บท 33: Wanna See My Room?

Their conversation was interrupted once again for their server entered the room to clear their table for the dessert. She grinned thinking, Noah ordered the best Matsugen could offer for this dinner.

She felt a bit touched thinking that he did a lot of effort for her, but this meal won't get them even because of the fact still stay -- he had her investigated.

She agreed to this dinner to find out the motive behind it. Well, also because she likes seeing Noah going crazy over her. She hid a smile by picking up another wagashi.

She was surprised when Noah asked for tea when their server brought in the dessert. She was expecting him to drink more alcohol, but instead, he asked for tea.

Come to think of it, he only drank that one glass of sake. The one that she poured for him. She wondered if it is because he was not good at handling his alcohol.

"I never expect you to be a tea person," she said as she picked up the tea kettle to pour him another cup of tea.

"There are tons about me that you didn't know, Miss Zimmerman," he said playfully. He was copying what she said to him awhile ago.

"True. But then, not all of us have the resources to run a background investigation to know the other person," she said nonchalantly, but she was watching Noah's face from under her lashes as she took a sip of her tea.

Noah's face didn't show any reaction. He was simply enjoying his tea. Jess smirked thinking, it must be the reason why Ellise said, Noah, is a ruthless businessman. Apart from being a chameleon, he has a poker face.

"Some of us take the longer route of getting the other person, like accepting a dinner invitation," she added, still pushing her luck to get any reaction from Noah. But, all her effort was wasted.

Accepting this dinner invitation, wearing this dress. All of it was for nothing. She couldn't figure Noah out. Of what was he thinking about having her investigated.

Since she did not get what she came here for, she decided to just have fun.

"You know Luke, right?" she asked, starting a conversation.

"Jess, I don't want you to talk about another man when you are with me." He gave her a cold warning look.

She backed off from the topic she started, for Noah's mood suddenly turned dark.

She pursed her lips, "I was just going to say that Luke was wondering how you could afford to get a table here in Matsugen." she murmured her sentence under her breath, but it was still loud enough for Noah to hear.

Noah realized that the mood started to cool down when he snapped at Jess after she talked about her friend, Luke.

"Why? Because I was just a mere employee, hence, I can't afford this restaurant," he asked with a sneer. He wanted to kick himself for letting his jealousy get the best of him.

Jess scrunched her nose, "Stop the pity party. We both know that not everyone can enter this restaurant."

"Do you want something else that I can't seem to afford?" he asked taunting.

Jess smiled tightly. Noah was being disagreeable since she spoke of Luke's name.

"What?" she sneered back at him. If he's going to be snarky, she can do the same too.

"I reserved a penthouse for us tonight at this hotel." He told her confidently as if he has the idea right from the start that this dinner would end up with something more than just a meal.

Jess lost her ability to speak for a minute and just stared at Noah's stoic face. It pissed her off that Noah thought she would be easy prey. Even if it is true, her pride won't let her admit it.

She gritted her teeth as she attempted to restrain herself from picking up one of the crystal bowls in front of her and throwing them to Noah, who is stiffly sitting across the table, sipping his tea without a care in the world.

'The nerve of this jerk to think that she is easy to get.' She took a deep breath and sipped her own tea, only to put it down.

"Care to show me your room?" she blurted out in annoyance.

Noah didn't show any expression on his face but deep inside he was pumping his fist in victory. He knew Jess would get annoyed with him and wouldn't give up without getting the last word.

He somehow learned that Jess is too competitive for her own good. She gets too competitive to the point of pettiness. He finds it so darn adorable that she won't let him win, no matter what.

"Showing you my room? You understand the implication of it, don't you?" he asked, pushing his luck.

"Why, Tiefenbacher? Do you think I would want to see your room to check if the housekeeper did a good job of fixing your bed?" she asked, taunting.

He really is pissing her off. She wanted to be friendly with this jerk, so she started a discussion about her friend. How would she know that the mere mention of another man's name would drove him into jealousy.

She wanted to laugh. The idea that he is being jealous of Luke is too hilarious for her, but she keeps her mouth shut. She has a feeling that it is not a good idea to push the limit of Noah's jealousy.

Maybe, she could tell him next time. But not tonight.

"I'm telling you that if you come with me in my room, don't expect to come home tonight," he said, watching her reaction. A look of pure doubt was written across his face as he watched her lazily under his thick lashes.

"Just so you know, I didn't accept your dinner invitation to drink tea with you," she answered him back. If he is thinking that she would back down, he had it wrong, she sneered thinking.

Watching each other across the table, they waited to see who would raise the white flag first. No one did, instead...

Just like a well-choreographed dance, they moved in a synchronized motion of grabbing each other. Noah got the upper hand, pushed her on the tatami mat, second later his mouth was on hers.