After leaving the hotel, Noelle jumped into the second part of her plan. On the first Sunday of every month, The Weston family hosted a soirée. Everyone who was anyone in the entertainment circuit would make an appearance, it was the place to be if you were hot and an invitation was one of the most coverted things.
Noelle needed an important ingredient for her plan and that ingredient was somewhere there.
When she got there, Noelle tossed her keys to the valet, a dismissive flick of her wrist that belied the flutter in her chest as she got a proper look at him. He was undeniably handsome, all rugged jawline and piercing blue eyes, the kind of man who looked like he had stepped straight out of a cologne advertisement.
As he slid into the driver's seat of her sleek sports car, a smug grin spread across his face, a look that clearly said, I know I'm gorgeous and you know it too. Noelle, however, was not about to be charmed. She met his gaze with a haughty glare, a silent message that said, You're attractive, so what? Then, with a toss of her hair and a regal tilt of her chin, she turned and walked away, determined to project an air of complete indifference, even as her pulse did a little something it definitely shouldn't have done.
Immediately she stepped out of the elevator, she was hit by the air in the penthouse suite which throbbed with the bass of unseen music and the murmur of conversations. Noelle navigated the throng of celebrities and socialites, her gait assured and steady, like a puma stalking it's prey. Her eyes scanned the room for Caine Weston.
Caine Weston was the third son of the prestigious Weston family, he had always had his eyes on Noelle but she had been so wrapped up in her infatuation with Evan that she never gave him a chance. Today however, she had chosen him as her tool, that very important ingredient for her plan.
Finally, after going through the crowd, she spotted him. He was a handsome, confident man who drew attention to himself. He stood leaning against the bar, a glass of champagne in his hand, laughing with a group of women who were staring at him with adoring eyes. Noelle, with a practiced smile and a confident stride, approached him.
"Caine," she purred, her voice a melodic whisper.
He turned to wards her, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "Noelle! It has been ages since you have graced us with your presence. You look absolutely stunning."
Noelle blushed, pleased. "Thank you, Caine. You look… well, you look like Caine Weston."
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Always a compliment." He gestured the space beside him. "Mind if I steal you away from… Evan?"
Noelle hesitated, then played coy. "Oh, I came alone. Figured I would let loose a little. And I would rather speak with you privately."
Caine raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Talk privately? Such a dangerous proposition, Miss Noelle."
Without hesitation, he left the clutches of the starlets who were gathered around them, oblivious to the angry glares they threw in Noelle's direction and together they walked towards the balcony.
When they got there, Caine watched as Noelle walked to the balustrade and looked out at the city, drenched in the setting sunlight. Then she turned around with a conspiratorial smile.
Noelle took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "I'm looking for a husband, Caine. And I think you would make a very good one."
Caine's smile faltered. He took a sip of his champagne, his gaze studying her. "That is… quite a proposition, Noelle. What is Evan going to think, don't you love him?"
Noelle shrugged impatiently, "I did not come here to speak about Evan, I came here to make an offer. If you don't like it then I will ask someone else." with that, she started to leave.
Evan chuckled, a nervous sound. "What is the rush Noelle? I'm simply trying to make sure no one will come after me with an axe." He joked.
"Does that mean that you are open to my proposition?" Noelle pressed.
"Sure, why not?" Caine asked, masking his excitement by taking a sip of his champagne.
Never in his wildest dreams had he thought about marriage to Noelle as a possible. He was only the third son of an influential family, he had already been assigned the position of the family black sheep. Marrying Noelle with her family's money and her celebrity status would instantly elevate his status even past his older brothers.
"Why don't we meet at the courthouse on Monday?" Noelle asked, "is 1 pm good for you?"
"Err, sure." A stunned Caine answered, uncertainty lurking in his head.
It all seemed very rushed, but he did not want to question her and risk her taking back her proposal.
"It's a date then." Lyse smiled and walked out. Outside, she bumped into someone who had just been standing by the door.
Noelle's eyes narrowed as she stared at the person she had just collided into. It was the same smug valet from earlier, but why was he inside and by the balcony too.
"Were you listening in on our conversation?" Noelle demanded angrily.
The waiter drew back as if offended by her question, a lazy eyebrow raised. "I was just passing by lady, you bumped into me and should be apologizing for that."
Noelle's jaw almost dropped to the ground, her anger at his attitude replaced by astonishment. Absolutely no one spoke to her that way, most especially not some lowly waiter. She took a really good look at him and wondered if his arrogance was because he was a handsome man.
Noelle felt a surge of anger and was about to go off on the waiter, when Caine came out from the balcony. And when he saw the waiter staring insolently at Noelle, his face darkened. He fixed him with a withering glare. "Get out. Now."
The waiter, hesitated for a moment, his expression unbothered, then he calmly walked away. Caine turned back to Noelle, his face a mask of annoyance.
"I apologize for that, Noelle. Some people simply don't know their place."
Noelle, still fuming, tried to regain her composure. "It's alright. It's just… unsettling."
Evan raised his glass. "To forgetting about that unfortunate incident. And to… Monday."
Noelle smiled, "I can't wait." She said before walking out. When she got out front, she looked around, irritated that the valet was not there. As she looked around, she noticed a someone at the corner and she slowly approached.
"Where is my car?" She demanded impatiently.
"Hold your horses, princess." Came a glib response from the same annoying valet.