I sighed as I ended the call and climbed out of the car. Fifteen minutes late to the office, and people started calling me on my personal number.

I nodded at the valet as I gave my keys to him and entered the building. Once again, all the eyes were turned towards me and I tried not to look at anyone and made my way towards the elevator.

This was the reason I preferred arriving early to the office, not many people are there to ogle at you.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Isabelle standing with Jonathan with a bunch of files on the counter in front of her and her hand on the hip. Her hair were messily packed in a bun with a few loose strands around her face.

I took my time to look at her. I knew I wasn't supposed to act this immature like I had been acting lately and I certainly wasn't supposed to stop short in my tracks just to stare at my secretary.

I was becoming weaker and I hated it. But the thing that angered me was that I couldn't help it.

Two days back, when Kevin held that charity event, I had no intentions to go until Alex brought Isabelle in. I just couldn't bear the thought of her looking breathtaking as ever and I, not being able to look at her while every other man I despised did.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and lifted her eyes. Not a second later, she noticed me standing there and our eyes met. She kept looking at me for a few seconds before her face broke into a precious smile.

Her smile was to die for and after all these years, I still couldn't forget it and fact that she was now working with me made it impossible to concentrate on anything when she was in the room.

I nodded my head at her with a faint smile and entered my office, closing the door behind me I sighed and closed my eyes.

How was I supposed to ignore this?

****************

"No buts mister. You're coming whether you like it or not," Emily said from the other side and I chuckled.

"Fine but I'll be a bit late. I have work to finish," I said into the phone and I could practically picture her rolling her eyes.

"Always the workaholic," she said and cut the call and I put the phone down and smiled.

Emily said that she had something important to tell me, which I already knew what was because Noah had given the first call to me when Emily said yes to his proposal. But poor Emily didn't know that I knew and no matter how bad I wanted to butcher Noah, I wouldn't do that to him on something like this, which we both knew meant a lot to Emily.

A knock on the door broke my chain of thoughts and oh how bad I hated myself for knowing it was her by the way of knocking.

"Come in."

"Good Afternoon Mr. Rhodes, here's the curriculum vitae of Mr. Johnson," she squeaked in a tiny voice without meeting her eyes with mine.

There were times when Isabelle wouldn't look at me at all. I saw right through the struggle she put in looking at everything but my face which sometimes was amusing but sometimes annoyed me.

She had been working with me for quite some time now and I could tell by the way she acted that she still hadn't gotten used to being alone with me.

"Oh thank God you're here. Can you please cancel my last appointment of the day with whoever it was and e-mail this CV to Alex?" I asked and tied my hands at the back of my head as I waited for her to lift her head up for once.

"Of course, Mr. Rhodes," she replied and turned around as I watched her leave but before she stepped out of the office, she turned around and looked straight at me and seeing me already staring at her, she blushed, threw her head down in embarrassment and left, leaving an amused me behind.

****************

The butler opened the door as I stepped inside and nodded at him. I made my way towards the dining room as I heard voice coming from the kitchen, surely Noah and Emily were cooking together again.

I smiled and shook my head before putting my jacket on the chair and making my way towards the kitchen.

"I'm here so I suggest you guys keep the content PG rated," I yelled when I was close enough to the kitchen and kept walking until I saw Noah making his way out of it and chuckling.

He hugged me and I patted his shoulder and smiled.

"Don't tell her I told you," he pleadingly whispered in my ear and I chuckled.

"What did you say? Couldn't hear you over my thoughts," I chuckled and winked at him and he rolled his eyes as we saw Emily walking out of the kitchen with her apron on.

"Heyy," she greeted as I hugged her and saw Noah looking at me with pleading eyes.

"You're on time, we were just finishing up. You guys go in the dining room, I'll handle the rest with the maid," Emily told us and we walked towards the dining room.

"So how has everything been?" Noah asked as we plopped down on the couch.

"Same old," I shrugged, knowing very well that nothing was 'same old' anymore.

After a while, I found us seated at the table and having dinner, although I wasn't much of a people person, I did enjoy Noah and Emily's company. They gave me a feeling of home I had always longed for.

"Sooooo...the time you're waiting for has arrived, Ace!" Emily excitedly said and I tried not to show that I already knew what was coming up.

I faked an interest and put my glass down, looking at her intensely.

"Noah and I are getting married!" she clapped her hands together and gave a wide grin and I couldn't help but smile along.

"That's so great you guys! I can't believe he proposed already," I said and looked at Noah who seemed so uncomfortable and excited at the same time.

"I did," Noah smiled and snaked his arm around Emily's waist, pulling her close to him, he kissed her temple and Emily closed her eyes with a content smile on her face.

After eating, we all were sitting on the couch, talking and drinking. I was genuinely happy for them both. Emily was the one for Noah that was sure but seeing them being together for so long and now finally getting married seemed surreal.

"You're the best man, Ace," Noah said and I rolled my eyes.

"You have dozens of friends," I said and relaxed back, not entirely happy with his idea.

"Oh come on, you can't even give me this one wedding gift I ask for?" Noah whined.

I chuckled, "Fine dramatic ass."

As we were talking, my phone started ringing and an unknown number popped up on my screen.

"I'll be back," I excused myself and made my way out of the room, sliding my finger against the answer button, I spoke into the phone.

"Hello?"

****************

As I walked back into the room, I tried to keep my expressions straight and tried not to show my distress. I didn't want them to know what happened today while we were celebrating.

Although I didn't care about it, I still couldn't waive off this strange feeling.

I sat back on the couch and smiled at them, Noah looked at me while taking a sip from his bottle.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing important," I shrugged it off, but I knew better than to believe that they would fall for this.

"Oh come on. You look like you saw a ghost out there. Tell me what's wrong," Noah insisted and Emily nodded, putting her glass aside.

I could sense that the happiness in the room was starting to dissipate and was being replaced by tension.

"Dave died," I sighed and ran a hand down my face.

"Holy-" Noah started but stopped mid sentence.

The tension in the room got thick as silence enveloped us, I could see the bewildered expression on Emily's face, stating that she obviously didn't know what we were talking about but chose to stay quiet.

After an episode of long uncomfortable silence, Noah spoke up,

"Look man, I'm sorry-"

"Don't. You and I both know that we're not sorry," I scoffed and Noah sighed and leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes and letting out a soft groan.

"I don't mean to sound nosy.....but what is happening....?" Emily asked in a small voice because she knew all too well that my anger sometimes got the best of me and I couldn't act rational.

"You didn't tell her?" I asked Noah and he shook his head.

"You asked me not to."

"Well I didn't think you would oblige. Plus that was five years ago," I rolled my eyes.

"Um excuse me but can you guys stop talking about me like I'm not here," Emily said with an annoyed and utterly confused expression on her face.

"Baby, you need to know something about Ace and well.......me," Noah tucked her hair behind her ear and she cocked an eyebrow.

"Well.....what is it?"

"Uh- Ace and I are brothers."

*************