Stella spent the next day in a haze of half-hearted productivity, her thoughts consumed by the mysterious email. "Ask him about RISE Systems." The name gnawed at her mind, pulling her deeper into a whirlpool of questions.
The last time Noah had mentioned RISE Systems, his face had lit up with pride. Could there be more to the story than he'd let on? She hated the doubt creeping in, but the unease wouldn't leave. By early evening, she'd made up her mind. If she wanted answers, she'd have to confront Noah head-on.
Later That Night
Stella went straight to Noah's penthouse, the city lights glinting off the towering glass façade. She hesitated before pressing the doorbell, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet corridor. The door swung open a moment later, revealing Noah in his favourite black comfy T-shirt with black sweatpants and a mini towel wrapped around his neck seems like he just had showered, the water dripping from his hair, he brushed his hair off from his face to see who's on the doorstep, His eyes softened the moment they landed on her.
"Hey," he said, stepping aside. "Didn't expect you tonight. Everything okay?"
She stepped in, her arms wrapped around herself as though shielding her from a chill that wasn't there."We need to talk," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. Noah closed the door, his expression shifting to one of concern.
"Alright. What's going on?"
She turned to face him, crossing her arms."I got another message. This time it mentioned RISE Systems."
The name seemed to hit him like a physical blow. His jaw tightened, and his shoulders tensed. "What did it say?"
" 'Ask him about RISE Systems.' That's it," she replied, watching him closely. "So, I'm asking."He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the living room.
"Stella, you don't know what you're getting into."
"Then tell me," she pressed, stepping closer. "No more half-truths, Noah. What happened with RISE?"
He stopped pacing, his eyes meeting hers. She saw something raw in his gaze for a moment—regret, pain, maybe even fear.
"RISE Systems was my first big success," he began, his voice low. "I invested in them when no one else would, and it paid off. But the public doesn't know that their lead developer, Jonathan Ross, accused me of stealing his proprietary code to secure the deal.
"Her breath caught. "Did you?"
"No," he said firmly, but his tone carried a heavy weight. "But Jonathan didn't see it that way. He leaked documents that painted me as a thief. It nearly ruined my reputation and my company. I had to fight back—legally, and publicly. It got ugly."
Stella swallowed hard, the gravity of his words sinking in. "And the email? Do you think it's from him?"
"Maybe," Noah admitted. "But if it is, he's escalating. He's never targeted anyone close to me before."
She stepped back, her mind reeling.
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"Because I didn't want you dragged into it," he said, his voice rising. "You've been through enough. I thought I could protect you by keeping you out of it."
"Keeping me in the dark isn't protecting me, Noah," she shot back. "It's isolating me."
They stood there, the tension between them palpable. The air felt heavier, the weight of the past pressing down on both of them.
Flashback: The Night of Their Breakup
Rain pelted against the windows as Stella stood in Noah's office, her arms wrapped around herself as he stared out at the city skyline.
"You're shutting me out again," she said, her voice trembling."I'm trying to protect you," he replied, his back still to her."By keeping secrets? By pushing me away?"
He finally turned, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and anguish. "You don't understand the pressure I'm under, Stella. The things I have to do to keep everything from falling apart."
"Then let me in!" she pleaded. "Let me help you carry it."
But he didn't. Instead, he'd let her walk out the door, and neither of them had looked back—until now.
Present Day
Noah's voice broke the silence. "I was wrong back then. I see that now."
Stella looked at him, her emotions warring between anger and compassion. "If you want me in your life, Noah, you can't shut me out again. I need the truth, all of it."
He nodded, his expression resolute. "You'll have it. But we need to be careful. If Jonathan's behind this, he's dangerous."
The weight of his words settled over her, but she nodded. "We'll figure it out together."
Back at Stella's Apartment
As Stella sat on her couch later that night, her phone buzzed again. Her heart raced as she unlocked it, dreading another cryptic message. But it wasn't from Unknown. It was from Talia.
Talia: "Hey, Stella. Can we meet? I need to talk to you about Noah."Her chest tightened.
First Kai, now Talia. How many layers did Noah's world have, and how deep was she willing to dive?
Staring out at the falling snow, Stella made a silent promise to herself: she would uncover the truth, no matter what it cost.
Because this time, walking away wasn't an option.
Stella's grip on her phone tightened as she stared at Talia's message. First Kai's warning, then the email, and now this? What's going on? The threads of Noah's life were tangled in ways she couldn't yet see, but the tension was building, and Stella felt it in her bones.
She tapped out a quick reply.
"When and where?"
Talia responded almost instantly.
"The lounge at The Ritz. One hour."
It was a curious choice of location—upscale and conspicuous. Talia Dawson didn't seem like the type to pick such a setting for a private conversation. Unless, Stella realized, she wanted to be seen.
The Ritz Lounge
Stella arrived on time, the elegant space shimmering with soft lighting and muted chatter. Talia was already seated near the back, her impeccably tailored pantsuit catching the light. She looked as put-together as always, her dark hair framing her face like a polished portrait.
"Thanks for coming," Talia said as Stella approached. Her voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed her nerves.
"What's going on?" Stella asked, sitting down.
Talia leaned in slightly, her tone dropping. "I've been hearing things—about Noah. Things you deserve to know."
Stella's heart skipped, but she kept her face neutral. "Like what?"
Talia hesitated, her fingers tightening around the stem of her wine glass. "Do you know about RISE Systems?"
The name hit Stella like a physical blow. She forced herself to stay composed. "I've heard of it. Why?"
Talia glanced around, lowering her voice further. "A few months ago, someone reached out to me. They said they had proof that Noah… wasn't as innocent as he claimed in the RISE situation. At first, I ignored it, but now—"
"Wait," Stella interrupted, leaning forward. "Who reached out to you?"
Talia hesitated. "Jonathan Ross."