I’m already out here, just eating dinner and going home feels a bit off… but there’s nothing I particularly need to do around here, so after sitting dazed on the sofa for a while, Noah stood up. After dinner, it’s only right to have some coffee. There was a coffee shop in the lobby that Noah liked.

Casually taking the elevator down, Noah headed straight to the café and bought two cups of coffee to go. Watching the barista package the coffee reminded him of the last time he’d done the same at a café. Come to think of it, things have changed a lot since the early days of their marriage. Back then, he never imagined it would be like this now… Originally, he would have been divorced by now, enjoying a relaxed, fun single life. But married life isn’t so bad either.

Enjoying the scent of the coffee, Noah took a sip of his and returned to the office with light steps, only to find Ian scribbling something with a scowl. Trying not to disturb him, Noah quietly placed the coffee down, but Ian waved his hand without looking up.

“Go get some documents from Avery.”

“Who’s Avery?”

When Noah asked, Ian looked up, surprised, as if to ask why he was still there. Looking from the coffee to Noah, Ian asked, looking bewildered.

“You haven’t left yet?”

“There’s nothing for me to do at home anyway.”

Noah was quite used to family members working late at the office. Thanks to Tanner saying he needed to see his youngest for some energy, staying at the office to boost morale was something Noah could do… If coffee or snacks could cheer someone up, he was more than willing to do that.

Even now, with his irritation somewhat subsided, Ian sipped the coffee and… made a face. It didn’t seem to suit his taste. Still, he took another sip and placed it in front of him as if he intended to keep drinking. While Noah sat down on the sofa, drinking his own coffee, Ian, rarely hesitant, opened his mouth.

“That coffee from back then…”

“Huh?”

What coffee from back then? As Noah looked curious, Ian furrowed his brows before clamping his mouth shut. Why start and then stop talking… If it’s that coffee, could it be the one from that day at the office with the lunchbox? Ah, now that he thought about it, that coffee probably didn’t suit Ian’s taste either. Next time, he should ask what Ian wants to drink before going…

After that, while Ian occasionally sipped his coffee while working, Noah read a novel in French. Since the Gabriel incident, he made sure to study French for at least an hour every day. Thinking it was better not to hire a tutor for a while… While he was engrossed in reading, suddenly his phone rang.

“Oh, sorry.”

Seeing Ian frown, Noah thought the vibration was bothering him, so he apologized and stood up. As he was about to leave to take the call, Ian asked first.

“Who’s calling?”

“Um… the caller… is unknown?”

Unknown caller. Seeing that name, Noah remembered the unexpected text this morning about someone returning to the country wanting to meet. By the look on Ian’s face, he must have thought of the same thing.

“It doesn’t bother me, so take it. I’m not disturbed by phone calls.”

With a haughty tilt of his chin, Ian went back to working elegantly. Since the phone was ringing persistently and it supposedly wasn’t a bother, Noah answered the call without much thought. It might just be a spam call. No matter how advanced technology got, spam calls and texts never stopped, just like viruses.

“Hello?”

Ah, Noah? Why are you answering so late? You didn’t reply to my text either.

Recognizing the familiar voice, Noah looked puzzled and opened his mouth slightly. Wait, this voice… could it be… James? As Noah asked reflexively, the familiar voice grumbled, “What are you talking about?” and Ian, who claimed not to be disturbed by calls, looked up sharply and asked in a sharp tone.

“James? James Frenet’s James?”

“Huh? How does Ian know that name?”

Just mentioning James, and Ian spat out the full name familiarly, which surprised Noah, and Ian shut his mouth again just like before. Noah? Noah? While James kept calling his name on the other end, Noah asked Ian to wait a moment and then asked.

“Should I go outside to take this if it’s a bother?”

“…No! I said it’s not a bother. Just keep talking.”

No, it seemed like a huge bother… but if Ian says he’s fine, what can he do? Seeing Ian lower his head to continue working, Noah chose to lower his voice. Somehow, he could feel Ian’s sharp gaze now and then.

“It’s been a while, what’s up? What’s this about coming back to the country? And you changed your number?”

Hmm? Oh, didn’t I mention? I went on a trip half a year ago. I lost my phone in the middle and changed my number, but forgot to tell you.

James spoke cheerfully. James Frenet, he was a childhood friend of Noah’s, known as a bosom buddy or in common terms, a “best friend.” They had grown up together, seeing each other at their worst. He was also the first person to notice Noah’s preferences.

James had a wandering spirit, suddenly leaving without a word and returning like now, and sometimes he could be a bit arrogant, so when he was out of touch this time, Noah just took it in stride. After all, James was notoriously uninterested in those around him.

I haven’t seen a familiar face for half a year, so today I suddenly felt like seeing one. Is it okay to meet tonight? It’s not one of your club nights, right?

“Uh…”

Noah thought for a moment. Ian probably wouldn’t like it, but on the other hand, it had been ages since he last saw James. But since James is a beta and not an alpha, it should be fine… Turning to ask Ian if he could go see a friend for a bit, Noah was startled. Ian, who was just sitting in the chair a moment ago, was now right beside him… and he cut in sharply.

“No.”