CHAPTER 98 Drunk


    Cristos


    After shopping all day, we were finally seated in a private room on the top floor of RPM Steak at North


    River waiting for our orders arrived.


    Dan and Nicole led the way to Michigan Avenue better known as the Magnificent Mile, the shopping


    district of Chicago, the home of luxury brands which were non-existent in New Salem.


    We went directly to Oak Street, the high-end enve in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood. If Los


    Angeles had a Rodeo Drive, Chicago had Oak Street. All the high-end luxury brands and designers like


    Armani, Hermés, and Escada including Harry Winston and Buceti were


    here.


    To my surprise, the first store we entered was Giorgio Armani. Unlike the others, I was looking for a


    more frendy and casual look. But then again, this was Armani.


    I have to admit Noah was a good looking man. codd easily see why loy fell in love with him when they


    were teenagers and why most of New Salem’s single women were vying for his attention. His natural


    golden blonde hair glistened under the sunlight, his tan skin oozed masculinity, while his dark brown


    eyes, veiled beneath his long eyshes, possessed a mysterious character behind them. Then, there


    was his dazzling smile which I noticed had caught the attention of the svelte brte sales clerk


    standing beside him. She was eyeing Birr him with a t winkle in her green eyes.


    oh was the boy who every girl in New Salem High wanted to be with. Joy, being his bestfriend, must


    have been the envy of every zin in school. Destroying her the way Liam, Iran, Jack and Cris Gid, paved


    the way for others to get Joy’s coveted role in Noah’s life.


    I wondered what had happened after Joy left. No one spoke of her. They always referred to here at the


    son who left New Salem.


    1 shadowed foah wondering if he was going to purchase anything. While Nicole took clothes off the


    racks like she could afford anything and everything, Noah rubbed his fingers on the eleg of the hung,


    loving the feel of the smooth delicate fabric on his fingers, seemingly debating with himself whether he


    should buy one.


    As I looked around the store, I decided to y the little devil who whispers in one’s ear.


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    CHAPTER 98 Drunk


    “As an owner of apany, you sometimes need dress shirts and cks when you’re meeting with


    someone,” I said casually.


    “That’s okay. I don’t usually have to meet the client,” he said. “Lisa and Nicole are the ones. who meet


    with the clients and draw up the ns. I just do the work.”


    “Yet, there are clients who need to meet you before they agree on anything. When Bo and Dom moved


    here, I heard you weren’t able to meet with Dom, so he decided to hire Bo’s: contractor instead. You


    could have earned a lot from Dom alone. But I guess it’s a good thing. you were hired by Linda Jacobs


    to do the funeral home,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “No use crying over spilled milk.”


    “Speaking of Dom, have they cleared him?” He asked. I saw him smirk before he quickly turned his


    head to look at some socks.


    “From being involved in the Ma Lawrence drug bust? Yes, they did. Jack conducted a


    to a pink silk search at Dom’s before Dan and I left for the airport,” I answered, walking over shirt


    hanging on a rack. “Why do you ask?”


    “I heard Dom bought Ma a new car. Didn’t they just meet at the pageantst Saturday?” Noah asked,


    his tone curiously spiteful.


    “Cynthia McDowell died, the funeral home went up in mes and nine people were found dead. If


    there’s a lesson these past few days have taught me, it’s not to waste any time,” I said while putting the


    pink shirt I took off the rack against myself as I stood in front of the mirror-to see if it fit. “If you think


    buying someone a car is a bit excessive, how about a marriage proposal? Liam only went out with


    Virtue one time and he’s going to propose to


    her tomorrow.


    “Are you guys sure he’s going to propose to Virtue? Noah asked while he stood in front of the mirror


    and checked if a necktie would go with his outfit. “I remember Nicole mentioning Liam is arranged to


    marry some other girl. I know Liam, Chip, and I can tell you his father’s approval means a lot to him.


    And what about Virtue? Virtue has only known Liam for a couple of weeks and they’ve only gone out


    once. Virtue doesn’t strike me as a power-hungry, gold digging bitc h. Why would she ept his


    proposal?“


    “Seems like you’re against Liam and Virtue marrying,” I said, handing the sales clerk the pink shirt.


    “Any particr reason why?” Heughed, as if what I said was a joke.


    “It’s none of my business really and I actually don’t care. I’m just saying… whatever this is, Chip, isn’t


    going to end up in a fairy tale wedding and a happily ever after. Virtue and Liam? They don’t make any


    sense. Just like Dom and Ma. Noah said, handing a neck tie, some?


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    CHAPTER 98 Drunk


    socks, and a belt to the sales clerk. “Let’s just say you guys are right and Liam proposes to Virtue,


    guarantee Virtue won’t ept his proposal and whatever future you guys are magining isn’t going to


    happen. Personally, I believe Virtue deserves someone better… someone who can take care of her,


    who will love her, cherish her and never leave her side. That someone isn’t Liam, Chip.”


    I was surprised to hear a jealous tone in Noah’s voice.


    You think that person is you?” I asked.


    “Maybe he answered, admitting he wanted Joy.


    Why ave I not surprised?


    wat about Nicole? She seems to be in love with you, I pointed out. “But you aren’t in lotow with her,


    arent you?” Noah chuckled.


    smosen to say, Noan admitted. “I grew up with Nicole. To be honest, I think she’s over 7 2010 over


    Liam.


    But we wenud happy when she heard about the proposal. I think Nicole has moved on.”


    Welt 118d considering my options, Noah said. “Plus, I need to focus on work and earn more money.


    and I have a paralyzed mother to care for.


    “Now? este e 43.1, ocked to hear what Noah had admitted to me. Noah daringopine soject, but she


    just lowered her eyes. I’ve picked ou


    Let’s pr


    er,


    “I don’t know if I snod o my this, Noah said, pointing at a dark blue silk shirt.


    Live a little, Noadstersuading him to buy the thousand dor shirt. “One shi


    hurt.


    He nodded his pead and n mdeti d’ur e sake clerk the shirt. The brte smiled brightly at


    him which earned nera are from hole.


    Sincer Minole and Dan were close frist, there was no way Noah could talk himself out of having dinner


    with us. It was my two by the drinks and get them drunk so they’d talk. We had been sippany on


    dumpagne whole afternoon… just a little bit more and my


    companions would be drunk.


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    11:34 Fri, Mar 29


    CHAPTER 98 Drunk


    While we waited for our food, I ordered c ocktails and appetizers, paying extra to have them put in an


    extra shot of tequ in their Crystal Paloma c ocktail.


    Our servers came back with our orders of Bone-in Ribeye steaks, Big Eye Tuna Sashimi, Bacon Mac


    and Cheese, Millionaire’s Potato, Chilled Oysters and our tters of expensive Wagyu micro steaks. To


    compliment our dinner, I bought bottles of Bordeaux.


    After the hearty meal, I leaned back on my seat and waited. After our third bottle of red. wine, the


    stories began..


    “So all of you went to school together?” I asked. Nicole and Dan nodded their heads enthusiastically.


    “Yep, we were all part of the same group in high school,” Dan said loudly. “Noah became friends with


    us during the summer before sophomore year and Lisa came in during our


    senior year.


    Yeah, you guys used toe in when I was flipping burgers at the diner,” Noah said, slurring. After his


    third ss of wine, he opted to drink beer instead.


    “But I thought you were all friends even in grade school,” I said, puzzled.


    “Uhm, no. I was friends with Abigail and Liam in grade school,” Nicole said. “Abigail was my closest


    friend and Liam was my childhood crush. We became girlfriend and boyfrien middle school. That’s


    when I started growing boobs while the rest grew pimples.”


    “And


    you


    Noah? Why weren’t you guys friends then?” I asked.


    “Because Noah had this awful stutter,” Dan answered quickly. “The only person who coul actually


    understand him was Joy.” Nicole roughly nudged Dan in the ribs after he said her


    name.


    “Joy?” I asked while I refilled their sses.


    Here we go…


    “The girl who left during our junior year. Her family used to own the grocery store and the Old Taylor


    House, Dan said. “Joy was this pathetic little girl who used to follow Noah all around high school. Sure,


    she was this cute little thing during grade school, but when puberty hit, she was awkward and gangly.”


    “Old Taylor House? The same house Virtue moved into?” I asked curiously. Dan nodded his4/6


    11:34 Fri, Mar 29


    CHAPTER 98 Drunk


    head. “What happened to her?”


    *During our junior year, she sprouted boobs and became the town’s wh ore,” Nicole hissed. “She did


    Liam, Jack and Cris, then I guess she promised some other boys to… you know. They ended up gang


    raping her in the boy’s gym. She pointed the finger at Liam, but everyone in school knew she wasPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    lying.”


    “Nicole, Noah uttered, giving her a warning look. Nicole shrugged her shoulders, looking unperturbed.


    “Oh my gosh! Did these boys get arrested for what they did to her?” I eximed, shocked.


    “No. As I said she was the town’s w h ore- I cut off Nicole.


    “Rape is rape,” I pointed out. “If she said no, whether or not she was known to have multiple partners,


    that is considered rape. Noah, you lived next door to her, right? Did you help her?” Noah was so busy


    ring at Nicole that he jumped when he heard his name.


    “I did. I was the one who brought her home… she was all bloodied up from the assault,” he answered


    grimly.


    “So what happened when she left?” I asked.


    “We forgot about her,” Dan admitted, averting his eyes, “Lisa came into our group began following


    Noah just like Joy.” Nicole kicked Dan underneath our table and


    him..


    Nicole


    at


    No wonder Nicole led Joy into the boy’s gym.


    “Well, Nicole, since you dress up like the town’s w h ore, if you ever get gang raped, ren your


    schoolmate named Joy,” I said, disgusted.


    “Chip, we were teenagers,” Dan reasoned “We-”


    “It doesn’t make it right,” I said. “I remember in my neighborhood, there was this young girl who was


    raped by a group of teenagers. After a week, those teenagers disappeared. Here in New Salem, you


    walk among them. How is that possible?”


    “If you have enough money and connections, that s hit disappears, Noah admitted harshly.


    “Noah!” Dan eximed, trying to hush him up. Noah raised his finger to silence him while


    raising his ss to his line..


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    CHAPTER 98 Drunk


    After ch ugging the rest of his beer, to my surprise, heughed sinisterly.


    Noah leaned over our table and sneered at Dan. He had this insane look in his eyes which was


    unsettling… and frightening. Dan gulped down the lump in his throat while I stared at Noah, stunned to


    see a side of him that I have never seen before.


    He slowly turned his face towards me while I quietly sat in my seat, looking at him wide- eyed and


    uneasy.


    “You know, Chip, you’re right. We at New Salem, we walk among them, giving these sons of bi tches


    opportunities to be rich and powerful. They’ve forgotten their true ce in society… a jail cell.


    Sadly, they’re a bunch of lowlifes who act like they own the town, he said, his voice harsh and angry. “If


    you care for Virtue, Chip, you should do everything in your power to sway her decision. Tell her not to


    ept Liam’s proposal.”


    “Im sorry,” I said, confused. “How does Joy’s rape figure in with Liam’s proposal to Virtue? I thought joy


    used him, but another group was guilty of the rape.”


    joy was my bestfriend, Chip, and she never lied.


    Chapter Comments


    on now things are ramping up, hope Ma’s mum gets back to being stable.


    Morgan


    mock ner head”


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