Anna was furious upon finding out how truly useless her men were. None of her men seemed to have any information about Ivy after she was poisoned. Anna had returned home to her father's compound immediately to avoid suspicions and to hide safely but she was beginning to regret her decision because she knew nothing except that Ivy had indeed drunk the poisoned lemonade. She also had found out that the man she ordered to serve the drinks had disappeared and all attempts to communicate with him were futile. She couldn't hide her displeasure anymore.

Anna sat behind her office desk on her recliner, she had bought the same version that Noah had, so they could match in all aspects.

​​

Anna stared at the photo on the table. It was a photograph of herself and her last lover. He had indeed been useful and been able to raise her portfolio. But he was twenty years older than herself and he revolted her in every way possible. Anna slammed the photo frame down, finding it disgusting when she remembered all the times she had to spend with him.

Anna cursed inwardly. She never loved him.

Unlocking her desk drawer, she took out a photograph of Noah as she reminisced about the good times they shared together. The photograph looked grainy as it was old and she had taken it when Noah wasn't looking the shot was taken from a distance away but it was enough to remind Anna how handsome Noah was.

Who would have thought Noah could become one of the most powerful men in the City. If she could predict the future, she wouldn't have left Noah. Noah was the best-looking man she had ever laid her eyes on. She ran her finger along with the photograph, remembering all the times that she shared a bed with him. She could never keep up with his insatiable appetite and strength. She frowned thinking if he preferred Ivy in bed, but she doubts she could keep him satisfied.

And Anna wanted him so badly. She thought she was free to do whatever she wanted now she had built herself up but she was wrong.

The news of Noah taking a lover came immediately after the incident with Governor May. Naturally, Anna was both curious and jealous of Ivy whom she had never met before. She did a few diggings on her own and finally found the identity, she looked down on her father's small company and insignificant social status. How could Ivy be on the same level as Noah Adler?

She remembered how shocked she was when she first laid her eyes on Ivy. Her looks were above average but there was nothing, in Anna's opinion, that made her qualified enough to become Noah's lover.

Anna put away the photograph and closed her drawer. She stood up, looking out of her office window as she bit her lips.

Did Ivy survive the poison? No, she couldn't have, Anna thought as she sat at her desk again. The poison was lethal enough to cause heart attack and death within two hours of ingestion. If that were the case, why couldn't she find news about Ivy's death?

No matter, Anna smiled. If she didn't die from the poison, she just had to send someone else to kill her again.

A knock on her door halted her thoughts. Fixing her hair, she gave orders for her men to enter.

"Sam, it's time." She enquired.

The tall lanky guard nodded in response.

She had set up a meeting with Raziel, a drug lord from a neighbouring City and together they will merge the two cities and enjoy the wealth they can make together. Once she gained control over the market, Noah would have no choice but to work with her.

She wanted Noah back and she didn't care what it takes to get him.

He was late.

Anna checked her expensive wristwatch again and noticed that Raziel was already fifteen minutes behind time.

If she weren't desperate for his help, she would have him killed also. Anna was dressed in one of her neckline plunging red dresses. The chilly wind seeped into the thin dress and she ignored it, she had to look her best always.

She needed to wear a dress, in case the negotiations were leading nowhere and she needed to bribe Raziel with her body. Having done it many times, she was positive that it would work. The idea of her spreading her legs for the enemies didn't sit well among her but it was a quick way to move negotiations along swiftly.

One day they will all beg her she thought as crossed her arms, she would do whatever she liked without having others pointing out her every move. She needed to be more powerful and needed Noah in her plan.

The sound of the steel sliding gate being pushed apart had her refocus on her mission again. She thought she was ready to face the old gangster but nothing prepared her for who she saw walking into the warehouse.

A bulky crew cut blonde entered first, followed by a bespectacled man Anna knew very well. Behind him, Noah walked in domineeringly, bearing an expression so livid that Anna felt chills run down her body for the first time in her life.

"Noah," she whispered, taking a few steps back and her guards that stood behind her immediately whipped out their guns.

"You try that and I'll blow all of you up in an instant," Thomas said, pulling out his own semi-automatic and a hand grenade. Both he and Aiden moved to the front, blocking Noah from the enemy's view.

"Keep the weapons," Anna ordered her men before turning her attention to Noah again. She put on a forced and brave smile. "Noah, I didn't know you would be here."

"Were you waiting for Raziel?" Noah asked as he stepped away from his guards. "If you are, you'd be disappointed to know that he won't be coming."

The smile on Anna's lips quickly vanished. "What do you mean?"

At a snap of his fingers, another guard appeared, dragging an unconscious man behind him. The man was far shorter than the guard. The mixture of sweat, dried blood and dirt was smeared all over his face, making it more difficult to even recognize the man. His jaw and nose looked badly disfigured, evident they were broken.

Noah's guard effortlessly dragged the man to the centre of the warehouse, leaving him there. He didn't move an inch and merely lay on the concrete flooring, spread-eagle.

"I brought you your guest," Noah said, his lips curved into a thin, dangerous smile.

Anna crossed her arms, acting as if she didn't care. "I wasn't waiting for him."

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Were you not? Then I supposed we don't need him any further," he said, nodding his head at the guard.

The tall, bulky guard took out his gun from his shoulder holster and pointed at the unconscious man.

"Wait!" She shrieked.

Noah raised his hand, halting his guard. He was really enjoying Anna's reactions. The way she froze and her pale face when he entered the warehouse, the way she struggled to remain calm when she saw his guard dragging Raziel in; and the way she had to quickly regroup her strategies – it gave Noah immense pleasure. But not yet. Until he strips Anna's pride bare; hear her screams in pain and begging for her life, only then will Noah be satisfied. This was only the beginning of the show.

"So, you know him?" Noah quipped.

"He's a business partner." Anna took a step forward. "How dare you hurt him? Our business dealings are none of your concern."

"Indeed, it doesn't." Noah's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "But when you sent those men to poison Ivy, you crossed a line that you will soon wish you hadn't."

"I don't know what you mean." Anna shook her head.

"Act stupid all you want—," Noah answered as he took out his gun from his shoulder holster. Circling the unconscious man lying on the cold ground, he stared at Anna. "—but you know you had done it."

Without a warning, Noah fired. The man on the ground jerked from the gunshot before he went limp. By now, all of Anna's men had their guns whipped out and aimed at Noah.

"Boss, stand behind me," Thomas stepped in front with his hand grenade and gun.

"I don't see why you need to kill him. And you had no proof that I poisoned your little lover," Anna said indifferently but her facial muscles tightened.

Obviously enjoying himself, Noah stepped in front of Thomas again. "He's merely collateral damage. As to your plan of killing Ivy, do you think I'd confront you without any proof?"

"Aiden," he said and the secretary immediately produced an envelope. Noah took the envelope, dumped it carelessly onto the ground in front of Anna.

Anna had one of her men picked it up and hand it to her. She emptied the contents but threw them away almost immediately. Covering her perfectly manicured hands on her mouth, she asked, "What did you do to him?"