"Aria, I loved the surprise," Noah remarked as soon as they got off the air balloon. They had waited until the sun completely set and darkness settled in the sky before they returned to the opening. The instructor was already waiting for them, and he helped them to reach the ground with his skillful guidance. Aria nodded at him, thanking him silently for his assistance before she faced Noah.

"Who told you that this is the end of the surprise?" She queried with a wide smile, and Noah's eyes widened mildly in surprise.

"Aren't we done yet?"

"No. Did you think that this was all your surprise?" She blinked at him for his incredulous thinking, and Noah did not know how to respond to her. How could he say that he was expecting something else from her? Something sensual, and that involved more than just a kiss. He chose to remain silent to not irk the girl who looked less than impressed at his expression.

"Well, the surprise is not over yet." Aria did not let Noah's silence ruin the night's fun. She had prepared a lot for him, and she was unwilling to allow her preparation to go to waste. "The night is still young, my dear." She held the man's chin and forced his head down. "There are a lot of surprises waiting for you. Don't give up so soon."

Without giving any other clue about what lay ahead for him, Aria winked at him and dropped her hand. All Noah could do was stare at the girl, who suddenly seemed different than the one who had been in the air balloon with him. Gone was Aria who was in grief and was apologizing to him for hiding her secrets from him. In her place, there was a bold and stubborn girl who seemed to be challenging him.

Noah did not know which Aria he preferred. While he liked the girl who clung to him whenever she was aggrieved, he also loved the strong and level-headed Aria who was ready to take on the world. And boy, did he say that he loved challenges? Yes, he did, and he loved every bit of Aria.

With a grin, he pecked her cheek, startling her with his sudden action. "Then, I will be waiting for it. I hope it will live up to my expectations."

Aria stood frozen for a few seconds, her cheeks flushing red as she recalled the kiss. But she snapped out of her thoughts immediately and watched how Noah was observing her with amused eyes. It did not take Aria to realize that man had charmed her, and she had fallen for him. Aria glared at him for tricking her, and Noah chuckled seeing her adorable expression.

"Aria, where is my next surprise?" Noah asked, raising her brows at him playfully.

"It is not here. We will have to return to the city." Noah gave her a questioning look but Aria did not elaborate any further. "Surprise, darling. Surprise. Let's go before the day ends."

Aria pulled the man with him, and Noah followed her silently, a doting smile landing on his lips as he stared at the girl's back. He pulled her gently, stopping her from running away, and Aria blinked at him in confusion. Noah stood beside her and clasped his fingers with hers. This intimate action of his made Aria blush but she did not push him away. She averted her gaze away from him and looked down at their intertwined fingers as Noah led her to their car. This time, she allowed him to drive the car.

Once Noah hit the main road, he turned to Aria, who was staring at their surroundings. "Aria, where are we going?"

"Oops, sorry. I forgot to inform you about our next destination. Drive us to my apartment please."

"Your apartment? Noah was surprised by her next choice of location. He had assumed it to be somewhere similar to where they had been just now.

"Yes, your next surprise is waiting for you in my apartment." Aria's mysterious response made Noah stare at her for a few seconds before he focused on his driving. His curiosity was now at the peak, and he wanted to know what she had planned next.

"Aria, can you tell what I will be encountering once we reach your apartment?" Noah queried when he could not control his curiosity any longer. "Give some clue, any clue." He almost begged. But Aria was in no mood to entertain him.

"Mr. Noah Allen Carter, it is a surprise, and I will not reveal what it is until we reach home. Now, please concentrate on driving, and if possible, could you please drive faster?"

"Why, Aria?" Noah queried again in hopes that Aria would fall for his trick and reveal her plan. But the girl just smiled at him, seeing right through his intentions. Noah could not help but sulk at her response, and his face fell. His excitement vanished just like that, and Aria bit her lip on seeing the man behave like a cute kid. She shook her head in helplessness. Not wanting to see the man disappointed in his birthday, she decided to say a few words that would keep his hopes high and excited.

"Noah," Her voice was barely a whisper, yet Noah heard it loud and clear. His head snapped to hers at once. He had never heard her call him in such a sensual way before, and an unknown excitement rushed through his blood. Goosebumps erupted on his skin. "You will not be disappointed with your surprise."

There was a weird sexiness in her voice, and Noah was taken aback by her seductive behavior. He wanted to continue watching her but he had to focus on driving too. For the first time, Noah cursed himself for not taking the passenger seat. If only he was not the one driving, he could have gazed at Aria all he wanted.

Their sensual moment was disturbed when Noah's phone rang. It completely broke the delirium in the air, and Noah once again cursed under his breath, only this time they were directed to the caller. Reluctantly, he connected his phone to the hands-free and answered it.

"Speak," That was all Noah said. But it was enough to send tremors down the caller's body.

Ronnie could detect the fury from his Boss's voice, and he wondered what crime he had committed for him to be this incensed. Now that he had already poked the sleeping lion, he could not run away just like that.

When Noah did not get any reply from the other side, he narrowed his eyes, and even Aria felt his annoyance. She did not stop him from his work, nor did she ask him to stay calm. Instead, she just prayed for the man who dared to call them in their private time.

"This better be worth it, Ronnie." Noah lowkey threatened him and Ronnie gulped a mouthful of saliva.

"Boss," Ronnie struggled to speak. But he knew the more he delayed, the more his Boss would be incensed. He got talking at once. "We have tracked down all the traitors in our team and have killed them all."

Noah's fury reduced on hearing his words. "Good. Even though we have eliminated the ones already present in the team, we cannot rule out the possibility that new ones may join us. Watch out for any suspicious people. Make sure none of the spies escapes unscathed."

"Understood, Boss." Ronnie's reply was instant.

"Anything else?"

"No, Sir. Have a good night." Ronnie did not even wait for his Boss's reply before he ended the call and sighed in relief. "I made it out alive today. I seriously wonder how Madam puts up with Boss. She is the only one who can control him."