"Okay, so we are going to let go of the innocent man you kidnapped alright?" Adriana bargained and took a seat neither on her side nor the blue-eyed man that said nothing but silence.
Hope rolled her eyes and she played with her black hair, twirling it on her finger. "Come on Adri. You know you like him. Plus! There is something else I forgot to add. He's actually editor in chief of my magazine. Guess what? He's going to be putting your brand on the front page in a month or so."
"PLUS extra plus plus, he owes me one and so he will be your 'proxy' for today. Yeah?"
"Yeah, I believe you finally lost it, Hope." Not having a choice she pulled out the black box from before and she looked at the blue-eyed man.
"Put this on." She then pushed it, watching it slide across the table
"Umm, thanks." He finally spoke.
"Hehe, deep voice too. Quite sexy if I may add. See just your type." Hope sent her another set of meaningful glances.
"Cut the crap. I need to get this done quickly. I still have things to handle."
Hope pouted. "You are no fun."
"Anyways, NOEL you have to put the piece on and basically repeat everything she says like a friggin' parrot? Capish?"
The man sighed, looking like he had gotten used to the woman's crazy talk. He placed the pice on his ear and said, "Understood."
"See, 'Noel' quite the coincidence too huh? It's not 'Noah' but it's similar."
Adriana held in her urge to bash her head onto the table and dig out the last remaining pieces of the woman's brain.
"By the way…." She smirked and let the silence fall in.
"Guess what?"
"This is like the premium version of the deal so listen closely." She took another grape and put it in her mouth.
"Noel is actually a distant cousin. So I'll be your distant cousin-in-law!" She then clapped her hands.
Adriana: "..."
Noel: "..."
Hope: " >.< "
"Exciting huh?"
"Yes, Hope. That's VERY exciting." Adriana gave her a 'sweet' smile.
Noel had enough. He coughed and said, "That's enough hope. Quit embarrassing me will you? Let's get this over with. As soon as I pay back this favor I'm out."
He walked out of the room looking seriously pissed off.
"Oh, right. You two need to be in close proximity so I suggest you stay in the room next to the one your guest is in." Hope added and chewed on another grape.
"Try to get some alone time while you are on your way there." She winked with a huge grin.
"Okay, the show's over. What the hell did you smoke?" Adriana asked, with a serious expression.
Hope laughed nervously. "Haha, you know. The usual, rich families are awesome. They love pushing you two marriage."
"It so happens that I- well uh I remember a 'conversation' you had with me that day you got drunk. And well…..my distant cousin over here happens to fulfill all your um- requirements…?"
"I mean look, a wedding would totally get the attention away from me and we are business partners. We can help each other out sometimes….romantically….too I think…?"
"Um- yes….what do you think?" She asked with a fake smile, forcing it even.
"Oh, and that's where your whole we are besties act came from?"
Hope rolled her eyes.
"Well yes, acting like we are besties is hard but think about it this way. Aren't we? We fight all the time but like besties, we make up! We are inseparable." She shrugged.
"Yeah, I'm convinced. You are completely nuts." Adriana decided to stop wasting her time and she walked out of the room.
Hope groaned in frustration. "Come on cuz, don't mess this up for me. I need a wedding ASAP." She prayed quietly.
****
"So, how do you and Hope know each other?"
Adriana's eyebrows lifted in surprise. They had been walking in silence for a whole minute now and he had no intention of speaking and neither did she.
Suddenly, he had chosen to start a conversation.
Without much thought, she answered, "We are business partners. Not exactly friends."
"Oh, I thought you two were friends since she was acting like that towards you. She's usually cold and distant."
"Hmm, it's an act. If you fall for it again it might be too late." Adriana warned him.
"I figured that much. It still kind of hurts you know."
Adriana looked up at him in confusion and he laughed.
"Well, it's not exactly fun to be compared to another man every hour. She was very inclined to bring me to you."
"Ah, yeah just ignore her. I have no intention of playing along with her antics." Adriana stopped in front of him and opened the red door in front of her.
"This is it."
She turned on the device on her ear and she took a seat on the sofa.
"The room next to ours is where you should go. When you are done just go back to room 123. Also, don't do anything unless I tell you two. Don't get too close to him and don't ever improvise unless you are in an emergency. It's as simple as that, follow everything I tell you and don't speak unless I do." She explained.
"Got it." He smiled and exited the room.
"Can you hear me?" Adriana asked.
Noel answered through the other side of the door, "Perfectly."
"Good." She closed her eyes and waited until she heard him reach the other room.
…..
"You've arrived. I'm glad we were able to meet in person." Mr.Brooklyn walked towards Noel and shook his hand.
"Let's get straight to the point," Noel repeated after Adriana.
He took a seat and so did Mr.Brooklyn.
"Ha, as sharp as always. But I'm truly glad we were able to meet in person. I have everything prepared just like you asked, all I need you to do is expose my wife."
"That won't be a problem. Like I sent you, all the information there will be revealed soon. When your wife goes to prison you will also receive all the properties in her name and her shares of the company."
"But…." Noel paused and waited for Adriana to continue.
He needed to make the whole thing as realistic as he could, so he sat back with a calm expression.
"But?" Mr. Brooklyn frowned.
"There's a change of plans, Mr.Brooklyn. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course, as long as it's in my-"
"No. You will follow my instructions or you lose everything I have helped you gain. It's that simple." Noel interrupted him.
Mr.Brooklyn laughed nervously and he poured himself a drink. "What do I need to do?"
"Play it cool Noel. Act like everything is your control." Adriana spoke, noticing his heavy breathing.
'Why the hell am I doing this again?' He wondered.